After lunch we dropped luggage at accommodations provided for us and had an orientation on the grounds.
The property sits on a hill overlooking the city and surrounding beautiful mountains.
This became my most sought out place early each morning to journal and pray. I sat under the shaded canopy of trees at these stone tables and chairs over looking the city.
Early evening we had a quick fellowship at McDonald's, where I successfully ordered my meal in Spanish. In the parking lot we had a quick introduction to David (Chime) Chaves, a young man who founded Samaritan's Heart in 2007. A friend working with him in ministry, Juancho, was also there. After a brief overview and time of prayer we followed them to the designated parking lot.
One aspect of Samaritan's Heart, is a street ministry in the "red light" district of San Jose, where love is extended to the homeless addicted to drugs and alcohol by showing the gospel of Jesus through a meal program. Rather quickly and systematically, the two young men set up in a small corner edge of the lot most lit by street lighting. A larger portion of the lot was filled with heaps of garbage and in semi-cleared areas people made claim to "home", sleeping on the ground a midst the trash. Men and women rummaged through the garbage heaps. Ice chests of rice and pasta, containers of sauce and beans were placed on the tables, along with juice and chocolate treat. Each member of the team was assigned a place in the serving line. At the head of the line with plates and guiding the people we served, God blessed me by quickly helping me lock into several key phrases to converse with Chime in order to know what was needed, convey to the homeless and translate to those filling plates. "Despacio, por favor" (slowly, please) became my best pronounced phrase at the end of the night! One elderly man asked why I could not understand faster. I told him if I was reading or writing in Spanish I was quick, but speaking was not as good. He laughed and very slowly repeated his question of where I was from, in which I gladly answered.
The plan was to always have five generously served plates ready for newcomers. The people were allowed to come for seconds and thirds, but were to wait anytime a person who had not received a first serving arrived. On the most part the men and women, despite the level of intoxication waited in line as others were served. They were to bring their plates for seconds or thirds because the amount served was limited. Several tried to get more of the first serving portion and either did not produce a used plate, the plate was "scraped" clean or they were too intoxicated to keep track. We worked under limited lighting and dark cloudy skies. The servers needed to know which were "repeats" because they must be careful to not allow the utensils to touch the plate when spooning food. Knowing which were already served, I asked where their plates were and directed them to wait for Chime when they could not produce a plate. Chime has explained the men and women understand the rules and he is consistent in enforcing what little is required. At all times the men and women were friendly, patient with my slow Spanish and polite. Their system, moving at a fast pace, kept the line going and left no one without.
My heart felt the joy to once again be serving and interacting with broken outcast hearts, but my spirit wept watching the people stagger up and down the streets or into the lot intoxicated and high. I desired for them to know of a far greater "high", a lasting one that comes from joy of knowing Jesus Christ. As they were filled with hot food and cold drink, coming for seconds and thirds I began to witness an amazing thing. As the food sobered their bodies, the people slowly were more stable, intelligible and engaging! They became performers with dance moves, were open to conversation and were hams in front of a camera. The people welcomed conversation and seemed virtually starved for genuine human contact. As I managed the head of their line passing out plates, getting opportunities to greet each person, the Holy Spirit quickened to my heart a specific prayer for each and every one, a prayer I continue to day....
Lord,
as the drugs and alcohol wear off,
open a moment where they can embrace
the love being shown to them and hunger for it,
just as they hunger for the food.
Lord,
when they leave this place let their hearts not forget what they experience.
Cause them to hunger for Your Love more than drugs and alcohol.
When they come back for a meal,
let them be more and more free from drugs and alcohol.
Deliver them,
free them long enough to see You,
long enough to yearn for You in their lives.PRAY, CONSIDER, RECEIVE, SHARE
Please PRAY for the homeless men and women struggling with drug and alcohol abuse in San Jose, Costa Rica and other regions in the world. Globally, for various reasons men, women and children are living without food and shelter. Life without the basic needs, means or ability to obtain and maintain these needs cause hearts to loose hope and turn to unhealthy options in order to cope. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and Life. He, the Hope of yesterday, today and tomorrow reconciles our hearts back to God. Choose life. Please PRAY for the work being accomplished through the partnership of OM and Samaritan's Heart, that God would honor and bless the efforts of the missionaries, local churches, volunteers and others who support through time, skills and/or finances. Pray that hearts open to hear the Good News of God's plan to reconcile all creation back to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Please CONSIDER giving, through donations or volunteer service, to these ministries and/or locally within your own community. Below are links to view videos and visit websites to learn more about these God-honoring ministries fulfilling the Great Commission through service to the poor and forgotten people of Costa Rica and other regions around the world. RECEIVE the Lord's eternal blessing for your partnership in whichever manner He guides you in. Please SHARE this blog with anyone you know who is interested in supporting and/or partnering in missions work, locally or globally.
To watch video about the work of Un Corazon Samaritano (Spanish, English subtitles) -http://vimeo.com/60583238
To learn more about David (Chime) Chaves (Spanish) - http://wvw.aldia.cr/ad_ee/2012/mayo/27/vip3176205.html
To learn more about David (Chime) Chaves (English) - http://translate.google.com/translatehl=en&sl=es&u=http://wvw.aldia.cr/ad_ee/2012/mayo/27/vip3176205.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoraz%25C3%25B3n%2Bsamaritano%2BDavid%2BChaves%2Bin%2Benglish%26biw%3D1249%26bih%3D615
Volunteer or donate to Un Corazon Samaritano (Samaritan's Heart) -
Visit Facebook https://www.facebook.comUCSInter
To learn more about, volunteer and/or dontate to Operation Mobilization (OM) –
Go to omusa.org
To learn more about, volunteer and/or donate to OM Costa Rica (Spanish) -
http://www.omcostarica.org
To learn more about, volunteer and/or dontate to OM Costa Rica (English) -
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.omcostarica.org/give&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dom%2Bcosta%2Brica%26biw%3D1249%26bih%3D615
Un Corazon Samaritano is a ministry partner of OM Costa Rica. Donations made to OM Costa Rica can be designated towards the work of Un Corazon Samaritano.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- Un Corazon Samaritano, Chime, Juancho and others in the ministry
- Homeless of San Jose, Costa Rica
- Homeless in local communities
- Families affected by unemployment
- Families affected by drug/alcohol addictive use
- People without food and shelter
- OM Costa Rica missionaries