This past week a team of Physical Therapy students flew down to Costa Rica to spend the remaining eleven days of their Christmas break providing medical attention to men, women, and children in local villages. The more I heard about this mission, the more I wanted to go. Unfortunately, I'm not very helpful on medical missions considering I don't have any training. Not to mention they flew out the day my classes started up! As someone who loves to do, particularly to travel, meet people, offer help, form relationships, it was very difficult to watch this team leave and not be on the plane with them. Honestly, I dealt with some jealousy at the thought of the incredible opportunities they were going to have while there. Through this, however, God has shown me that although I might not be on the ground in Costa Rica with the team, I can still do something to help - I can pray. I can pray for their safety, for doors and hearts to be opened, and for God to move in unexpected and powerful ways both in the people of Costa Rica and in the team that went to serve.
I think it's easy to forget that prayer is a major part of mission. We assume that in order to be helpful we have to be one of the people "on the ground" so to speak. And if we can't be there with the people, we assume we're of no use! How far from the truth could that be! Would you join with me in praying for this team in Costa Rica? Pray that God would move in and through them. Pray also for their safety.
Here are some facts and points of prayer for Costa Rica highlighted by Operation World:
- Roman Catholicism is the official state religion. Despite religious freedom in the country, other religions are not seen as equal before the law.
- Pray that these churches would learn how to disciple converts after they come into the churches.
- Pastors are often under-resourced. Pray that God would move in the hearts of Christians around the world to do something in supporting these local pastors and churches.
If you would like to join me in praying for missions and people around the world, I recommend checking out http://www.operationworld.org/ and http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/. Both of these sites offer daily devotions and points of prayer.
