God's Fingerprints

by Karis Heinze, EM Summer Staff in Costa Rica
Karis and her co-leader Jordan are coordinating mission trips in Shiroles and Coroma, Costa Rica, throughout the summer, living with a host family and investing in the community.

It's weird to think that half of my time here in Costa Rica has already passed. I only have 5 weeks left. I'm hoping that this second half goes as well as the first, if not better. I know it will be a little different because we won't have any more weeks off and we have another person coming to help us as summer staff. I'm really looking forward to seeing how God uses the last part of our time here; for the locals, for the teams coming in to volunteer, and for us as a summer staff.

I'm so thankful for my time here. It's been challenging at times, but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. The time I have here is precious. Opportunities like this don't come around everyday. I feel like I'm starting to see God's fingerprints all over the communities we are working in here. Yeah, there's a lot of brokenness too, but I believe God can take all of that and make it into something beautiful for His Kingdom.

I see God in Victor's laughter and jokes, even when he is exhausted after a long day of work. I see God in Sara's sweet hugs and encouraging words. I see God in the progress being made in the construction of La Iglesia Minonita de Shiroles (the Mennonite Church). I see God in the teams that come in and give up a week of their summer to serve in a foreign country. I see God in the rain after a hot day. I see God in the towering trees and in the majestic mountains off in the distance. I see God in the kids running through the plaza during their break at school. Everywhere I look, I can't help but see God. In the big things and the small things. When I go home, I want to remember how to see God everywhere I go. I want to be just as excited to pursue a relationship with God at home as I am here in Costa Rica.

Yes, I miss home a lot. I'll never be able to deny that. But when I think about leaving Sara and Victor's home at the end of the summer, my heart starts to break. I think about how much they have done for me, for Jordan, for the teams, and for Shiroles. It makes me wish that I could just blend my life back home in Arkansas with my life here in Talamanca. My heart will always be divided between those places.

I think the best way to summarize how my heart feels is in this quote:
"You will never be completely at home again because your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place."

But honestly, I think the cost is worth it. Unless you spend time in a different place for a while, you'll never experience love like this. It’s different because God is creative, and He shows His love in so many different ways. I am in awe of how many people I have received so much love from, regardless of all of our differences.

I love Costa Rica and everything that it has come to mean for me. God has used the last two summers to teach me so much. I know that He is going to use these last few weeks in big ways, and I can't wait to be a part of it.

You must have a group size of at least 6 members to join this trip. Please view the Small Team trips or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414.

View Small Team Trips

For most trips, you must have a group size of at least 6 members. Please view the Small Teams tab on each Community page or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414.