As the Costa Rica Team formed, I began praying for a construction opportunity for part of our team. Through months of prayer, God lead us to help restore Senora Paula’s home in the slum of Los Pinos.
On our first full day in Costa Rica, Pastor Angel took us on a prayerwalk to Senora Paula's house. The path to Senora’s home was a slippery mound of mud.
Stray chickens and dogs walked about in the mud and sewage.
Homes were pieced together with corrugated metal, sticks, rocks and tin.
As we walked toward Senora Paula’s house, children would yell “Gringos”
(Americans).
Some children wanted a hug, others were happy to get a smile from us. Other children looked despondently from the edge of their homes.
One girl, about 13, gave me a kiss and a package of crackers.
Pastor Angel led us back to Senora Paula’s home, through winding, up and down alleys like an obstacle course, dodging sewage ditches and ducking under electrical wires.
Senora Paula’s home was a tiny 2-3 room house with little lighting.
As we entered the house, Senora Paula and her family gave us a big hug and offered us a bottle of orange coke.
She had also baked a cake the day before for the men who were going to work on her house.
In that small house, Senora Paula’s bright eyes shone with so much hope and so much gratitude that they electrified the dark place.
And in that moment, I was struck.
A voice whispered, THIS IS IT…This is who God calls blessed.
The poor and the meek who thirst for justice…this is Senora Paula.
Senora Paula knew that she was God’s delight! You could see it in her eyes. She knew she was valued as a child of God. In that second, all my accomplishments (however many), my degree, my title, my knowledge, my possessions…were nothing, absolutely nothing in comparison with this woman. God’s love filled that room….
As I left my first visit with Senora Paula….I felt humbled and awkward….This woman would be nothing in the estimation of nearly all society. But God allowed me to glimpse that she is great in the Kingdom of Heaven. “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" James 2:5
My faith felt thin next to Senora Paula’s thick faith. As we left, a group of children gathered outside. They looked deep into our eyes…and in that moment once again God reminded me that I am not to live for my own advancement but for the good of others. When I become like the poor and like a child…God calls me blessed. I was so grateful that day for a peek into God’s Kingdom.
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