We write to you, our friends and family who are just like all of us going through interesting times. Amazing how things can rapidly change and how, what you used to do, all of a sudden goes to the back burner and the concern for your family and those around you becomes top priority.
Here in YWAM San Jose and our immediate family we have experienced a great working together as a ministry and leaders to make all the necessary preparations to face the situation that our world is walking through.
Writing of protocols, walking our community through safety procedures and guidelines of the ministry of health took quite a bit of energy.
At this moment we have suspended all our activities, we stay in our houses or rooms and we have entered into a season of ‘seeking, praying, interceding, worshipping and resting.’
As we released our students to be with their families at this time we were able to close this season with them and God reminded me of these wonderful words of Jesus in John 14:27.
As I read these words I was reminded of the disciples being somewhat distraught about the fact that Jesus was leaving. They weren’t really ready for that at all, but it was necessary. But like a normal greeting at that time they would wish each other ‘Shalom’, which is more than just a ‘peace of mind’. True Shalom refers to an inner sense of completeness and wholeness, it has to do with the entire being, not just that you are at ‘ease’. A great article on the subject if you are interested in further study is here https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/shalom-as-wholeness-embracing-the-broad-biblical-message/
As I shared with our ‘departing’ students, they weren’t expecting their journey to be cut short so abruptly, neither did we. This virus has caused so many ‘unexpected’ moments for so many around the world, but this is exactly what Jesus was leaving with His disciples. The peace that we need in times where things would be difficult, hard, challenging, unexpected. The kind of peace that would settle things in our inner being, a completeness, wholeness that the things that happen around us can not touch or take away.
Not just the work of Jesus on the cross, the inheritance He left us to purchased by his blood but He gives us Himself. He says “MY” peace I give to “YOU”. He gives us Himself. He himself is OUR peace. Not just what He did for us and the gift of salvation brings us peace, but He Himself, His presence within us, through His Holy Spirit, brings us this completeness and wholeness in the midst of chaos.
As a family we are at ‘peace’ about where we are, where we live and what we are doing. We know that God has called us to raise up a generation, right here in Costa Rica, to not just know God, but to walk intimately with this Jesus, who is Himself peace.
Though things around us are challenging, they take our energy, they call for us to trust in His grace, that He gives generously when needed the most, which is now. We are experiencing His grace.
Our kids are experiencing school through a virtual platform, we are experiencing a new way to be a community as we are all ‘separated’, but internet makes it possible to stay ‘connected’. We are calling our leaders and community into a time of deep prayer and seeking God for what is to come. Will you join us?
In the mean time we have progressed in another step with the building and sooner than later we will be able to host hundreds of people yet again to come together to seek His face, to worship ‘together’, but in the mean time we will worship him together while apart. Praise the Lord He is not contained to a building, He lives within us, His people, now that is powerful! A personal God, who has given us Himself, His peace.
In such uncertain times we know we have one certainty and that is that He is Lord, He is seated on the throne and He has not changed. He has not stopped knowing what to do, how to speak to us.
The world can not give the way He gives, it can not provide us with the happiness, the way He gives it, neither can the troubles of this world take it away. So receive the gift of peace that Jesus has and listen to his words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Shalom to you and your loved ones
Equipping and Sending 