A break in the weather

After what seems like an endless cycle of rainy days, this morning I see blue skies through the parting clouds. At last, a reprieve from the torrents of rain, ankle deep mud, raging rivers, and being wet ALL the time. With such a dynamic climate, of course it poses challenges to many aspects of our ministry.

Last weekend for instance, Karina was walking home from church with a group of children in tow, when they encountered a normally passable stream that we cross all the time, only getting water up to our knees. This time however, it was a raging river of mud, well over its banks and the heads of some of the kids. So there she was, Karina and the children, all of them drenched to the bone in a downpour standing on the bank of this dangerous river. What to do? She did what she usually does and looked up into the dark clouds and prayed to God for rescue. Less than ten seconds after her Amen, she heard the sound of an outboard engine. Looking down river she was amazed to see a local man ( Herbert) whom we know well, heading upstream in his boat. He waved at her and her little group of kids, she waved him over, and they all made it across the river in his canoe to safety. Now Herbert told Karina that he very rarely heads up this particular stream, especially not in the rainy season, but today, for some reason he did. Karina said “ how does it feel to be God’s messenger of rescue? “ and she was able to be a witness of Gods grace and goodness to him on the safe side of the river.

The rain also presents us with problems at the Nest, with our farm animals, the crops, and the trees which fall over with an alarming regularity as the ground becomes saturated and their roots loose their grip on the earth.

Attendance at our weekly youth outreach has also been low as a result of the weather, and I personally feel my tolerance of working in the rain day in day out, beginning to wear thin. I tell myself two things. At least it’s not snow! And in another month, the dry season will be here again.

Anyways, enough of me complaining about the weather, good grief!

In looking at the forecast of the Nest, I also see a break in the weather. I feel an expectant shift in the ministry as we are living out our purpose in sheltering young girls from sexual trauma and abuse. For the last 4 1/2 months we’ve had a 14 year old girl named Naju-belle here living full time at the Nest. Caring for her 24/7 with a healthy routine of taking her to school and back, preparing meals, looking after the animals, homework, crafts, morning devotions in the Word, evening counseling and prayer, all have had an incredibly positive impact, not only on her own health holistically, but also on ourselves, and the Nest community. We are slowly developing a model of how the Nest will adapt and multiply our unique ministry to all of the children that follow in Naju’s footsteps.

Our year of training with Casa Viva is drawing to a close, and henceforth we’ll receive the authority to officially launch our shelter for children. Next week for 3 days, we’ll be hosting members of the Casa Viva organization, as well as a site visit by the governmental department of Child Protective Services, called PANI here in Costa Rica. We look forward to introducing them to the Nest, and the supportive community of pastors, teachers, and social workers with whom we work closely together.

But we have many unknowns in front of us. It’s a time of uncertainty and not knowing all the answers or how soon we can obtain our license to work with PANI.

We have the facilities, we have our self sustaining programs steaming along, albeit still in their infancy stage, and we have you guys, our faithful prayer warriors and financial givers. In that regard, as our operations have grown, we’ve outpaced our financial donations, although somehow God always shows up with surprise checks in the mail to keep our ministry with its head above water. But we definitely need more regular giving as we look to expand our staff to meet the specialized demands of counseling and mentoring the children we are expecting to receive.

Karina also needs to acquire her residency permit, so she can continue to lead this ship, and gain the legal status of the government in order to do so.

All that takes money, pure & simple, but we’re unafraid and confident in the Lord as His Word says,

“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

Last Sunday, Naju-belle started her weekly therapy sessions via video conference with a licensed therapist in California. If they can’t come to us, then we’ll go to them! That’s just one example of God’s determination to keep the Nest flexible and vibrant.

With God on our side, we feel like we’re winning everyday, joyfully submitting to Him, as He reveals more and more of His presence to those of us walking in faith.

And of course, I must report that while I’ve sat on the porch here at the Nest writing this blog post, that yes the clouds have rolled back in on me, and rain is once again coming down in sheets….. Pura Vida.

With love and gratitude

James Beach.