Upside down inside out

December 31st, 2025, 11:59 pm. Where am I ? The crackle, pop pop boom of fireworks exploding over the dark jungle horizon are shaking a thousand little chicken bones as they run to and fro inside of their barn. And that’s exactly where I am. Karina and I saw in the new year alone, watching over the Nest. We had celebrated an hour earlier with the New York ball drop, and then turned in for night. An hour later when midnight came around, the few but loud fireworks from a nearby village started up, and so Karina elbowed me to get up and go down to comfort the Nests 800 chickens. So how does one actually do that?

Let me just say it was a memorable New Year’s Eve.

And with a new year comes the obligatory reflection, a pause in the action “ sort of speak” to look back and ahead. Karina and I both know that in submission to the way of Jesus, our lives have been transformed….far from perfect but at least walking in a good direction. Missionary life has absolutely flipped the script on our faith.

Jesus said

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭

I used to dwell on the second half of this verse “all these things", and in deep self deception doing the first half so I could grasp the second, completely corrupted by the pleasant feeling of comfort and stuff ( blinded to the stress that comes with them too. ) Now I’ve found an awareness that the front half of the verse is a whole life’s pursuit, and the other half is not my goal anymore.

Here’s another verse I would often turn inside out, for my good pleasure…

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ ‭

It’s embarrassing really to admit this, but I would put all my lofty, happy, hopes and dreams on the throne instead of an altar. If I truly delight in Him, then His desires naturally become mine too.

I must be the only thick headed Christian that never really thought that through.

We consider retirement fairly often these days, at least preparing for it as we’re in our mid fifties, but for me,

(I won’t speak for Karina), applying and sharing with others the grace that God continually brings to my many flaws and shortcomings for the benefit of others, I don’t believe that has a retirement date. I just can’t imagine going back to the vegetable I once was, warming a pew in Sunday morning church and forgetting everything before I even reached the parking lot.

Ok to the Nest. I’ve been down here long enough to have a rear view mirror on what Gods purpose has been for us. Now remember, Karina deserves the lions share of this, so when I say we, it’s God, Karina, then a little me.

With abundant proof, it’s clear that God has designated the Nest to impact this remote jungle and its hidden people to His immense love. And that this mission outpost is meant to carry on into a long future.

We came down here with not much save a calling and willingness to see it get started. In many ways we have acted as the architects of the Nest. We’ve built a reputation in the community ( no easy task) raised a village of houses and facilities, set up self sufficient electric, water, plumbing systems, planted a sustainable crop of organic vanilla , produced a successful working chicken egg business which is operating at full strength. We’ve ( let me remind you again “ we” = God, Karina, our USA & Costa Rican team, our support base and churches) also pushed through the shelter home vision plan and it currently sits out of our hands with the legal and governmental system waiting for approval. Please pray HARD for this to happen so we can finally start doing what we came down to do. But it’s all in Gods timing, and that knowledge really gives us peace and hope.

There are many other important aspects as well, like our weekly youth outreach programs, our sunday simple church, the volunteers and conferences, the sheep & goat production, and on and on. What is being accomplished here is only the foundational culture of the Nest. The future calling of the Nest is meant for somebody else, someone specifically equipped to serve the Lord at the Nest with all together different talents. We are only the founders ( as in foundation). But we’re working our butts off to leave the strongest frame work as possible for those who will come afterwards.

So yes, we’re busy. But even in the midst of it, the Nest has managed to keep a steady spirit of calmness and unhurried optimism, and for that I feel so grateful.

Please pray for us ( Karina & I) this year. We are on a clock, in the sense of setting the Nest up for success, which mostly means prayerfully waiting for the future generation of leadership here. Were willing to disciple almost anyone, which has lead to heartache when they choose to walk away. And so we watch and wait ( don’t worry we’re not going anywhere anytime soon) but we truly want to have the spirit of progress, versus one of ownership. We also pray this year for an increased level of financial support for us personally, as we fall short each month and have never had any medical insurance to fall back on.

We did hear from only 2 supporters over Christmas, and with their gifts were able to buy new glasses and get our teeth cleaned! Not very exciting eh!?

Let me close with Nayu. She’s one of our Nest girls whom we’ve legally fostered as her parents. As you may know she graduated from high school back in December. Well now she’s signed up for her first year of college studying accounting and advanced English. When she left her enrollment interview, with tears filling her big brown eyes she said to Karina “how could I have ever done this before I came to live at the Nest, I can’t imagine still living in the fear and emptiness of my previous life."

Well said ………….

With love and gratitude

James Beach