Hello beautiful people!
I’ve been missing my people lately. Thankfully, the Super Bowl was this past weekend and getting to watch it here in a tiny restaurant in Jaco gave me a sense of connectedness to home and all the loved ones that fill it.
I’ve been superrr busy here with ministry, meetings, and pouring into the people I’m with, I haven’t been able to find the time to grab wifi, much less for long enough to post an update. Thankfully I have 20 minutes before I am about to cook dinner with my team for all our teams here in Jaco (aka when we cook we cook for 33 people – haha I already don’t love cooking for myself so it’s been interesting/stressful cooking for a small army each time we do a meal). One of the girls on my team, Ashley, sweetly complimented me after one of our cooking nights that I work well under pressure 🙂 haha!
Now to the ministry we are getting to be a part of:
The mural ministry here in Jaco is POPPIN and I’m so thankful to be a part of it. This incredible shot (big thanks to my friend Tymon on our squad for the ?? shot) only shows me doing some touching up, but the truth behind this mural is so many people have played a part in the whole process – our sketchers on our squad, our ministry host, the Jaco city government, the locals joining us in the painting process, each person on our team of 30+ people, plus the team of missionaries that have joined us… It’s an incredible feat with lots of hearts, minds, and hands involved.
Our ministry head here (the leader of Ocean’s Edge ministry, Hannah) has been able to maintain an incredible relationship with the city government here in Jaco. They have asked us to carry out the city park transformation projects, including this mural you see, beach clean ups, and more. Each opportunity is not only a great chance to witness to the city government officials and help the reputation of the ministry we are partnering with that has carried out a lot of Kingdom victories and transformation of Jaco in the past two decades, but it’s great outreach to the community while we do it! The kids and teenagers and adults join us and take part in it all! I’m learning more Spanish and loving the moments of connection that even surpass language barriers.
It’s been a beautiful process of outreach, transformation, lots of sweat, and creating an atmosphere of worship… And that’s only what we get to see in the here and now. My long-term heart and mind are excited for the effects that we won’t be here to see… the community worship, the family time, the fun that’s the good kind of fun – not often found in this town, the place for kids to be kids, the holy moments, and more. Even those examples are said out of my limited perspective. Thank you Lord for the evidence of the fruit of our labor in the here and now, and thank you EXTRA for being bigger than our minds by doing more with our work than we could ever see or understand. I’m continually thankful God’s power, perspective, wisdom, sovereignty, and love is bigger than we will ever fully know. When we stack ourselves up against Him there’s a huge discrepancy and boy am I thankful for that – it gives reason for the surrender and trust He deserves. I love Him and I love y’all!
Until my next break for wifi!
Your girl,
Sierra 🙂
p.s. pray this dinner is good and fills 33 people’s tummies 🙂
Hi sweetie! The mural ministry is so cool and I’m glad you get to be a part of it!! Thanks for your updates…it’s good to see your beautiful smile and we get to hear about the amazing things that God is doing in your life and the lives of others you are blessed to touch! And it’s good to see some sunshine….it’s COLD here! And getting ready to snow 1-5 inches here. Yow!
Keep up the great work, keep having fun! Looks like your hard work is already paying off. Great to hear the update of your community outreach and your personal gains. Look at you cookin for the gang! (That’s a lot of Mac ‘n Cheese) lol. Love you! ??
I have LOVED the videos and updates…it is great to see your beautiful face and hear your voice!! Your team resembles the Acts Church…2:42 says they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…such an inspiration to us all. Each and every day…wherever we are…if our focus is on Jesus it will change the way we live! My prayer over you and the team through the duration of your ministry is Ephesians 1:17-19…I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of HIs glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the mighty working of His strength. Zechariah tells us NOT by might NOT by power but by My Spirit says the Lord Almighty…surrender to His Spirit sweet girl and let Him do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine for the people you are serving. You are loved and adored by your Creator and Savior…and me!
Love you SO much Aunt Lisa! Thank you for your encouragement always!
LOVE love love you Aunt Jenean! Thank you for ALL the support!!!
NEVER are your words empty or powerless. Man, this is encouraging!! LOVE that prayer. Your prayers are so powerful and effective. I don’t want to step into anything without it covered in prayer first – thankful this is being implemented here on my team and at home by INCREDIBLE supporters/mentors/friends like you!