Testimony of Sara while in Costa Rica - 2008 -

Costa Rica has been amazing. I have learned so much while on this trip through the books we have been reading, the ministry, and also through my own life experiences while being here. I think of this time in Costa Rica as being in God‘s womb. He is knitting me together to be who he wants me to be. Sometimes that means he has to tear down what I have created on my own so that he can rebuild and that doesn’t always feel good.

I turn 18 in a month and even though it seems like I have waited for this my entire life, now that it is actually here, I’m scared. I have to make my own decisions and I will be stuck with the consequences whether they are good or bad. Through my fears and not being able to do anything about it I have begun to truly trust in God for my future. To get me to trust in him it seemed like he had to shut all the doors in my life so there was no place to go except to him. He is teaching me that I can rest in him. I don’t have to worry about anything because he will take care of me.

One of the books we have read, The Father Heart Of God, made a huge impact on my life. The book opened my eyes to God as a Father. That he is my Daddy and I can trust him completely just like an infant trust’s its parents to feed, clothe, and love them. So even though I am about to enter the world as an adult I am still Daddy’s little girl and he will always be there to catch me. I can always rest in his arms.
Another chapter of this book explained forgiveness. It changed my perspective of forgiveness. Forgiveness was no longer this abstract thing that we all strive for but can never achieve. I learned that forgiveness is a process. It is continual. Once you have forgiven someone it doesn‘t mean that you feel 100% better. It also doesn‘t mean you won‘t have some bitterness or anger, but when you feel bitterness or anger you just need to remind yourself that you have forgiven them and change your thoughts. I also realized that I needed to forgive myself. I’m the only one keeping record of my mistakes, in God’s eyes my heart is spotless and it should be that way to me too. By forgiving myself I let go of mindsets that have held me back from pursuing God to my fullest.

Now that God has demolished all the me in me now he can remodel me with him.

Testimony of Amber in Costa Rica - 2008 -

Looking Back
Amber Kemper

Over the time that I have been in Costa Rica, I have experienced a lot. I have gone through a lot and have changed a lot. I actually had my heart change today when reading the book The Difference Maker by John Maxwell. I have always had the fear of making mistakes and messing up. I wasn’t moving forward and wasn’t learning much. After reading about it I have let that fear go. I am only human and will continue to make mistakes.

I would have to say that the thing that has stood out to me the most here is the people. I have never seen people so happy with nothing. I will never forget them. I have never been so broken because I have seen someone happy. This is true happiness, you can’t buy it, you can’t wear it, and you can’t eat. I have cried because of the selfishness that I have shown. I wish that I become happy like this and I am going to start with nothing. I am not going to be selfish anymore. I want to let go of that. My favorite two books that we read are Failing Forward and The Difference Maker by John Maxwell. They stood out because I could really understand and relate to them. I never realized that you could fail forward. It sounds dumb, but it’s the truth.

Now I am applying the practices in my life and they are working. Over all, this trip has been amazing. I never knew I could make such a difference in peoples lives. I am so glad that God has been able to use me as a Bessel for him. I have never been more touched by him than now. I am praying that my new found strength doesn’t diminish and that I continue to grow stronger. God has blessed me so much and has showed me how much he loves me time and time again through Mrs. Betty and Mr. Clint, the books and the girls, and Cheyenne. I am so glad that I have been a help in someone’s life I even became someone’s pen-pal in all of this. Tairi is a beautiful girl that I got to show that God loves her along with many others. I will never for get her or this amazing trip! Thank you God!