A Visitor's Perspective (March 2016)

After seven years of hearing about the amazing work of God in Costa Maya, we were finally able to see it in person during Holy Week and Easter Sunday. I had no idea what to expect as we drove to Good Friday and Easter Sunday services with the unfamiliar all around. A huge part of the ministry involves picking up children and adults from little shacks with grass roofs or tiny cement homes along the beach and in a nearby neighborhood which seems to have been carved out of the ever¬-encroaching jungle. On Sunday, we stopped at the shell of a building where a family of four (father out of work) was squatting. Naked three¬-year ¬old Eric was bathing by pouring buckets of water on himself. The mother finally coaxed him into coming, and miraculously, by the time he climbed into the truck, he was wearing shorts. I got to hold six--month ¬old Erica for the rest of the trip on the rutted beach road. We picked up another woman with four-¬year ¬old twins, and both women unashamedly nursed their babies as they sat in church. The atmosphere in church was friendly, even though the language barrier kept us from communicating much. We sat in white vinyl chairs in the open ¬air church and wondered how we could worship when the service was in Spanish. However, Pastor Martin gave us English summaries of his sermon, and as he spoke with his joy-¬filled smile, the unknown quickly became familiar. I cried and praised God for the pure Gospel message being preached, the message we ALL need–payment for sins made in full and accepted! Because Jesus lives, I will live also! In the meantime, the Almighty God has promised never to leave us on our own in this world of sorrow, heartache, and difficulties. We returned home to Milwaukee overwhelmed with gratitude for the Truth we have had all our lives and for the pure joy of seeing the power of the cross and the empty tomb breaking through the darkness in this faraway place! ~ Candace Winkel