The third month of the World Race is halfway done. My team is currently living on the east coast of Costa Rica in a province called Limon. It’s absolutely beautiful here, from the lush jungle we’re living in, to the white sand beaches only fifteen minutes away. But the most beautiful thing here has been the people.

We’re working with a ministry called Teen Challenge, a ministry that takes in drug addicts, houses and feeds them, and teaches them the Gospel while getting them clean during an eleven month program. We’ve spent time doing street evangelism to addicts in the capital of San Jose and the city of Limon, and to know that the men we’ve been living with were in similar situations before coming there is amazing because if I had seen them on the streets months earlier, I don’t think I would have recognized them. They are so full of joy and love and it is so beautiful to see the redemptive work the Lord is doing in them. They are so on fire for God and it’s a huge inspiration for my entire team. These men have more joy than most people despite having few material possessions; their joy comes from having a relationship with God and understanding that He loves them and wants the best for them. I’ve loved getting to hear their stories and seeing how the Lord has brought them to Teen Challenge and how He is working in them.

In terms of what we’ve done with our ministry, it’s been a variety of things. We’ve done street evangelism in San Jose and Limon, where we were lucky enough to meet a man named Carlos who decided to come to Teen Challenge, house visits in the areas around our home in Penshurt, physical labor, making chocolate (it’s how the ministry supports itself), and ministering at the men’s and women’s center. I’ve even had the personal privilege of sharing a word on the importance of forgiving others and yourself as well as sharing my testimony to the men at the center. I’ve absolutely loved living here and working with these incredible people and I’m really excited to live and work here for two more weeks.

Well, that’s it for now. I hope you all have a great weekend! God bless.

Colton

Here is my team making chocolate for the ministry to sell