My experience in Verbena

In Costa Rica, there was a community we went to called Verbena. This area was filled with families who loved being outdoors and love the parties that 6:8 Ministries brings to them.

But, this area is in deep poverty. Many of the houses are made of metal sheets and exposed wood, and most of them didn't have any floors. Their mattresses were laying on the dirt and mud that was their flooring. There was a small stream that ran through most of the community that was full of mud and other liquids.

The picture in the cover of this blog post is one that was taken at the party in Verbena. All the kids who came out stood in this open space in between some houses and danced to "Church Clap." For a few minutes, we were all connected by the love we had for Christ and the blessing it was to be there together and have fun.

This doesn't paint a super pleasant picture when you're imagining it. However, the people starkly contrasted their surroundings. The families we met seemed really happy to meet us and so many kids came out to play tag, color in some coloring pages, and play some other games. They just liked being with us because they trusted the group we were with, 6:8 Ministries. The language barrier made it hard to understand what the kids were saying, but they always found a way to get across what they needed to.

Thinking about this stark contrast between their lives and their attitudes, I realized that's what other people sometimes see when they look at Christians. As Christ followers, we are called to find the peace that "surpasses all understanding" in the Lord. (Philippians 4:7) Others, looking from the outside, will see whatever situation you are in, whether its outlined with pain, loss, or something else, and ultimately notice that how you are responding is not aligned with the flow of the world.

We are called to stand out and to be set apart. We are called to go against the flow of the world and follow the path that the Lord sets for us. If that leads us to Verbena, then we react to it like these people I met have, with peace and trust in the Lord.