Dar la Luz

At church today, we sang in English and listened to the congregation sing in Spanish.  It was a beautiful reminder of how the love of God transcends all barriers and a foretaste of the universal celebration in heaven.  We prayed for the needs of the community and they prayed for us in turn.  After we sang, we had a few minutes to greet each other.  It was really special :).  I was fortunate to talk to a girl name Giselle.  She had a beautiful smile and kind eyes.  All around us, new friendships are being born, and old ones are strengthened.  As I write this, I am reminded of a particularly spectacular Spanish idiom.  Sometimes, instead of staying that someone is going to give birth, people will say "dar la luz" - literally, "to give the light."  While we are here in Costa Rica, we are immensely blessed to be able to share this light with all the people we encounter, and receive it as well.  The light is not ours - it does not come from us.  But it illuminates everything, as it is written on the ceiling of La Iglesia Cristiana de Vida Nueva, "Para la Gloria de Dios."

- Elena Bourne

meeting one of the local kids

leading worship at church on Sunday