In a remote and forgotten village, the eyes tell the story
The spiritual world is invisible to physical eyes … usually.
When John and Wendy Freeland and their mission team from Indianapolis trekked up in the mountains outside San Jose, Costa Rica, they might have thought the driver lost his way. But a community in this remote area desperately needed both clean water and good news.
Lamparas is a village of Nicaraguan immigrants that has fallen off the radar of government assistance. Not only have promises of clean water by officials been forgotten, even bus service has been cut. It is an isolated area where few people venture in or out.
Lamparas is a village of Nicaraguan immigrants that has fallen off the radar of government assistance.
But they fully welcomed the Filter of Hope mission team. During their time in Costa Rica, the mission team distributed 57 filters, shared the gospel with 108 people, and saw 35 people receive Christ—and some of those filters and people are in Lamparas.
He wasn’t on the list
There are many stories, but Wendy and John will especially remember Jesse. Unlike the other filter recipients, Jesse wasn’t on the list of homes the local leaders had assembled. “We were on our way back to the bus when our translator started talking with Jesse and they found out they were from the same area. Jesse really wanted a filter for his family.”
So they went to Jesse’s home—part home and part auto mechanics shop. “The translator said we needed to do it quickly so Jesse could go back to work, but he never seemed in a hurry.”
Jesse loved the filter. “The water they used was piped in from streams and it was very dirty looking so he was excited and thankful when he saw the clean water come out of the filter.”
When the team started sharing how Jesus could be the filter for his sins, it became apparent Jesse knew little about God. “He said he believed in God as the creator, but it wasn’t something intimate.”
A visible change
Jesse listened intently and nodded his head while John explained the gospel. But at some point in the conversation about how Jesus could be the filter for his life, Wendy saw something she’d never seen before.
“I could see the moment when it clicked in his brain. It was like a lightbulb went on. It was very supernatural. You could see the change in his eyes.”
Jesse received clean water that day, but even more importantly he received a new personal relationship with his Creator.
Wendy and John are ready to go again. “The trip was an awesome experience.”
“I could see the moment when it clicked in his brain. It was like a lightbulb went on. It was very supernatural. You could see the change in his eyes.”
Filter of Hope staff member Scott Santee was also amazed by the thirst for God in Lamparas. When one woman was asked if the mission team could tell her about Jesus, the Living Water, her reply opened their eyes. “Please tell me. You have come from so far. I’ve been waiting to meet Jesus.”
Please tell me. You have come from so far. I’ve been waiting to meet Jesus.
While Lamparas is still overlooked by most people, these new believers know God sees them. They firmly believe God sent his messengers their way.
