I am headed to Costa Rica on a mission trip soon.  I chose the “Costa Rican Oxcart” as the theme of this weeks painting for several reasons:

1: Oxcarts are vessels and they CARRY.  I am a vessel and I CARRY.  

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars (oxcarts) containing (CARRYING) this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Cor. 4:7)

2: Jesus said to GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS; therefore I am GOING TO THE NATION OF COSTA RICA.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:18-20)

3: We CARRY CHRIST; we also CARRY comfort and one another’s burdens. 

“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction,[a] so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.” (2 Cor. 1:3-5 HCSB)

“CARRY each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2)

**Those 3 points explain why I chose to paint THE COSTA RICAN OXCART.

Now let me fill you in on:

The Rest of the Story!

I am giving you an abbreviated version of the Costa Rican oxcart but for more details please check out Cultural History of the Oxcart in Costa Rica.

The traditional Costa Rican oxcart was used to carry coffee beans and in many cases, oxcarts were a family’s only means of transport and often served as a symbol of social status.

In the early twentieth century each region of Costa Rica had its own unique design and the painted patterns on the wheels revealed its region.  Annual contests rewarded artists for the most creative oxcart designs of flowers, faces, miniature landscapes and pointed stars.  These oxcarts also made their own ‘song’, with a unique chime.

In most regions of Costa Rica, trucks and trains have taken the place of oxcarts but they  are still symbols of the former Costa Rican country life and they are used as decorative craft objects throughout the country.

Where do I see God in the oxcart, as I look for HIM with all my heart and with all my soul?
“But if from there you seek the LORD your God,
you will find him if you look for him with all your heart
and with all your soul. ” (Deuteronomy 4:29) 

1: The oxcart indicated social status.  As carriers of Christ, we show that we are royalty, co-heirs with Christ to a Heavenly throne.

2: The unique designs and songs of the oxcart indicated the region it was from.  In Christ, we are made completely new and our unique design reflects HIM and HE puts a NEW SONG in our mouths.  Our design and song indicate that this world is not our home; HEAVEN is!

3: The oxcart is a decorative craft object throughout Costa Rica.  We are His workmanship, HIS “decorative craft,” created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10) throughout our lives.

Please pray circles around this Costa Rican Jesus journey and around the ministries below, who will be graciously welcoming us as we seek to serve in the Name of Jesus.

Our team will spend 4 days working with  Voz de Libertad Ministries at the Buen Pastor Women’s Prison serving meals, worshipping and praying with prisoners during their Kairos, which is greek for “God’s Special Time”, a 3 day intense Bible study where inmates are introduced to the love, grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

http://www.mykairos.org/about.html

(** I pray that you click on the links I have provided to fully understand how God birthed and is moving in these ministries:  Kairos, Voz de Libertad, and APAC.)

Our team will also visit the mother/baby section of the prison.   These mothers are allowed to keep their babies with them until they are 3 years of age.  Voz de Libertad Ministries also works with these mothers in the hopes of breaking the cycle of hopelessness for them and their children .

We will also spend time at APAC, another ministry partner of Voz de Liberated.
APAC is a low security faith-based prison that was given by the Costa Rica government to Carlos Cunningham, the founder of Voz de Libertad, to run. Volunteers from different churches help run the prison, such as administration, doctors, teachers, recreational, spiritual, and legal. The goal is for a “no return” to prison since the men are learning self worth and how to live in the outside world. The recidivisim rate is 1%.

Voz de Libertad was founded by Carlos Cunningham in 1998 and continues today with the help of over 80 volunteers.  This group seeks to carry the message of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of each inmate throughout the multiple “church services” inside the men and women’s prisons.  These men and women not only attend church, many of them attend discipleship classes, Celebrate Recover, mentoring and work to restore relationship with their families and sometimes the victims of their crimes.  Voz de Liberated also provides counseling, a small food pantry and aids in helping inmates find a church home and get involved in their local communities once they are released.  This support does not end the day of release, many become volunteers and continue to spread the Word!

http://psalm8110.com/cross-wall-gallery/

I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported this mission trip through purchasing my cross paintings.  The cost of my entire trip was covered through THE CROSS! Each of you have been a tremendous source of encouragement to me.   By choosing a cross you have made an eternal Kingdom investment in my heart and I am taking you with me to Costa Rica.  Painting has become a precious time of meditation and prayer and I plan to continue capturing THE CROSS on canvas.  God never ceases to amaze me, as HE continues to birth the miraculous and make all things new, in and through HIS children.

One more show of gratitude overflow:

Thank you!

In “PRAY”paring  (that is my made-up word combining “pray” and “prepare”:) to GO, I have been asking God, as it relates to this mission trip:

“Let me see clearly so that I may take in
the amazing things coming from Your law.” (Psalm 119:18 VOICE)

This is the passage and the promises I believe HE spoke to me so clearly concerning this trip:

Joshua 1:14-15New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to [a]your own land, and possess [b]that which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

SO how does this apply to our Costa Rica mission trip?

(*Christ is our personal Lord and Savior and HE speaks to each of us personally; therefore I have inserted my name.  Jesus is speaking your name too! When claiming God’s promises, insert your own name!  It is personal; HE is personal!)

Katie, your family, is safe and secure with ME as they stay home.  I am holding the families of each of your team members in the palm of MY HAND.

BUT I AM SENDING YOU, AND THE TEAM I HAND PICKED!

I have prepared you and continue to prepare you, for spiritual warfare, by being in you, going before you, and pulling up the rear behind you.  The victory is MINE, so you, MY girl, are walking in as the winner, in MY NAME, alongside the valiant warriors I have prepared to link arms with you.

I prepared this CROSSING OVER before the foundation of the earth.  My mission is to send your team as instruments of light, helping to bring out the God-colors in everyone you cross paths with in Costa Rica.  Bringing out MY-colors in people is giving them rest, just like I sent people into your path to help bring MY-colors out in you!  I gave you rest and now I choose to use you and your team to help usher in MY REST for those in Costa Rica.

I am also enabling you and your team to help my children in Costa Rica take possession of the land I am giving them.  I have great revival planned for my children in Costa Rica, for those who already know and walk with ME and for all those who are coming to ME.

The wake of this trip will leave REST and REWARD, PEACE and PROMISED POSSESSION for all you encounter and for you and your team as well.

Your team will GO BACK AND OCCUPY YOUR OWN LAND and you will forever be changed by the fingerprints I HAVE PAINTED ON YOUR HEARTS.

The God-colors in each team member will be more vibrant and alive than ever before because of the time I gave you in:

Costa Rica-MY RICH COAST!

Love,

YOUR JESUS