Consecration day

Today, our mission team was consecrated in four services at church. There is no doubt that we are prayed over now, but good! The last consecration took place after the Contemporary Service sermon, which was a great one about Father's Day. I don't usually attend the Contemporary service but I've loved it the couple of times that I have. It features a lot of soulful singing and rousing words, all in the very informal surroundings of our church's gym. The consecration itself was very moving....the pastor had our teams stand in the aisles and the congregation surrounded us, laid hands on us, and prayed for the success and safety of the team. This day was also full of encouraging words from our friends and the church at large, as we passed through the hallways in our mission team T-shirts. I was on the verge of tears for most of the morning! The encouragment was just what I needed today. I know I am about to face all the anxieties that will come this week over getting ready to go and having my kids leave with their grandparents on Tuesday. I'm going to miss them terribly.

After church, the team met for lunch and heard from the permanent missionaries in Costa Rica. They won't be on site during our trip, but they had lots of useful information about the San Jose church and surrounding communities. And they had yet more encouragement for us, which was very welcome! One thing that was said today stuck with me... Maybe these team members are seed planters or maybe they are just going to prepare the soil for the seeds yet to be planted, but whatever their purpose...let it be God's purpose.

The countdown begins...