Thank you for supporting me to go to Costa Rica!

Dear family and friends,

It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve returned from Costa Rica. I want to start by saying that your support was truly heartfelt and helped make the trip possible for me. It had been 5 years since I last traveled internationally for mission work, and I was asking the Lord to send me again, but hadn’t gotten a yes until I saw this opportunity.

I believe it is very important to obey when God says to go, and equally important not to send yourself places where God is not calling you, or to go out of his timing. In 2024 I visited a friend in Costa Rica, learned and witnessed more about the people, the land and the culture. I knew it was a beginning time to start preparing and praying into how I would partner with God in this beautiful country. He told me I would be returning soon.

Freedom Crusades is the ministry I went with this past month, and I had little knowledge about them when I signed up, which might sound crazy to some. They partner with others that I have run with, so I was assured in a sense because leaders I submit to were already working with them. More importantly I knew God had said “Go” as soon as I attended the first informational meeting about this trip.

The first half of the week we spent near the beach in Playa Hermosa. Our mornings started with teaching and devotional time, which would prepare us for the ministry time with the Costa Rican church community we were visiting. Jonathan Derrick Mathe gave us great tools to use. He helped us all understand how to partner with God and be most effective in reaching the people and meeting the goal of the mission.

The goal of this mission was specific, baptize people in the local church communities of Liberia in the Holy Spirit and fire. Freedom Crusades has previously visited this region and already started the work. Many of the churches in Costa Rica believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, but they were not seeing Him move in miracles, signs, and wonders. Our assignment was to demonstrate what flowing in His power looks like, and help them step into that.

The church that we were ministering at is called Hosanna Liberia. The people were so welcoming, excited for us to be with them, and hungry for more of God. They also needed a shift in their understanding of how to steward God’s power, walk in higher levels of faith, and break out of performance. Each night of the week Jonathan Derrick Mathe would share a message related to the mission, and then there would be a time of ministry. We had no worship during these nights. He was driving the point home that the Holy Spirit doesn’t come in power because of an amazing worship set.

At the end of the week, we hosted a seminar led by Jonathan. Everyone in attendance received his book, School of the Spirit Volume 2: Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We went through the teachings and scriptures in the book over the course of 4 sessions between Friday and Saturday. Then we began a time of ministry. Our team and some of the Costa Ricans who had been previously baptized in the Holy Spirit, laid hands and prayed for those who wanted to receive. It was incredible. God moved throughout the team. The power was evident as people were being filled. Many were set free, crying tears of joy, and speaking in tongues.

On the final day we were invited to Hosana Liberia’s Sunday service in their new building, which is still being completed. Jonathan preached a final message and afterwards there was a lot more ministry. Some received healing during this time, as words of knowledge were released about specific healings that God wanted to take place. The ministry time was not limited here, people came for prayer for all reasons, and we witnessed God’s power in many forms.

My favorite testimony of the trip was captured by several teammates throughout the week. It began on Tuesday evening during our ministry time. A young woman was filled with the Holy Spirit. Shortly after her encounter, her son of about 12 or 13 years old was being prayed for. He also wanted the infilling of the Spirit. Jonathan prayed for him once, but something was blocking him, so Jonathan helped him to understand a key. Receiving the baptism of fire is a gift that God wants to give his children, just like salvation, but we must step out in faith and take it just like salvation. The boy was filled after hearing this key.

Days later, during the ministry time on Sunday, the boy prayed with his little sister as the mother watched, and the young girl also received the gift of the Holy Spirit and was speaking in tongues. The mom and boy were wrecked by God’s love and cried seeing the sister step into the Holy Spirit’s power. Her childlike faith made receiving the Holy Spirit and fire easy. It was beautiful to see God move in this family as they all hugged each other crying joyfully.

There was so much that I gleaned from this trip that I could share. I bonded with my teammates and can see myself running with them in the future on other trips and within other forms of ministry. The Lord gave me more of a heart towards the people of Costa Rica, and I gained insight on how to pray strategically for them. I also got clarity about my personal calling and how to prepare for upcoming seasons and assignments with more wisdom and understanding. This was truly a fruitful trip, and I am so grateful for your support.

May God bless you and your family abundantly.

Ephesians 3:21

With love and gratitude,

Sally