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Humble
Beginnings
A collection of blog posts from our first year of 2022 that tell the story of how it all began.
Protagonist: The Lord God Almighty!
March 2022: "God Opening the Door"
It was early March. Jordy and I had already been praying the past months to God for His guidance for where He wanted us to start with Breath of Life Dance Ministry. We strongly felt since the beginning that God had called us to both the San José and Talamanca provinces of Costa Rica. But how, and where? Then, Jordy got invited to meet some pastors and community leaders in Talamanca for a weekend with our fellow missionary friend, who we call Lucho. He had grown up there and knows many connections there, and God has also put a bigger vision on Lucho's heart about doing missions there. But in short, Jordy said yes to accompany him. (Abby was at home in the States at this point, so she couldn't come with.) As Jordy was with Lucho and meeting leaders and pastors, he was also introduced to Karina, the founder of the ministry organization called The Nest. They have a base in Upper Talamanca with the indigenous BriBri community. Their main mission is to provide a refuge space for youth, where they can be loved, learn about Jesus, and be protected correctly from abuse experienced in their homes, which is sadly frequently present in that area. As Jordy was listening to the details and vision of The Nest, Karina said, "And in the future, we also hope to have dance classes available for youth! We want teachers to come to provide classes for them." That was a big prayer for her and her husband, as they looked forward to their ministry's development. At this point, Jordy was stunned. Because before that, he hadn't mentioned a word about the vision God had put upon his heart with Breath of Life Dance Ministry. She didn't know Jordy did dance at all, or that it was our calling from God to work with youth through dance. Crazy, right? Definitely a God moment! Jordy was quick to tell her about his calling with Breath of Life and how we had been praying for God to lead us and open doors for us. And that he would love the opportunity to partner with The Nest for that very reason! Karina was in awe, too. She went on to explain to Jordy that she had been praying for dance teachers for The Nest for about 4 years! Because that was a vision God put on her heart since then. She explained that when youth are involved in physical programs like dance, a part of their right brain is specifically activated (like the doing other things in the arts, but it's a full body physical activity). And that they observed that youth recover from trauma more smoothly when they are involved in dance. As psychologist Bessel van der Kolk states, "The body keeps the score"; trauma memory is also stored in our bodies. And dance can be a method of that release, and a method to fight against dissociation from self. They observed that youth seemed to be more easily integrated into societal functions as they move into adolescence and adulthood when involved in dance (ex: less social fear and timidity; having more openness to new things, etc). They especially noticed that difference when youth cross the break point of 12 years old, if they will recover better or will have more permanent effects from their trauma. This was the answer to a prayer on both sides. Praying for God to open a door to bring dance ministry, and the other side praying to God for dance teachers. Could it be any more clear? ______ In Revelation 3:7, it says, "“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." This is making reference to Jesus, as the one who opens doors that no one, especially the enemy, cannot close. This was the big door God opened for us, that we know is just the beginning. It was a confirmation of beginning Breath of Life that came much earlier than expected. Because God had spoken to us before that we were indeed prepared for His work, and that this was the right time to start. And even though Jordy and I (Abby) were going through a life transition at this point and unsure of when we would truly start, God said it was time to start His work! I had never imagined we would be a part of a narrative so amazing--to have an encounter like this, with perfectly answered prayers to start this ministry, at the perfect moment! After so much time of praying, asking, and trusting that this is God's vision from His heart, His dream became reality. When we allow God to direct our paths (Prov. 3:5-6), He will go before us and show His glory. It's for the good of the nations, who will hear the message of the Gospel and have a relationship with Jesus their Savior (Acts 1:8). And we are excited to begin His work, to be His hands and feet. To share His heart, to glorify Him and worship Him with all we are, in spirit and truth. We know His passion for the nations is infinitely greater than the passion we have in us. That is why we are are contagious about His people around the world. And we know that we really want to go wherever God goes, even if it's so far away. Ruth 1:16-17: "But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
April 2022: "First Dance Outreach!"
After much prayer and preparation for this exciting day, it had finally come! Our first dance outreach for partnering with The Nest was finally becoming a reality! Jordy and I (Abby) had a long day's journey in bus that Friday to arrive to Puerto Viejo, where Karina came to pick us up. We were received very kindly by The Nest's staff at the base! They were also accompanied by Loki and Annie, two youth from an Australian family who were already working at The Nest, who were going to help us at the dance workshop, too. The plan for Saturday was to be hosted by the church in Suiri of Talamanca. This was not only because of the Pastor's disposition, but also because they had one of the larger teenage population of Upper Talamanca that Breath of Life seeks to work with! (Instead of very young kids.) _____________ To begin, it was an amazing day! It was cool to experience something new alongside the youth, which was dance for them! We asked them what they liked to do in general, or what they are passionate about, and everyone said they just liked soccer! But later we learned they didn't exactly know how to express which talents and arts they liked besides soccer, because it wasn't the norm in their setting. But later, we had a lesson called "The Arts and the Bible", in which we explained how God is the ultimate Creator and Artist, and that He made all arts for good and to glorify Him. The final activity was for them to brainstorm different aspects of nature, or different arts, that they liked, and to draw or write something on their piece of paper. We were so amazed by the way they were expressing what they truly liked! And there were many good artists in that group! Something that was so touching to Jordy and I was when a youth would individually come up to us and say, "Actually, I do like music!" or "I actually like to dance!". Or they would show us the drawing they made with a smile on their face. In their culture, they are very timid and shy, especially to express themselves in front of a group of people, or new people. So even though at the beginning we asked them that question, and they all said "soccer", they actually had many more passions hidden in their hearts. And that was our goal: to show them the way. To show them Christ, and show them how they can glorify Him with the talents they were given. Even though we were there to dance, we understand that's not the talent or calling of everyone. We want them to discover how to be the artists God wants them to be, and how they can use their talents for God. We want them to be able to express themselves through every art they have in them. And also, how they can see God in the nature around them. Whether in the rivers, the stars, the flowers, the mountains... it was a moment for them to see God through the beauty He made around us. These are the youth we serve with Christ's love! Youth, with so much potential and passions and dreams! We know God has us here for this reason. ____________________________ As for the dance classes: we had a warm-up in the morning, and later a session of contemporary and hip-hop. Both of which were new to them! So much as listening and following the teacher, doing it with the group, spatial awareness, accompanying the music, coordination, etc. So it was cool to introduce dance routines to them and experience it with them. A few youth had done dance routines in their church, but very little. And a couple youth did break-dance moves without really knowing it, which was very interesting! By the end, we were all very tired, both from the heat and the dancing! We were able to pray with the group before they had to leave. It was fulfilling to get to know each one of the youth, knowing that we would come back again to work with them. We truly fell in love with them and their hearts! _________________________ To conclude: The way we envisioned our dance crew was to see every art present in the group to represent Christ. To see freed youth, filled with love, passionate, loving their neighbors, being servant-hearted, seeking purity in Christ. More than this, to see youth passionate about the Great Commission, and clinging to the Word of the Lord. A place where you enter, and you can see Christ's heart in every part. And this is something we can share with the world, and it can become a rescue for many youth who are in danger right now. There are youth that we can save from the plan of the enemy--this is our plan and our fight (2 Tim 1:7, Eph. 6:12). This is our reality, and for that reason we do this. --Jordy and Abby Breath of Life Dance Ministry
May 2022: "Occupying the Nest"
This month, we were able to return to Upper Talamanca and partner with The Nest again! However, this time was exciting because we helped host the very first event used in that space! (Instead of being hosted by a church). (Our journey to The Nest: including car, longboat across the river, walking through plantain trees, and up the big hill!) One thing you will quickly notice here, seeing the photos, is that this building is designed to imitate the house structure that is historically in this region. The common structure is all wooden, with the plantain leaves for the rooftop, which allows for over-the-fire cooking in their kitchen as well. For this reason, the rugs were necessary to dance, for the sake of our feet. But what a beautiful way to bring dance to these youth from surrounding communities! And to step into their way of life, culture, and history. About half of the youth attending this workshop were at our last outreach at the church of Suiri. The others were from other cities nearby---it was a pretty big group! It was cool to see the youth remain dedicated to learning new things in dance! We know it's easy for them at their age to get distracted, or to get tired quickly, but these youth made us so proud with their hard work. We saw how each individual grew and persevered to learn and do the choreographies well. As always, when we give classes, we intend to explain to them the message behind the choreography--the WHY. It's easier for some to just make a dance "mindlessly", trying to fit in as many cool moves as possible to make a finished product. I (Abby) have seen this many times, especially in competitive settings. But in dancing for God in this ministry, we know our dances have power. Because they tell stories, they are our worship to God, they become spiritual warfare, and they become prayers to God and declarations of truths. The message spoken in workshops is not just verbal, but the very dance itself. And that's part of the preparation: to ask God what He wishes to speak through the dances. One of our main goals is that the youth will be able to connect personally with the meaning behind the song; connecting body, mind, heart, and spirit. In this case, Jordy's Hip-hop choreography spoke about a love that perseveres, specifically in pursuit of God. It talks about those moments we yearn for God and ask Him to come--a declaration of our dedication and love for Him, and a desire to always be close. The youth were definitely challenged when experiencing new moves! But explaining the "why" behind each movement helped them to visualize it better. Abby's song spoke about God as the "Potter", and we are the work of His hands (Jer. 18:1-6, Eph 2:10). Though not all were engaged in this class, it was cool to see a core set of older girls expressing themselves through this song! They caught on well, and danced with their hearts too, which is another level of learning! We got to expand more on the theme of God as the Potter in our reflection before lunch. It was awesome to converse with the youth about this! We talked about how God forms us, and even when we come broken to him, He is the one that heals and remolds us in such a personal way. We also talked about how we are all created uniquely in His design, and that we all have a purpose in Him. We asked all the youth what they "want to be" when they grow up. And we noticed they were more open to share about themselves than the last time! Answers varied from math teacher, to scientist, to builder, to dancer, to musician, and more. We saw how their hearts soared as they dreamed into their futures of who they can become. These youth are already so talented, and have so much potential. We want to encourage them to pursue those dreams. We want them to always ask God for what His purposes are through that talent. Although it's common for kids in the States, for example, to be encouraged in these creative areas and have opportunities to develop them, we noticed that it's less common in these kid's lives of BriBri. Amidst their responsibilities in their households and schoolwork, they should be able to dream and develop those dreams that God puts in their hearts. They are the future generation that will impact this world! This day of dance and fellowship with these youth in Talamanca was so beautiful, and we pray that the seeds planted would continue to take bloom in their lives. And as always, we end up being blessed by them! Which is such a special gift God grants us at the end of the day of hard work. We invite you to join us in prayer for them: that God would always protect them, guide them, and give them all they need as they are on this journey of growth and knowing God. Amen.
July 2022: "Day of Ballet and Art"
We're back at The Nest! Today was unique because we had a day of rotating stations with the kids. We learned that with a wide variety of age groups, and many younger ones, it's be best to split them up to have a smaller-group focus at each activity. Jordy and I (Abby) led the dance class, while the other Nest staff led other art activities and prepared the meal. Many more youth, about 35 total, came this time, with new individuals from other nearby towns. So it was helpful to manage them by having smaller groups, and keeping it exciting for them to do various things! We love to be able to offer a day of arts for them! And they definitely seemed to enjoy every part of it. (What we saw in the beginning, as we welcomed in each group that arrived---An abundance of youth and adult leaders. We felt God's confirmation and a great excitement at that moment.) This time, we were able to teach ballet basics to the kids! This was very new to them, but they had a lot of curiosity and determination to do it well. They felt very proud when they could get it right. It was cool to experience this in smaller groups, to have one-on-one focus with every participant. In the end both the girls and boys put into practice what they had learned into a short dance! They had a lot of fun with it! We hope to expand this choreography in the future, so they can present it in their local churches to show what they have learned. Many of the leaders and pastors expressed this desire, and we agree it would be awesome to do! At the end, we led a reflection about loving our neighbors--something that is without selfishness or expecting something in return (Phil. 2:1-3, Col. 3:12-15). In a world that teaches us to live for our own gain, or to love conditionally if "they" deserve it, Jesus teaches us to love in a different way. There are many artists in that group of BriBri kids! And we feel honored to be able to invest in their lives to develop their talents they have. We love to keep seeing them grow in skills, character, and confidence. Love, Jordy and Abby
July 2022: "In Shiroles of Talamanca"
After going to The Nest, we had a 2-day Workshop in Shiroles! (another city in Talamanca region.) This was our first time working in this town, and it was very fruitful, with much potential going forward! (read towards the end to hear why!) The plan was to have the workshop in the community hall. It was a good space, and this way it was open to those who go to church, and those who don't. Our mission is to partner with churches, but more than that, to reach the unreached and the unbelievers. The youth enjoyed the dance classes and were ready to be active and learn! Although they got tired by the end, their joy was like no other. The theme of both the Hip-Hop and Contemporary choreographies was 'spiritual warfare'. The beauty is that they were expressed in unique ways in each style and song used. The youth got to experience both sides of it. Our fellow missionary friends introduced us to Shiroles, and connected us with a church there. We were surprised by how many youth are present in this town! However, the only activity really available for youth is Soccer. And that is not everyone's favorite, so they may become bored. And that is a main reason that sadly, teenagers very often run to drugs and alcohol as they get older here, among other influences and causes. There are not any other art opportunities available for youth here, for not many people choose to invest in the indigenous communities of Talamanca. For that reason, we feel from God that consistency is key for reaching the lost youth of Shiroles! Would you join us to pray for God to keep moving in the hearts of youth in Shiroles with us? We pray God breaks the chains of the enemy in this region!
October 2022: "BOLDM Dance Crew Begins"
Since the beginning, God spoke to us that we were called to start something new in Costa Rica. The vision He gave us seems so much bigger than us. Yet that's the excitement of it, that only God can make those things possible to happen. These past few months of August and September have been filled with the beginning fruits of another new work--our dance crew in San José, who is known as the BOLDM Dance Crew. These are youth we met in a youth camp we staffed, and we felt called to follow up with them and asked them if they'd like to be directly involved with this dance ministry. All of them were so excited about it, and said "yes" to the invitation! Our San José group dynamic is different than when we go to Talamanca because this one is a crew that meets for classes every weekend. Whereas with the youth of Talamanca, we host workshops monthly, and we don't know sometimes the number of youth who will attend. Although finances haven't allowed us to go back to Talamanca these past months, we felt like it was a key time to invest in San José. It was the other half of our calling from God--these two regions are our focus, and we can't forget about either one! We offer the classes for free, because we don't want finances to be an obstacle for any youth to not be able to participate, although we ask for their commitment to the group. We also wanted to make these classes the most accessible to them, knowing they live in different areas of urban San José, and travel can be another difficulty for them. So, we have classes every Saturday on Zoom, and the final Saturday is in person at a studio space we can rent. Jordy continues to teach the hip-hop classes, and Abby the contemporary class. It's so fun to see how each youth truly puts forth their best effort, with a hunger and passion to learn and do well. Their excitement of doing the choreography well is our greatest joy to see in them! We have a range of youth who have done dance before, and for some it's their first time, but they all have so much capacity and heart to dance for God! Our goal with learning these choreographies is to be able to go on outreaches with the youth, so that they may also have the chance to share about Jesus through their talents God gave them! Some are already so passionate about sharing about Jesus through the arts, which was something that I (Abby) never had cross my mind when I was their age. For that reason, we rejoice in how God will use their willing hearts to reach other youth, both on local outreaches and ones farther away. These youth will become that "breath of life" for others, and we hope the effect will continue onwards to reach many youth for Christ. __________________ Last month, we began to read "Art and the Bible" by Francis Schaeffer with the BOLDM Dance Crew. We want to also grow in understanding together with them, so they can understand the heart behind being artists for God, and to know what is God's heart for the arts. We know that many youth in these generations are falling away from God because of, as the Bible says, a lack of understanding. Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." This verse weighs heavy on our hearts as we personally see youth we knew fall away from God, because they come to believe ideas that are so distant from God's truth. But God's truth is the anchor and rock we trust in. We want the youth to also be strengthened in this area intellectually, and in their understanding of the Bible and their Biblical worldview. And also, to be strengthened relationally with Jesus as they seek Him in their personal time. It's been amazing to read this book with them, and to reflect on the teachings together. And to see how they get it. We see their eyes get big as they passionately share some personal applications they understand from the book. We are excited for how this community is forming, and slowly we hope to continue to grow in unity in Christ as a group! We hope to have more times for one-on-one's, small groups, fellowship, sharing testimonies, and worship in music. Please pray for God to help us plan our first local outreach with the BOLDM Dance Crew we have in mind, to go to a local church in the city of Naranjo. Pray that His Spirit would guide us to where He wants us to go, and to prepare the hearts to receive the messages from the choreographies we present. Also, pray for God to guide us in what other communities of youth to reach out to, to invite them to be a part of the Crew as well. Although the dancers we have now are Christians and know God, we also want this Crew to be a chance for non-believers to join us to learn dance, and successively learn about Jesus. We feel strongly that God will use this Dance Crew as an opportunity to bring youth to know Christ, and grow in their knowledge and love for God. Thanks for reading! God bless you! --Abby & Jordy
