“Do you want to do 5 days group mentoring in Costa Rica?” I received this message on skype.
“Yes, sure, let’s do it”.
The exciting thing is that each one is different. The group mentoring always brings interesting dynamic and interactions.
We usually get a mix of 5-12 students from around the world. They arrive with different needs, dreams, fears, challenges and unique life stories. They arrive to build a profitable online business. This time we had 12 people.
Hour of Power
Through all my previous trips I had learned that the group mentoring would be both demanding and rewarding time. Business challenges brought by entrepreneurs are only the symptoms. When we look under the hood, there are wounds hurts that cause people to lose hope, lose certainty and to slow down with their progress. It is a very rewarding time watching people receive their breakthrough.
Staying tuned to the voice of the Lord is essential to be able to serve effectively. I made a few decisions to hear his voice better. No alcohol throughout the entire trip and start my day with an hour of power. It is a special sacred time that strengthens me emotionally, spiritually and centers me.
Every day at 5 am, my alarm would go off. Even though we often finished the previous day past midnight, but I would still wake up at 5 am in order to first go for a walk along the beautiful beach and I would witness the miracle of the sun rising. I would listen to music, worship, pray, do my daily declarations and listen to Him. Because He speaks, He gives instructions and directions.
After the treat for the soul and spirit, I would also give a treat to my body. I took my swimming goggles and would go for a swim. Since the resort area is also a good surfing spot, I could count on big waves to swim through and do some body surfing. I is a powerful experience that awakens all my senses.
Gift
During one of the evening conversation, I sat down with one of the participants, a Jewish guy from Australia. We spoke about the importance of creating our own story for business. He shared with me a powerful lesson that he had learned from his dad who is also a businessman. His dad told him “when building business does not focus as much on how much you can save but instead focus on what you can make”, that hit me. I felt this message was a special for me, perfect advise to reset my focus in my current season.
Sounds simple and common sense, but it was not a common practice in my business. I still had scarcity thinking blocking me from progressing, because of all the years of struggles that I went through I constantly focused on how I could save. The focus went in the wrong direction. This advice was a gift to help me switch my business thinking around.
Sciatic Nerve
On day two of our mastermind, one of the participants was missing from the class. Three of us went to check on her. When we walked inside her bungalow through the balcony door, we found her lying on the bed in pain. She told us it was a sciatic nerve causing the pain. She was not able to walk and not even able to get up and take the medicine that she had in her suitcase.
We found the medicine and gave it to her. Her face was twisted with pain, she had tears in her eyes. I was in the room with another elderly participant from the US. Seeing her suffering so much, I stepped out and offered to pray for her. She accepted after I finished my prayer my friend laid hands and very boldly rebuked the sickness and the devil. I looked at him and smiled. I had a brother in Christ with me. My new friend turned out to be a deacon serving one of the churches in Atlanta, Georgia, US.
Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[a] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
The next day we had our missing friend back in the classroom smiling and full of energy. To be honest I am not sure if that was the prayer or the medications or the combination of the two but I am glad I had an opportunity to step out.
Amazing Treat For the Soul
On the third day, we had an activity day with participants. We started with ATVs, we rode the vehicles for around one hour, saw a line of red ants, stopped to see some hina plant and came back.
The second activity was horseback riding on the beach at the sunset. The owner of the stable, Sylvia turned out to be a Polish girl living in Costa Rica. She is very passionate about what she does, her face radiates with smile and energy whenever she speaks about horses and her job.
Since everyone was a beginner, we would normally go for a slow walk along the beautiful beach.
This time was different because I was part of a second group, there were only two of us. Sylvia decided to let us try cantering. This is a bit faster than the average trot, but slower than the gallop.
First, I have to admit, it was a bit scary, as we were going quite fast and I could not synchronise with the pace of the riding horse, my body was out of sync.
Sylvia explained the mechanics and showed us how to put it into practice. We did a couple of short attempts and soon after we started getting the rhythm right.
It was a real treat for the soul, it was one of the best experiences I have ever treated myself to.
Picture it with me. Gorgeous, intense golden colors flooding the entire beach while the sun was setting down behind the horizon. We were galloping along a really beautiful coastline, a gentle breeze was coming from the ocean. The tide was coming out so the wet surface of the beach beautifully reflected the sunset. It was an absolutely amazing experience.
Meet Benny
Over the next few days, I had an opportunity to learn a bit more about my deacon friend from Atlanta. He is 79 years old. As a young man in his twenties, he volunteered to join the army. He moved up the ranks very fast. He took part in multiple military assignments, then he moved on to join the elite special forces – the famous green berets.
When the Vietnam war broke out he was immediately drafted to go right into the center of the conflict areas because of his special skills, training, and high rank. He actively participated in many combat missions for over two years.
His daily activities often started as early 2 am. He and his colleagues would march around the area looking for the enemy for days, often stepping into various dangerous ambushes.
I asked him, “did you ever get wounded?”
He looked into my eyes, smiled and said, “no single scratch”.
He said that some people told him that he was lucky but he would not allow anyone to call it luck.
He said “it was divine intervention as a result of strong prayers”, and the divine intervention happened to him over the two years again and again and again and again…. He watched many of his colleagues die or get severely wounded as they were actively involved in the intense combat, he walk away untouched.
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
Returning Home
One time when he returned back home after over one year of being away, he could not figure out the strange reaction he received from his own family. Instead of joy, happiness, and hugs, he got avoiding, distance and a cold reaction. He was surprised and could not figure it out.
Soon after he learned what caused it. His family was dealing with grief over a loss…
Few months before his arrival someone had come by to inform his family that he had been killed…
The Superhuman Strength
Another day, my friend shared with me that his son in law was a very violent man… then he continued after short pause…. He beat his wife. That was my friend’s own daughter.
Benny spoke about it with a very peaceful tonality, I could not sense any anger.
Then, he dropped the bomb that took my breath away…
He said: He stabbed her to death… I froze…
I did not know what to say. I was shocked.
I could sense sadness in his voice but I could not register any anger.
I asked “what?….” just to confirm if I heard it correctly,
He said yes… “he was a drug addict, now he is in prison for the murder…”
I took a moment to collect my thoughts, then I asked, “did you ever forgive him?”
He took a pause and said, “it took a while, it was not easy but yes, I did”… again I could hear sadness but no anger…
I seriously cannot imagine the unthinkable pain of having his own daughter brutally murdered, and being able to make the unbelievable decision of forgiveness… it was clearly a supernatural strength, a divine healing of the emotional wounds. How do you recover from that? How do you forgive?
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Without Vision People Perish…
I am on the flight going home, I am reflecting back through our conversations with Benny. What comes to me is 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
My 79 years a young friend has not finished his race yet. He came across very strong physically, emotionally and intellectually. He holds active leadership roles helping out and serving his community.
When I asked him “what’s your vision for this new online business?”
He said, “I would like to pay off debt for my church”,
I asked “what’s the amount?
He said over $500,000…
I was touched, I am inspired, my thinking has got widely stretched and I am speechless…
Picture that, 79-year young man decided to start an online business (that’s completely known to him) to earn half a million dollars to give it away. All the glory goes to God.
I got to reset my thinking. What’s your vision? What drives you forward?
Be First to Comment