Before writing this article, I wanted to do some more research on the people of the Chirripó Mountains. This proved to be a difficult task as information was not as readily available as I had hoped, it was almost as if they were forgotten. It is said that even their government has abandoned them. Many tribes live in isolated villages hidden away in the Talamanca Mountain Range, of which Chirripó boasts the highest mountain in Costa Rica, close to the border of Panama.
Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them. Psalm 106:4 (NIV)
They may have been forgotten by their leaders, historians and even sociologists, but God has remembered them and He sent one of His sons to come to their aid. Pastor Olman Sanchez felt the call of God to minister to the people of the Chirripó Mountains twenty years ago. Not only did he learn their language to better communicate with the Cabécares and Bribri ethnic groups, but he also picked up some medical skills to attend to the various ailments that afflicted these people as some would have to travel up to three days to get to the nearest hospital.
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. Psalm 10:14 (NIV)
God is a God who sees, and He has seen and has considered the needs of these people. He has chosen Pastor Olman to be His hands, feet and heart to them. The Lord has seen their need for salvation as they are steeped in their traditional religions and rituals. They try to prevent or heal illnesses caused by suspected evil spirits coming from the ocean or an evil neighbor that has cursed them through witchcraft by using herbal concoctions and spiritual cures. They are undoubtedly in need of the Great Physician who can heal their bodies, hearts and souls. Pastor Olman introduces them to Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals all diseases and forgives all sins. He is a man who has a passion for the lost souls in his land.
For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:11 (NASB)
Pastor Olman with little resources has opened his hands to the poor and needy in his own land of Costa Rica. He will travel an hour to two days on foot to get to these people who are in desperate need of medicine, food, clothes and mostly importantly Jesus. He focuses his work in five villages and travels on foot from village to village after walking up the mountains on an average of ten to twelve hours. He relies mostly on the help of generous donors who give food, clothes, along with other supplies and financial resources. However, the spread of the coronavirus has caused much of his donations greatly diminish.
At the time of this writing, he is concerned that he will not have snacks to give to the youth who he will minister to in the mountains at the end of the month. He has little money for his own personal expenses, so he cannot provide from his own finances, but he has an indomitable spirit and will not give up. He will take that step of faith knowing that God is able.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NASB)
Pastor Olman may not have the abundance he needs for his good deeds right now. But, he goes out spreading the Gospel, while caring for the poor and the needy by the grace of God, so that these people will know that the Lord has not forgotten them.
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