¡Pura vida!
My girl and I kicked off summer with a mission trip to Costa Rica during the last week of May.
Honestly, I’m not much of an overnight chaperone. I’ve also turned down our church’s youth pastor’s request to chaperone day trips. Just not my gifting! BUT I wanted to go with Cate, who recently graduated from high school. She went last year with our church (and her dad!), so I wanted to share in the experience.
Short story: I’m glad I went on this trip that seemed to mark a new season of motherhood for me with my eldest girl. God also encouraged me despite feeling out of place the first couple of days.
Our team of 24 people from Hardin Baptist Church, including mostly teenagers who just finished junior or senior years at high school, volunteered with Iglesia Biblica Pan de Vida in Sarchi, Costa Rica. We had visited many different homes, schools, and nursing homes. Costa Rica is a truly beautiful country – the people, the mountains and valleys, the pops of color from flowers and homes, and the stunning natural coastlines.
The staff at Campamento Brittney in Atenas area took good care of us, especially with delicious food! I was the mom in a room with three teenagers – my girl, her new good friend Kenna, and Stacy, a sweet girl our family has known for years. The translators were awesome – and incredibly helpful.
More importantly, people were changed through these conversations as we shared our Jesus and our stories. We met strangers who asked us tough, honest questions. We shared our stories of following Jesus. The language barrier didn’t matter, especially with the kids in the schools we visited.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Other highlights:
- One of our team members accepted Christ and began following Him for the first time. I loved seeing other teenagers encourage her in that initial surrender.
- We focused on living a missional life of surrender through daily devotions and debriefs. We can be missionaries — wherever we are! As a mom, I was specifically encouraged by God, which was then echoed by my translator friend Samuel.
- These teenagers were bold, faithful, kind, and funny. Witnessing them as individuals and a group greatly encouraged me.
- Motioneaze oil became my friend as I kept getting nauseated on the hot bus on the curvy mountain roads. Thanks to my new friend Carissa for providing this relief.
- Our team was the first of two teams from our church to go serve in Costa Rica. Throughout the two weeks, three team members came to Christ; 14 people led to Christ from the communities & schools across Sarchi; about 1,600 people heard the good news of Jesus through home, school, and nursing home visits; fivee sermons from team members were preached at Iglesia Biblica Pan de Vida; two sermons from team members preached at Escuela Primeria de Sarchi Norte; and 58 teenagers and adults returned home to continue telling others about Jesus.
If you want to see more pictures, here are the pictures I posted on social media. Let’s continue to celebrate living faithfully wherever we are!