Monday, 3/16: We arrived at the airport in San Jose. As they were checking our bags, Juan was pulled to the side, so that one of the team’s bags of supplies could be inspected. He was able to go on. It must have been his shifty eyes or that he had 10,000 bandaids and gauze in the suitcase that made the customs people suspicious! We then went to the Harvest Hands house. Before bed we needed to thank the Lord for getting me through with a passport that had less than two months left on it and that we were able to bring all the supplies we needed into country. We watched a short video on building a yellow house and then “nighty-night”.
Tuesday: After an awesome breakfast, we were off to CCA, a church in Alajuelita, to get tooled up to build a big house, but found that everything had changed. Over the years we have learned that the key words on a mission trip is flexibility. The focus changed to building a small house first. So, because we were not expected until Thursday by this sweet lady, many helping hands took down the metal box she lived in. The cement, pre-cast pylons were cemented in place. Not quite as simple as it sounds, digging in polluted ground!!
Wednesday: Floors and walls and prayer walks through Jasmin. Some of our ladies found out what it is like to not have running water and to have to haul it in 5 gal. buckets up the hill. Our Cheryl who intentionally worked out for this trip carried two. I was impressed. The leadership of the church in Jasmin were a huge blessing to us. As we ate with them, they served us. They brought us fruit and drinks throughout the day as we worked. Pastor Carlos, Maximo, and his wife Rebecca were true examples of the Fathers love.
Thursday: Roof, electrical and painting were finished so that the little house was ready to move into. We helped this excited lady, named Alva, move her bed in and her couch. While some did this, others were off serving in other areas - visitations, serving lunches and playing with the children at a small school.
Friday: The big house in the city was still on hold, so instead of taking time off at the end of our trip we left for the Volcano Arenal. We went to the lava fields and worshipped, as we watched this active volcano erupting over and over. Thinking about the fire of God in us, we need to be bubbling over with the message of God. I’ve included a photo of the team at the volcano.
Saturday: Some went to church at La Viña. Many of the team became sick with different ailments. A call went out to our home church for more prayer coverage. Praying for those who are on a mission trip is as important as being there doing the work.
Sunday: Off to CCA church at 8AM. It was a great service, interpreted into English. Then off to make concrete and pour a foundation with our Costa Rican friends from CCA. On Sunday night we visited the Linda Vista church, where our church from Maine first started ministering in Costa Rica. We saw a lot of old friends and worshiped with much vigor.
Monday: The walls went up on the big house. There will need to be much prayer over that house as God sees fit to use it. Pray for the children that need Jesus, because they live in a mixed up situation. We left the job sight tired, but we had another stop on our way back. It was the Men's drug rehab center. The men were so open with their testimonies, as Maximo interpreted for us. The most perplexing thing was that at the end of our time there, they circled us and a elderly man prayed for us. Some of us heard it in Spanish and others in English. We went back to the house and packed first aid kits for Jasmin, 150 of them counted several times over.
Tuesday: The roof, the painting and the window casings were finished on the big house. We went back to Jasmin for the dedication of the small house and the story of how this house was built in memory of a sweet lady in our home church, who had recently gone to be with the Lord. The photo that I have included is of this very emotional dedication. Alba wept and was thankful to God for her new house.
Wednesday: We left Costa Rica with worship to a great God, prayer for those we were honored to work with, Rodney ,Cindy, Rebecca, Joy, and Luis. They are family to all of us. What a wonderful blessing to do a mission trip with people like these. We thank God for a safe trip home.
