Last Costa Rica Blog

1) The Volcano at Arenal.

2) The church we visited Sunday morning.

3) The church we visited. The sign means, “The Church of Christ Without Borders.”

4) Peter and the Volcano.

The debate often arises as to whether it is proper for a mission team to spend time and resources site-seeing and being tourists. I remember being on a youth mission trip to Russia when we had finished our difficult and powerful ministry to orphans. We were due to travel from the Moscow area to visit St. Petersburg. This would be purely sight-seeing. The youth on that trip didn’t want to go and had a hard time reconciling the poverty we had just experienced, and the time and resources we were preparing to spend. A wise adult with the group said, “we have experienced some of the worst of this country. We have seen poverty, depression, neglect, lack of hope and basic care. It is also important to see the best this country offers. To see this county’s art, architecture, and beautiful places is extremely important.” I agree with that statement. If we do not see some of the beauty of a country or place, we may go away with a skewed perception and a false understanding of a country and its people.

So on Saturday, we traveled North to the town of La Fortuna, to Arenal. Arenal is known for it’s ACTIVE volcano, yes—ACTIVE volcano. From the pictures, you can see how immense it is, and how close we are! If you look closely, you can see a plume of smoke coming out of the top of the volcano. The conventional wisdom is that if the smoke stops coming out—run! There are small rumbles and blasts that occur regularly. Last night we could even see hot molten rock shining it’s astonishing heat into the night. It’s quite a site!

This area is built around the volcano and offers horse back riding, zip lines, white water rafting, waterfall and other various hikes, and more. We participated fully in these events! Sunday morning, several of us attended worship at a local protestant congregation. We all enjoyed the two hour service, (which was air-conditioned-Gloria a Dios!), and stayed in town to have lunch. You will see pictures of the sign for the church and the inside of the church before worship started. The name of the church is “The Church of Christ Without Borders.” It was exciting when we knew a song that they were leading. When they played, “How Great Thou Art,” it was power and moving as we could sing along in English, while our church friends sang in Spanish.

Today we head to San Jose to spend the night. We will leave first thing in the morning from that airport and arrive in Atlanta later in the afternoon. We are expecting to arrive in Tallahassee around dinner time.

Overall it has been an amazing experience. The partnership and with the church in Fray Casiano, in Puntarenas, is valuable, meaningful, and powerful. ITCF has been working for four years with this church and the benefits from the relationship building and the construction building are clear. We all want to thank you for your prayers and support of this trip that is transforming and powerful. God bless you all.

See ya’ll soon!
El Pastor

Costa Rica Blog #4 pics

1) The wall is finished, and the concrete floor has been poured!

2) Not a great picture, but one showing some of products from the sewing table. Some are holding clothes and some are wearing clothes.

3) A dancer in the congregation as they shared their native dances and clothes

4) Children in “white face” singing a song about the first white missionaries to come to Costa Rica and bring Christianity with them.

Friday, we finished the work with our friends at the church. We worked our normal morning shift and finished as much as we could. The church wanted to do a presentation of some sort in the afternoon.

Construction
The wall that didn’t exist before we arrived, was completed! They can now add roofing and be close to brand new usable space in the church. Word was then done to level the ground, mix enough cement, then pour the concrete to make a new floor that would join the new wall. Right as it was time to go back to the hotel, all but a sliver of the floor had been poured. This was a successful construction week!

The Soccer Field
The field was finished and working on Thursday, and on Friday it was used non-stop all day! There are several great things about this field. The first thing is that since the field is smaller than a regulation field, the smaller children will have a place to play when the bigger kids are using the regulation size field near the school. The second thing is that this will help to keep them occupied and off of the street as much. The third thing is that the church will keep the goals and balls locked up and will administrate the use of the field. This will mean that neighborhood kids who are not members of the church will come to the church and have some interaction with people from the church. The fourth thing, is that it will just be fun! It’s hard to keep childhoods intact in this oppressive environment. This will let the children run and play.

The Sewing table
After sewing clothes with many women in the church, it was wonderful to see them hold up their finished projects at the “Friday fashion show.” There were many more who took cut fabric and patterns for clothes to be finished later. This too was an amazing ministry as several women learned how to use the sewing machines, so they can continue to make their own clothes after we’re gone.

Bible Study
The bible study was completed on Friday morning. The children seemed hungry to learn scripture and there were several children who memorized twenty or more scripture verses. The curriculum worked well and the children of the church are now familiar with several major biblical characters and the way that God used them to spread the word.

The Afternoon
With all the emotion of the week, we came back to the church knowing this would be the last time we would see and spend time with our friends this year. They had prepared several presentations for us.
They led us in singing praise songs. They did several dances in their beautiful native clothing. One song had several children in “white face” singing with gratitude for the missionaries who came to Costa Rica to bring and spread Christianity.

Buddy, Patty and I were called to the chancel area to say a few words about our week. They presented Buddy, Patty, Sonia, and Ellen with gifts. The church then gave all 42 of us gifts—all 42 of us. It was a nice time of celebration, prayer, and gratitude for the partnership between the church and ITCF. It was then time to say goodbye.

As music played, people milled about hugging and saying goodbye. Many of us gave away clothing, shoes, tools, whatever we could part with. The emotion was strong an intense as everyone from young to old was teary eyed at the prospect of leaving. When we finally all loaded into our two large vans, it was quite a spectacle! The street was filled with church members on both sides of the vans. It felt like a parade of which we were the guests of honor. As we drove away, we looked back and waved good bye until God brings us back together again. Our hearts were full and our souls refreshed by a week of serving Christ by serving one another.

The work portion of our trip is now completed. Tomorrow morning, Saturday, we will pack up and head North to Arenal. This is a beautiful area of Costa Rica built around an ACTIVE volcano. We will spend a few days there, then head home on Tuesday.

Thank you for your prayers and keep them coming!

Peace,
El Pastor

Costa Rica Blog pics #3

1) Andrew, as the Apostle Paul, pays a visit to the bible study.

2) The wall is growing and nearing completion.

3) The soccer field is finished and in use!

4) Celebrating Zach, Andrew, and Hunter’s birthdays.

Today is Thursday, and progress is being made. The wall that is enclosing space next to the sanctuary could be finished by the end of this work day. Today’s bible study is centered on the Apostle Paul. The soccer field is nearing completion. Several benches/pews have been completed. And if there was ever any doubt, Jesus will bring power to this church annex today, (Jesus, pronounced Hay-Seus, is the electrician!).

We are starting to wind up the focal point of our trip, working with this special church. Last night the youth led the reflection time, (which we do every night), and it was especially meaningful as both veterans of this trip and first time youth shared their experience thus far. Let me just say that there was not a dry eye in the house by the end of the reflection. The Holy Spirit is working and moving and weaving its transforming power.

We finish the work tomorrow, on Friday. We will work our regular shift in the morning, then go back to the hotel for lunch. We will then go back to the church for our second shift, as we have all week. The difference is that the church has prepared some presentations that include dancing and music of some sort. We are excited about this offering from our friends. We will then come to point we have been dreading all week—saying goodbye! If last night’s reflection time is any indication of the emotion we will encounter on Friday afternoon, when we all say our farewells, it will be teary celebration of the relationships God has brought into being.

There is already a sense that when we leave we are abandoning the children that we have come to know and love, to a street existence that does not hold much promise for them. This compounds the emotion we feel as we begin the process of leaving. But we also know the saving power that can come from the church that has been build with blood, sweat, tears, and love. This church has the power to transform its membership and the community.

In the Carpenter’s footsteps has been in partnership with this church for four years. On this trip it has been a blessing to see the children grow, re-connect with old friends, and continue to build the relationships that are at the heart of this trip. To put it simply, today will be a sad and a happy day. We have been blessed.

El Pastor, Danny