Final Day--Costa Rica

Today was AWESOME!!! Today Ryan, Gretchen, and some police friends we made blessed us so much for all the hard work that we did for them. First off this morning we went to a market place. It was nothing like in the states. Almost everything you can think of is sold there. Plus you get to bargain for items which is really fun. After that we went to the national soccer stadium which is HUGE! We got a private tour of the whole place. Our costa rican friend got us into the stadium. We worked at his house and his gift to us was the stadium and a private tour of the San Jose police station. He is such a godly man its unbelievable. The police station was really cool. God gave us such a great day to end on and just relax after working.
-Ryan McDonald

Oh my gosh this week was super cool! Ive found out what God had in mind for me for this trip. I cant wait to get home and use my new skills. Im gunna come back with a new attitude and understanding. I hope i can spread my experiences and just share how much of a blessing this trip was. I really would like to do this again. Ive made so many friends that im going to miss so much. But its never good bye, its see you later ;)

-Jonathan Woolf

Friday Morning in Costa Rica

The last two days have been busy! We have had the opportunity to bless the family of Deitl and Noylie (sp?) by painting the entire inside of their house. Many families can't afford paint, especially colors, so it was a blessing to put color on at least one wall in each room. Their home is small, so having too much color would actually make it feel smaller. We primed, and painted their entire home, and did major landscaping including bricks and crushed stone. That was the main part of the day for the last two days, but the evenings included another big project. We spent the evenings helping the missionaries (Ryan and Gretchen) move to another house. It is a much different experience moving in Costa Rica, but many hands still make light work. It was a fun couple of hard working days and it has been a blessing to serve with old friends and new! Just one more day until we head to the airport for a full day of traveling home.
-Jason

The promised pictures of Costa Rica Missions

Costa Rica Pictures

Wednesday Night in Costa Rica

Today was painting day and landscape day. Our team is painting the interior of a home belonging to one of the centurions and his family. We are also doing some landscaping, driveway repair and adding some landscaping rocks. I got to weed Costa Rican weeds. My cup is full.
-Kim

Today was our first full day in San Jose. (Yesterday we made the 3 to 4 hour drive here from the little coastal city of Quepos.) We spent the day working at the Beta’s house, a wonderful Christ following family. We started painting, landscaping, and driveway projects that we will continue to work on over the next couple of days. We also have the wonderful opportunity of working with a tremendous Costa Rican couple and their seven year old son. It’s amazing how they have close to nothing and are still filled with so much joy. The believers here in Costa Rica are all like that, and through them God is teaching me what it is to truly give Him absolutely everything. It has been so cool to watch God move through this trip. He is doing so many great things here, and I am so thankful to be a small part of that.
-Becca McDonald

Costa Rica (Tuesday 8/9/11)

This trip is certainly an eye opener on many fronts. There have been several subtle cultural nuances that have spiritual implications. The believers here place heavy value on family and faith and live this out quite clearly. Many of us would say we place value on similar things. However, many of the people we’ve met are extraordinarily committed to making Christ the hero in everything they do, even though they struggle with meeting daily needs like transportation, varieties of food to eat (vs. rice and beans every day), and living in homes suitable for their families. In almost every discussion with the Tecos (Costa Ricans), it’s always about Christ as the hero, and not about them – humbling and impressive.
-Tom

Monday night update

Wow!!! Today we had a great time at the beach got thrown by a lot of waves and enjoyed the sun. We got to climb the rocks which was amazing and go out into the deeper part on the rocks. It was all a cool creation the God has made for us to enjoy!!we went on a hike into the woods thinking we were going to the other beach...Well really that turned out to be a hard barefoot experience around a big peninsula. After that we went to the island where lots of troubled people live (I guess you could say). We went door to door and invited a bunch of people on the island to church in the Kapos central. During this time we got to evangelize to a couple of people who were interested in God. Saved a man who thought that he wasn' good enough for God because of his sins. It is truly amazing what God has done for most of the people here the way they treat one another and the feeling of helping another brother/sister in Christ. I am truly happy to be here and to see what God has planned next for us in San Jose.

-Eric Rohlwing-

Today was super fun. I love the fellowship and Im really good at this spanish stuff. Im not sure im getting the whole missionary thing, i feel like im not getting something but im sure ill get it cuz were only on day two. During soccer one of the ladys got a cheap shot with the ball right where you dont wanna get hit. I hope i feel like myself as the trip goes on in San Jose tomorrow .

-Jonathan Woolf-

Today was an incredible day of seeing God's creation around us on this beautiful coastline and seeing the opposite as well. We visited a beach never that has never seen a vehicle...untouched. We also crossed a very dirty, smelly river to visit one of the most difficult places in Quepos to share the gospel door to door. We had the amazing opportunity to hear a man pray the prayer of salvation asking God to take over his heart and life. What an amazing privilege! We are headed to drop off some bullet-proof vests in the morning at the local police headquarters and then head to San Jose for the remainder of our trip. God is alive and well in Quepos, but there are some very hurting people here. Please pray for the local church to continue to invest in the lives of these people. There is great passion, but the work is very difficult. People are very stuck in tradition and cultural lies.
-Jason
P.S.--we were humbled by the Costa Ricans in FUTBOL (soccer) tonight.