Reflections of Ministry and Travel, Part II

In reflecting over our work and travels, the students shared their thoughts regarding the following questions:

1) What did you enjoy the most?
2) Fun/funny memories                            
3) What surprised you the most?
4) What message did the Lord leave in your heart...?
5) Would you recommend this trip?  Why?

Nicole Terrell--
On her first trip to Costa Rica (but not her first missions trip), Nicole shared that the thing that she enjoyed the most was getting to know the people--both the missionaries and the Ticos with whom we worked.

One thing that surprised Nicole was the food. "My goodness," she says. "I wasn't expecting it, but rice, beans, lettuce, chicken, and sour cream really grows on you."  Speaking of food, one of Nicole's funniest memories was when Lauren had taken Benadryl for her scorpion bites. She just sat dazed, staring into her cup at lunch with the most funny considering-her-food look on her face. (In actuality, Lauren was focused on removing a leaf from said cup.)

Nicole shares that God left in her heart the distinct message that this type of ministry is what she is meant to do in the future. Nicole also shares that she would definitely recommend this trip to other students. "It was an amazing opportunity to learn and grow with others--about yourself and about life"

Rachel Graver--
Returning as the three-year veteran of the group, Rachel enjoyed creating new friendships and seeing the friends whom she had met in the past. She also enjoyed being able to sit down and share the gospel with Ticos while speaking in Spanish. Being able to do this, she says was a "complete eye opener to show me that anything you set your heart out to do you can do it with God."  Rachel also shared that friendships and fellowship with the Master's team was super encouraging.

Rachel's biggest surprise during this mission trip was that she was actually able to talk the majority of the time in Spanish. She was also surprised at how well she got to know everyone on the trip.  As much as she loved the trip and ministry, Rachel shared that the biggest impression from the Lord came with the realization that "I don't have to be in Costa Rica to share the love of Christ. I need to constantly be living for the cause of Christ."

On the fun side of life, Rachel's most fun memory was when she and Gabriel would each eat so much food, they would get "food babies." Rachel's most spectacular feat came when she finished off 32 oz. of guanabana smoothie along with three huge pieces of pizza.

Rachel recommends this ministry trip to other students because it not only is an eye opener for one's own life, but also a person gets to see how God works in the lives of others and even transforms them.

Lauren Mitchell--
For Lauren, the most enjoyable part of this trip came through relationships. "It was great reacquainting with some familiar faces and meeting new people, too," she shares. The Lord showed Lauren on this trip that she can make a difference and that her life can affect the lives of others.  "I shared my testimony one day in front of everyone," she says, "and afterwards one of the older Ticos, Diego, came to me and said that my testimony really impacted his life. Even if you think you cannot make a difference, if you follow through with what is pleasing to God, He will prove you wrong."

Lauren's funniest memory occurred at one of the churches after all activities were finished. The host missionary LaMar was making a video outside the front  to show possible projects to a state-side church who wanted to come down and do construction work on it. While LaMar was being video taped, Mrs. Reilly and Lauren were caught just standing in the window behind LaMar.  Not LaMar, nor Mrs. Reilly, nor Lauren realized that the two standing inside at the window were very, very visible. There the two of them stood like frozen ghosts in the window as LaMar waved his arms to indicate to his audience various needed projects.

A not-so-funny memory for Lauren--but what distinctly became her most surprising memory--happened one morning when she pulled on her khaki shorts. She reached inside the cuff, and suddenly felt a horrible sting on her finger.  In her words:  "I screamed and I ran into my room trying to get my shorts off and then got stung on my upper inner thigh"  Lauren threw off the offending shorts, and for the next several hours, several of the team, including leaders, searched through, shook out, and repacked every single item in the girls' room.  We could not find the scorpion, but all signs and symptoms indicated a scorpion attack. So we packed up and went to our next location. At the next hotel, Lauren pulled out her blanket from her suitcase (a blanket that Mrs. Reilly had shaken out earlier), shook it out, and the "little devil" fell onto Lauren's foot. Lauren shares, "I thought it was a blanket fuzzy, but still I kicked it off my foot.  Then I heard and saw Mrs. Reilly stomp on the ground and drag her foot! She said, 'I got it!' Then we flushed him about twelve times." (Editor's/flusher's note:  actually only three times.)


Lauren says that she would highly recommend this trip to others. "It's an amazing opportunity to share Christ with others. You grow unforgettable relationships while growing closer to God! You will learn so much on this trip and it may change your life. Overall it's an amazing experience. I would recommend that no one pass it up."

Day 05: January 12, 2015 Sports Outreach at Campreverde

Every morning here greets me with the cry of howler monkeys in the trees.  But not long after that, those sounds dissipate into the sound of teens mingling and making their way through a day filled with sun-drenched, sunburning activities. Today, local teens were invited to the site where we stayed, and competitions between four teams filled the time between 9am and 5pm, with a break for lunch and later merienda. Right after lunch, all the teens (Masters + Xenia + Ticos = 80+ teens) were divided into small groups and the Gringos shared the gospel via a tract (“Is there more to life?”) and a beaded bracelet. After all sports activities, the Master’s Academy team performed their evangelistic drama to the song (in Spanish) “Break Every Chain” which was followed by Rachel Graver and Anna Nolan sharing their testimonies (translated by Kevin Salley).  Pastor Eduardo shared the gospel, and nine teens responded.

		Host missionary LaMar Salley, leaders from Master’s Academy--Ryan and Nadine

More pictures:  on Facebook (low resolution selections) or Picasa (original full-resolution).

Reflections of Ministry and Travel, Part I

In reflecting over our work and travels, the students shared their thoughts regarding the following questions:

1) What did you enjoy the most?                 4) What message did the Lord leave in your heart...?
2) Fun/funny memories                                5) Would you recommend this trip?  Why?
3) What surprised you the most?

Taylor Meade--
I enjoyed making so many new relationships with the Ticos in Costa Rica. I also liked being so involved with personally sharing the gospel using the bead bracelets and sharing my testimony with these new friends.  It really surprised me how many relationships I made.

One funny memory from our rest day when LaMar went down a pool slide head first on his stomach. He flew over the water like a skipping rock and went double the distance that people normally go.

The Lord left in my heart the message that I need to put people in my life who will build my relationship with Christ. I also learned that building relationships is really important without technology, and making disciples should be one of the mst important things in my life.

I recommend this ministry trip offered by XCS because it gives one a different view of the world and gets us out of our comfort zones. Interacting with people one doesn't know and sharing the gospel in a new atmosphere is eye opening


Bridgett Clough--
There were so many memories, too many to count.  One occurred right off as we traveled to Costa Rica. Looking down below me, I made the remark, "I can see the ground. It's underneath us."  I also thought it was funny in Tronodora when all the boys were attacking us and trying to get us on the ground was funny to watch.

I enjoyed dancing and playing with the kids. Also, I enjoyed talking with the kids who we met last year and listening to the memories they had of us from the previous year.

What surprised me the most was how well the VBS's went when there were only a few of us to help.  The other thing that surprised me was how well we bonded with the other team from Master's Academy in Florida.

The Lord taught me during this trip to be more kind, patient, and caring towards others. He also put into my heart the urge to go and tell others about the trip and to share the gospel with others. Certainly if I can do it in Spanish, I can do it in English.

I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone interested because it is a wonderful experience with all the children and culture. It's also an excellent opportunity to learn more about God. After all, it is a "date."

(Miss Clements had taught the girls that the trip develops their relationships with God, just as a date develops a relationship between any two individuals.)

Photo Collections . . . so far

Day 01:  travel -- on Picasa and Facebook
Day 02: Escobal and San Jose Norte -- on Picasa -- on Facebook
Day 03: Escobal and San Jose Norte -- on Picasa -- on Facebook

Day 04: Atenas, San Jose Norte, San Jose Sur (soccer) 

• all day and all ministries, here on Picasa 
• Facebook morning on Facebook (church in Atenas)
• Facebook afternoon VBS on Facebook (San Jose Norte)
• Facebook afternoon/evening (soccer/drama) on Facebook

Day 05: 1st Sports Evangelism Camp at Capreverde -- on Picasa -- on Facebook

Day 06:  2nd Sports Evangelism Camp at Capreverde -- on Picasa -- on Facebook

Day 07: Goodbyes and Travel -- on Picasa -- on Facebook 

Day 08: Tilaran and Tronodora -- on Picasa -- Tilaran (AM) on Facebook Tronodora (PM) on Facebook

Day 09: 2nd day at Tilaran and Tronodora -- on Picasa -- Tilaran (AM) on Facebook

Day 10: 3rd Sports Evangelism Camp; Tronodora (rainy day) -- on Picasa -- on Facebook

Day 11: Church at Pastor Manuel's (Tronodora) -- on Picasa -- church at Tronodora on Facebook
Day 12: Los Lagos to San Pedro (rainy day)  -- on Picasa -- on Facebook

Day 13:  Travel to US -- on Picasa -- on Facebook

Day 12: From Miss Clements

Costa Rica team back late Tuesday night! We are enjoying a day of rest today and preparing for travel tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers. We have a tight connection in Charlotte tomorrow. We have lot's of stories to tell. We'll see you on Thursday. 

Day 11: Looking back to last Sunday

Day 4:  Church and more

Sunday brought a day of teams splitting up for different ministries. One team started out at the third day of a VBS in Escobal. There the Masters team first performed their drama set to the music of “Break Every Chain.” The rest of us began at church (Templo Bautista de Atenas), where half of us ran Sunday School for the children, and the other half listened to the service (which they were nice enough to translate into English). The Sunday school began with the Tica teachers leading songs and offertory, and then they turned the story time over to the Master’s Academy team and the crafts over to the Xenia team.  Always a good opportunity for interaction, even in our limited Spanish abilities.

After lunch, the church team divided into two teams—one ran a soccer tournament at a local school and one another VBS at San Jose Sur. At the VBS, five children raised their hands in response to the invitation. We need to pray for any of the children and teens who have raised their hands in decisions made—they need to grow!

Both groups finished up at the end of the soccer tournament (and no, we Gringos do not win those), and the Masters team performed their evangelistic drama again.  A short message and invitation followed.

Day 10 ....with many days to fill in

Blogging has been difficult due to very low signals.  Some pictures have been posted on Facebook (Costa Rica 2015), and we will, of course, keep posting even after we return.

We have been in Tilaran and Tronodora (Guanacaste) these past three days. We have helped in different ways with two series of VBS clubs and have been very busy. But for all the energy we have expended, the return is huge! The smiles, the hugs, the development of our language skills, listening to testimonies (Bridgett shared hers last night in a family Bible study), and fantastic, fresh food. We have been so blessed.

Day one: Right to work

Jan. 14:  This following post is many days old because we have not had a connection to the internet.

Jan. 09:  We are busy right off with VBSs for children in three spots around Atenas, Costa Rica. We do not have regular connection to the outside world, but all is well, and everyone is busy. (See pictures below.)

Our Ohio team works with another student team of thirty-three kids who attend Masters Academy in Oviedo, Florida. Depending upon the day, we have been split up into two or three teams, each team working in a different location. We have had two different places for a three-day VBS program, and one group enjoyed a soccer tournament outreach to teens (where of course, our North American team got slaughtered).

The Masters team has directed lessons and the Xenia team has led the craft time, but we all pitch in to help each other and to help Pastor Eduardo and Gabriel with songs, games, and getting to know the younger crowd. We may be shy about using our Spanish, but that has not stopped any of our girls from participating in the joy of developing loving relationships.