Mission Trip to Costa Rica
By Pat Marsh

My granddaughter Sara and I recently traveled to Costa Rica on a mission trip.  We went through Adventures in Missions, who paired us with a Chinese Christian Youth group from Atlanta, GA.  You prayed that we would have safe travels and a positive mission experience, and your prayers were felt and answered.

We were located in Liberia at a fenced in compound that included a large Methodist church, a row of rooms where we stayed, and a kitchen where all our meals were prepared and eaten.

Our days were broken into segments.  In the morning, we made cement, wheeled it to a building on site that was being renovated, shoveled the cement into buckets, climbed on a ladder, and poured the cement into columns.  This was done in the hot sun and high humidity.  The kids never complained.  They made 4 columns the week we were there.

After lunch, we traveled into town to the bus depot, where we met and prayed with folks we encountered.  It was a real stepping out of your comfort zone, but very rewarding.  On another day, we went to the hospital and prayed for the people who were waiting to hear how their loved ones were doing.  It was an outside covered area, and the only place to sit was on a cement wall.  One man had been there since 11:00 pm the night before waiting to hear how his wife was.  Everyone seemed very happy to have us pray with them, and share the love of Jesus.

At 3:00 – 5:30pm we had VBS for the children from the church.  The first day we had only 5 children.  The next day, we walked to a nearby area of homes.  There was a school in the neighborhood.  The children got out for lunch and we watched as they were break dancing and doing acrobats in the street.  Our kids joined in and totally connected with them.  The next day we had 35 at VBS.  By the end of the week there were 50.  God’s hand was very much on this ministry.  Each of our kids were able to use their gifts and talents to connect with the Costa Rican children in some way.  Sara each day had a rousing soccer game going, which the children loved.  The gospel was shared and received with children who had no previous connection to a church. 

We had a youth group meeting on Friday night.  Many of the children came from the neighborhood for the first time.  It was a powerful evening, as testimonies were shared and they learned of God’s love.

I was very blessed by a woman named Flora, who lived in the neighborhood.  She had no electricity.  While we were there that week, we were able to do all the necessary work to get her electricity restored.  We then bought her more groceries than she said she has ever had at one time.  She cried and was so grateful, and understood that it was God who provided.  She later brought her whole family to church, children and grandchildren.  What a blessing!

Throughout the week, God was at work in us, teaching us to let go of our expectations, and let Him work in us.  It was an awesome experience.

Photos supplied by Pat Marsh