Another Amazing Day!

Friday, April 4th

Posted by Kim

Today we got up and had breakfast at the Observatory. We had a wonderful view of the volcano while eating breakfast. There were rocks and lava coming down the side of the volcano and smoke coming out of the top. During the day the lava looks white but you can still see it flowing down the sides of the volcano.

After breakfast we headed straight to the zipline. As soon as we got there we got our gear and loaded into the Sky Tram. The Sky Tram reminded us of the trams that go from country to country at Busch Gardens. The Tram took us to the top of the mountain where one of the guides gave us our instructions for the zipline. Even though he kept telling us how safe it was, we were all still really nervous. The platform that we started on was 600 feet high. The first two zips on the top of the mountain are practice zips...they aren't too high off the ground and they are only about 30-40 feet long. These two zips give you a chance to get used to the position and to learn how to stop. When it is time for you to stop on the zipline, you are supposed to open your legs because this helps to slow you down and it prevents you from kicking the cord when you stop. Everyone else did great on the practice zips... I did not! I was so nervous about stopping that I opened my legs a little too late and I kicked the guide in the head! Oops!

The first "real" zip after the practices was about 400 feet long. Dave went first and after watching him, we were all even more excited and even more nervous. The zip went from the peak of the mountain we were standing on, across a valley to the peak of another mountain. The view was amazing from the platform we were standing on, but it was even more amazing from the middle of the zipline. We could see so far in all directions while flying through the air... It was incredible!! A lot of us asked the guides to take video footage on our cameras of the view going across the zipline... you should ask one of the teens or staff to show you the footage! There were about 8 zips total... the longest one was almost half a mile long!

It is so hard to explain how amazing this experience was for each of us. Melissa, Dave, and I were so proud of everyone for stepping out of their comfort zones and pushing themselves to do this! Everyone was so brave!

After the zipline, we headed to an Italian restaurant for lunch. We had pizza and soda... it was delicious and reminded us of home! As soon as we finished lunch, we went into La Fortuna to go shopping. We walked through downtown, went to the supermarket to buy coffee for friends and family back home, and just enjoyed spending time with each other. At about 3:00 we headed back to the bus to head to the hotel where we would be staying for the night. It started to rain as we loaded the bus... this was the first and only rain we saw while in Costa Rica!

The hotel we stayed in Friday night was called the "Lands in Love" hotel. It is owned by a group of Israeli vegetarians. It is located right in the middle of the rainforest. Because of the location there were lots of bugs and creatures sharing our space! We saw hummingbirds, toucans, lizards, and HUGE bugs. We had spaghetti and milkshakes for dinner at the hotel.

After dinner we met as a group. We voted on our last MVP and Dorcas. MVP was Angharad for her amazing attitude throughout the trip! Angharad is so positive and was such an encouragement to all of us all week. Dorcas was me for kicking the guide in the head at the zipline. I was the only one voted Dorcas twice for the week... what an honor!

Melissa led devotion Friday night. She surprised all of the teens with letters that she had collected from their friends and family back home. Each teen had a packet of letters and they took them to a quiet place outside to read and reflect. When we re-gathered as a group, lots of the teens were teary-eyed from reading their letters. The teens were so grateful that their friends and family had taken the time to write to them.

Once everyone finished reading their letters, we spent time reflecting on our week. Everyone really enjoyed being at the camp the first part of the week. All of us connected with the kids and the staff at the camp and we had a great time while we were there. The last two days were especially amazing and the resounding thoughts that came from our experiences on Thursday and Friday were that God's creations are incredible and that we are so grateful that we had the opportunity to see just how incredible God is. The waterfall, the volcano, the rainforest... all of these places were so beautiful and God's hand was so evident in all of them. We will show you all pictures but pictures do not even begin to give justice to how beautiful the country of Costa Rica really is.

Our trip has come to an end but the memories that we made will last a lifetime. This group of 18 people is now bonded in a way that no one outside of the group will ever understand. Melissa, Dave, and I are so proud of each teen that is a part of this team. These teens set an amazing example for our YMCA and for our country while in Costa Rica. Thank you to all of you who thought of us and prayed for us while we were away... we are so grateful to have such wonderful friends and family!

"Eh"

Thursday, April 3rd

Posted by Kim

First let me explain the title of this day's entry. Melissa, Dave, and I have chosen the word "eh" as our motto for this trip. "Eh" has been our response almost every time one of the teens asks a question about our schedule... "What time is breakfast? What are we doing after breakfast? What are we having for lunch?"... you get the picture! The Costa Rican culture is so laid back that there are rarely answers to any of these questions, so when asked, we respond with "Eh".

Today we left camp around 4:30am in a bus with Rolando to head to La Fortuna. We arrived in La Fortuna around 9:00am and had breakfast at a really nice open air restaurant. Breakfast was delicious... We all got to try a new type of juice that is made from a fruit called guanabana. This fruit is picked before it is ripe and has to be eaten within three days of being picked or it will go bad, therefore it cannot be shipped anywhere. The juice made from this fruit was delicious!

After breakfast we went to the waterfall in La Fortuna. To get to the waterfall, we had to hike down 500 steps. Once we got down to the bottom, we realized it was worth the hike! The waterfall was beautiful! We took a few pictures of the waterfall and then we all went for a swim... the water was freezing! We stayed at the falls swimming and relaxing in the sun on the rocks for an hour or so. Then we had to hike back up the 500 steps to the bus. Melissa and I asked Rolando to go slow up the steps... yea, right! Every time we stopped to catch our breath, Rolando said "Vaminos!!" AHHHHH!

For lunch we went back to the same open air restaurant where we ate breakfast. Rolando had already ordered our lunch for us... we had roasted chicken! As soon as we finished eating we headed into town to do a little shopping.



At 3:00 we headed to the Hot Springs. The springs were beautiful and so relaxing. We stayed there soaking in the water and drinking fruity drinks for two hours. While we were there we got to see a sloth and a couple of monkeys in the trees. We didn't want to leave!

After the springs, we loaded the bus and headed for the Arenal Observatory which is where we slept Thursday night. The Observatory overlooks the Arenal Volcano, which is an active volcano. You can see the volcano from everywhere in La Fortuna but the view from the Observatory was spectacular. We even got to see the lava coming down the side of the volcano when we arrived at the Observatory. Our dinner reservations weren't until 8:00 so we had time to shower and relax before dinner. These were the first hot showers we had all week... needless to say, most of us took really long showers! The restaurant at the Observatory was really fancy. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

After dinner we voted on MVP and Dorcas for the day... Meredith was voted MVP because she was so encouraging and caring towards those of us who had a hard time hiking up the stairs from the waterfall. Dave was voted Dorcas! Then Meredith led us in a devotion about perspective. We were all extremely tired from a very long day and everyone went to bed as soon as devotion was over.

Tomorrow we will go to the zipline first thing in the morning... we are all excited and a little nervous.

ACJ YMCA

We are sorry that we have not posted anything about the trip since Tuesday... we lost our ability to access the internet when we left the camp. Even though we couldn't share our blog messages with you, we still wrote them. Now that we are home, we can share them with you! Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 2nd

Posted by Kim

Last night we got to build a fire in the campfire pit that we built. We all sat around the campfire with our new Costa Rican friends for devotion and reflection on the day. We also voted on MVP and Dorcas. Our MVP for yesterday was Andrew because he fully participated in the day even though he was not feeling well. Katy was voted Dorcas because she... 1. ran into a glass door for the second time this week, 2. She asked why the president of China was on a plaque in our cabin...it was definitely the president of Costa Rica, not China (duh!), and 3. when telling us a story about her family, she said "My dad was born in France when he was younger..."...Needless to say, Katy was a unanimous vote for Dorcas!

Today was our first day away from the Campamento. We woke up this morning and ate breakfast here at camp. Then we loaded a bus and drove into San Jose. We spent our day at the ACJ YMCA in San Jose. While we were there we painted a fence around the playground and we played with lots of kids. We got to see some of the kids that we worked with at camp this past weekend. We also got to see our friends Alonzo, Alvaro, David, Pamela, and Manolo. Per special request by our Team Leader, I must mention here that Dave made 2 new friends AND scored 2 goals in el juego de futbol. I'm not sure which he is more proud of... making 2 new friends or scoring 2 goals!

To end our day at the ACJ YMCA, the staff hosted a BBQ for us. They grilled chicken, beef, and pork and then wrapped the meat in tortillas. We also had fresh salsa, guacamole, and Coca-Cola. This was the first time we had Coke since we arrived in Costa Rica and everyone was very excited! The BBQ was so much fun... we ate a lot and danced (Imagine That!). Melissa, Dave, and I learned how to "crump" from the kids and we have pictures to prove it! (We knew that Stacey and Nick would need to see proof!) At the BBQ, Wendy and Louis (the directors of the YMCA) presented the team with a plaque to hang at our YMCA in Carolina del Norte. They also presented each of us with a handmade clay cross as a token of their appreciation. In turn, we presented them with a YMCA flag that they will be able to hang at the Campamento. While we were waiting for the bus to take us back to camp, we voted on MVP and Dorcas. I won both for the day... MVP because I stayed in the nursery the entire day holding babies (for those of you who know me, you know that this didn't seem like work at all to me... I loved it!).

We got back to the camp around 9:30 and Gabby led us in our devotion for the night. After devotion some of us packed and got ready for bed while others decided to stay up and spend time with La Negra, Alex, and Chilo. Tomorrow we have to get up at 3:30am because Rolando is picking us up at 4:20am to head to La Fortuna. We are so excited about the adventures to come for the rest of the week but we are sad to leave the campamento and our new friends!

That´s why monkeys don´t live here...

El 1st de Abril

Brought to you by Kim
(Nick and Stacey... yes, Melissa and I are here!)

Last night after we blogged, we had a dance party... La Negra, Manolo, Esteban, and Chilo taught us how to salsa! Then we went back to the cabin with all of our Costa Rican friends. We voted on MVP... MEG for her leadership, initiative, and her HUGE heart for helping others. Our Dorcas award for the day was Manolo... Manolo was trying to show off his muscles by carrying a wheelbarrow across the creek and he fell over into the creek with the wheelbarrow... it was quite amusing!

Today was another beautiful, relaxing day at Campamento Oikamene. We woke up this morning between 6 and 7... most of us took another cold shower and then we all headed to breakfast. We had pancakes, eggs, rice, frijoles, and FRESH pineapple.

After breakfast we all took some time to write in our journals and reflect on the trip thus far. Meg encouraged us to set a group time to journal so we did! After journal writing we hung out together, rested, and prepared for another hike down the creek. Today we decided to hike downstream as a group. Everyone said that the hike downstream was easier than the hike upstream... Melissa and I beg to differ! We hiked until we got to the bridge that leads into the camp and then some of us went back upstream and some went on a mountain hike. The group that went on the mountain hike got to see a waterfall... it was beautiful!

Despues de hiking we had lunch... beef stew, rice, beans, and salad. Then we took another nap before starting our work project for the day. Can we just say for the record that we LOVE the Costa Rican culture and that we are embracing it wholeheartedly!! Our work project today was to finish the campfire pit that we started yesterday. We are hoping to build a fire there tonight!

After we finished the firepit, we just spent more time hanging out and getting to know each other. Kevin took a group up the mountain to pick ´oranges´ ... these ´oranges´were green and tasted a lot like limes! Thanks Kevin! We also added a few items to our Top 10/20 list...

18. That´s why monkeys don´t live here...

19. Why? Dave would let us do it!

Oh and we have an amendment to our prior list... Magic Coffee needs to be moved to number 1 per Nick Errato´s request... Nick, we didn´t mean to disgrace Magic Coffee.

After our relaxing afternoon, we had dinner... steak, rice, and potatoes! Now we are blogging and getting ready for our campfire!

We are really looking forward to going to the YMCA in San Jose tomorrow. Manolo and Alvaro are going with us!

Continue to pray for us over the next few days. We continue to be amazed at how well this group is getting along. Everyone is being so kind and considerate towards their teammates. To those parents who are reading this blog, Melissa, Dave, and I are so proud of your teens. We have enjoyed spending time with them and we are in awe of their leadership, maturity, and their hearts for helping others. As individuals their lives are being impacted by this experience and as a team, they are impacting the lives of those we are meeting in this amazing country.

FACT: LEECHES GO TO THE DARKEST AND WARMEST PART OF YOUR BODY. FACT.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Brought to you by the entire team!!!!

First off, we'd like to tell you all about how we had a flood in the bathrooms. In this country, you are not supposed to flush toilet paper; but we had a mishap in one of the toilets and it overflowed all 6 toilets and the water spilled into the common room. Dave was the hero of the night and served as our resident plumber, and used his handy dandy plunger. After we cleaned up, we voted on our MVPs. Tyler and Andrew were voted MVPs because of the relationships they built with the kids. Melissa won Dorcus Award for her inability to speak correct Spanish. Let's just say that was the funniest moment of the day...

This morning we slept in!!! We woke up around 6:30 [8:30 NC time]. Breakfast was at 9, and we had pancakes, eggs, papaya, and melon. Our first meal without rice or beans!! After breakfast, we decided to hike upstream along the creek. We saw many leeches, some on us, some in Andrew's pants, some squirming in the water. Gross!!! We had such a great bonding experience for those 2 hours. The scenery was really neat, seeing all of the trees, frogs, and rocks. We really had to rely on each other to get across some of the rocks. The boys were quite chivalrous in helping the girls across. Jordan decided to run across the rocks and totally took a swim without meaning to. Payton bruised her rear by slipping on a rock. Andrew, Tyler, and Marissa decided to go swimming in leech infested waters. Kim slipped on a rock and twisted her ankle. The rest of the group stayed mostly dry and went slow across the rocks to ensure they didn't get hurt. Around 1, we ate rice, beans, chicken lasagna, and bread. It was great!!

After lunch, we started our work project. We crossed the creek in front of our cabin and began moving many logs to build a firepit. We dug stairs out of the land and cleared off paths. Then we built a rock bridge that was sturdy enough to cross the creek on. Afterwards, some people went to the blacktop to play futbol, while others showered in the ice cold tundra of the bathroom. Needless to say, it takes your breath away and makes you want to cry. Some actually did. Like Meredith. Meg, Meredith, Lindsey, and Melissa hiked to where the kids stayed while they were here, and watched the sunset. It really puts everything in perspective. You could see the lights from the city way, way, way out across the mountains on one side, and on the other side it was nothing but pastures. Everyone else worked on a top 10 [aka 20] list of our favorite memories so far. It's only Monday, but here are just a few.

1. 29mar... Tyler's seat in the airplane
2. FRIIIIIIJOOOOOLLLLEEESSSSS!!!!!
3. La Negra's Beat
4. Dave's turkey story
5. Katy's Mom's turtle soup
6. Tyler CALLED IT!!!!
7. You can't "ohhhhh" yourself
8. "Estoy caliente...."
9. 100% deet means NOTHING.
10. Cold water equals water conservation
11. Jordan is the most graceful person on the team. She'll teach walking classes later.
12. Dance parties!!
13. Magic coffee pot
14. Jinbo Fan Club
15. You can NEVER have too much rice and beans.
16. 14, 15...................16[JERK.]
17. FACT. 37% of ants are blind. FACT.
18. Microwave Smores
19. Muscle Shirt Monday
20. Learning to salsa!


As we reflected in our devotion last night, we can already feel the impact of this trip on our lives!!! We feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be here with each other... thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We miss everyone at home but we will see you all soon!

Muchos Frijoles

Sunday, March 30th

Brought to you by Meredith and Kim

This morning we woke up and met the kids again and ate eggs, beans, and bread, plus mayonaise, which we thought was cheese dip. Of course everything starts and finishes with a dance party. So… we danced. A lot. =) We then led Capture the Flag on the blacktop (this is where the kids play soccer --they do not have a field) and painted ourselves with ´war paint´, showing which color team we were on. We made lanyards with the kids and taught them how to make them, and took pictures and created picture frames. They decorated them and got to take the pictures home with them! It was really fun. We ate an amazing meal for lunch, consisting of rice, beans, potato and egg salad, and a super good porkchop topped with the freshest salsa ever. SO GOOD!!! We hung out with everyone and really bonded with the kids. Tyler and a child named Dylan became attached at the hip; Elizabeth hung out with Scarlett, Jessica, Amir, and Pamela; Kim and a child named Kimberly really connected; and Meredith and Manuel played catch together. La Negra also taught us this really cool game on making a beat. It is hard to explain, but we got some good laughs and a great time out of it. We taught her how to play ´Tap, Tap, Double Tap´and ´Down By the River´. Soon after, the kids went to pack their things and we went back to our quarters to chill for about 45 minutes. We then headed back out to play clothespin tag! After that we made friendship bracelets and put on temporary tattoos (the kids put on so many!!!). The kids left about 4.00 pm, so around 2 hours ago. We were sad to see them go, but we could tell they had a great time with us. Since they left, some of us have been hiking, sleeping, trying to figure out Spanish computers... and really just enjoying spending time with each other. We are anticipating our next meal... of course it will be great!! MORE RICE AND FRIJOLES (beans)... WE CANNOT WAIT!!!!

Hola! de Costa Rica

Saturday, March 29

It´s hard to believe that we have been in this country less than 8 hours and yet it already feels so familiar. We arrived in San Jose 1:30 p.m. Costa Rican time a bit tired from the day´s journey, but filled with anticipation. Customs was a breeze and we found Alonzo waiting for us at the curb of the airport with a YMCA sign. We were able to see the main roads of San Jose before arriving at Campamento Oikoumene.
After unloading our belongings, we met up with the 18 children who were visiting for the weekend. Despite the language barrier, we became fast friends and learned that a nod and smile go a long way when you don´t know the language! Following a dinner that can only be described as delicioso, we were privilaged to witness an incredible devotion led by the camp staff. While it´s too difficult to explain it over the blog, you need to hear about it (do a google search for Tony Melendez). In as much as the campers were filled with awe, I found myself feeling like a 6 year old who is seeing something for the first time. Later, we headed to the camp fire where our amazing group of high schoolers led songs, performed a skit about frijoles and made s´mores for the campers and counselors.
Although it had been a long day, we gathered the group for mvp (gabby and elizabeth for their much needed ability to translate), dorcas award (tyler for his inability to read his seat number on his plane ticket... 29mar) and devotion.
I am still amazed that despite the langauge barriers that exist, there are four things which are universal for all people: laughter, applause, dancing and music. We were able to experience all of these things not once or twice, but often before we headed to bed.
Continue to pray for our group. We have such an amazing group of teens and this week will prove to make them even more incredible. Our verse for the trip, Proverbs 16:9 - We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it - has already shown me that God has his hand here with our group.

“Closing time, Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings ends..." (Saturday, March 8th)

Brought to you by Katie N.

Last day! Today, we had the opportunity to go shopping in San Jose for the morning before we boarded the bus back to the airport and U.S. Everyone was able to purchase things for people back at home and even something for themselves. Many decided on buying Puma shoes, shirts, etc. while others opted for jewelry, key chains, t-shirts, etc.
After our shopping excursion, we met back the hotel and ended our trip with group devotion. In our reflection, many people discussed the impact of this trip on their lives and the overall success of this one week. We realized that it would be our last time together and thanked the leaders and participants for all their hard work, dedication, and just keeping the faith.
Finally, we boarded the bus and headed to the airport. We successfully made it through customs and headed on up to Charlotte after a short delay. Upon arrival, we had a few miscommunications with the flight attendant about our flight. However, we were determined to catch our next flight and quickly ran to our terminal. Talk about a close call. J Everyone boarded the plane and we flew back into Raleigh around 11:30 p.m.
Overall, this mission trip was an incredible time for everyone. It was a memorable and fun spring break for all the participants and leaders. We are all looking forward on getting together soon for some “magic coffee” and fellowship too!
Thank you for everyone that supported us through this entire process especially family, friends, and the YMCA. We could not have done it without you. All the donations were most appreciated especially since we were able to donate new sporting equipment to one of the camps. We truly accomplished our mission and look forward to another successful trip next March. Hasta luego!
As mentioned in-1 Timothy 4:9-12, "This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

“Don’t Stop Believing…” (Friday, March 7th)

Brought to you by Katie N.

This morning, a small portion of our group decided to wake up the crack of dawn (4:30 a.m.) to take one last hike with Trunco. Little did those adventurers know, the hike would be extremely steep and inclined and last almost three and a half hours. The benefit of the long hike was motivating each other to get to the top. On the way, there was a lot of lush vegetation, bird calls, and the Arenal Lake. Trunco decided to “travel lightly” and only wear his shirt and Speedo on way up. It was a great hike to end such an incredible trip. Upon our return, everyone packed up their things on the bus and loaded up to head back to San Jose. On the way, our group was very surprised when Trunco recommended that we stop at an Italian place for lunch. “I know the best places,” said Trunco. Everyone enjoyed different kinds of pizzas, pasta, calzones, and salads. It was a treat for all after so much traveling on the road!
Trunco even showed us another beautiful waterfall midway through the trip. Along with a great lunch and another breath-taking sight, Nick became the DJ for the bus ride back. Many of my favorite memories are singing and dancing along to the Hannah Montana song for the hundredth time. In addition to that, Nick brought back some golden 80s songs, boy band, and a few others. One of the most sentimental moments of the day was when Trunco stopped and bought fruit for a local orphanage with all of his tip money. Our group learned that he never accepts tip money and uses that money to buy food for a local orphanage in San Jose that is very much in poverty. This instance made the group realize the open hearts of Costa Rican people and their dedication to helping the community. This made everyone really think about their impact on this mission trip.
We arrived in San Jose in the late evening after driving for almost four hours and getting stuck in a little bit of traffic. Everyone checked into the hostel and even was able to play with the newborn kittens in the lobby! It was interesting to see the different travelers coming in and out of the hostel. Once everything was settled, we walked about five blocks to a restaurant downtown that served Costa Rica and somewhat related American food. The last dinner was a great way to recognize all the fun moments in the past week and recall first impressions, experiences, etc. Our last devotion was led by Stacey and extremely meaningful to our last night in Costa Rica. It had been quite a day of traveling so everyone was “fading” (thank you for the new word Forrest) and went to bed as soon as devotions was over. No late night for magic coffee this evening! As Gail Rubin Bereny once said, “Keep things on your trip in perspective, and you'll be amazed at the perspective you gain on things back home

while you're away...One's little world is put into perspective by the bigger world out there.” Also, the Journey title relates to the song, “Don’t Stop Believing…Hold on to that Feeling.” This is a great song lyric to reflect upon after such an incredible mission trip. In relation to the feeling

of Jesus Christ and the meaning of the work that we completed with his presence.

“Quick Adventures with Trunco” (Thursday, March 7th)

Brought to you by: Katie Nagel

Our group was definitely ready to embrace the day this morning at 4:00 a.m. We arose very early in order to get a jump on downtown San Jose traffic. Rolondo, our tour guide for the rest of our trip explained that laborers start to work at 5:00 a.m. There are also different types of workers that arrive in shifts every half an hour until the secretaries and administrative staff hit the streets around 7:30 a.m. So, our Costa Rican friends met us to see us off- yes, that is a good friend that will get out of bed to tell you goodbye at 4:00 am! The departure was very special, as we left behind new friends and lasting memories, made over the last few days. The Camp Oikoumene staff wished us a good trip and gave us a gift and beautiful card to send us of with blessings.
Rolondo started our morning slowly, allowing us to sleep after a short briefing of our day. He gave a great history lesson of Costa Rica especially illustrating the importance of technology, trade, and their neighboring countries. For example, he emphasized the direct similarity between how the US and Costa Rica are very much the same with the related of issue of immigration in their countries. Both the US and Costa Rica deal with daily immigration issues because of their direction relation with the bordering countries of Mexico and Nicaragua. In addition to the issue of immigration, Rolondo discussed the importance about how Costa Ricans are not as materialistic as those in the US. It was interesting to hear from a different perspective of a fellow Tico man.
After a four hour bus drive, we arrived at the town of La Fortuna which is the city at the base of Volcano Arenal. Volcano Arenal is the largest active volcano in North America. We headed straight to breakfast once we arrived in town and ate in an open air café and had a choice of a typical Costa Rican breakfast or a good old American breakfast. We shared some fresh Pineapple, papaya, banana, watermelon, cantaloupe and fresh guababana & mango juice- which were all muy delicioso (very delicious).
After breakfast, we headed straight to do the canopy tour. It was an intense experience which involved a huge series of ziplines. Many of our fellow group member were a little worried and apprehensive about the high distance but we ended up being 100% on all the activities. There were a total of seven lines which were 600 feet off the ground and with the longest line being ½ mile long! Normal speed on the zip line was between 35-45 mph depending on the length of the line, and the views were incredible of all the beautiful biodiversity of Costa Rica.
After the zipline we were off to Acotermales Hot Springs in La Fortuna. There was a series of natural hot springs that differed in temperature from water you would take out of your fridge to hot, hot, hot! We enjoyed the relaxing environment and took advantage of Costa Rica’s natural fruit juices. There were strawberry daiquiris, mango daiquiris, and pina coladas all around- kid version of course! After some time relaxing in the hot waters we headed on…
Once that mission was complete, we embarked back on the bus to head off to a famous Catarata (waterfall). We had a full cardio work-out with climbing all 500 STEEP steps but finally made it to the waterfall. We had four responsible lifeguards to watch over us! The water was quite chilly but everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and swimming around. There was a beautiful cave behind the waterfall and amazing flora hanging form the cave. It was an amazing site to see… what evidence of God’s goodness and love.
The walk up was quite difficult after swimming in the waterfall but everyone persisted and took plenty of pictures. J Rolondo continued to be very supportive of the whole group and consistently providing us with more information about his country. We ate dinner at the same open air café as breakfast and it was yet another plentiful meal. They served us the best guacamole any of us had ever tasted with chips as an appetizer with fresh guavo and mango juice. The main course was wonderful as always- baked chicken, tortillas, more guaco, etc. The best possible part was the dessert. One word: AMAZING. Many group members opted for the banana split which was huge and was placed in half a pineapple. Others opted for the fresh fruit with ice cream, cake, etc.
Rolondo even squeezed in a few extra minutes to let us go shopping in the town of La Fortuna. Many group members decided to purchase Costa Rican coffee, t-shirts, jewelry, wooden crosses, and other gifts for family and friends. After our short shopping excursion, we headed back to the Arenal Observatory where we headed for the night. Once we settled for the evening, a few group members walked up to the hotel’s deck area. We had the opportunity to watch the volcano’s activity at night. You could not see thevolcano well in the dark, but if we were quiet and would listen, we could hear the rumblings of the volcana. And after the rumblings, it was just as you would imagine, red and orange lava flowing down the side of the mountain- absolutely gorgeous. We also learned that the bigger the rumble, the larger the lava flow. The time on the deck was hard to describe because the thought of having a volcano so close to you was incredible. Our group continues to bond over the last two days with also embracing the beauty of Costa Rica. I think that the perfect quote to end this day would be from the founder of Camp Sea Gull, Wyatt Taylor. He once said, “Success doesn’t just happen, you make it happen.” We achieved all of our goals in relation to our service as a group and now enjoying our remaining time. Until then, hasta luego and God Bless!

“Continuing to Serve Others and Our Group” (Wednesday, March 5th

Brought to you by Katie Nagel

It has been yet another amazing day here in Costa Rica. The weather has been perfect and the staff and volunteers continue to be so eager to help with our mission trip. They recognize the importance of not only helping others but helping others to grow, learn and embrace each other’s cultures. They have taught our group especially how to appreciate different cultures and to share one’s own.

We started the morning with yet another plentiful breakfast. The kitchen staff continues to be creative with different meal options. This morning, we were excited to have los huevos (eggs), el pan (bread), and el jabon (ham). They even added some Coca Puffs and Fruit Loops for a spice of variety. The kitchen staff also has treated us to the lovely and fresh fruits in Costa Rica.

After breakfast, we loaded up on a bus to head to the YMCA. The bus ride was very memorable because it provided us with the opportunity to see more of this beautiful country. The bus driver even stopped to let us take a picture of a breath-taking view of the mountains. It felt like we were on a camp bus trip because we sang songs such as “Do Rae Mi”, “Brown- Eyed Girl”, and even making sure that we had a solid Backstreet Boys song- “I want it that way.” Upon our arrival at the YMCA, we were graciously greeted by Wendy with a special devotion. She had each member in our group take a different shape (star, flower, or sun) and place them in a bowl of water. Wendy proved this activity to show what can happen when people work together. It does not matter who you are but the impact that you are making. We even received a special bookmark with a quote from Luke 10:2 mentioning how “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that they would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Wendy spoke about how grateful she was for our help and the impact that we had started and continued to make on the YMCA here in Costa Rica.

After this sentimental moment, we were divided into two different groups. Both groups ended up switching after lunch which proved to be a great plan. One group was responsible for painting the front portion of the YMCA while the other group played and assisted with the preschool children. It seemed that both of these groups played a crucial part of “serving others” today. We were to take some responsibility away from their staff and assist with the younger children. The children were absolutely adorable and enjoyed our company even though there was a language barrier. Some of the children who were at camp with us on Saturday and Sunday stopped by after school to play and hang out. It was wonderful having them run up to us and give us great big hugs, declaring how much they had missed us. One of the things that our group has overcome in the past few days is the ability to challenge their Spanish and work to communicate through the language barrier. The painting crew was able to paint the whole front of the YMCA along with separate railings and fences. The staff was extremely appreciative and treated us to a very nice lunch of corn tortillas, chicken, rice, tomatoes and fresh goat cheese. It was a nice opportunity to get to know other members of the staff at the YMCA such as the teachers and administrative staff members.
After lunch, everyone went back to work and switched roles for the afternoon. This afternoon shift was just as productive as the morning time. Once the afternoon shift was over, Xinia invited the group into the gym where she thanked everyone for all of their hard work. She extended her gratitude and appreciation to everyone by giving each individual in our group a cross. Also, she gave Forrest a Jesus sign to take back to our YMCA as a reminder of our service here in Costa Rica. It was a difficult departure to leave the children and the staff at the YMCA. All the little girls gave the guys kisses on the cheek and the little boys did the same to the ladies. Too cute! After the goodbyes, we headed back to camp for a “Costa Rican style BBQ” that the staff held for us and their appreciation to our servitude in the past few days. They invited Wendy and a few other members from the Co-op. It was a great opportunity to recognize those others that make such an impact on the YMCA. The dinner was delicious and they even grilled chicken, sausage, etc. on a huge grill, complete with tortillas, and more traditional Costa Rica food. Everyone enjoyed the meal and the fellowship of others on our last evening here. We ended the evening with plenty of expressed gratitude, hugs, pictures, and of course- dancing! Our group continued to “dance the night away” and improve our dance skills- we even learned a traditional Costa Rica dance! In an overall reflection, today has been an incredible day full of expressed servitude and gratitude. Personally, our group has truly recognized our impact on the lives of others here in this community as well as the impact that the staff and volunteers have had on us. It will be difficult to leave this special place this evening that has touched many of our hearts in special and sentimental ways. Although the departure tomorrow will be rough, our group is ready to embark on the next adventure part of our journey. Until then, it’s always to remember the impact that you have made on serving others. As mentioned in Matthew 5:16, “And the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” As they say in Costa Rica, “Pura Vida.” (Pure Life)

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Scroll all the way down to follow our journeys thus far. BIG shout out to Dave Bell for helping with some posts!

Trabajamos Mucho! (Tuesday, March 4th)

Brought to you by Stacey, Melissa, and Katie N.

So let me just tell you, we have had an amazing week so far! Tuesday morning started with a fantastic breakfast of jamon y huevos (ham and eggs), pancakes and fruit (pineapple, cantaloupe, and watermelon). We were then taken on a guided tour by our Costa Rican friends to see the area around camp. One thing that we got to see was a huge underground water source, which supplies much of the water for San Jose. It was a pretty good start to the day, seeing the beautiful Costa Rican countryside. After the hike we had some time for a short rest before almuerza (lunch).

A lunch of pork chops, salad, rice, and tuna pasta salad was just what we needed to jump back into the work we had left incomplete yesterday. We split back into two groups to conquer the step building and rock pile! All of our Costa Rican friends joined us for the work and the extra hands made the work go quickly. We finished around 3:30 pm feeling a great sense of accomplishment. To be able to see what was here when we arrived on Saturday and to know what we are leaving for the kids and camp is very rewarding. We moved on to one last project for the day… flower planting! The large flower pots surrounding the main building were still filled with poinsettias from Christmas. We were able to replant the poinsettias around camp in the back garden and fill the pots with some summer daisies. So with dirty, sweaty hands, heads, feet, and bodies in general, the group was done for the day!!!

The activities from there varied from showers to naps, a competitive fútbol (soccer) game on the blacktop, some fun girl talk with our Costa Rican friend La Negra on the sidelines of the game, and a lot of reading and journaling. All-in-all it was a great afternoon!

Dinner, a video about Costa Rica and its natural environment (volcanoes, rainforests, flora, and fauna), and our nightly dancing (we ‘learned’ salsa dancing tonight) brings us to the present moment. Tomorrow’s game plan includes an early breakfast and trip to the ACJ YMCA in San Jose. Our understanding is that we will be working with preschoolers from a very poor neighborhood. Most of their mothers are maids who have migrated from Nicaragua and work from 6:00 a.m. until 6:30 or 7:00 p.m. The children stay at the Y the entire time! We will also be doing some painting to get their new playground finished so that the children have a playground to play on. All in all, we cannot wait to be back with kids and see the YMCA here in Costa Rica.

So, what could we say we could take away with us if we had to leave tomorrow? That’s a great question… I am glad you asked! J

Well, there has been a lot of talk about how great the group feels about being able to see what they have accomplished. Knowing that the path down the mountain was dangerous and unsteady- but we have left it strong and safe, that it may be used to walk the campers through the trails without worry.

The group has begun to really understand the meaning of true friendship. We have had time to invest in each other, allowing us to learn more about ourselves as well as each other. It is amazing to see the relationships that can be developed in this environment and how language does not hinder communication. People are the same at the core no matter the culture, the language or the age. We all love and want to be loved. Everyone values friendship and family above all. They all enjoy laughter. And everyone wants to be a part of something. Even in this short amount of time, we have been able to see that in the relationships and conversations with our new Costa Rican friends as well as our friends from home.

So, we are off to devotion with the group, but we wanted to fill you in on what God’s doing here in our days and our hearts. So what would I ask you to pray for? Hmmm…

We would continue to ask for safety and good health. We would ask for you to pray that we can continue to be used here in every situation we are in. Whether in the work we do, the relationships we make, or the time on our own. Until then, please continue to wish us well on our journey of service. This trip has enabled us to not only serve others but to serve each other in a moving way. As mentioned in Matthew 29:16, our group is constantly reminded that “all things are possible” and continue to prove the impossible in the next four days.

ROCKING IT OUT, STEPPING IT UP…PUN INTENDED! (Monday, March 3rd)

Brought to you by Stacey

After breakfast we went straight into our morning work. We hiked up the mountain to where we could see down the valley and the mountains in the background. It made for a beautiful backdrop for our first project of the day, which was planting trees. We dug holes in the hard, hard dirt and planted some fruit trees. After the fruit trees, we took a hike together as a group down the creek. There were HUGE river rocks, brisk water, lots of overhanging trees and the walk was fantastic. Several folks ended up wet, but that’s the fun of it, right?

After lunch we headed back to work, and hard work at that. We worked for four hours shoveling wheelbarrows full of rocks, carrying them across camp, framing steps up the mountainside, leveling the ground on the steps and filling the steps in with rocks (carried across camp)! It was hard work and we were all excited to get a chance to put some of our sweat and energy into their camp. So with our sunburn, sore muscles and dirty bodies we headed to dinner.

I forgot to mention that several of the counselors who had been with the kids over the weekend came back to join us for the day. Manolo, Alvaro and Jimmy all spent the day with us. Grettel (la Negra), Isidro (Chilo) and Moses joined us after their regular work/school day. We all ate dinner together and spent the evening together. Among the evening activities was a talent show filled with skits, typical Costa Rican dance, talented cup girls, some two step dancing, and Costa Rican songs of friends and love. They then joined us after devotion for some Yahtzee, cards, dance party and talking. It has been great to spend time with our new friends and learn pieces of their culture while teaching them some of ours. You may soon have the opportunity to meet some of our friends, as we are working to bring several of them to the states to work at Camp Kanata this summer! They were so excited at the option and they are AMAZING counselors… ones that our association would be proud to call our own!

Well, that seems to bring us to where I sit now, on the cold tile floor with about 15 of us here in the common room playing and some of the muy cansada (very tired) folks already asleep in the bed. We could not have asked for a better first three days of our trip. Thank you for all your prayers, as we have felt God’s Hand on our every move. We pray that we can continue to walk in such favor throughout the rest of the trip.

THINGS WE’VE LEARNED AFTER 3 DAYS IN COSTA RICA:

10.Dance parties begin and end each and every activity/meal/hike/work project/you get the picture
9. Rice and beans goes good with every meal.
8. Daily highs in the 80s don’t mean you won’t turn to an ice cube at night!
7. There is a never ending supply of magically sugared and hot coffee ALWAYS
available!
6. No matter how much bug spray you apply, your legs still look like a kindergartener
who can’t get rid of the chicken pox.
5. You can have a computer lab with 15 brand new computers, 3 wireless routers,
your own cell tower on the mountain and STILL not be able to communicate with
the rest of the world!
4. Did we mention that dance happens anywhere and anytime?!
3. Hot showers doesn’t mean you can control WHEN you get the hot water!
2. A walk in the river ALWAYS results in someone falling IN the water.

1. There is always a way to communicate and build relationships even when you cannot speak the same language!

DAY CAMP, COSTA RICA STYLE! (Sunday, March 2nd)

Brought to you via Nick & Stacey

First off…it was FREEZING last night! We are also truly learning to live like missionaries, as we have no hot water. But, that didn’t deter us from an AMAZING day!
As you read in the last post, some of us met up at the concrete slab (yes, concrete, not a field) to get in a quick soccer game. The boys were excited to show off their foot skills, and (boy could they play!), while the girls stayed together to do dance and movement games. It was fun to learn the Costa Rican spin of games that we play at the Y back home. After a hearty typical Costa Rican breakfast of eggs, beans, rice and cheese, we did an assembly to get ready for the day. After some songs and a Thought for the Day we did a counselor contest. Our group thought they would be a bit sneaky and surprise Forrest and Nick with a makeover! All the campers were extremely pumped as they got to cover Forrest and Nick with a tutu, body paint, glitter, colored hair spray, and just about every single piece of make-up you could imagine. It was concluded that they were pretty much the ugliest looking woman ever!

Morning activities were a huge success. Campers played parachute games, a crazy water relay, teambuilding activities, and made picture frames and lanyards for arts and crafts. We also found out more about the campers; most of them live close to the YMCA in downtown San Jose in the projects. The YMCA partners with the camp we are staying at Campamento Oikuomene. We may have told you earlier that we are staying at a YMCA camp. This is actually incorrect. The camp is owned by a Co-Op, and they partner with the YMCA to bring the children in on the weekends and in the summer time for FREE. We were told that the children come from dysfunctional homes and are extremely impoverished.

After activities, we had a big lunch of steak, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, and tomatoes & lettuce. We must point out that this camp serves absolutely the best camp food we’ve ever had, I think that’s why we keep telling you what we eat!

After lunch, we continued to spend time with the kids, focusing on the kids, taking a million pictures with them, and making lanyards. It was also a chance for the kids to play with all the equipment we donated to camp, but unfortunately it then was time for the kids to go home. L As the kids were telling us goodbye, there were no hesitations as they bear hugged and cheek kissed us all. Although we only had 24 hours together, it was incredible to see such a deep connection through language, age and cultural barriers. God is amazing, and nothing is impossible when He takes over!

We were sad to see the kids leave and camp felt empty without them, but we made it work as we took some time for a much needed rest. The group split for the afternoon; some napped, some took COLD showers, some walked the river, some played cards, some hiked to the top of a mountain, but whatever the activity, it was a bit of wind down time!

The rest of the afternoon and evening we spent together as a group. We did dinner, games, talking, laughing and really just getting the chance to enjoy each other and reflect on the trip so far. We closed the evening with devotion, preparation for Sunday, and recognition of the day’s accomplishments, whether goofy or serious.

We cannot wait to see what tomorrow holds when we roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. Manual labor projects at camp are on the agenda, so a good night’s sleep is the plan. Please continue to pray for our health, our safety and the team’s unity. We really want to be used as God desires, so we are all working to follow His lead, even when it’s not our pre-set plan or within our comfort zone. Pray that we hear His voice and we are covered in His grace as we listen.

Until next time….

BAILAMOS! (Saturday, March 1st)

Brought to you via Nick….

With our flight landing a bit early in San Jose, we were eagerly awaiting our journey to meet the children. However, while we landed early, numerous others landed late. Unfortunately, this led to roughly and hour and a half wait in the customs line.

The anticipation was building as a bus arrived to pick us up, and we zipped off for a fun bus ride through downtown San Jose, Costa Rica. While this was a time of excitement, it was also a great time for reflection as we took in the smells of burning trash and diesel fuel, saw brightly colored but run down buildings, and barrios covering the mountain side.

While we didn’t talk too much about it, there was still apprehension for what was awaiting us. On the bus ride, we learned there weren’t as many campers as we had expected, and it was re-iterated that they spoke very little English language if any at all. Plus, we were arriving later than expected and night was falling. To top that off, we also learned the campers were leaving earlier than expected the next day. Our hopes were certainly not down, but we knew that we had little time to make friends and impact lives. Add all that to a day long of traveling, and we just weren’t sure where the Lord would lead us. However, looking back now, we know that He had a plan for us and all the things He wanted to happen! Although we had to scrap some of our initial plans for Saturday night, the Lord showed up in a very big way. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” We were humbled that when Saturday had come to a close, we were positive that the Lord guided our steps and actions.

As soon as we arrived, we met the children and played an impromptu name game which involves clapping and chanting in Spanish! We immediately bonded over laughs and smiles as some of us would forget names, mispronounce the Spanish words, or miss the beat. We grabbed a quick dinner and spent that time chatting individually with all the campers. There are a few of us here (Katie N, Everett, Julia) who speak Spanish pretty well, which was a HUGE help. The rest of us tried to get by with broken Spanish we had learned in high school. Funny thing is, any time we would say a Spanish phrase or word, the children would immediately break into Spanish dialogue, assuming we could understand everything they were saying!

After dinner is when the real fun began…BAILAMOS!!!!!!!! Many people say the soccer or futbol is the universal language. While they are correct, dancing is right up there as well. Basically, we had a two hour dance party! As you can imagine, the music is wonderful with the different rhythms and beats…and THEY CAN DANCE! We had an awesome time bonding and building relationships through all types of dancing. We would take turns showing each other certain dance moves and trying to follow along. Salsa, the Congo Line, breakdancing, the worm, Michael Jackson…everything you can think of!

After dancing, the Costa Rica staff led everyone through a really cool glow in the dark activity. Everyone was blindfolded, and then covered in florescent paint. After taking the blindfold off, they told a story about the stars and the importance of them all shining together. When they turned the lights back on, all the glowing disappeared. They then explained to us that even though you can’t always see lights shining, you must have Faith in God that it is ALWAYS shining in your heart. We then sang some camp songs around the fire, did a devotion and skit, and begun to wrap up our first night. After a really long day, it was time for group processing time, devotionals, and bed. The children have asked us to meet them at 6:30am in the morning for a Futbol game before breakfast!

With all fun, the children did not want to go to bed. Hugs, high fives, and unconditional love was around.. Someone from our group summed it up, saying “Kids just want love. It crosses and destroys any barrier.” AMEN!