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. 
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