Christ’s Church of the Valley Mission Trip Update

Hi! My name is Chelsea and I’m one of the leaders on the missions trip this week in Moravia, Costa Rica. We brought 35 students and 8 leaders on our trip this week. We’re from the suburbs of Philadelphia and our church is called Christ’s Church of the Valley.

We arrived on Monday after a long day of traveling to take a tour of the church and meet our leaders. The leaders from AIM are Dave, Sheila, and Carlos. They are so well organized, energetic, and have a positive attitude. Their desire to pour into the students is so evident and we appreciate their leadership and dedication to praying for us.

We’re staying at a local church called La Iglesia de Eden. Pastor Marcos and volunteers from his congregation have been so welcoming to us and appreciative of our help. Each day, ladies from the church have made us a traditional Costa Rican meal for breakfast lunch and dinner. We’ve had fun trying out different foods and have definitely gotten our fill of rice and beans.

During the day, we are split up into five groups and travel to different sites to work. We’ve volunteered at Paracito School playing games with elementary students, cleaned and painted a mural at La Trinidad School, had a Q & A with high school students and taught them how to play ultimate frisbee at High School Experimental Bilingue, cleaned the Platanares School, completed off jobs for a lady from the congregation, painted walls at the church and created a mural, and built a house for a homeless family in just TWO DAYS!

It’s been incredible to watch the students work and bond with each other all day every day. Our youth pastor Adam coined a phrase a month or so ago back at home and it’s been awesome to hear kids calling it out to each other throughout the day: “Serve until you don’t want to, and then serve some more.”

 

They really are embodying that sentiment. Some of the jobs are glamourous…painting a mural or playing with the adorable Costa Rican kiddo, but some of them…not so much. We’ve scraped moss off of cement, scrubbed toilets, and washed dishes. Through it all the students have stepped up time and time again.

After the work day is over, our group is able to spend time together eating, worshipping, hearing an encouragement and challenge from Dave, playing team bonding games, and debriefing with our teams about the day. This environment allows for students to grow closer together in a way unlike any other. We’ve laughed until we’ve cried (literally) watching groups perform crazy skits, songs, have rap battles, pull-up competitions, and just sitting around talking.

I interviewed a student about her experience here and this is what she had to say. Erin (pictured below) is a hilariously awesome student from our church who has a desire to go into ministry after college. Her heart for God and others is obvious and she’s been an incredible asset to our team.

Q: What was one thing you worried about before the trip that you’ve already overcome?

Erin: Before the trip I was worried that I might not be able to step up and serve like the rest of the group and serve in situations that aren’t in my gift set, but I quickly realized that God will use us in every and any situation. There will be an open door to serve.

Q: What has surprised you most in Costa Rican culture?

Erin: I was surprised by the sense of community in the area of the home build. People played music for the whole street to hear, shared stories about their lives, neighbors were so open and friendly and our culture is not like that.

Q: How has this trip impacted your group?

Erin: Our group’s sense of unity has grown immensely. Being able to travel the world and serve God as a group is an experience that has made us all a lot more comfortable and open with each other.

Q: What’s one thing you’re so glad you packed and one thing you wish you would have packed?

Erin: I’m glad I packed a sweatshirt (It’s been cold!). I wished I packed more sweatshirts (It’s been cold.)

Q: In what ways have you already seen God at work in this trip?

Erin: I’ve already seen God at work in this trip in the sense of unity in our group, in the way we’ve been able to form relationships with strangers even while speaking a different language. God has opened door after door full of opportunities to serve God and experience love.

Q: What would you say to someone who is hesitant to go on a mission’s trip?

Erin: If anybody was hesitant to go on a missions trip, I’d tell them to shove their fears aside and do it. There is no better way to experience life in God’s will than a trip like this. You will never regret it.

Later this week, other leaders and students will check in and share more about their experience here. Check back in to read about our latest adventures exploring the community, serving God, and sight-seeing in beautiful Costa Rica. If you’d like to follow along with our youth pastor’s blog, here’s the link.

-Chelsea