Let Go and Let God

This week I flew about three thousand miles from Greenville, South Carolina, a place that is full of material blessing, and ended up in La Cuenca, Costa Rica, a place full of poverty.  Although these two places are vastly different, I observed with my own eyes that God is present amidst the suffering across all the earth.  The beautiful people of La Cuenca and Guarari live in makeshift shacks built from tin scraps among streams of sewage.  They have what many Americans would consider unlivable conditions, yet somehow these people's generosity shows no bounds.  The host families always made sure that their students were given the very best of the little they possessed.  They demonstrated perfectly through their selflessness that nothing on this earth or anything in all creation belongs to anyone.  It's all His.  Everything is God's.  With the comprehension of this truth, how do so many of us continue to live lives in which we desperately cling onto the fading pieces of a finite world?  Instead, we should live lives in which our security is found in an infinite God.  An example of someone who lives this way is Hugo, a man who has dedicated his life to God through his ministry called Smiles with Hope.  His ministry provides a much needed light for the community of La Cuenca.  For more information on Smiles with Hope, check out their Facebook page, it is truly a selfless and purposeful ministry that has helped many.  Through all of this, I have come to a greater understanding that we truly need to let go and let God.  This experiences helps give greater understanding to Psalm 46:10 which reads "be still and know that I am God."

Tyler Bradley

Love your brother as yourself

Through this trip I have fully comprehended the meaning of verses like "love your brother as yourself" that we read so flippantly, comprehending only the surface of the Scripture.  My host families showed me generosity beyond anything I have ever experienced.  They gave the best that they had and went out of their way to make sure that I was comfortable and well taken care of.  Within the short extent of my time, they came to love me like their own child.  The love they showed me and the love I have them will not easily be forgotten.

I will also never forget the pain I felt giving out food in La Cuenca.  I had a burning desire to do more to help the people stuck in those conditions.  The weight of this experience will always be on my heart and in my prayers and will continue to remind me that no matter the circumstances, God will never leave me or forsake me.

Lauren Alsborg

Wednesday - Back in San Jose

We had a short adventure this morning to a hot springs river where the Seniors were able to splash and swim in the water. A quick trip back to the resort and we packed the bus, ate lunch, and headed on our way.

We stopped in La Fortuna, for some souvenir shopping and then hit the road to return to San Jose. The drive back, though a different route, was just as beautiful and adventurous as the ride out. Costa Rica is such a beautiful country.

We stopped for our last full meal together.

We have now arrived at the guest house in San Jose where we are staying the night. It is a beautiful evening in Costa Rica, with the cool breeze blowing and a full moon in the clear sky. We shall all miss this beautiful country.

Tomorrow we leave first thing in the morning to head to the airport for our long day of travel. We look forward to seeing everyone back home and sharing with you our time with the beautiful people of this country.

Buenas Noches!
Lori Horton

Unconditional Love

My time in Costa Rica has been life changing. The trip has been full of unexpected emotions. We went from weeping at the door of families living in the slums of La Cuenca to living it up in our own cabanas at a resort in the rainforest all in one day.

Walking through the village of La Cuenca yesterday, we saw some crazy situations. We delivered food and toiletries to the families who were in the most need of it. My group delivered food to a lady named Jenny who had 5 children and lived in a dirt floor shack no bigger than my bathroom at home. As we sung Psalm 23 to them in Spanish, and they sang along, I have never seen such happy hearts. The children stared and smiled as if they had never received such love. Jenny told us she wasn't expecting anything like this, and that we were a gift from God. Before we left their "house", the children hugged us so tight not wanting to let go, and neither did I. The feeling of hugging this family who literally did not know when they were going to eat next brought tears to my eyes. Through all the sweat and tears, it hit me how blessed I truly am. I thought to myself "Why do I deserve everything that I have when they have absolutely nothing?"

Today, on the other end of the spectrum, we are basically in paradise. I woke up this morning, took my first hot shower of the trip, went to a breakfast buffet, zip lined through the beautiful rainforest, then relaxed by the pool and hot springs for the rest of the afternoon with the view of a volcano in the background. While sitting at the resort reflecting on what I've experienced this week, I've realized how much closer I have become to God in such a short period of time. I have learned the true meaning of unconditional love. Although the children in La Cuenca may not feel loved, and most of them do not have fathers, they are loved beyond measure by their Father in Heaven.

So as my time in Costa Rica comes to an end, I will never forget the impact this country has had on me. Not only was it a mission to change the people here, but it also changed me.

Abbey Long

But for the Grace of God

Interpreting is nothing new to me, I've done it on a weekly basis for years. Of course the dynamic of this trip is very different than the sterile environment I'm used to in medical interpreting.  The three most impactful moments of this trip for me all came when interpreting people's grace stories. 


Our first morning in La Cuenca, I had the opportunity to interpret for Hugo, the director of Sonrisas con Esperanza (Smiles with Hope). He began his story with the rape of an almost 13 year old girl by an older man who had been married multiple times. He went on to say the girl was his mother and the man was his father. He grew up in his father's house and had little to no interaction with his mother who worked as a prostitute. When he was 5 yrs old, his mother committed suicide  and his father died shortly thereafter of age and alcohol related complications. Hugo ended up on the streets and tried to take his own life 4 times, throwing himself in front of a car and breaking all his teeth the last time. 


As an adult he ran into a drug addict he had known from the streets and the man was radically changed. His friend invited him to his home to get cleaned up and fed on the condition Hugo would go to church with him. Hugo wasn't interested in church but a shower and food sounded good. Through this friend and the church Hugo experienced the love of God for the first time. He returned to his studies and he began to pray that God would give him opportunities to minister to those who had yet to know the Father's love. Through a series of events God gave Hugo a ministry to the sick, orphaned, elderly, imprisoned and homeless as a clown. God later blessed Hugo with a wife and they have been ministering in La Cuenca together for 12 yrs. They were blessed with their own baby clown, 8 yrs ago.


Later that day I had the chance to interpret for two of our students as they shared their testimonies with the youth group in Guarari. The first student shared how a change in family dynamics led her on a downward spiral of looking within herself for the solution to all her problems. Her perfectionism shifted into a struggle with food, depression and identity.  It wasn't until she looked outside of herself and turned to God that she could see the solution to her problem would never be found on her own.


The second student told his story of profound loss. It seemed like things in his life were always going from bad to worst. While he was still reeling from one loss another would strike. Thankfully he had three really good friends who stood by him and pointed him to Christ. In the last year he's learned to give it all up to God, an ongoing battle for sure, but an incredibly valuable lesson to learn.


Storytelling is such a powerful thing and God stories are the most powerful of all. Pain and suffering are indiscriminate regardless of where you are born. But God.


Lyndsay Collins

At the Resort

Today (Tuesday) in Costa Rica was our first full day at the resort. Finally being able to sleep in was nice as was having my first hot shower in a while. We ate breakfast at the resort restaurant, then immediately went zip-lining. I got some pretty fresh pictures of all the Seniors flying through the air. I felt like I was a pro at the end of my entourage. Carlos and I looked for monkeys and sloths, but didn't find any. After lunch we found a sloth in a tree and it was a true hit. We swam in the pool and hung like 9 enos and hung out as a Senior class. Today was a very successful day as a result.

Warner Watkins

All My Questions Answered

The flight seemed to last forever; I was so anxious. What would the people be like; would they welcome us; would the little Spanish I do know suffice? All of my questions would be answered within a few hours after leaving the airport in San José, but not the way one would think. All of the worries I had developed in my head, such as not having hot water, soon would fade away. 

Around two hours in a bus could not prepare me for the next couple of days in Cot. The bus had stopped, and out to the right, was a backwards American flag. The people were welcoming us. We all gathered in a driveway and dispersed into groups with host families. Sylvia, Laura and my host mom, walked us down a small hill and into her home through her garage. Her car was quite nice, and it seemed that I had expected much worse. Her living conditions were no where near as bad as I thought. We were treated with a full meal, at midnight American time, but ten their time. One question easily answered: the people are so hospitable and loving. I can't explain the pure joy in Sylvia and her family's eyes. Sylvia tried, to no end, to converse with Laura and me, but we were so tired, and couldn't get out full sentences in Spanish. We went to bed, and woke to sizzling food and glorious smells. 

After eating, the whole group went to the school in Cot, gathered in the lunch room, had some coffee, and soon left with school members to hike. After the hike, we went back to the school and enjoyed an afternoon of soccer, volleyball, and lounging. I was so surprised that, even in uniforms consisting of long pants and dark blue shirts, all the kids wanted to do was play with us. Many of us did not expect the welcome, or the goodbye. 

The last night in Cot was truly heart wrenching. Saying goodbye is never easy, but this goodbye was the hardest. Sylvia had taken us into her house, and made it our home. She had showered us with love, hospitality, and joy. We all exchanged contact information, gave gifts, and spent the last few hours talking. And though Spanish is a true necessity in order to talk to the families, a question was answered: my Spanish would suffice. 

The next morning, we left. A piece of my heart was left in Cot, not only with Sylvia, but with all the people there as well. Now, I would face the hardest part of the trip. La Cuenca was what I prepared myself for: much worse. 

After dropping our bags in the Church in town, we walked down to the ministry "Sonrisas Con Esparanza," or Smiles With Hope. They had us lock up our stuff, and explained the violence within the community. Many of the people lived in metal houses, were covered in dirt and muck, and sadly, had never been shown love. Children ran amongst the streets, and along dirt and sewer paths without shoes. The first day, we walked to see the inside of a house in the community. Anna, the house owner, had ten children, one of which studies with her at night to obtain an education. So different from Cot, but very different from home. 

Through the time in La Cuenca, we played three soccer games, played with too many kids to count, and cried often. The second day in La Cuenca though, was the day that could never be forgotten. We gathered, once again, at the ministry and locked up our bags. We split into four groups, each with a large mesh bag of supplies. We would be taking necessities to families in need. There are no words to explain the utter sadness on my heart, but the total happiness within the eyes of people we were helping. 

My group, or the "Daniels group," was the last group to relinquish supplies. The first thing I noticed, and if you know me well, you wouldn't be surprised, was her dogs. One very skinny black female and one well fed yellow male, both flee infested and dirty. But more importantly, the second thing I noticed was Maria-Elena. She was very small and dirty. And in her eyes, behind the tears, I saw hope for a better future. Her son, Giovani, participated in the violence and stealing in the community. And on "Macha's," or Maria-Elena's heart, was a hope he would find work and leave the path he walks still today. And as we hugged, sang, and prayed with her, many tears fell from those around. That was an unforgettable experience. 

Now, after the life changing experiences made within the first five days, we are at a resort... And it's not the same. I honestly want to be with Sylvia in Cot, and the children in La Cuenca. I wish for one more day with each of them. My reality, at home, and the everyday struggles, seem so small. The world, outside of my world, changes perspective. The things I don't believe I could live without, hot showers, air conditioning, and cellular capabilities, are not necessities. All we truly need in life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control. 

Lauren Jones