Dear Friends and Family.

This year’s trip to Costa Rica proved to be significantly different than previous years.  To begin with, I cannot speak highly enough about the team of students who went with us (pictured upper left). The fellow leaders, Camille Clements and Brian Ray, would agree:  these students were strong in their desire to share the gospel and use every moment available toward meeting the needs of others. These kids have energy, drive, and initiative that the Lord used to encourage us as leaders, the children we served, and even the teachers with whom we worked at Sojourn Academy (who described our visit with the students as “a breath of fresh air”).

Trip praises:

1)      The opportunity to work at a teen camp and to perform the gospel mime.

2)      LaMar Salley and his family (second picture on left) who host and guide us each year. A new feature this year included the youngest two kids—Alexa and Matt—who led so many music and game sessions. Several of our kids—especially Matt (Sullivan), Nicole, Rachel, Jamaica, and Taylee—followed the kids’ lead and became great Spanish-song “barkers.”

3)      In spite of passing some sort of bug around our group, everyone stayed strong and worked hard even when suffering some. Again, this team believed in looking out for others and not so much for themselves. 

4)      The opportunity to visit Sojourn Academy—where Kevin and I worked between 2005 and 2009—brought back old friendships and memories into my heart. Such a joy to bring a team to play with kids (in English for a change!), to do some organic gardening, to play with more kids, to share with teens, and to run an elementary chapel. (Fourth and fifth pictures down)

5)      Overall, we presented twelve (12!) VBS sessions—games, music, crafts, lessons, Bible verses, and meriendas. Exhausting. But the joy on children’s faces and the fact that around 20 children and teens made decisions in regard to Christ in their lives sealed the value of the experience.

I really enjoyed watching our students (and leaders) from Xenia grow during this trip. They did not all know Spanish, but that never stopped them. One of them at the end of the trip shared, “I will never forget that it’s easy to make someone smile. You do not need language to make a relationship.” One of our leaders stated that through all of this adventure, the Lord has taught him to be available—he wasn’t even planning on coming till the “last minute,” and now he cannot imagine not having the experience.

I came home tired—but very encouraged for how God used us in this special country among very special people—people who are eager that their country is won for Christ.

The Salley family--our host missionaries

Please visit the blog at http://xccr.blogspot.com/ (videos, photos, and links to more).  With so many “thank you’s” and with faith in Him,