Friday

Today, our team had the morning off, and we went ziplining! It was great fun and we saw more of God's beautiful creation in Costa Rica. After lunch, we held a half-day clinic at the Score complex (our living quarters) for missionaries and pastors. The construction team finished up on some of their work and cleaned up the worksite. No team is scheduled any time soon to complete the work.

I have been amazed by the work this team has done as they have relied on God for their work here in Costa Rica. Many lives have been changed as a result of the work here. Many seeds have been planted that our partner churches will continue to water. Our construction team is helping out in the beginning of a big vision for the property in the Coronado area of San Jose. This team has represented God well in all they have done.

I have been especially impressed with our young missionary interns that were a part of our group. They have worked really hard and have served God with such joy in all their interactions with people. I truly saw Jesus in each one of them, and am so excited about God's calling on their lives as they have committed their lives to missionary service.

Tonight, we hear from two of our teens and from Dr. Kit, our church member who represents us in Cambodia, who was able to accompany us on this trip.

To God be the glory for all the great things He has done. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Our team begins its trek back to North Carolina tomorrow morning. We look forward to seeing many of you Sunday morning at Front Street.


Remy Mottinger

This week has been amazing and unforgettable. I feel that God has called me to work as a medical missionary, and this trip has made His calling for me even more clear in my heart. This week has been free of everyday distractions and it has helped me to learn to just sit still and listen to God and to listen to what he has to say to you from the others that surround you every day. The people that we have come into contact with in the clinics made me realize how fortunate we are and how selfish we can become. We gave away simple things such as cough medicine and Tylenol to many of the people that we saw, and they were so grateful for it, but to us are things that we take on a daily basis. They could have asked for more medicine or made up problems just to get more, but they didn't. This week I met one little boy that really touched my heart. His name was Jorge and he had come into the clinic with his grandmother. As Jackie was examining him his grandmother told her that he had AIDS. He had gotten it from his mother during childbirth, and then his mother died when he was three. My stomach dropped because there sat this sweet, innocent, little boy whose illness will most likely kill him, and there was nothing that we could do for him except pray. Even through his illness he was so happy and loving. And even though we couldn't give him medicine that would cure him, we were able to tell him that there was a God who loved him and that He was taking care of him. There were many other stories like this and I couldn't even begin to tell them all, but I do know that God has done great things in Costa Rica this week and that many lives were touched through Him and Him alone.

Alyssa Hall

"Wow!" That doesn't even start to explain the week I have had here in Costa Rica. At first I was very nervous, but I knew God wanted me to do this and I have been called. So when the Lord calls, you respond. Being 15 and half-way around the world is crazy for me to even think about. But this trip has been life changing in many ways. I have grown stronger in my relationship with Christ this week. I got to know some of the greatest people that love the Lord. This trip has brought joy to my life and showed me to be more greatful of what I have. And on top of being able to do what I love to do (medical work), I was also able to share the Lord. Its amazing to see what the Lord can do if you just follow where he leads. I have met some wonderful teenagers in a program called GAP. Im very interested in it and would love to do it. But enough about me. Though I miss my family terribly, I dont want to leave. The people down here that we met don't have much, and the little things we did blessed them and their neighborhoods. At one church we went to, the pastor was so thankful; he gave a speech and made me cry from seeing how touched he was by us coming and doing what we had done. I can't wait to come back!

Kit

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10 (NKJV)

What made this past week a special week is the opportunity to serve alongside Costa Rican believers who love God with all their heart, soul, and mind and who are living their lives by faith for His glory. God also encouraged our hearts as we worked with His choice servants here who came from other countries such as Canada, Chili, Germany, and Argentina. The first couple of days – my main translator was a single missionary from Canada. Interestingly her dad was a pastor to Cambodian refugee in 1980’s. It was a neat experience to meet by His divine appointment and work together in Costa Rica. Several of our translators are students of the Gap Program of Score International. Talking and getting to know some of them – my heart was also leaping with joy to meet numbers of young folks who are willing to live their life as an offering to Him and serve Him wherever He leads.

People of Costa Rica are friendly and appreciate our medical help. They called them self “Tico (for men) and Tica (for women)”. Despite the existing quality medical care, there are many Ticos that could not afford the government insurance and refugees from Nicaragua who are not eligible for the universal medical care. Apart from providing medical care, we also had numbers of opportunity to share the gospel, encourage some who are not walking with Christ, pray for many for His physical healing and spiritual healing. Many parents were filled with tears as they shared their struggle in life and the difficulties that their children are in. Two men were excited and wanted to receive spiritual help and a Bible as they learned and encouraged to live their lives as examples for their children.

As we are sharing Christ’s love through medicine, God also used it as the opportunity to work in our hearts. Testimonies one after another from our team members spoke very loudly that God has rekindled their hearts to live our lives for His glory and focus on what He has for us. As we are returning to USA tomorrow, I prayed that the imprint in our hearts will transformed our lives that we will become His true disciples who live for Him and represent Him wherever we go and do.