Costa Rica 2010

Jorge

Holley Pace — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:33:04 +0000

A night hasn’t passed in Costa Rica without someone bringing up the name Jorge. Jorge is a member of the local church in Shiroles, the city our worksite has been in. His house is technically our church site where Michael and Holley started the week working on the latrine. We came to discover that he has been waiting on this latrine for seven years and with this his testimony unfolded throughout the week. On day one, one of the Experience Mission staff shared with us that Jorge’s youngest child had been in the hospital sick for three months. So our In Focus team has been praying for his daughter’s healing this week. Yesterday rain washed out our plans and so we were able to spend the afternoon at the church with the children and adults. It was an amazing time as we worshipped in English and then they worshipped in Spanish. We closed out worship singing ‘Open the Eyes of my Heart’ with both languages being sung at the sane time!

After worship, Jorge shared his testimony. It was powerful! God has brought him from being homeless, on drugs, and an alcoholic to a man following hard after God! He found the Lord while he was in a rehab center and later traveled the world setting up centers. He then found a job as an industrial mehanic ad was being blessed financially. Recently he heard God telling him to quit his job and trust in Him alone. Now he is raising his four children at home while his wife is staying with his youngest at the hospital. He told us how hard things had been lately and how he had been praying every morning that his children would have food on their plates at lunch. He then began to tell us that God told him He was going to send angels and that we had been those angels this week.

Loving on his children and working hard to finish his latrine was a blessing to us all. A few of us asked EM’s staff if he could ride to San Jose with us this morning to see his wife and daughter. They surprised us this morning with a YES! His smile couldn’t have been any larger when he walked up this morning. His one message to us has been to always follow what God is telling you to do. As we leave this morning we are all changed by this man and what God shared through him. We came to change the people of Costa Rica, but the people of Costa Rica changed us!

Urgent: Prayer Request

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:06:58 +0000

Michael Lechner is sick once again and has to stay back while the team goes out. Please pray for a quick recovery! Thanks!

Purpose

Holley Pace — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:52:24 +0000

Yesterday we were faced with a different situation then we have been thus far. We woke up to a downpour of rain, only to learn it had been raining for half the night. Ponchos on, we headed to our worksites to find the creek flooded that we have to cross every morning. We conquered this small trial by taking our socks and shoes off and wading (just below the knee) across. We all piled into the local community center to get out of the rain while our leaders went to see if we would be able to work. Shortly after, Mr. Tom and a few others volunteered to go finish painting the house they had begun. The rest of us joined some local children and teenagers for a soccer game. It ended up being a two hour game and there were many wipeouts! We were all soaking wet and muddy (we’re hoping it was mud). After lunch the rain had calmed some and our team all worked together at the school. Some painted, others scooped water out of a trench, some placed rocks, and the rest learned how to make cement, Costa Rica style! Eric and Rob, the pastor from Macon, GA, are doing an amazing job re-making the sidewalk.

At our nightly Joy, Junk, and Jesus we are learning how everyone is being impacted in different ways. We heard a great message last night on serving and challenged with the question of why we were here. A lot of us were challenged and had new purpose today starting our jobs. Thanks for the continued prayers and encouragment. Our time here is almost over but we are pressing on hoping to finish our work here!

Trials

Tom Deves — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:48:38 +0000

Yesterday the team had a great day in spite of some trials. Yesterday morning we found out Michael, Jessica, and Holley were sick, but God has been working through everyone’s prayers. Holley worked through lunch and then had to return to camp and at lunch Michael returned to work. Jessica and Holley had a good night and are ready to be with the teams today but please continue to pray for strength.

Yesterday Lauren, Holley, and Michael worked at the church and continued to be blessed by the pastor and Jorge’s testimonies while building the latrine. Caleb and Tom returned to Sara’s house and completed painting the inside of the house. They said it was so gratifying to see how proud Sara was of her “new” house. She said she had been waiting 14 years for this! At the school the rest of our team continued building relationships with many local people as they are still digging a 6 foot hole for a latrine, replacing the sidewalk they tore up, and continuing a painting facelift on the buildings. It looks great!!!

The team is keeping up an awesome attitude and is really having fun. They are getting along great with each other and the kids from the other teams. The food has actually been quite good as we adjust to rice and beans, but Donya is missing chocolate. The Experience Mission people are great and have been speaking into lives during the evening devotions. Michael is doing awesome at leading worship. Today it is pouring rain, pray that we can still be productive in what God wants us to accomplish. Love to everyone and thanks for your prayers and encouragement.

P.S. Judah and Lydia, I loved the gummies! Love you!

Tom Deves

Urgent: Prayer Request [Updated]

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:01:52 +0000

We just received word that a couple of team members, Michael Lechner and Jessica Holley, are sick with stomach issues. Please pray for healing in Jesus’ name and that they will be able to fully serve the rest of the trip. Thanks!

Update: Michael is doing better and has fully recovered. Jessica is better today but still sick. Keep praying!

Joy, Junk, and Jesus

Holley Pace — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:44:48 +0000

We started our first day of service with a warm breakfast of rice and beans, which happened to be all three meals for most of us. A select few had sandwiches for lunch. After breakfast we set off on a 10 minute walk to our sites. There are 3 sites we are working at this week. Michael and Holley were at the local church where they hauled cinder blocks and sifted sand in order to start work building a latrine. They were also able to sample a native fruit called the water apple and drink fresh coconut milk. Tom and Caleb were at a local house were they painted two entire rooms. They were forced to work inside because it is still raining here quite a bit. The rest of the team was at the local elementary school where they ripped up an entire side walk with only a shovel and brute strength. This team also painted inside the school and started digging a 6 foot deep hole in order to build a latrine. After lunch Eric,
Lauren, Alaynee, and Jessica helped with the VBS that Experience Mission is hosting this week. They got to love on the children while playing kickball and making bracelets.

After we returned to camp we cleaned up and enjoyed a good night of fellowship and sharing. Our sharing time is called Joy, Junk, and Jesus. During this time anyone can share what made them joyful during the day, some frustrations they had, and moments where they saw Jesus. This time was very special and exciting! Michael also did an amazing job leading all the groups in worship. Through our sharing we learned that relationships with the BriBri people are being built already. We’re excited to see how these relationships develop over the next couple of days and how Jesus continues to shine!

First Day

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:36:47 +0000

We arrived at our camp late last night after a 4 hour plane ride and a 6 and a half hour bus ride. On the bus ride we got to see a variety of different terrain and drove through several rain storms. We stopped for lunch about an hour into the bus ride at a small street restaurant and got to try some local food and celebrate the Spain World Cup win with the locals as we saw the end of the game. After lunch we started driving on some narrow one lane bridges and at one had to get off and walk across because of the 10 ton weight limit. We arrived at camp to a hot dinner of rice and beans and then went through camp orientation. It has been raining almost the whole time since arriving at camp but is still hot and muggy. Even with those conditions and the LONG day everyone is still smiling!
We are here with 2 other teams and already building friendships with them. Now it is time for breakfast and then we are off to our worksites. We will blog again tonight.
Continue praying!

Touchdown

admin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:35:47 +0000

Just a brief update for you all. We have heard from the team that they arrived safely in Costa Rica, ate dinner, and are now en route to their next location via a 4-hour bus ride. We are not sure what the internet situation will be but will update you as soon as we hear more. Thanks so much for praying!

UPDATE: The team and their luggage have made it to the camp after a 6 and a half hour bus ride. They are at orientation and will update when some technical issues get worked out.

The Countdown Begins!

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:28:04 +0000

The In Focus Church youth mission team is leaving this Sunday at 5am for Costa Rica! The team consists of six students and four adults and for many of the youth, it will be their first time on a plane. We couldn’t be more excited about what God is going to do through this team as they travel to another part of the world and serve. The theme for this trip is Pura Vida which literally means “pure life” but the meaning is closer to “full of life,” “purified life,” “going great,” or “cool!”. It is a common phrase in Costa Rica that is used as a greeting, word of farewell, to express satisfaction, or to politely express indifference when describing something. The team will be doing construction work and youth activities in a very poor remote area of indigenous people, where many are without running water.

Make sure to follow this blog as your host, Holley Pace, will be keeping you updated throughout the trip. Right now, please pray for:

Financial Support
Protection, health, strength and unity
That God will reveal Himself to the team members in life-changing ways
Opportunities to share with the people and show God’s love

Be sure to check back on Sunday when all of the action begins. God Bless!