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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

Alright, if there is a picture in one of the slideshows that you like, go ahead and click on it. There should be something that says "open in new window," click on that. It will redirect you to my flickr site, where all the CR pictures are saved. Right above the picture will say "all sizes" click on that, and it will make the picture as big as it can possibly be, save it now.

You can scroll through all the pictures I uploaded while in CR while on the flickr site. Questions? Just ask!

Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Media

So we are heading home today. We have been checking the weather in the US and it looks like a tropical storm over Florida might make our first flight a little longer since we will probably have to divert around it. Our flight path down took us out over FL and then over Cuba... very beautiful.

The team seems pretty subdued today. It is obvious that God has been working and moving in the hearts of the group, and some are evening talking of coming back for a one year program called GAP. It basically runs in a college schedule, but in the 9 or 10 months that you are here you completely learn the language and get tons of Bible and practical ministry. Including airfare, the cost of the GAP program is less than 8,000. Pretty sweet deal. I would love to see some of our students get involved in missions in that capacity.

We are ready to come home though, and to continue our mission of reaching the world with the life changing gospel. This trip has reminded me of what I already know... missions starts at home. We can do many of the things we did here right in our own back yard... tract distribution, visiting the needy, giving to the helpless, loving the orphan and widow... These are things I know we need to incorporate into our ministries back home much much more. Not only for the impact it would have on others, but for the growth it would produce in us too.

See you all tomorrow night!
Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

Home tomorrow! Here i come Judah!!!

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

So, we were asked the question tonight, "What was the lesson God had for you this week?" I think I need to take some time to honestly answer that question. If I do, it could mean some big changes for me. I'm pretty excited about that.

Sarah V

Well this is the end. Or is it the beginning? This trip has shown me that God has so much more for me than just this. In fact this trip has done what no other missions trip has done before. God has shown me through this trip that my mission field is at home. Yes, there is alot of work that needs done here but through the various experiences and time spent here I've realized that God has so much work for me at home. All the work we've done here: visiting orphanages, community projects, feeding the homeless, visiting schools, etc. can and should be done at home. I've realized that I can be just as effective if not more effective at home where I know the culture, speak the language, and can generally relate to the people. It came full circle for me when I was disappointed at not being able to speak spanish. Here I was complaining about not be able to witness in Spanish when I have a whole mission field at home. So in short this missions trip has actually not inspired me to pursue international missions but rather to focus on the missions field that God has planted me in and given me the indispensable tools for: HOME.

Joshy D

so, this trip made me miss my "babies" really badly. ( my babies are my students at school.) like josh said, it was great to visit with the kids here, but i have deep relationships with my students -- especially since i get to watch them from 6th through 8th grade. i can't wait to get back and talk to them again. i keep up with several of them outside of school, so just pray that i'll can continue to be a light to them and that God will continue to place students in my classes that i can really witness to.
i also miss the junior highers from cmbc. once again, these are kids that i have a long-term relationship with. meeting a child for a couple of hours and then leaving them is frustrating -- not that God can't work in that short of time -- it's just frustrating to not have the time to go deep with, witness to and disciple.
anyway, i can't wait to get back home and see my kiddos again!

julia vaughn

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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

Through my time here it has become clear that the Lord is working in the lives of the people in Costa Rica. One little 14 year old girl lived in an extremely poor family. They lived on approximately $6 dollars a month. The girl shared with the group how one day she wished to become a missionary. That little girl seemed to have nothing and yet she was so rich in faith that she was able to praise God and was willing to dedicate her life for the lord.

Ok well my blogging time is over others are waiting. I hope i was able to give you even the SLIGHTEST taste of what its been like here. It has been AMAZING!

~Nathan Good








Wowsers, This trip is making me really come out of my comfort zone, for instance, me blogging is me really stepping out. No but seriously, this trip has opened my eyes to so much that I have heard about from others but never witnessed till now. I think as the days have gone by, our group continues to be stretched with what we see in the country side and what we have learned from God.

For me personally, one of the hardest things was to walk the streets and hand tracks out. You may think this is a simple task but when someone rejects a track or tears one up right in front of you, it's pretty hard. The language barrier didn't help any at all either during this time.

My blogging time is coming to an end mostly because it's almost time for the dogs to be released here. There are dogs that guard the property, and everyone on staff says that the dogs like to chew white people..so that means I should go to my room.

Thank you for everyone back at home who is praying for us here!

-Katie Ewing

Here is our group packing up all our donated items that you helped us collect... most of them are headed to the orphanage we are visiting tomorrow.


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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Labels: Costa Rica, Media

Today was an awesome day! We were able to attend services at the church in Los Guidos that we had been helping out at all week. The first part of the service was like Sunday School... kinda. The pastor spoke about the death, burial and resurrection fo Jesus and then we took communion. What a cool experience. We then took a 10 minute break, after which our group got to sing two songs (You are My All in All, and Jesus Paid it All) and then I spoke on brokenness over sin using the examples of Saul in 1 Samuel 15 and David in 2 Samuel 11 & 12. Speaking with a translator is difficult... it hard to keep a momentum in your flow. But God is good, and everything went to God's glory!

Today is somewhat a day of rest for us, and so I've got to take my first real nap this week... sweet. Tomorrow we are looking forward to another tract distribution and also getting to visit some orphanages. Continue to pray for the seeds we have planted and those that come after to water and reap the harvest.

Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

Wow, what a day. Today was a non-stop rollar coaster of ministry, but so, so rewarding! Our tract distribution went so well today. The people seemed so much more receptive, and many of our team had opportunities for conversations and all in all, I think we passed out about 1000 tracks today. Part of the tract distribution was to also pick up trash on this main strip in the down town... we found some very interesting stuff, but it provided us with a great visible presence there. No one froze today either! Praise God. Thanks for your prayers.

We also were able to purchase food for some families in the town of Los Guidos that we have been working in. We partnered with the church there to help out some of the more needy in their church. When the pictures get up, you will see us descending into what they call "the hole." Six of the families we helped lived in this area. The bus was so quiet after this experience. I think there were a lot of moved hearts in our group. What we bought for those families filled two small plastic grocery bags, but will probably last them a week and a half or more. We americans are so consumeristic. I pray God breaks me of this!

After that we were able to sit in on that church's youth group, which they called a Bible club. We sang some songs, particpated in some games with them, and then I got an opportunity to preach. What a blessing! To see the areas this kids come from, and the home lives they are out of, you would think they would all be so depressed and the room would be silent... just the opposite. They are so joyful to have Jesus! We needs their attitudes and mindsets so badly.

Tomorrow is Sunday (SUNDAY?), and I have been asked (just tonight... short notice I guess) to preach in thier church tomorrow morning for the main service. Again, what a priveledge. I better get working on that message :)

Thanks for all your prayers... we look forward to coming home soon!

Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

I guess all I can say is, God is so awesome! You never know what you're in for when you go on this type of trip but God has been so faithful to our group. We've really come together to form a nice team. The people we are staying with are very helpful and friendly. The Costa Ricans are warm and receptive. What more could you ask? Less rain, more sleep, warmer clothes, pizza, quiet, calmer traffic? Sure, we could. But God has used all of these "trials" to make us more like Him. So no, I wouldn't ask for anything different.

Sarah V



so, today's ministries weren't exactly what i expected to be doing. . . but, i liked it. we started the day by collecting trash in downtown San Jose. we paired off, one trash picker (that sounds funny) and one tract passer. people were more interested in the tracts today, i think because we were actually doing something for them instead of just passing them out randomly. later, we bought food for 10 families and went to their homes. it was awesome to hear their testimonies and witness their faith in God, despite their circumstances. i aspire to that -- to be able to say, "Jesus is all I need."

Julia Vaughn

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

Yeah! We are finally at the SCORE Villa to stay. Previously, there had been over 150 people here with 5 different groups, so we had to stay at a Nazareen Seminary about 10 minutes away. Last night was our first night to actually sleep here. This will make things so much easier with traveling, eating meals, and making sure we have what we need when we head out in the mornings. Praise God!!!

There is a lot to look forward to for today... more seeds to plant, water, and a harvest to reap!

Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

We had an interesting conversation about shows we watched when we were little... the shows def. varied for vince and I to what the kids watched... and even more for Glenn and Kathy :)

Anyway, one of the theme songs we ended up trying to sing was this... enjoy.



And here is another of my childhood favs.

Labels: Costa Rica, Media

So as I had mentioned in my last post we made about 100 bag lunch's after dinner then headed out to the "Red District" of San Jose. At the time when we were making all these meals, I thought that this was going to go a long way in getting opportunities to interact with some locals... but in reality, all our food was handed out in a little more than five minutes! I don't believe that you can see people so broken and in need of basic needs and not feel your heart move for them! We were able to distribute all of those meals as well as tracks and had a bunch of opportunities to talk to some of the homeless we were ministering too. To be honest, the experience went by so quickly, I still have yet to process what exactly happened, and we need to decompress some of this with our group. It does go a long way in making me appreciate what I have, and how God has blessed me. It's only by God's grace that any of us are where we are at in life and not on the streets. Again, the humility that God is teaching our group is almost palpable. I can't get over my own self-serving interests. Even as I remind our group to not grumble or complain but be as lights in the world, or to live with the mindset that to live is Christ and to die is gain I find myself putting "me" at the center of my world. I am so tired of fighting this fight of selfishness.

God is good though. Tomorrow we are looking forward to ministering in a church as well as participating in their Bible Club tomorrow night. We prayed for opportunities to plant seeds, and God is showing us the fields. Please pray that the harvest will be great!

Thanks for praying...

Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

Day five seems almost over, but we still have a lot to do. Today we got to do some zip-lining around the rain forests of Costa Rica. Amazing.

This afternoon we purchased food for a homeless shelter and after dinner we will be preparing food and then helping distribute the food. If I were to try to put a finger on what God was trying to teach us this week I would guess that it is humility. It seems to be the reaccuring theme in what we have been discovering in our devotions as well as what has been coming up in our debriefings in the evenings as a group. There have been a lot of unexpected tasks that God has used to reinforce what we have been studying together in our evening devotions.

Let me again encourage you to pray for our bus driver from this past week. His name is Guillermo (William) and he doesn't know the Lord. There have been a lot of opportunities to talk with him, and seeds have been planted. Unfortunately I don't think we will see him after today. We have left him with ways to contact us as well as a team shirt, because we have really come to care about him. You can also be praying for the town of Los Guidos that we have been able to work in three of the days we have been here. We have done many different things there, working with a pastor and his church. While we were there yesterday, we had many opportunities to talk with people from that town about why we were there, again, seeds were being planted. Also, yesterday we were able to hand out over 800 tracks in a central market place in the capitol city. There were about 5 major converstations that our group was able to start with different peopel through that exercise, so please keep those planted seeds in prayer.

Besides that, there are various sicknesses and whatnot floating around. No one is down for the count, but a few are not feeling %100 on a daily basis.

We covet your prayers and support. I hope that you are recieving joy from our reports! God surely has been blessing...

Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

Hey ya'll back home! This is from Terri! I just wanted to say praise god because today was the first day it did not rain! When it was suppose to we were in San Jose handing out tracks! So that was a real blessing! We all thought it would be like 90 degrees but it is the rainy season so it is nice during the day but at night it can get kinda chilly for the ladies! Also i have a prayer request. I know there is a couple of us that our not feeling our bests, so i ask that your guys could really pray for health. Some of us have motion sickness because of the roads when we travel on long trips because of all the pot holes. Instead of going in to the pot holes it is like a roller coaster going back and forth. Also almost every day i have been getting headaches and i normally would not get headaches but every morning i woke up and did not feel good at all with a headache and then today i felt like i had no strenght in the morning! I mean praise god because today we went to a place that is used by a church and painted the outside that was all graffieted. While i was just about to start taking the paint chips off one of the walls i felt gods strength thal allowed me to finish taking the chips off and paint part of the wall i was working on! So god is giving me strength but i would really appreciate your prayers!

Thanks!
Lots of love

Terri

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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

We just got back from the Volcano, and it was great, but a long ride both ways. Getting back late has changed our schedule, and we are currently waiting to figure out what we are going to be doing for the rest of the day... we shall see.

Anyway, I should have some pictures up from our trip this morning... enjoy.

Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

So... day two was really interesting. It didn't start as I had expected it to. The weather was great, and everyone had caught up on the sleep the so desperately needed, and I was really excited to get out and do some ministry amongst the people of CR. My friend who works with SCORE was supposed to meet us on the bus, but he didn't show! Oh well... no biggie, I had an idea of what we were supposed to be doing for village work. We drove for over a half hour (and still didn't make it out of the capitol) and ended up higher in the hills in an area that reminded me of the slums of northern Mexico. I was getting excited about all of it... we were finally here and finally going to be getting to meet some people. But little did we know that all we would be doing was sorting recycling out of garbage and cleaning. Honestly, I was disappointed. I was hoping for more. But God was only setting the stage for us to come back to that community later in the day and get into the schools to work with 3 (or 4, I'm not really sure how many showed up) of the grades and do songs, skits, music and some speaking with them.

My attitude in the morning got me thinking. Did I think I was too good for helping that community with their garbage? Did I not think that this was still missions work reaching out to them? Well, obviously I didn't. I'm so selfish and prideful, and God knew what kinds of things I need to break me of that. I look forward to those kinds of stretching challenges God has in store for me this week.

In our group devos we are working through Philippians and have talked about our need to endure the circumstances of life for the Glory of God, and tonight we dealt with the need for unity to actually live worthy of God's calling in our lives to Christlikeness. I'm excited for our group and what we are going to learn in Philippians.

You can pray for our group too. There is some homesickness, as well as some of our team not feeling well. We are praying for our bus driver William (Gillarmo) and his salvation, the seeds that were planted and watered at the school we were at today, positive communication amongst our team, postivie/christlike attitudes... we have a long list.

Because of the weather patterns, (sun in the morning/rain all afternoon and night) we are splitting our free day in half. Tomorrow we are visiting a big tourist trap in the area... a volcano. We will get to go to the top and walk the rim. Pretty exciting.

I've seen that many new people are visiting the blog, and we thank you for following our progress and praying for us!

Sorry I have only gotten one video up. I haven't had time to edit very much, and I have had a really difficult time uploading anything. So, maybe it will just be pictures and written updates.

Josh

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

This is Terri Sauder. Today we arrived at a church in the morning, all dressed up and ready to do some ministry! Then we got to clean! Haha it was pretty much awesome… separating recycled stuff in a dress! Got to love that! So we did that for a while and it was fun! They have this one type of milk (milk here is in small card board boxes like juice boxes but a lot bigger) that apparently a lot of people drank because we had our own separation just for that brand of milk! We met two ladies, one was named Elizabeth and they are paid to separate recycling from the government. Then we came back to the villa and ate lunch. The food is amazing! So that is a huge blessing! Then we went back to the same church. Next to the church is a public school. When we came we had no clue how things would go, but in the end they worked out really really well! So praise God for that! When we got there they were having recess so we gave out our tracks and brought out the soccer balls. Then it started to pour. Every day it rains here for like a couple hours. Then after our program we did a service project by sweeping, mopping and picking up trash all around the place. Then we when we were suppose to be leaving, some of us were still picking up trash out of the gutters in the rain. As I was the bell rang and all the kids came out of their class rooms. They were all wondering why we were picking up the trash in the rain. Then a kid talked to me in Spanish and I said si, not understanding what he said and then he started helping us pick up trash in the mud in the rain! I just thought that was the coolest thing! God is teaching me a lot! I’ll fill ya in, in the next blog! Lots of Love, in Christ Terri Sauder


Hey Ya’ll Greetings from Costa Rica!!!
So currently we are staying at a seminary place that is about ten minutes from the actual villa of Score, because there are so many groups. On Friday we are suppose to go to the villa and stay there for the rest of the time. So I know you all have heard a lot about our day so far but in the afternoon we did a program at the school we went to and we had only about a half an hour. The pastor of the church that we worked with told us that we had to really wait on the principal and see what mood he is in order for us go into the school. But in reality he didn’t really let us just do our ministry stuff he let us because we said we would clean which was cool too. But the school is different because it is set up as class rooms that are open to the out side with an interesting gutter system. Back to the program, it was really interesting we got to do two of our skits and sing songs and Katie Ewing and Jordan Schaeffer gave their testimonies. We ministered to a lot of younger kids so we had their full attention for only a short time but I think the message was plainly spoken out, so I think they understood, so only God knows if seeds were planted or watered but I’m sure they were. I have definitely been opened to the culture down here and just wish I knew more Spanish...I mean I took two years in high school so I know basic things but not enough to carry and full conversation. When we were sorting trash this morning for recycling we really didn’t have a translator it was basically here walk down the street and sort the trash, it was hard in the beginning but we made it through! The seminary that we are staying at is bigger than the villa and has an amazing view of mountains that surround our complex so that is really cool to wake up too!! Well I have to go but tune in next time to blog with Katie!!!

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

Labels: Costa Rica, Media

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Labels: Costa Rica, Media

Today we actually got into the work part of the trip. we went to a mission that a pastor uses for children's ministry and such. They split us into two groups. The first group of five of us cleaned the mission. We washed the floors and cleaned the bathrooms inside. We also scrubbed the outside walls. Manuel (a man from the SCORE Villa) took us over to work with Pastor Gabriel and some other people. We also had some great discussion with Manuel afterwards. He has been in Guatemala and Argentina as well as Costa Rica and it was very interesting to hear the differences between them. I have to say that the way we cleaned was very different than the way we do it at home. To mop the floors, we actually just sprayed the floors and then swept them. The other group went and sorted recyclables. So that was our morning!
Hasta Luego,
Kaylin

Greetings Calvary Monument family and assorted other persons. So far things have gone amazingly. Today we went out in the the villages for our first immursion into the actual Costa Rica culture. When we arrived at the village, and we got split into two groups. Unlike Kaylin, i was on the other team, the one that went and sorted the recyclables. At first I kinda looked at it and thought, "we've traveled this far to come and sort Costa Rican garbage?" But then I thought about it, and I remembered that Jeff had told us. He said we should be F.A.T. (Flexible, Avalilable, and Teachable), and I thought about it this way, "if this is what they want us to do, then that's what we'll, and I personally will do it to the best of my ability because that is what God calls me to do." So long story short, all I needed to do is change my mindset into one of service. I have a feeling this isn't the only lesson God wants to teach me, but I think I'm ready to learn the rest.

In Christ,

Jon Gouge

Labels: Costa Rica, Team Blog

not sure if i will be able to get media up on the blog. They have high speed but it dies with uploads. oh well! Gods in control!

We have arrived and are safe in Costa Rica. And what a long day it has been. For most of us... it is just a continuation of yesterday. Sunday and Monday have blended into one long, tiring day. Everything went fine getting to BWI and making our connecting flight at JFK. All our luggage arrived and we had no problems making it through immigration and customs. God was really gracious.

We did have an exciting landing here in Costa Rica... we basically came out of the clouds and were on the run-way. It is winter here, technically the rainy season so it rains a good part of the day, and there is a lot of beautiful cloud cover that comes over the mountains that brings lots of rain. Check out the pictures that should be coming later tonight...

Thanks for checking in on us!

JV

Labels: Events, Outreach/Service

You may have noticed that there are lots of ways to keep up with what is going on in China with the 2008 Olympics. As I thought about this it occured to me that many of you might want to keep up with what is happening with our group traveling to Costa Rica.

So, if you want to know what's been happening while we are away, check back with this blog for stories, prayer requests, pictures ans video of what God has been doing.

Check back often!
Josh

Labels: Events, Future Plans, General, Media

On the way to vaca last week, Sarah and I had a very in depth discussion of what the plan would be if zombies ever where to attack. I have it all worked out. After about 15 minutes, Sarah turns to me and says, "I can't believe we are talking about this!" I don't know what it is about zombie movies, but i just like them a lot.

Anyway, I found this quiz online. Post your results in the comments section.

71%

Created by OnePlusYou - Online Dating

Labels: Fun

Labels: Events, Future Plans