Above the Clouds

Yesterday we arrived to La Fortuna and hiked around the base of the Volcano. It was VERY pretty and almost surreal looking. Then we headed over to some hot springs for dinner and relaxing fun! 

And today, we started off the morning having a BLAST zip lining. So much fun! We all got slightly dirty from the grease, which made for some great selfies. 

And then some of us continued the adventures by hiking to La Fortuna Waterfall.

Being the Hands & Feet

We made it safely to our fun destination weekend! 

For now, check out some pictures from the past couple of days. Stay tuned for another youth story this weekend & stories of our volcano adventures! 

Selfie collection! 

(I caught a selfie with Kyle!) 

And some pictures of work sites and the environment of this amazing trip. 

Our youth working on the Pentecostal Church, building an upstairs to their church. 

We worshiped at the Methodist church on Wednesday evening. 

The coffee is a group favorite! 

Each night we've ended with devotions and talk about our God sightings from that day. 

Erin's work group installed a drop ceiling this week

On Thursday afternoon we went to one of the Methodist churches in the area to play with the kids. We all had such an awesome time! 

And some various sites around the area. 

Lona's Story

Lona tells her story of the amazing work we did today! 

Today started off with a bus ride to La Careio. On the way the sights we passed varied. Passing people on the streets, families in the main parks, and cars that went by way to close(shout out to the bus driver Damian, with mad driving skills). 

When we got to La Careio we meet the pastor, James. He shared his humble story of how his family and another family started a small group of reading the bible. They started off with 4 chairs and slowly began to grow. Soon they had so many people coming they had to find another location. Soon finding a space to rent, they set up there. However the same problem arised and they had to rent the space on the other side of a wall. To cut this amazing story short, they have grown but have also encountered hardships.

The second place we went was called Los Guidos and we feed the children. When we pulled into the gate, the kids looked into the bus and started picking out their own Gringo; which was us. Playing with the kids was tiring and heart warming. Especially when I got the chalk out, did the kids start to use the chalk dust to put on our faces like war paint. After we did that we had a chance to talk with pastor of that church. I found it interesting that he was in a wheel chair and had 2 adopted daughters. The reason I found it interesting was because I have a brother in a wheel chair and I was adopted so I could relate. 

I wish I could I say more but I feel like I've went on too long. But God has worked in amazing ways for the people here. I am touched by the ways God has impacted their life and mine as well.-Lona.

Digging in to Costa Rica

Our youth all went to the local Methodist Church to do some heavy duty labor work. They leveled out a concrete patio, with pick axes and shovels. Sanded walls in the church. Picked beans and garden work. Poured cement to level out the uneven patio. A hard but worthwhile day! 

Trish and Amy were in a group that built 10 rows of a wall, building with brick and making cement. And also took the opportunity to help clean the local rec field by picking up trash. 

Erin was with Grace UMC's group putting up a ceiling in Oscar's house. He's a local with a powerful story of how God has provided for he and his family. 

Check out some pictures of our day! 

We're making new friends with the other churches! 

Porter's infamous duct tape shoes! 

A picture of the ceiling crew

Stay tuned this week to hear stories from our youth and chaperones about their daily experiences. Hasta Luego! (See you later)