Costa Rica Wrap Up!
Costa Rica rained a lot but definitely was a great time. As posted prior this was our Unsung Heroes (UH) month. We met a lot of awesome missionaries doing so much for the kingdom in the name of Jesus Christ. I do want to return sometime and get to see more of what Costa Rica has to offer as well as zip lining. I know my cousins Leah and Raquel are down just to name a few.
Zach’s father is a dentist and volunteers his services every summer in Costa Rica. This time our team got to meet some of the people Zach’s father stays with, Raul and Kimmy. We were there only for a few days but we didn’t waste anytime. On Saturday they asked us if we would like to attend church the following morning.
Disclaimer “It is a 3 hr hike up and down the mountain”.
Still want to go?
We put on our mud boots & started our trek around 6:30am.
Raul & Kimmy lead the way.
When I saw that Kimmy was in a nice skirt I figured this hike can’t be that hard.
Oooh was I wrong.
Inclines were mean, some areas the mud was so deep if I didn’t have the mud boots I would have lost my sneakers. Raul, mid conversation with the person next to him would tell the group “hold on I saw a snake”. Takes out his machete and swipe, one dead snake. This happened 3 times.
We arrived at church about 10 am – sweaty, dirty, and tired. But, we had a great service. Full of encouragement and prayer. The pastor welcomed Zach and told a few stories of how his father has helped the community through his dentistry.
The pastor also asked that everyone share something. Anything really, scripture, praise report, prayer request…etc
I was ready to share before we walked in there. I didn’t bring my headphones on the hike. I figured it’s best to be able to hear everyone and everything around me.
I prayed for God to guide our steps & to take care of us so that we don’t fall down the mountain or get bit by a snake. We aint got time for neither!
On a 3 hour hike up a mountain you have a lot of time to think.
During that hike I would watch those ahead of me. To see where they stepped, how they got over certain obstacles, where not to step …etc I was so happy when I saw the church. You can imagine if every had to hike up a mountain to get to church how thankful they would be when they finally arrived.
This real life experience reminds me of how important discipleship is.
Jesus commands all of his followers in
Matthew 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples… “
Raul and Kimmy have done that hike quite a few times. If we would have went without them we may have gotten injured and/ or lost and not made it to our destination. They knew if we were on pace to make it there by 10 and when we needed to take breaks on the way.
Though this hike was tough, I never contimplated quitting and turning back. It is one of those activities you know instant gratification sets in the moment it is completed.
Through discipleship you can guide, teach, and lend a hand to those who are behind, and/or following you following Christ.
It is not saying the person discipling/ leading is perfect. Similar to the hike I saw where people fell but they got right back up and continued. You can hear first hand of the pitfalls many of us experienced on our walk and have full knowledge how to avoid them.
Similar to our walk with Christ we all need guidance, advice, and at times a hand to lift us up out of the mud we stepped or fell into.
The pastor shared a good word regarding hardships that follow those following Christ as well as to encourage all of us to keep pushing. Others shared a song, scripture, praise report, and even spoke of the anticipation of Zach’s father returning to Costa Rica the following month to help those in need.
Their congregation prayed for our team at the end of service and then we took a pb&j lunch break.
Chilled for awhile, put our mud boots back on and began or 3 hour hike down the mountain.
Which wasn’t any easier might I add!
Oh how I dreamed of a zip line taking us down in one swoop.
Hostel Tam stood out to be the best hostel out of the others we stayed in. Top 5 for me this year.
Their staff was great, breakfast was bomb, good wifi, 2 kitchens, and located in the middle of everything. Breakfast consisted of: Eggs, fresh strawberries, and toast. Some mornings they served pancakes. Located near a mall, plenty of restaurants, markets, and bus stops.
The mall had a gym in it, which my teammate Casey and I enrolled in for 2 weeks. 2 weeks flew by fast especially when we couldn’t go every day but it felt good lifting weights again.
That’s the rest of my Costa Rica wrap up!
I hope you enjoyed the video.
Nicaragua blog coming in a few days…
God bless
Love
Raf
