October is here and it is my birthday month! I will be turning 23 years old this year. I am currently $1,125 away from being fully funded.
This month I am asking for donations of $23 for my 23rd birthday on October 17th! You can make online donations directly to my page at rachelosmundson.theworldrace.org.
For those that don’t follow me on Facebook or Instagram here are a few highlight photos from my month in Costa Rica. An update on the Playa Azul project and what I’ve learned during my time in this country will be coming soon!!
This month my entire squad got to do life and ministry together in Jaco, Costa Rica. Here are some of us outside of town at the Jaco sign.
My friend Zach and I celebrating Independence Day! September 15th was Costa Rica’s Independence day and we got to join in on a parade and eat tons of ice cream!
A baby girl from the pregnancy center. My team has had the opportunity to volunteer at the prenatal center and care for woman and their children. Radiant joy y’all!!!
We celebrated my teammate, Kayla, 28th birthday on Septemeber 22nd. We made cards, ate cake, and played get to know Kayla games!
My friend Jessie and I at an all country Younglife club in San Jose, Costa Rica. We were given the chance via youth group. It was a day full of food, worship, games, and laughter.
My SoCal teammate Crystal introduced me to acai bowls. Apparently, they are the new ‘hip’ food and everywhere in Costa Rica. As good as they are, this Midwestern girl still rather eat meat and potatoes. 🙂 This was from a girls date with my squadmate, Emma, who is disciplining me for the month in doubts about my faith.
Some of my World Race besties on the beach! Pictured left to right: Mikayla, me, Alyx, Jessie.
Fun on the beach with my squadmate Jessie and squad leader Rachael!
Part of my role on the team is logistics leader. This position includes responsibilities of getting the entire squad from country to country, planning debriefs, taking care of our SQM and coaches when they come on the field. However, as stressful as it can be I love it and know I am where God meant me to be. My squad also loves us so well! Especially on travel days providing us with drinks and snacks to deal with every potential border crossing incident you can think of!
Ocean’s Edge, our ministry site, lined us up with currently missionaries in Jaco to be our mentors throughout the month. We met with them once a week. Mike and Debbie from Canada on the left and Brandon and Jen from Florida on the right. They poured into us and we are so grateful! They even hosted us for supper on the last night!!
Friday we got to participate in Surf club. We took small children surfing under a painted sky. Then we got to share a bible story with them and helped with a mini beach cleanup! Afterwards we got to test out the waves ourselves. Ministry can be crazy fun!!
A group of my squad at Playa Azul on one of the last days with a few local kids.
Playing with the local children at Playa Azul.
Local children enjoying their FIRST EVER swing built by my squadmate, Mike.
The Playa Azul planning committee. Pictured left to right: Matt, me, Carsyn, Mike (the viral skateboarder from London).
Playa Azul park has been named the Park of Valor. The characteristics of solidarity, peace, honesty, coexistence, friendship, and respect that the community wants the children to grow up with.
Some of the main girls behind the Playa Azul playground. Pictured left to right: Carsyn, me, Lakota, Stephanie, Jessica. Stephanie is a volunteer at Ocean’s Edge that leads us in exercise and devotions every morning. She has been such an incredible blessing to our squad.
*Most photos taken by Mikayla Keener.
Thanks all for following my journey, I will try to post more blogs about what God is doing in me and through me soon.
Thank you for those that can and have financially supported me!
#23for23
Much love &many blessings,
Rachel
