CR: Day Seven

Middletown UMC Costa Rica - Day 7 (Sun, 06/12/2011)

Costa Rica is beautiful.

Beautiful doesn't begin to describe it. In a way almost completely opposite from yesterday in the slum, we found that God is so evident in the patterns of fern leaves, the pounding waterfalls, the delicate orchids, the beaming sun, the rainbow sherbet beak of a toucan, the camouflage of a poison dart frog. He is mind-blowingly creative, not that I would ever want to worship a God whom I could wrap my brain around.

At La Paz Waterfall Gardens, we let toucans land on us and eat from our hands, saw pumas and panthers, tree frogs and tadpoles, watched as butterflies emerged from their cocoons and landed on our shoulders after their very first flight, and so much more. Words can't really describe what we saw today at La Paz, and so I will leave it at that.

After a long day of hiking the bus driver took us on a long trek up the mountain as the sun set to a restaurant that sits at the top of one of the mountains. By the time we were about half way up, the city lights were spectacular. Imagine what it looked like when we reached the very top, over a mile above sea level. The sea of sparkling, twinkling lights--although created by man--testifies to the Lord as creator of ordained co-creators. After a fabulous dinner and a quick trip to the grocery store we arrived back at the church.

Debrief was short while devos encouraged us to allow God to use us as his tools of the trade, as we learn what that trade is. This short email cannot possibly sum up one week in Costa Rica, especially not one spent with Middletown UMC, but it must suffice.

Big day tomorrow. Flight leaves at 1 PM (Costa Rica time) and we should be on the ground in Louisville by midnight.

To everyone that has prayed, donated money, time, and extra effort to get this fabulous team to Costa Rica, I thank you. You made a wise investment in the future lives of the Middletown youth and adults, and in the world. I will reiterate what Sandra said at the Episcopal feeding center on Day 5. Whether or not you participated in this trip in person, or vicariously through one of these team members, "estan cambiando vidas." You are changing lives.

Pura Vida, Nathan Rider

CR: Day Six

Middletown UMC - Day 6 (Sat, 06/11/2011)

We never left the church today. Might have started getting a little antsy towards the end of the day. Lots of good bonding time. Today we gave a day back to Iglesia Cristiana and painted a multipurpose room as EDGE North America tries to do on every trip to EDGE Costa Rica. Today it was the adults that really shined brightly.  (I'll come back to that.) 

We had a nice morning getting ready in a relaxed way, but still getting to work at about 8:30. I was very nervous when I found out that our paint was oil based....never good with inexperienced mission teams. After cleaning up the room and prepping for painting I walked in to give the go ahead to start painting and most of the first wall was already done! I was a nervous wreck that by the end of the day this paint would cover the whole campus from top to bottom. However, come the end of the day I was happily surprised to find one of the best paint jobs I have ever seen a volunteer team complete. Partway through the paint job Pastor Angel arrived to take us on a walk through Los Pinos, the nearby slum.

In debrief we talked about how even there in the midst of the scrappy tin shacks, trash, and feces, we could see the face of God in the blossoming flowers, the light in the children's eyes, and the fabulous view of San Jose down and the mountain tops above. Being that San Jose is in a valley, the mountains are visible from anywhere in the city. Keeping my eyes on the horizon, I am often reminded of the savior for whom I live my life and continue to hand it over day after day.


After returning from the walk the adults got right back to work finishing the job...and finishing it well. They replaced three broken window panes, a floorboard that had been completely hollowed out by carpenter ants, and put the most professional coat of paint on I have ever seen done by a group like this. I was inspired by the diligence of Jeff in doing the carpentry right while Susan, Kim, and Mark chugged along 'til the very end.


Devotions after debrief was another chance to feel brokenness that comes before change and look to the hills, the Lord, for strength. After Chay and Nathan challenged us by defining the difference between being a fan of Christ and being a follower, they asked what it meant to be called a Christian and "called" as a christian. One youth knew exactly what God was speaking to her heart, while another was almost embarrassed to admit that she had no idea yet what the Lord was saying to her. With everyone else in between, we broke off to dinner with prayer knowing where to direct our sight and ears listening for Christ's calling. Similarly to how it has been as we have come to Costa Rica, the Lord will provide direction while we are going, and after we arrive home.


Psalm 121 -
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
  where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
  the Maker of heaven and earth.


3 He will not let your foot slip—
  he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
  will neither slumber nor sleep.


5 The LORD watches over you—
  the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
  nor the moon by night.


7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
  he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
  both now and forevermore.


Pura Vida y Shalom

CR: Day Five.5

Middletown UMC Costa Rica Day 5, part 2 (Fri, 06/10/2011)

We went to meet Tita at a feeding center in Tirrases. In the midst of the first midday rain and thunderstorm, we received a warm welcome [in English! Bonus!] out of the rain on the bus and then paraded on in.

The organization is situated in an area where the children will either go hungry or fend for themselves, nearly completely neglected by family. We opened the door to see a large room full of students helping students and single mothers helping each other as well, as they taught each other how to decorate reusable grocery bags in different styles. When they sell the bags, some of the money goes to the bag maker, and some goes back into the programs. Having created a little micro-business, it boosts self esteem and encourages the members to see possibilities, all while earning money.

Moving towards the back of the building we got to see (as I instantly could tell) the handiwork of Kurtis Daniels and Water Ambassadors of Canada. They had the most impressive water purification set-up I have ever seen, not only that, the impact was just as impressive. The feeding center was constructed because they predicted that the children were failing school because they did not have proper nutrition.

Well after successfully feeding the children, they were still failing. So they moved on to a new initiative towards improving grades. They realized that what the children needed after school was a "home" to go to where they could not only receive food, but help with studying and homework, encouragement, and Christ's love. Christ's love was obviously present there. The Spirit was at work in Tirrases, and will be for a long time.

Led by Carolyn and Catherine, devotions and debrief continued long after the chocolate was dispersed. Having built a level of trust within the group, they were more open to sharing where they saw God at work--from grandfathers to kindegarteners--in a way that showed true emotion and connection. Brokenness is where reconstruction begins.