After months and months of planning - our team of twelve from the Harbour Church - left thirteen days ago for Costa Rica. We left Kincardine at 8:30 am - full of anticipation for the things we planned to do - full of excitement to visit a new country - full of hope that we would accomplish our goals - full of awe that we were finally on our way.

We travelled from Kincardine to Toronto - Toronto to Montreal - and then - Montreal to San Jose - arriving around 11 pm. Our hosts - Gary and Cathy met us at the airport and and we were settled in a nearby hotel by midnight. It was a long day of travel but so grateful to have finally arrived. That first night - Ashley, Kendra , Bella and I shared a room and Kendra and I - a bed! Kendra told me that sometime in the night - I sat up - nudged her - asked her if she was okay - and then, laid right down again! I love those young moms! It was the beginning of a week of laughter and tears - stories and memories shared - and new memories made.

After 4 hours of sleep - we were up at 4:15 am. - ready to make our way to the Indigenous community of Amubri. The drive took us through the mountains - a two lane highway that zig zagged back and forth - tight curves - and I must admit - I wondered if we would arrive safe and sound!!! So rich in vegetation. The country is so lush and green. So beautiful.

We stopped at a really cool restaurant for breakfast where we were served a traditional meal - rice and beans - spicy sausage - scrambled eggs and plantain - more food than I could eat. We continued our journey - stopping at Limon (on the coast) and had the chance to dip our toes in the Caribbean Sea. While in Limon, we took the opportunity to visit the town’s park and lo and behold - there was a Momma Sloth and her baby tucked into the crook of a very tall tree. My first sighting of wildlife.

We continued south - along the coast - and just before reaching the Panama border, we turned inland. We drove and drove and drove until there was no more road. We had reached the Rio Lari (river) and the only way to cross was by boat. We emptied the van of our luggage and supplies and waited for our transportation to arrive.

After a quick trip across the river - we were finally in Amubri.

First job - set up camp! Fifteen of us in one room for 5 nights! You really get to know each other quite well! A symphony of snoring every night. The night sounds of the jungle. Dogs coming to life after the hot days and they bark and play and fight. Cats meow. Toads and frogs croak away. Crickets chirp. My ear plugs didn’t work very well!!!! The tents kept us safe from mosquitos though.

The theme for our mission team was from Romans 15:13 - “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” We wanted our new friends to know that God sees us - God is with us - God loves us - God provides for us - and always, always - gives us hope.

After our “bedroom” was set up - we enjoyed our first meeting with the Amubri church. My Spanish vocabulary was limited but I managed to communicate with smiles and gestures. It was a pleasure to meet Pastor Jersen, his lovely wife, Natasha and their sweet little girl, Samaria.

We spent five days in the community of Amubri with our mornings beginning around 5:30 am. Breakfast was at 6 and after a very hearty breakfast, our team divided into two - painters and builders. I was in the painting group. Over the four work days we painted the outside of the church building and the pastor’s home - bright blue on the top and vibrant purple on the bottom. They loved it.

The other group did the harder labour. They filled at least 100 bags of sand (from the river) to make the cement - they put up the walls for two classrooms - they dug the trench that will eventually house the fence posts and fence to keep the kids safe from going on the road - and after making the cement, they made a floor. All the work was done in very hot weather - over 30 degrees most days and very humid.

In the afternoon - after school - the children arrived for kid’s camp. We sang songs - danced - shared Bible Stories - played games - made crafts - and at the end of the day - sent the children home with gifts and candy and cookies. The kids loved it. We loved it. No matter what country you are in the world - kids are kids. They love the attention. They love to sing. They love to dance. They love to play. They love candy and gifts.

I taught the story one day with the help of the translator, Brandon.

The Izzy dolls were a great hit with the kids.

After 5 sleeps, we woke knowing it was already time to pack up the tents and air mattresses - our clothes and personal items - have our last breakfast with our new friends and say our good-byes. It wasn’t easy to bid farewell. In fact it was painful. Our ties had run deep so very quickly. All of us on our team had formed a relationship with so many from the Amubri church - we were definitely going to miss them and our time together. I will never forget them.

Our hosts while in the country were Gary and Cathy - who serve as overseers to the Pentecostal churches in Costa Rica. They spent the whole eight days with us. Before we left for home - they treated us to an afternoon at the beach (the Caribbean Ocean was gloriously warm and some good rolling waves) - overnight at Rancho Tranquillo - where we all slept in a real bed and had a hot shower. (Did I mention that while we were in Amubri - the hot water tap didn’t register!!!! I didn’t linger!) We spent our last evening - as our group of 12 - reflecting on the week that was - sharing stories - singing and praying together.

We woke early on our last day in Costa Rica - 4 am - ready to leave at 5 - to get through the mountain. It was Labour Day in the country so the roads and communities were very busy as everyone was enjoying a day off. Gary and Cathy planned for us to enjoy a visit to an animal rescue centre and waterfalls. It was there that I was able to dab my bingo card that Adele and Indigo made for me.

All too soon it was time to grab a bit of supper and then head to the airport. Our flight was leaving close to midnight and we were all pretty tired as we settled into our seats. The five hours flew by - even though I don’t think I got much sleep. A few seats behind us there was a young momma - a toddler and an unhappy baby. The Momma was pretty tired and was at her witt’s end to settle the little guy. As one point (near the end of the flight) I stopped by her row and asked her if she wanted me to walk him. She shook her head “no” and said “I don’t know what else to do!” I looked at the baby and spoke quietly to him. I told him that his Momma was tired too and that they both needed to close their eyes and go to sleep. Miraculously he did. When we were disembarking I glanced back and all three were still sleeping. The baby whisperer?

At our team meetings prior to going to Costa Rica - Pastor Rob - our team leader - countlessly reminded us that this trip wasn’t about us - it was about them - the people we would meet there - the children we would interact with - the mothers and fathers - the men who would help with the building - the drivers of the van, truck, boat - the people we would cross paths with at the airport - any one of them and all of them would be impacted by our smiles, our words and our actions. Our team worked so well together - different personalities - different backgrounds - different ages - men and women - working together for one thing - to bless and encourage the folks in Amubri.

We arrived back in Kincardine around 4 pm on Saturday afternoon - tired - but full of thanksgiving for the 8 days we spent in the country of Costa Rica. I’ll never forget the 8 days I spent in Costa Rica. I’ll never forget the night sounds - the sounds of the children’s laughter - the ladies chatting as they cooked our food - the grunts and sighs as the guys lifted the bags of sand from the truck - the singing of the Amubri church - Pastor Jersen’s passionate prayers - the quiet moments of conversations with the young moms as we were cooling off in the creek - the shrieks coming from the cold showers - the snores - the laughter - the tears - those moments will last the rest of my life.