What A Great Day!

From: Logan Altman

Today was an amazing day out at the churches. Groups 2 and 4 visited Pastor Giovanni´s church, and Group 1 and 3 visited Pastor Rudy´s church. At Giovanni´s church, Kevin and Carol´s groups had a huge task ahead. The vans had to split everyone up in order to fulfill what needed to be done for Sunday school. A bunch were able to lead the 3-6 year olds in some great crafts and an incredible story on Daniel. I came in and lead a few songs of worship with the kids, who had a blast with every activity. A few were down leading lessons with the teenagers, engaging in great conversations and topics. Lastly, Ryan Acosta and I had the challenge of engaging with the college students, where I lead a sermon on serving in the church and community. Ryan shared his testimony, which lead into the entire classroom sharing their stories. Every aspect of the Sunday school services, for all ages, went incredible, despite straying from the original plan.

Pastor Rudy´s church had quite a treat with Vans 1 and 3. With the group energized, people split up into the different age groups of either elementary or jr. high and high school. Both participated in fun activities, games, worship, and fellowship. "I´ve Got the Joy" was among the worship songs sung, and Four Corners was one of the games the kids took part in. Great testimonies, stories, and much more took place during the Sunday school services.

Lunch at various authentic Costa Rican restaurants took place for the vans, where everyone dug into delicious, curltural foods that melted the palate from the amazing tastes. Beef, pork, rice and beans, and tons of scrumptious foods laced the plates of the high school missionaries. Was definitely a highlight.

Everyone headed back to the Hostel for an entire group debrief, great chicken dinner, and hang out session. Groups prepared for the long day that lay ahead tomorrow, putting together goods needed for the different trips.

All in all, one of the most challenging, yet rewarding days on the trip. Many more are to follow!

Blessings,
Logan Altman

Text updates....

If you would like to receive text updates about our trip text: HSM CRPARENT to 39970

From Ashley

This morning we got to sleep in a little bit, which was wonderful. It´s crazy how tired we all are, and it feels like we have been here for three months, not three days. For breakfast they serve biscuts and some fruit stuff every morning. I brought a box of Honey Bunches of Oats to enjoy. We headed off to Pastor Rudy´s church, which is about 40 minutes away from Hostel Toruma, where we are staying. It is mold really similar to Saddleback. We listend to the worship in the main service and then headed off to a classroom to teach a Daniel and the Lion´s den. The kids were ages four to six-ish. We told the story by acting it out with masks of the lions, the other men, king Darius, and Daniel himself. The kids were so so cute and wonerful. I led the craft, which was making lion masks like the ones we wore in the skit. It was really successful. It has been so cool to get to know an love everyone in my van group and work and grow with them. The people here are so nice and welcoming. After our VBS we drove to this awesome authentic Costa Rican place. It was our fist authentic mal here and we all loved it and ate so much. It was so delicious. Our time here has been challenging and tiring, but so great. I am so stoked for what is coming in the next few days! Thank you for your prayers! I love you very much and wish you could be here with me!

HELLO USA!!!

Costa Rica official day one! Van groups 1&3 went to a school with little kids and sang a Justin Bieber song!!! whoot!! Then we played four corners, all the kids really enjoyed that game. We spoke on respect and how to show respect towards others. The kids seemed to really enjoy us being there. After the lesson we sang I´ve got joy in my heart but all the van members learned it in spanish so we got to be on their level, all of us together which was really great. After the song was done, we played over under with rubber balls and the kids really got into it. Once we left we went to Pastor Giovvani´s church and helped setup for the Youth Conference. Then off to lunch we headed. We had subway in the mall which was good. Then we came back to the hostel and we are getting ready to set up for the rally later on tonight!!! It´s going to be so fun!!

--Autumn Van #3

Today van groups 2 & 4 went to meet with Pastor Hector and his wife Hailey. They then proceeded to explain their ministry to us. It is amazing what one person can do and how many can follow! We then drove (on a very bumpy & pot holed road) to a school. We played with the kids for a while. We played soccer, jump rope, and frisbee. They are sooooo good at soccer! Then Taylor and Anna gave their testimonies. Hailey translated for us. After that we sang some songs and then played four corners. The kids LOVE four corners. Though there is a language barrier we still communicated efficiently. Most of the kids spoke a little english which helped a lot. For lunch we had authentic Costa Rican food! Everyone is safe amd enjoying themselves. I have only had one experience with a dog so far... I wanna take him home! I named him Tim. So Cute! He just curled up in my lap and layed down (and he´s not a small dog)! Well that is all for now!

-Phoebe <3

The end of a very long day!

Our travel was long but fairly uneventful.

We arrived in Costa Rica at about 10:30am local time. It took a little while for the vans to reach us and transport the team and the luggage to the hostel because of a protest in town that blocked the main road to the airport. The hostel is great, basic but super comfortable and the students spent the afternoon recovering and planning for the next few days.

Tomorrow we start some ministry in local schools and are running a youth rally in the evening!

Everyone is safe and well and excited to get started! Keep praying for us, it's only just beginning!

Phil

They´re HEREEEEEEE!

WE ARE ALL SAFE AND SOUND AND HAPPY TO BE HERE!!!! NO WORRIES!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS! WE LOVE YOU ALL. We had a fairly stress-free and easy flight. Description of the hostel: "There´s a TV! This is, like, nice." --Emily Martin
WARNING: The following is an overexhaggerated and somewhat sarcastic mock letter to an imaginary family..not that I don´t have a real family...because I do!

Dear Mom, Dad, and the cat,
So far, there has only been one death on the trip. I would say that´s successful, wouldn´t you?? May he rest in peace, poor mosquito. He really had it coming, though. Anyway, it was a long flight, lots of sitting. I had no idea that could be so exhausting! Blame it on the turbulence. Anywho, we arrived safely in Guatemala, it was gorgeous..the airport, that is. After an hour of sitting and an hour of delays (more sitting) we finally departed to back to L.A...what a fun trip! I am a changed person. Just kidding! Fooled you guys...you´re so gullible..did you know that baggage spells gullible backwards? (it actually doesn´t...awkward.) After another sleepless two-hour flight this morning, we finally landed at 10:30 in San Jose, Costa Rica. We had some close calls in immigration...I probably shouldn´t have brought the baby. Oh well! And who would´ve thought that customs and bagggage claim would´ve been so exhilirating. A bunch of us had to carry these giant hundred-pound tubs full of VBS-type supplies. But with a lot of teamwork, 12 bins, 40 people, 40 pieces of luggage, and an infant child sleepily made it to the Hostel Tocuma and it is wonderful! We had lunch at KFC to get the real Costa Rica experience. That about sums it up. We are all really tired, but happy to be here! Thank you so much for helping me get here!!!
Love,

Your beautiful, responsible, charimatic, friendly, patient, witty, kind, brilliant, and Christlike (dare I say Christlike?? I say Christlike) daughter.

24hrs and counting....

The first HSM team leaves the church in less than 24hrs!!

Who's excited?!?!?!

Only a few days to go....

The Junior High Team are already in Costa Rica (you can catch up on their adventures here) and we will be joining them in just a few days!

All those prayers and meetings and raising support is about to pay off and soon you will see what God has in store for us in Costa Rica!! I hope you're excited!

We will update this blog with our news while we are away but for now...

Get packing!

Phil