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HPUMC Youth Missions
Costa Rica Mission Trip 2009
Trip Blog

Check Back During the Trips
July 18 - Aug 1
for updates!
Please not that here at the internet can go down for extended periods of time, not allowing us to blog. We will update as soon as possible if we miss a night!

Fri, July 30	Hey ya`ll its Kyle Stowe from the jungles of Costa Rica were i have had some of the most intense moments. To recall all from the work sites to the kindness of the Costa Ricans, to the beauty of the Rainforest. But if i came out of the whole trip it would be enormous and probably hurt your head. But, Agine if i walked away with the single most important thing it would be growing closer to god and all of the wonderful people i bonded with and had the chance to incounter. So now is the time i say good night because its five hours intell i have to get up and catch a plane bond for the states and sadly leave Costa Rica and its people.
Thu, July 30	Hey, this is Ryan Ragnell (Rising Freshman at Greenhill School). Today was our last work day here in Puerto Viejo, and it was fantastic. As the day came to a close, we all realized how much we helped Pastor Juan and all of the Church community. Pastor Juan told my group after our day of work that he had been praying for someone to come along and do this work for the community and that we were the answer to his prayers. This meant so much to all of us, even those who were on worksites 1 and 2. We are here in Costa Rica to serve others because we love them and we love God. This week, group 1 did anything from laying concrete down to putting up drywall and they finished their day/week by jumping in the mud pit full of water and mud. Group 2 laid down concrete to make the floor inside of 3 different Sunday school classes and completed all of the walls for them made of cinder blocks and mortar, along with laying down the sidewalk outside of it. My group, group 2.5 (also known as 3) finished their very large trench which at its deepest point was roughly 6 feet deep and at its lowest around 5 feet. We worked in the rain and pushed through it all day to get done and it all paid off. All three groups are here to serve God and we have all worked through Him. We have one last full day here in Costa Rica and we will be spending it shopping and at the hot springs. We look forward to tomorrow as a day of rest and relaxation after our week of hard work. Tova will be giving the sermon tomorrow night at worship and I think I can speak for us all in saying that we are really excited to hear what she has to say. We have lived through God this week as I believe we all should everywhere we go in life; back in Dallas, here in Costa Rica, or on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii. Every place we go is a place of God for God is everywhere. It's time to go to sleep now, and we're all more than ready to get in bed. We love you all, goodnight and God Bless.
Wed, July 29
Tue, July 28	Hey this is Blake Lueder (Freshman) and Grant Carter (Junior). Today was our second day on the work sites and we believe we are speaking for everyone when we say it was AMAZING. Yesterday we had two groups but today, we split into three. Even though some of us were switched, we still had loads of fun and worked just as hard if not harder. Today, one of us worked with Wes and can truthfully say that he has definately had his fair share of rice and beans. You would not believe how much fun we are having in this beautiful country. Some of our jobs consist of everywhere from sanding walls, to digging ditches (six feet deep to be exact). Tonight at worship, Phil talked about how loving others and loving God are similar and different. This was a very challenging topic and it just blew our minds to think about. Small groups have also been even more powerfull than we have ever experienced before. We are so lucky to have such a great youth staff at our church. Oh yeah I almost forgot, Mrs. Carter? Grant got a hair cut... Don't worry about it.
Mon, July 27	Oh hey hey hey!!! This is Kelsey Routh! Today was our first week on the worksites with the trip B kids and it was a blast! We woke up this morning and after an awesome breakfast heard an amazing testimony from Tara Schum. That girl is the coolest! I learned so much from her! Then after our usual devo time we headed out to the worksites! On my worksite we finished pouring the cement (hallelujah!) and started digging trenches which will probably take us most of the rest of the week. Some of us are also working on rebar, plaster, and painting. After a hard days work we headed towards our new VBS sites where Jacob Koonsman and JJ Klein were both able to scare a small child under the age of two. It was quite sad... but very entertaining, don't get me wrong. We then came back to Hotel Bambu where some swam, showered, or slept, or all of the above like me!! At worship tonight we got to hear Heather Pitcher give a sermon. She did a truly remarkable job. I believed that everyone in that room was touched and took something from what she taught us. I can't believe the first work day of the second week is already over!!! Costa Rica 2009 will come to a close shortly!! We miss ya'll and can't wait to see ya'll on Saturday!!! Love ya'll and see ya soon!!!!!!!
Sun, July 26	hello all. This is Kate Doviak and Mark Faubion. We got in safely last night around eleven and had a little time to catch up with the Trip C kids. This morning we got to go to the local methodist church and attend sunday worship service. It was a lot different than any other typical worship service we had experienced in dallas, and lived up to the past two worship services we had attended during previous trips. Everyone there was very welcoming and gracious. We participated in singing and then listened to the pastor's sermon. We then came back to the hotel and had lunch (rice and beans). This afternoon we had free time to hang out with people at the hotel, walk around town, shop lots of people bought pastries and pizzas. Lots of people swam or played cards. I destroyed kate in a game of egyptian ratscrew. It rained a lot today, more than we have experienced in previous years. We had a meeting planning for VBS on our worksites for this week. Then we ate dinner and had worship, which we sang awesome songs and Tova spoke about being consumers of people. Basically what she emphasized was that we constantly use other people to better our own standing and had a verse that stated that we should be selfless and care more for others rather than be all about ourselves. Everyone is thrilled to be here and having a great time. We are really excited for our first work day tomorrow so please pray for everyones safety and our growing relationships with our worksite.
Fri, July 24	Hello parents this is Payton Stewart and Audrey Bristol! Yesterday we went to the hot springs, the bus ride there was two hours but personally we didnt sleep during any of it. We looked out the window the whole watching the scenery, Costa Rica looks like no other place! We got to the springs, and ate lunch the food was amazuing! about half of us went shopping, most planned on going for only a hour but as time passed and we walked through the city most decided to stay for an hour buying t-shirts, purses, and hammocks. After getting back to the springs, we all split up into different pools there were about 8 or 9, the hottest 152 degrees Payton laid down in, and other tried to just run through it. The hot springs were amazing and just what we all needed after a long week. After a a long ride home, with most sleeping, we had worship with Phil speaking. He spoke about second chances and guilt, which is something all of us need and deal with. everyone in our small group felt like they needed to hear, we ended our last small group with Julie the way we always do talking about how we saw God today in our lives and here we never run out of ways we see God. Most stayed up to see the one weekers leave at 4 in the morning. We passed the time playing cards, talking, and saying goodbye. Since they left we all miss the and we keep hearing i wish...was here! they leave soon and we hope they have a safe trip home! Today we go Zip-lining and new people are coming! Pray for the safty of everyone traveling! -----
Thur, July 23	Hey parents, this is Stephen Wise and Cameron Gosnell reporting from Hotel Bambu. The trip so far has been an eye-opening and breath-taking experience. Too bad it has gone by so fast. Coming into this trip we were expecting too hang out with our friends in a tropical paradise, yet as the trip progressed, we began to realize the opportunities that this trip holds. At the beginning of the week, our small group lasted only ten minutes. Our group members and us were unable to convey our ideas spirtually and emotionally, but tonight the situation was much different. Our group lasted two hours as we talked about the dynamics of friendship and overall life in general. We think that this conversation really will change how we view ourselves and our friends. Today was also our last day of work and we all wish we could stay forever. Both worksites look amazing, from the walls we've put up to the floors we've laid, it's starting to seem like we are actually making a difference in this community. Tova just got here and we are so excited to share this excitment with another leader we look up to. Tomorrow we head for the springs and plan on having a great time. Most of us plan on spending our day in the water and having an entire day to relax. Although the work is fun it also can be tiring so this time to chill will be relieving. Hope y'all are having as much fun as we are (but we know you're not). We will see you on Saturday only because we have too. ----
Wed. July 22	Hello Mom; and other moms and dads!!!! This is Katie Mac (McDaniel) and Costa Rica is AMAZING!!Today I got moved to a new worksite and at first i was a little disappointed to be switched but it ended up being a ton of fun, and a totally new experience. On worksite #1 there are 46 of us working on this church and with that many people you can easily take a nice long break and no one would really notice or care because they're so many people on that worksite. You can also find some more "easier" jobs that don't take a whole lot of effort. At worksite #2 it was totally different experience there are only like 26 people and its all hard labor, intense work. Since there are so few people you really can't just take a 30 minute break and someone not ask you for help....it just wont happen. Overall, having those two different experiences were great; but the best part of everything was that in both places I saw God working through people and their work/service. One of my favorite parts of the day was when we were heading back to the hotel about VBS and Stephen Wise and I starting listening to music on my iPod and singing to it out loud so that everyone could hear.When the next song came on I started to get excited because i love musicals and singing.....the song that came on was "Elephants Love Melody and Come What May" both from the movie Moulin Rouge. I started to sing the guys part because Stephen didn't know it and all of a sudden, from no where Phil belted out all the words to the song and we ended up having a duet, where he would sing the guy part and I would obviously sing the girl part. It was so much fun we all had a blast singing and having fun. This evening Daniel Merrill gave his sermon about "shaking it off" and he nailed it beautifully. It was definantly something we all needed to hear and a great reminder. Today was a sucessful and beautiful day!!! I saw christ working through people in the smallest, most simple ways possible and it was beautiful!!! -----
Tue, July 21	Hello, I'm Dom Granello and I was supposed to post last night's blog. But due to a thunderstorm in the evening, (it is the rainy season after all), internet access was unavailable. It rained as much in one day as it has rained in entire week during previous tirps. But our soggy socks could not waterlog our spirits, and the workday progressed nicely. We plastered walls, mixed and poured concrete, and constructed rebar girds for use in the slab we were pouring. From the cups of coffee and plates of fresh pineapple in the morning to Drew's sermon in the evening, it's difficult to have a bad day in Costa Rica. VBS continued with the story of the Good Samaritan. the weather was still good, and we attempted to play a carefully outined form of tag until the plans fell apart and chaos ruled the playground. Our stilted Spanish and the minute attention spans of the Tico (the Costa Ricans' own word to describe their nationality) children was a recipe for that type of benevolent anarchy that smashes rules and disregards language barriers. We chased after the children and they chased after us, always going after an opprotunity to snatch a hat off an unsuspecting head. -----
Mon, July 20	Hello people of the US! I'm Molly Shute, and today, as usual, was the most exciting day. The feeling in the air was just overwhelming for those who had their first work day ever, and those who remember how great the first day has been in the past. The usual morning work-high was very obvious as was the lunch time/7th break-high was too. Despite exhaustion, the kids here kept smiles on thier facies as most of those reading this know! At VBS today, a lot hit me at once. In past trips we have talked a lot about how the people here in Costa Rica DEPEND on God, as many here just love and worship Him. We are called to do those things, but it is so great that kids here get to see another calling in loving our Lord- depending on Him. There are so many conversations I've had with people just in awe of the different life and almost different take on Christianity. Today at VBS the kids were absolutely estatic to see the senior high kids. Despite a long day of work, the smiles of those kids lifted spirits with out any effort. It is amazing as one of the older kids on the trip to see how easily sharing God's love through a smile or a hug or even just the touch of a childs hand can be. In the US we are so crowded with business and school there isn't time made for such things to be seen! How easily God is lost in business... Tonight Eric preached about battle cries and how they unite everyone, and how we are called to make diciples of people. In my small group of senior girls, the plain truth came out that it is awkward to go up to people and preach God's word despite the calling. Some girls said they feel it feeds into the judgmental Christian stereotype. After long discussion, we came to a general conclusion that you can 'preach' to people by loving them, forming relationships, and in some way making it known who gave you the ability to do these things and in short why you do it. You don't have to stand on a box in the middle of a city... but you can live as Jesus did and tell people why you are the way you are. Christ DIED for us, I think it's okay to risk a bit of discomfort to possibly introduce Christ to someone else. Eric read from Matthew 28:18-19 which says "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. Therefore go and make diciples of all nations, babtizing them in the name of the Father and of hte Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." I Love the end of this verse. No matter how uncomfortable it gets, and no matter how much you struggle, He is with you. What could be better than that??? I will say God is more present here (or maybe I just allow myself to see Him) in Costa Rica than anywhere I've ever been. I don't think I'm alone in that feeling judging by the number of kids who attend this trip each year. I pray that maybe this year a little bit more of Christ who is so obvious here will be brought home to Dallas. I was told once if you change yourself, you can change your family. If you change your family, you can change your town. If you change your town, you can change your city. If you change your city, you can change your state. If you change your state, you can change your nation... Imagine what this amazing group of youth could do alone in Dallas? It is incredible how their love for Christ radiates. Keep the prayers up, tomorrows going to be a great day! -----
Sun, July 19	Hi everyone! this is Margot Linton. this morning we woke up from a VERY long night, and headed to the local church in the town. All though the experience was completley different from what we're used to at our church, I feel that everyone of us learned alot about how many people love and worship the same God as us. After the service we headed back to our hotel and just relaxed. Some swam, some went shopping, and some just slept the whole time. We ate lunch, which by the way is the best food in the world, then continued our day by enjoying eachothers company. We started to learn some worship songs in spanish to teach the kids that we will be seeing in the next two weeks. After that we continued to relax and ate dinner, followed by worship. Worship was lead by Stephen Lohoefer and we learned about our "ego's" and how they keep us from helping others in need. We split into our small groups after that, and had deep conversation of all that we learned from today. Overall today was a wonderful, relaxing day, and we are eager to work for the next couple weeks! -----
Saturdat, July 18	WOW we made it! It was a long trip - here in Costa Rica they are able to just shut down a road due to an accident all night! our 2 hour ride turned into a 6 hour adventure - we made it to the hotel and got a few hours of sleep - the memories are starting!! we love it! we were able to watch locals play soccer in the parking of the gas station along the way! We are ready for our adventure to continue!