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2007 La Malinche, Costa Rica Mission Trip, June 24-July 2, 2007

What makes a mission’s trip successful? Is it the teamwork? Is it the jobs we get done, and the pace we do them? How about who does the most work? It’s none of that. What makes a mission’s trip so successful is the heart in which you do the work and the way you show God’s love through what you are doing.

This summer, I have been a part of two mission’s trips, one in the states and one international. Mission’s trips are very important to me. In June, a team of 10 Sulphur Grove Members journeyed to La Malinche, Costa Rica to work with Merge Ministries. Throughout our time there we expected to teach in a local school, build a refugee center, and lead a vacation bible school in the evenings for the children of the village in hope to spread God’s love. Little did we know, it was going to be somewhat of a struggle. The conditions (i.e. weather) were not exactly in our favor, but that didn’t slow us down or deter our spirits. We were divided into 2 groups and every other day one group would be teaching at the school while the other worked at the church. Working and teaching in any foreign country, is hard because of the language barrier. However, with 2 translators, and a lot of patience, everything flowed quite smoothly. It is amazing to me that communication is so minor when worshiping God. At vacation bible school in the evenings we would sing. The kids were so excited! They were eager to learn new songs and even more eager to sing them without knowing all the words. Pastor Kim did a great job leading music. When the children of La Malinche were singing in Spanish while the youth of Sulhpur Grove were singing in English, it was earth shattering to see the language barrier completely demolished. It became very clear to me time and time again in Costa Rica that everyone is the same in God’s eyes. - Abby Clark