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Costa Rica (05.23.08): Update #2
Tuesday was our first big day. The day started about 6am with some breakfast
and a sportsmanship challenge from Katie Knaus. Then we jumped on the bus and headed up into the mountains
to a small public school. The view was beautiful but we were a bit worried that the bus might not make it
up the hill. We had a few less kids than expected, but it worked out perfectly because of the space that
was available. Everyone was very energetic and happy to be out of class for a few hours. The kids really
enjoyed the 8 stations that we had set up even though we only had a small concrete basketball court and a
patch of grass that resembled some type of "peninsula" in the sky. We found it necessary to have some coaches
standing near the fence, which was made of barbed wire, so that the balls wouldn't roll down the cliff. We
concluded the camp by handing out some PTR/CED bracelets to everybody and t-shirts to a few lucky kids.
Next we traveled back to the AMCA for a wonderful lunch and some free time in
which many team members went to a nearby park to play soccer with the local kids. This was where we had
our first exposure to the Costa Rica rainy season. The clouds opened and put a damper on our game. However,
we still had a good time. In the evening we had dinner at the AMCA and then traveled to the C.E.D. church
where we were given some instruction for camps by pastor Gerry, followed by a sermon which was colorfully
translated by a Costa Rican youth. Worship with the Costa Ricans at the church was an amazing experience.
We sang songs we know in English, but sang them in Spanish right along side of the members of the C.E.D.
church. The members of the church are extremely hospitable and love serving us. Many of them speak English,
and love being able to talk to us. After church we came back to AMCA for a late dinner, and then closed the
day with a team time focusing on love, and testimonies from a few of our teammates.
Wednesday was another busy day. Getting up at 5:30 am for breakfast was a great
start to the day. Early, but good! We went to Franklin Roosevelt School where we ran camp for 300 kids in
an open field in the middle of town. The townspeople crossed the field all morning through the drills, but
the kids loved it and the Lord provided a beautiful day! Unexpectedly, they provided lunch for us before we
headed over to a second school across town. We ran camp for an hour in the huge open concrete courtyard at
the school before the heavens opened up and the rain poured down again. Following the camp, the church (CED)
took us to see "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" at the local theater. After the movie it was Team
Time and then bedtime.
Thursday morning was once again, another 5:30am wake-up call. We went to a public
school 45 minutes from the place where we are staying. Wow … it was quite an experience. We ran three consecutive
clinics with a total of 290 kids. The school is in a very difficult area and has 1800 kids, many of whom come from
broken homes. On the drive away from the school, the Pastor pointed out various roads that separated the different
gangs in that part of town. It was an experience that will not soon be forgotten.
Thank you for your prayers as we continue our mission here in Costa Rica.
The Costa Rica team
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