Nathan Neighbors
Follower of Christ, Husband, Father, & Youth Pastor
It’s our 6th day of ministry here in Costa Rica. It seems like everyday gets crazier and more full than the last. But remember the number one rule of mission trips: be flexible! So, we began our day in Escazu drove to the Poas Volcano, drove to the orphanage and are now at the beach. Needless to say most of the day has been in the van (5-6hrs). But it has been so good.
Today is May 29 – otherwise known as my birthday. Though I didn’t get to celebrate it with my family, I got to celebrate it with the Lord and fellow believers on mission here in Costa Rica. How often can I say I saw a volcano up close on my birthday?!
Our major ministry today was planting a garden with a variety of about 10 different vegetables for an orphanage. It was hard and hot, but so much fun knowing that our work would result in food on the table for children!
Our time is drawing to an end. We leave on Thursday morning for home, but we have one fun day at the beach tomorrow. Thank you all for your many prayers – they were felt!
Today was another great day in San Jose, Costa Rica. We began at 6:30am with devotion time as a group and then headed over to the church for the day. The two primary things we did in the morning were a Bible study for the women led by Suzanne and some construction at the church. The construction group helped make and lay concrete for a foundation for the church’s addition. We also enjoyed authentic Costa Rican food today at breakfast and lunch at the church.
If you’ve been following my blog you know that one of the major ministries we have had this week is with Carolina and her family. The students were so moved by the Lord that we needed to do more so the took up a collection. The students gave enough to purchase bunk beds, mattresses and linens for Carolina’s new room. She will share these with her two children. Carolina was ecstatic! We set the whole thing up as a surprise. Mariana and a few girls took her out for ice cream and to talk more about Christ while the rest of us snuck over and set up the bed. We had our own little extreme makeover here in Costa Rica. The biggest thing is that God is doing an extreme makeover of her heart.
Keep praying. We plant a garden at the orphanage tomorrow. What a great way to spend my birthday (though I miss my family a lot).
Here are some of the highlights from this Pentecost Sunday in Costa Rica:
1. Worship was amazing (and the Lord gave me the privilege to preach).
2. The people are beautiful.
3. Church lunch hit the spot!
4. We had around 80 kids at the Bible club this afternoon.
5. Three girls accepted Christ as Savior!
One short story:
At the end of the kids club we handed out gift bags with candy and simple health kits (toothbrushes and toothpaste). One little boy asked another boy which color toothbrush he got. The little boy said, “I got a pink one, but I don’t care because it’s the first new brush I’ve had all year.”
It’s the little things that will break your heart.
Nathan Neighbors 