June 15-20, 2007 Costa Rica Mission Trip
Team Members:
Kayla Abney
Dayna Bledsoe-Team Leader
Holli Bledsoe
Michelle Bledsoe
Heather Brickley
Pennie Kinard
Joyce Kirland
Truman Lake
Joyce Murphy
Andrew Polatty
Kim Porter
Phyllis Shealy
Samantha Sudduth
Avis Tuttle
"A very special thank you to the June mission team along with other donors who donated the funds to purchase the much needed American washing machine and air conditioner for Camp Brittney."
June 15
We left early this morning from Saluda, S.C. to arrive at the airport at 5:45am only to find that our flight was delayed almost an hour. We sat on the plane in the Columbia airport all this time. When finally arrving in Alanta, we had 10 minutes to make it to our next flight. Taking off in a mad dash for the plane we barley made it with only seconds to spare. We arrived in Costa Rica to find Chino waiting to great us with welcoming smiles and hugs. Excited to be here we got in the vans and took off for Chris and Diana's house. When arriving we unpacked and prepared 250 candy bags for Vacation Bible School. After eating a delicious meal prepared by Diana we got ready to leave again. Chino came back to take us to El Lugar where we found the youth from Los Guido church preparing their skits and presentations for Camp Brittney in July. There we planned activities to do with the children tomorrow. Though we are all tired and ready for some well deserved sleep we are all very excited to see what God holds in his hands for us tomorrow. Pennie Kinard
June 16
What a glorious day that the Lord has laid out before us. We woke to the most beautiful, cool, and refreshing morning. The Lord had so many plans for us today. We not only shared our love of God with the children and youth of Los Guido but we also message from Him today!
This morning we watched the youth group from El Lugar interact with the children in games and present His word from the bible. Salvador did an amazing salvation plan by using some children who had different colored shirts on. Black was our sins, red His blood, white our sins wiped clean, green new life, blue baptism, and yellow was Gods perfect light. The children were very receptive. What Joy!!
This afternoon we met with the youth. We sang several heartfelt songs in Spanish and played some games. Salvador inspires these children and youth. He preached a powerful sermon today on your “personal call from God.” Many times we feel like we are only one person and wonder what we can do. God says, “He is always with us.” Joshua 1:9. Therefore if we put our trust in Him we can do powerful things. Salvador touched many times today especially ours. He is making a difference here. However he is no alone there are so many who work together to make it possible. We have not had a moment where someone here has not been there for us.
We are now ending our day drawing and painting props for the church and getting everything ready for the children in church tomorrow. God is GOOD!!
Michelle Bledsoe
P.S. I feel that we all have a greater appreciation for American roads. And the scripture Salvador used today was Matthew 4:18-20; 4:21-22: Exodus 3:1-4; 4:10: and Judges 6:15. I hope you find these as touching as I did. May God be with you as he is with us!
June 17
After a stressful day of shopping, I can honestly say today has been a very blessed day. We started off this morning attending the church service at El Lugar with Chino. Afterwards we helped with Sunday school there at El Lugar with some Costa Rican children and missionary children alone. Then we went to the church service in Los Guido where on Saturday we were paired up with pen pals of the teenagers who are sacrificing their summer and chance at earning money to help work at Camp Brittney. I was and still am amazed at the opportunities they are giving up to help lead others to Christ. They truly are heroes in my eyes. They can also be some pretty funny people too. After the service a few of us went to a part of Los Guido to see some pen pals. Luckily we were able to see a few, but not all of them. We then head off to eat lunch and then my favorite word “shopping”. I now know the meaning shop till you drop. We finally made it back to Diana’s after dinner and laughing off on the ride home to more laughter and gut wrenching pain. Things are quieting down not, but I know the Lord is still at work right now.
Heather Brickley
June 18
It is hard for me to put into words what I felt today. Today was the first day we got to go to Camp Brittney!! It was the most amazing thing ever. There are so many awesome things going on in Costa Rica and all glory goes to God!! He is truly an awesome God!! Camp Brittney is the best thing I have ever seen. This is a chance for children who don’t get to travel or leave home to see beautiful things. It is the most beautiful place on Earth to me. There are beautiful trees, an awesome creek, the most beautiful mountains ever, a nice pool, and beautiful scenery all together. Of coarse the best thing of all was the soccer field (which I loved). Camp Brittney is the most AWESOME place I have ever been. When I got off the van Chino grabbed me and said something that really touched me and was very true. Chino asked me if it was beautiful and I was like “si”, and then told me that God has truly blessed them and that Brittney would be very excited about what was going on. Chino is right she would be, because all glory has gone to God and that is what is important. Today when we got there we got to go and explore the camp. It was amazing; Holli, Kayla, Andrew and I went walking to the creek to take pictures. Chino’s daughter, Daniella, sang “Who am I?” in English. She has an amazing voice. Also me, Holli, and Kayla signed to the song as she sang. Brittney had taught me this and I passed it on to Holli and Kayla; that is what made it so amazing. Chino and his family are so amazing and they have opened their hearts to us. His son Andres is the sweetest thing ever and through them I can tell that God is here. Diana and her “Northern” hospitality has been awesome. She has cooked for us along with Helen and it has been great! Costa Rica is so different from America; people great each other much differently. I have seen poverty and broken home and still through all this I have seen love. The people down here have so much love. They will give you the shirt off their back and most of the time that may be all they have. It is an amazing opportunity to be here. I can not wait to come back and do God’s work.
Samantha Sudduth
June 19, 2007
I would first like to start by saying thanks to God for allowing me to be a part of this trip and this ministry. I’m so blessed to have been given this opportunity. We started today off with breakfast and devotion just like normal. Then we hit the rode for Sojourn Academy. There we went through and organized items that had been given for specific needs in the school. After leaving Sojourn, we headed for Camp Brittney. I would like to say thanks to God Camp Brittney has grown so much since I was here last year. It is so beautiful. It’s one of those “you’d have to see to understand kind of things.” The Lord has definitely used a tragedy here on earth to better His kingdom. We ate lunch as well as supper at the camp. This afternoon we went door to door in the town known as Atenas and handed out invitations to a movie tonight taking place in the Nueva Vida, a Hispanic Baptist church in the town. Along with the invitations we also passed out candy, tracks, and little toys to the children. Then we made our way back to the camp to have a wonderful mean prepared by Helen. After eating we went back to the church for the movie. Following the movie four people accepted Christ as their savior. For that we thank God! After a long, hot, hard day everyone is tired but yet not ready to leave, which we will be doing tomorrow. Once again I thank God for providing my way on this trip!!!
Kayla Abney
