"Palmetto Christian Academy Mission Team" November 16-21, 2007 Mission Trip
Team Members
Cab Bates
Rhonda Bates
Dayna Bledsoe-Team Leader
Kenneth Bledsoe-Team Leader
Holli Bledsoe
Hunter Bledsoe
Dylan Caulder
Peggy Caulder
Sami Fesler
Edmund Frampton
Hanna Frampton
Jacob Graudin
Lesha Morrison
Zach Morrison
Claire Sanders
Mikell Seabrook
Ro Taylor
Bob Tennyson
Lynne Tennyson
Morgan Tennyson
Courtney Tuck
Katie Wagner
Tobey Wagner
Mike Wilcome
Dr. Bill Wilson
Kimberly Wilson
Team Verse
2 Corinthians 5:20
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
November 16, 2007
Our travels started at 3:45pm (a small delay because of luggage problems) and continued to the Atlanta airport around 5:15pm. And left for San Jose, Costa Rica at 6:45pm ofr a 4-hr. plane ride. Everyone made it safely, exhausted but safe. We arrived at 12 midnight here (1 am in the U.S.) Mikell experienced his first plane ride with us on our travels to Costa Rica. He quoted, "it was fun". (despite his tough appearances, we could all tell he was quite nervous) Thank you for your prayers!
Kenneth
November 17, 2007
We awoke to this beautiful rainbow this morning.
Today our team had an early wake-up and headed to Los Guido to the community center. About 150 kids came, and we had the opportunity to make them balloon animals, face-paint, and hand out candy and bubbles. Our story and crafts were about the Armour of God. We really enjoyed speaking Spanish to the kids and getting to know them. It was humbling to see some of the houses the kids came from. They were very polite and sweet. We all really enjoyed them.
We headed back to the mission house where we ate a lunch prepared by Helen (Pastor Chino's wife). The chalupas were AMAZING and I don't think I heard one complaint!
After lunch, we headed to the church gymnasium where the church put on an Olympic games event. There were 4 teams, one being ours, Team USA. We played games and the Spanish Youth Pastor gave an awesome message. The teenagers were really into it. We could tell that the event was a BIG deal to them. The winning team from Los Guido won a large trophy. At the end of the event, we handed out candy which was a big hit!
We returned home for a roasted chicken and rice dinner and heard a message from Pastor Chino on thankfulness. It really was an awesome end to a long day. We're all tired, but it's a good kind of tired!
Katie Wagner
November 18, 2007
Today was our free day. We left at 7 and departed for the zipline. Our ride up there was beautiful. The zipline was two hours away. Once we got there, everyone got on their gear to go ziplining. We went ziplining all through the forest. It was an adventure. We went on seven different ziplines. We also went on the rope swing in the forest. The longest zipline we went on was 750 meters. After that zipline, we hiked through the forest and crossed over a swinging bridge. There was a little souvenir shop that we looked in once we got back.
After we were done ziplining, we drove about 10 min to a field to eat a picnic lunch. We ate sandwiches and tried to avoid the bees.
When everyone was done eating, we drove another hour to the hotsprings. It was definitely worth the drive. Once we got there, they told us there was a spa where we could get massages and facials. The hotsprings were amazing. They were naturally heated pools. It was a great time to relax. While we were at the hotsprings, all the girls got massages or facials. They only cost $12.
After the girls were through with their spa treatment and everyone got out of the hotsprings, we went up to dinner. We had a choice of chicken, fish, steak, or spaghetti. It was served with rice
and vegetables. Dinner was great.
After dinner, we had a three hour drive back. It was a great day. It was very relaxing and prepared us for the rest of the time.
We are enjoying our trip!
Dylan Caulder
November 19, 2007
Today we went to the orphanage in Atenas and then to Camp Brittney. The orphanage was really fun even though we only got to stay 30 minutes. There were a couple of kids who had disabilities. Julio had something wrong with his legs and was in braces with a walker. But when you saw the smile on his face it seems all his disabilities go away! I held Roxana, a little baby girl, who was 4 months old but looked like a premie. She was so cute! We made treasure boxes with the kids. I had so much fun! After the orphanage, we went to Camp Brittney. The guys did construction and the girls made bags for the kids who will come to Camp Brittney in January. Some people went down to the river and made a bigger swimming hole for the kids. Claire and I walked down the river and took pictures., Then Cab, Hunter, Mike, Zach, Mikell, Hanna, Claire, and I hiked up the mountin. It was pretty tiring especially coming down trying to miss the cow poop! lol This day was so much fun!!
Holli Bledsoe
After a long but successful morning at Camp Brittney, most of the girls split into groups to pass out tracts and invitations for the night`s event. Camp Brittney hosted a marriage conference with child care provided (where we teens came in) at 6:30. The only catch? We needed to tell people about it so they would attend. In order to do this we would go up to the gates of the houses and our translator, Chino´s daughter Daniella, would tell them about it. All of the people responded kindly and were very intrigued by Americans. We got past the guard dogs, roosters, cars, and cows without any problem. Everyone enjoyed passing out invitations so much! We have all gotten to speak Spanish and are becoming much more comfortable with it. I look forward to seeing the outcome for tonight´s event! I know God is using us all in amazing ways. Keep us in your prayers!!
In Christ Alone,
Morgan Tennyson
November 20, 2007
Today we went to Los Guido and visited the poorest living conditions i have ever seen. We went down in this valley where the people lived in shacks and kids were running around in the trash and the mud. "The River of Death" runs through the little community and it was obvious where it got the name because there was trash running all throughout it. There were live wires hanging all around the houses in order to tap into a little bit of electricity. Houses consisted of pieces of metal for a roof and walls, bed sheets to divide rooms, and only the well-off people had concrete floors. but the girls whom we visited were so excited to show us their little TV and the beds they shared with five other family members. seeing Los Guido was really eye-opening, especially after we had all just gone souvenier shopping. I don't understand why God chose them to live in those conditions and not all of us. I could see many of us were shocked by what they saw and hopefully we will all return home with a heart of gratitude for the priveleges and blessings we have in America.
Kimberly
