Day 28: Pura Vida

Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 23.9-15 and John 6.60-71

There is a common phrase used here in Costa Rica - “pura vida.” Literally it translates as “pure life,” and you will see it on everything from billboard advertisements to coffee mugs. Toddlers, teenagers and people of all ages use the phrase. It sums up the Costa Rican philosophy on life and how it should be lived.

Having spent almost a week in San Jose as a part of FUMC’s family-oriented mission trip, it’s a phrase that has also taken on a special meaning for our team. For one week, our group of twenty has taken a break from our daily lives, setting aside work, e-mail, facebook, and even the news (has a new Pope been elected yet?) to focus on helping others.
We’ve spent most of our days here helping to construct new buildings for orphans at the Methodist Home run by Methodist missionary Ray Zirkel and his wife Lydia. We’ve worked hard digging holes, bending rebar, pouring cement and painting fences. But knowing that we are helping to uphold God’s promise to these children has truly made it a labor of love.
After the construction work, we’ve held Vacation Bible Studies for the children of local churches in some of the poorer areas of the city. What we found out is that when we shine our light on others, we receive the light in return. Though our visits were short, the laughter and smiles of the children will live long in our hearts.

Every night we’ve set aside devotional time to talk about our work and our experiences. It’s been a rare and remarkable experience to be with this group of people, who are all so encouraging and focused on sharing the love of God. We will come back to FirstChurch with new friends and a renewed commitment to helping others.

In the Lenten reading for today (John 6: 63), Jesus says, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life.” During our time in Costa Rica, we have heard the word of God in many ways. It has come through the faces of smiling children, through the faithful missionaries we have met, and through the acts of compassion we have witnessed. And we have come to realize that “pura vida” means an abundant life when we follow Gods word.

Brian Owens, Costa Rica mission trip participant

Day 27: The Nourishment We Need

Scripture Readings: Jeremiah  23.1-8 and John 6.52-59

Greetings from Costa Rica!  We are currently about 2,000 miles from home, part of the FUMC mission team working at Hogar Metodista.  This mission trip has provided us with the opportunity to focus on nourishment, both physically and spiritually.  Our days have been filled with physical work such as digging holes five feet deep, making and pouring concrete, bending rebar for large pillar foundations, and painting.  We have also spent time with a small, new church in a poor section of the city leading a miniature vacation Bible school.  We had a great time interacting with these kids and helping them learn more about God’s love through songs in Spanish, skits, arts and crafts and lots of high fives, smiles, hugs, and “hola’s”.  Both of these experiences gave us an opportunity to spend time away from our busy lives and spend time focused on others.

This mission trip was not on our radar, even though mission is something we believe in.  We just said the timing is not right for us because we have three kids and too many things going on in our lives.  However that all changed when we heard about the concept of a “family friendly” mission trip.  Once we learned a little more we jumped at the opportunity to take Ava, our almost 8 year old daughter, with us and let her see some things very much outside of her comfort zone.  Ava and Charlotte Owens are the two young kids on the trip and have been amazing.  They have added a great dimension to the trip with their silly songs, laughter, art projects, and hard work. They have stayed up way past their bed time and maintained smiles the entire time. 

These are just a few examples of how we were able to share our selves with mission.  The amazing thing is by spending this dedicated time on others we have been nourished while nourishing others.  This is reflected in part of today’s Lent reading John 6:57 where it says “As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.”

Todd, Laura and Ava McCavit, FirstChurch Costa Rica mission trip participants