Erin's Whimsy: Missions Trips and Updates

This week is coming to an end, I hope it was a great week for you as it was for me. This week I have been recovering from the missions trip that we went on the week before this. I wrote towards the beginning of my time here at Portantorchas about a missions trip scouting project I went on for a weekend. Well, we took the week-long version of that trip with all the students and it was one huge success! I wish I had the pictures to show you, but I don't yet.

The trip as a whole was focused around building relationships with the community. I think that both the community and our group were ready and willing to make that happen. Costa de Pajaros may be the most hospitable place I have ever been to as well. The first night we arrived in Costa de Pajaros the high school drum line flooded the street and they performed for about 20 minutes for us. Also, the church moved their service to the evening -- just for us. We never made food for ourselves, the schools or church fed us every day every meal. It was truly an inspiring time.

I was apart of the ministry for the fishermen. There are four months that the government does not allow fishing in Costa Rica. We were in Costa de Pajaros during the last week of this restriction. It was like the town was radiating energy in excitement to be able to fish again. Part of the excitement was that the town had a game of pick up soccer on one of the last afternoons with out fishing. So, we brought a traditional dessert and coffee to the beach where they were playing, some students played with them, and then we handed out refreshments and Bibles to the fishermen and their families after they played. After, our staff leader said that some of the fishermen told him this was the first time someone had come to them and blessed them like that. The men and women both were also very open to receiving Bibles and we gave out every last one that we brought.

Our whole week was characterized by this type of interaction and it was a blessing. Also, there was a lot of things going on with wild life (seriously huge scorpions!!) so there were plenty of chances to rely on God in every which way. I will post some pictures as soon as I have them ready.

In other news, I leave in less than a month for Honduras. I am feeling more sure that this will be a very defining experience for me. Please continue to pray for safe travels and health as I go and spend time in that environment. Also, please pray that I can find a female staff or volunteer that I really connect with and brush hearts with.

Finally, I have an amazing friend here at school who is practically a professional photographer and she took some pictures of me just for fun before leaving for the missions trip. Here is one of some of the girls and then one of me.