Tuesday's recap is from
Gabrielle Henley, a junior on the Women's Soccer team, who is participating in the TAME trip in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, over Spring Break.
Today started early, at 6:30 AM, to be exact. As we enjoyed our breakfast of rice, sausage, beans, and plantains, we also spent time laughing with one another and enjoying each other's presence. As we finished our delicious breakfast, we prepared for our devotional time lead by a few of my teammates, where we spent time worshipping the Lord, as well as digging into the Word to see what truth would be revealed to us today.
After some time spent in prayer, we got ready to go to the Teen Challenge Center for a hard days work. Teen Challenge is a globally recognized Christian based rehab center. The host family was an American family with three young boys and it was very nice to see Americans who live in Costa Rica and are following the calling God has given them and thriving in their environment.
Soon after, we found ourselves digging up loose soil and transporting it to a greenhouse, so the center could have a sustainable garden. After all of the falling and sloshing in the mud, it was time for us to go back to the YWAM base. Before we left, we were able to try some of the chocolate that was made from the cacao that they harvest at the center. It was delicious!
When we got back to the YWAM base, we had some amazing lunch that consisted of pork, chick peas, and mixed vegetables. After we finished eating lunch, we got straight to picking up leaves, painting, and even jamming to a little music as well.
After our hard work in the sun, we all got together for a quick snack, and by then it was time to get ready for the soccer clinic we would be holding at a local soccer field for the youth in the community. At the soccer clinic, I saw many familiar faces from the previous days. I was warmly welcomed with sweet hugs from the children, whom I had in my group the first day. We spent time doing soccer drills, playing games, and just having a good time with the children before we would have to leave for the night. When it was time to go back to the YWAM base, the children were sad to see us leave and kept asking us when we would be back to see them. We were able to take a lot of pictures with the kids and exchange information, so we could keep in touch with each other after our mission trip is over.
We arrived at the field and only two kids were there and we thought we were in for a long night, but as we got off the bus, they told us not to worry since school had just let out and the kids were still on their way. By the time we started warm ups there were 50 kids present. The young children, with the majority of the girls, played fun soccer games all night, which turned into cartwheels and tag. The kids sparked energy in everyone and we had over 60 participating by the end of the clinic.
Once we got back to our homes for the week at the YWAM base, we enjoyed a tasty fish taco dinner and showered. Although today was physically draining and exhausting, I enjoyed it all because I was able to do work for God's kingdom. I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us the rest of the week!
Head Coach
Kristin Cox added, "It was actually quite the fun adventure and workout today at the center. We hiked into the jungle along a path and at the top of the path cleared three areas of fallen bamboo and leaves to get to the soil. We then shoveled piles of soil and began to load it up on large tarps. Each tarp was carried by about four players, who maneuvered their way back down the narrow jungle trail to the greenhouse. However, the more we traveled this path the muddier it became, the second group came back covered in mud as a few of them slipped on the walk. The walkway along the little stream we had to cross was getting muddy fast and you had no choice, but to walk through it – all while transporting a large/heavy tarp full of soil. One player even said, 'This might be the hardest thing I've ever done.'
It was also awesome to see the groups working together to conquer the course. A few people were working in the greenhouse, filling the troughs with the dirt we were transporting and helping to rebuild the roof. To get back to the bus we had to walk about a mile will our shovels and rakes. When the girls went out on their afternoon tasks, they were so exhausted from the morning, but we decided to put on some worship music and everyone continued to work hard. I think it was very humbling for them to realize that mission trips are not always just having fun and playing with children, but putting in hard work and helping. The base grounds look even more beautiful now with the paths and yard racked, restrooms painted, and the pile of debris moved. I was proud of the teams efforts today and their hard work despite the conditions."
~Pura Vida!~
