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While sleeping on the floor of a church, the dawn-to-dusk mantra for these young Christians: To serve as the hands, feet, voice and heart of Jesus Christ in Costa Rica.

June 28: Costa Rica

“Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”

The verse we read tonight at devotional hit me like a ton of bricks. Restoration — it’s what brought us here, all the way to Costa Rica. It’s almost as if through the restoration of the bathrooms I have seen a restoration of myself, and the rest of my mission team. Every piece of tile laid, every bit of mortar scraped, and every drop of sweat shed has made us grow.

We’re growing into the selfless people I’m pretty sure God wants us to be.

—Olivia Cox, sophomore, Page High School

“Please listen, O shepherd of Israel! You who lead Israel like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, Benjamin and Manasseh show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us! Turn us again to yourself, O God, only then will we be saved.”

I thought today we were like a flock following your radiant glory (while on a tour including the La Paz waterfall and Poaz, an active volcano). You showed us your glory through flowers, waterfalls and more. Your face was the sunlight shining through the trees. No matter if we had a broken bone or sprained ankle, we followed your beauty up and down. We are each praying to be shaped and formed by your beauty and your grace.

—Natalie Hylton, sophomore, Grimsley High School

June 30

We had a flood last night. We had tons of rain and a creek/sewage runoff flooded its banks and broke through a cinder-block wall that protected the church. Our sleeping quarters were under water, the area for Vacation Bible School was flooded. We worked together — El Sinai church people and West Market church people — to repair the damage, clean rooms, launder wet and smelly bedding, move tons of dirt to fill in the eroded yard and set up for VBS.

Matthew and Sam worked ALL DAY except for lunch. They worked harder, with more physical exertion than any others that day. They were the first to start and the last to finish. They shoveled dirt and garbage and washed the mud (and whatever else was in the mud!). They took ownership of their mission.

Sara and Megan did tile work all day. The girls helped with VBS prep. No one complained. Did I say that we gave up our “zip line” trip through the rain forest for this? No one complained.

Everyone was grateful to be there to help.

God gave us all gifts in order to help serve, whether it is back-breaking physical labors, tedious tile/grout work, encourager or healer. God needs us to dig deep into our hearts to serve him, to praise him, to thank him. Our reward is God’s love, mercy, grace and salvation.

I am proud of all these kids — they have risen to the challenge and served God here in Costa Rica faithfully.

We are blessed.

—Beth Tracey, adult leader

July 3

When we have love and faith for God, it shows to everyone. It shows in the good things we do, the work and experiences we have. Everyone sees Christ in the heart of a Christian who truly believes. I know that after Costa Rica, I am beaming with God’s love. As we come home from Costa Rica I feel as if I am overflowing with his love and passion. The people in Costa Rica and the experiences I had have shown me how to love unconditionally. I pray that I will be able to go home and share this with my church, friends and family. That they will now be able to see the passion and love I have for mission work and Jesus.

Everything I do, I want to be in his name and honor — to make him proud.

—Emily Wright, senior, Greensboro Day School