Blog 2

Costa Rica Saturday

Be the church.

Team Katie Costa Rica (TKCR), embraced the above motto today by building relationships, having cultural experiences, and learning about the Costa Rican environment.

The first cultural experience was breakfast. The hotel served a typical Costa Rican breakfast and was it ever delicious! Rice and beans, plantains, cheese on a tortilla, eggs, avocado, and toast were enjoyed by all.

The next adventure for Team TKCR was the Starbucks coffee farm. This farm is the only farm actually owned by Starbucks. The group went on a tour that explained the coffee growing process. It takes 3 years from planting to harvest and is harvested by hand. The farm brings in migrants from Nicaragua and Panama from November- March. During this time, workers are housed in homes on the coffee farm and daycare and meals are provided to the workers and their families. After the tour, the team got t o sample the amazing coffee.

TKCR then took a 4 hour ride to the Costa Rica Mission Project’s headquarters in San Isidro, Costa Rica. The ride was on narrow roads through countryside whose beauty is almost indescribable. Banana trees and coffee shrubs dot the roadside. TKCR decided that hydrangeas must be the Costa Rican national flower as they grow wild everywhere.

Upon arriving at the Costa Rican Mission Project, the team got to learn about their week ahead from the project director, Wil. He charged the team with being the church not only while in Costa Rica, but also once we return home. At dinner Wil shared about a 4 year old project sponsored by the mission, Listening with Love. Listening with Love is a counseling center that serves local women. They have a waiting list of potential clients and are receiving referrals from hospitals and social service agencies. With only one counselor on staff, the clinic’s limited resources prevent more people from being served and has become a valued community resource.