Costa Rica - Days 4&5

The past few days in Costa Rica have been filled with rain, hard work, and meaningful community building.

Around the work site, we’ve continued making progress in preparing the buildings for future renovations — a process that will take another 2-3 years. Already, after just a few days, our footprint is becoming visible. Though the daily rain occasionally interrupts our work, this group is undeterred. They embrace the elements, unafraid to get a little wet, and even more eager to engage with the local community.

Our bond with the community has deepened as our time on-site continues. What began with two neighborhood girls stopping by to play has now grown into a group of eight local kids joining our team, playing games, and learning about one another. They arrive each day with beaming smiles and excitedly greet us with an emphatic “¡Hola!” before grabbing a frisbee, jumping into puddles, or starting a lively game of *Pato, Pato, Gonzo* (Duck, Duck, Goose).

We ended Wednesday night by returning to visit the G180 group for worship, witnessing firsthand the impact our presence has had on them. The pastor shared that the students’ passion for worship left a lasting impression and would not be forgotten. In a powerful moment, they prayed over all of us, thanking God for bringing us together.

Watching these moments unfold—seeing the joy on the children’s faces reflected in the students and experiencing firsthand the very reason we came here—is truly life – changing.