Costa Rica Day 2

Sunday, our first full day, began with a delicious breakfast of gallo pinto, scrambled eggs, chicken fajitas, fried plantains and fresh cut fruit.   

We then headed to the Pavas community to attend and help out with a local church that started as a Bible study to minister to families who have received houses from Joshua Expedition teams over the past few years.  It was an incredible experience to worship with these fellow brothers and sisters in Christ (and for the teacher part of me to witness my students doing the same!). 

During the sermon a few of us headed outdoors (escaping the almost unbearable heat indoors) for story and craft time with the children, followed by singing and games.  Miss Cline read the story of Jonah from the Jesus Storybook Bible and then our students helped them make a craft that involved a great blue fish swallowing up the disobedient preacher.  

The craft/game appeared to be a big hit with all of the kiddos!

 

Our students learned to sing Jesus Loves Me and I’ve Got the Joy in Spanish as well as developing hand motions before we traveled down to Costa Rica.  Accompanied by Lila Cook and Rebecca Arnold on the ukelele, Jessie Nassif, Mira Groetzinger and friends taught the songs and hand motions to the local kids.  I was so proud of all of them!

The games were also popular.  After the service we ate a lunch of grilled hamburgers prepared by the women of the community and then headed out for a cultural afternoon in the colorful town of Sarchí.

We learned a little bit about the history of the production of ox carts, a national symbol of Costa Rica due to their essential historical role in agriculture.  Everyone then had the opportunity to do some souvenir shopping in a store filled with locally made items.