Back home and moving on...

Transiting from being on a mission team and being at home takes a while.  The events of the past week fade but memories are stored in photographs and continued contacts.   Our group of young people bonded and I expect they will stay in touch for a long time.   Their shared experiences in Costa Rica will live on.   There is always talk of a next time.  Some of our young adults have experienced an international mission journey at least 4 times and more in the past 10 years.  Their faith journey is enriched by not only where they go but with whom they serve.  

 

Returning to Costa Rica for some meant, connecting with local people they met in 2011 and earlier as well as making new connections.   Meet our old friends and a new one. 

 

Wilberth with Jenna

Jenna worked with Wilberth Mora.   He's the construction foreman for the mission and has been with this mission since the beginning.  Our team met him in 2005 and you'll see him in many photos as he is ever present with the teams. 
Luis Rameriz and Luis Alvarado have helped with team transportation the entire time we've been coming to Costa Rica.   Luis Alvarado is the only person who has ever met us at the airport.  Luis Rameriz drove our bus to and from work when we worked at the orphanage in 2006 and 2007 as well as other times throughout 2003 - 2010.   We were thrilled to have him drive us to UBL this year.

Luis, Luis, and Hailey

I share these connections because they are some of the reasons we return to Costa Rica.  They have become family for us.  I can't find a photo of Ana, our cook.   She's been there since 2010 and let me tell you are meals are outstanding.  I'll keep looking.  We had camera's and phones everywhere photographing it all. 

Below is Charlie Strong and Hailey...he came to Costa Rica in 2003, met a wonderful young woman and was married prior to the arrival of our first team in 2005.   Today Angela is a very important part of the mission team in Costa Rica.   The mission would not be the same without her. 

A happy day for sure when Luis surprised me by being our
driver for our trip to UBL.   Very happy time for all of us. 
Gene, Luis Rameriz, and Bonnie

Hailey writes:  I met Charlie, the director of Strong Missions, in 2007 on a mission to Costa Rica. God radically transformed my heart through that experience and has continued to show me what truly matters in life. Loving God and loving people. I'm so grateful to have had these opportunities and can't wait to see where God leads me next. Please keep Charlie and his beautiful family in your prayers as they continue changing lives in Costa Rica.









Charlie and Hailey...she has special memories.



Our garden crew worked with Warner (Wilberth's brother).
He also worked with our construction crew in 2011.  

We arrived home on Saturday evening, tired and weary but filled with the spirit of being loved and have given love to others.  Our team of 21 - 7 adults and 14 young adults came from not only the northern part of Indiana but Kentucky, Arizona, and Ohio.   Taylor and Ariel, our granddaughter's from Phoenix, and Denzel and Joey from Ft. Campbell in Kentucky and our awesome team member from near Toledo, Ohio made our team special.