Hey everyone! It’s been about two weeks since I began my three month journey in missions! I arrived at training camp in Gainsville, Georgia on January 21st where I met the 13 other people I am serving with in Costa Rica and Nicaragua! At training camp I was greeted with love and kindness from my new squad mates and had no doubt in my mind that this was where I was meant to be! Although I was excited about this new adventure, I also missed the people I had just left behind and feared the unknown. Despite this, I knew that God lead me here for a reason and I trusted that he would be with me each step of the way! 

At training camp I began to grow closer to my new friends and learned so much about the Lord. One of the biggest things I was reminded of while at training camp was to love others like God loves us and to meet people where they’re at. This is something I want to live out during this trip and for the rest of my life! 

After training camp and a 24 hour travel day, we arrived at the church we’re staying at in Costa Rica! When we arrived, we were welcomed with beautiful decorations, smiles and holas ???? from our hosts! In this moment I felt so loved and accepted here! Since we arrived in Costa Rica we’ve had the opportunity to have fun and also had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of the Lord! We’ve had the chance to explore local towns, see monkeys, go for beautiful nature walks, eat lots of rice and beans, watch the sunrise over the mountain and so much more! While all this has been amazing the most incredible part of being here has been the opportunity to serve the Lord by building relationships with the locals, participating in the children’s ministry at the church, painting and cleaning up the neighbor across the street’s house and landscaping the church! 

I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a part of this mission and for the ways God has shown up throughout the trip so far! Although it’s been challenging to leave my loved ones behind and travel to a different country with people I just met, it’s also been so incredible and I am so excited to see where this journey  takes me! 

(Also btw our route got changed from  Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua to Costa Rica and Nicaragua because of Covid-19)