Boa's and Blessings: Sharing Faith in Costa Rica.
- Illinois Conference Communications
- Aug 19
- 2 min read
Matthew J. Lucio
Assistant to the President for Communication
When the twenty-two Illinois members of a mission trip stepped off the plane, they might have wondered if they had landed in the Garden of Eden. Even by Central America’s lofty standards, Costa Rica is renowned for its beauty—volcanoes, sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins, rainforests, and waterfalls.
It also has six-foot-long boa constrictors—one of which made an appearance early in the team’s June 23–July 1 mission. The “snake in the garden” was quickly dealt with, and the diverse group—ranging from 14 to 79 years old—turned to the task of constructing a new building at an Adventist summer camp.
On Day 2, they visited a public school, giving presentations on nutrition, self-esteem, exercise, and ethics. They made balloon animals, taught paper folding, and introduced children to characters from the Bible.
Organized by retired Adventist teacher Verna Clarke and led by Illinois Conference Youth Director Josant Barrientos, the team repeated these activities in remote mountain communities. Along the way, they distributed hundreds of aid packages filled with clothing and food.
Getting there was no easy feat. Heavy rains swelled a river, forcing the missionaries to ford it quickly before rising water would trap them overnight.
On Sabbath, they worshiped with the Corine SDA Church, teaching Sabbath School and leading the service. In the afternoon, they visited another village, handing out more than 437 aid packages.
“Everyone was so happy,” Pastor Barrientos said. “Many of the kids have never experienced the surprise of receiving a gift. In some of these native communities, they walked more than three hours just to be with us.”
NEXT STEPS
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