Costa Rica Mission Trip - June 2025: Update #3

We kicked off the morning with another Costa Rican staple: gallo pinto, along with the usual eggs, toast, coffee, and juice. Mark Jennings led us in a devotional before we left, which helped set the tone and got everyone aligned heading into the day. After breakfast, we loaded up and made our way to the church to get a few more hours of painting in. We focused mainly on the lower portion of the building and made steady progress. Everything went smoothly, and we wrapped up that block of work feeling good about where things stand.

Once we wrapped up the painting, we walked over to Pastor Esteban’s house for lunch. The meal was chicken and rice with a light salad, simple but great. After lunch, we got in the car and made the drive out to La Fortuna for the second half of the day. The drive gave us some time to relax and take in the scenery as we got closer to the volcano. Before hitting the hot springs, we stopped at a local gift shop where a bunch of us picked up souvenirs to bring back home.

The hot springs were definitely a highlight. The setup included around twenty different pools, all at different temperatures and sizes. Some had jacuzzi bubbles with built-in beds to lay back on, and others had full-on water slides leading into larger pools. Before we left, the group grabbed smoothies, mostly strawberry, mango, or pineapple. They were a nice way to wrap up the afternoon before heading out for dinner.

Dinner that night was at a spot known for its burgers, and it lived up to the hype. The guacamole burger was the go-to choice for most of the crew, and no one left disappointed. After eating, we had a smooth ride back to the hotel and wrapped up the day. Everyone’s feeling good, recharged, and ready to keep going tomorrow. —Caleb Pratt