Love Goes to Costa Rica – Day 7

Love Goes to Costa Rica – Day Seven
By Zahara Delia Garza

Before the trip started, I was excited and ready to go! I was excited about the hotel’s chicken nuggets, being able to go to the pool, and, third and most importantly, getting to experience something new, out of my comfort zone. But I was also a bit nervous; I would be in charge of taking care of kids I didn’t know.

On the first day of VBS, I was paired with Court. We met our group of kids and saw how excited and ready they were. They had lots of energy, making it hard to keep their energy under control. But when it was time for the games station, they used all their energy. One of the games they played was something like musical chairs, but instead of chairs, it was bowling pins, and when the music stopped, all the kids went to the floor and grabbed all the pins. If you don’t have a pin, you have to stand in the middle and get asked a question about the Bible. If you didn’t answer it in time, you would be out.

After we finished with VBS, we would go back to the hotel and either go to the pool or take a nap before dinner. It just became routine for some of us. Whenever we had dinner, I always got the chicken nuggets because I thought they were good. When dinner was over, we had compline and talked about different things. We talked about how words can encourage and build each other up or how diversity is a strength. On one of the days at compline, we had to share one strength or gift of the person on their right. Some said the way someone’s personality lit up the room, others said caring, and some said their sense of humor.

Yesterday after VBS, we had a pool party with the members of St.Marks, and when we all went to the pool, there were floaties. But one of the floaties didn’t blow up, so after about an hour and a half, Isaiah finally blew it up halfway. After some time, it got to be a lot of fun because I was with my favorite people in the world, who were my sister Aaliyah, My Tia/God Sister Valeria, and my friends Jaylah and Isaiah.

So far on this trip, there have been some bumps, but other than that, it has been a trip full of excitement, fun, and lots of singing, especially since I celebrated my birthday here in Costa Rica. Even though I wasn’t with my family, I celebrated with a new family, my Costa Rica family. Plus, thank you, Marcia and Elizabeth, for the delicious cake.

Pray for Mission to Costa Rica

Prayers are requested as Minister for Youth Marcia Quintanilla leads Cathedral youth on a mission to Costa Rica July 2 -10. Follow their journey and learn more through daily updates while they are away at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/costarica2024