The Costa Rican Lutheran Church is pleased to host every year, Brothers and Sisters of congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), who traveled to our country in order to share a Mission of Service with local Community Life, develop a Work Project and enjoy a Tour Day in some of the beautiful places in Costa Rica.

The first group for 2013 was the Holy Trinity Congregation from North Carolina, who this year brought a Youth Group in order to walk alongside the people, sharing, learning and making new friends.

The Work Project was held at the Communal House in the Community of Puerto Viejo, Sarapiqui, place used for activities with Women´s handcraft group, Youth Workshops and a Center House for the German Volunteers, who make their practices in the communities of Sarapiquí, Chilamate, Los Lirios, San Julián and El Jardín.

The second group "Cross Trail Ministry" from Texas, helds its Annual Youth Camp at Manu Center Lodge in Guápiles, where local youth leaders were also invited to an interesting program of recreational, learning and work activities on the theme Youth Leadership.

This camp Chrysalis 2013 invited these young people to an amasing experience in the Rain Forest, where both groups enjoyed nature, interaction with each other and the work project aimed to repair chairs and painting of signs.

The Congregation of Faith Lutheran from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, visited the Community of El Jardin in Sarapiqui, where they contributed in building a new kitchen room, which now offer to their members a safer and nicer place for food preparation.

Many other activities were also done, specially with children such as crafts, painting and games, a space that was really appreciated by the children, who expressed joy and happiness:

"This is great, I like this, this opportunity is very nice and funny, we like to play and make things with delegations, they are truly loving people" said one of the kids.

The last delegation was the Grace Lutheran, Glen Ellyn and Lord of Love of Galena, Illinois, two congregations in one, who came back to Chilamate to continue interacting with this community, which was visited last year. The main goal for these congregations was to continue sharing cultural, recreational experiences and provide a work service to improve the community facilities. This year the work project was aimed to construct the the main entrance (patio), the installation of the water pump and painting of walls.
 

Mission Trips provide an opportunity to see ministry in the Costa Rican context, work alongside with ILCO and strengthen relationships. Building and reparation of structures, cement; floors and walls, electrical installations or structure paintings are also important, not only a as prevention measure, but also a source of development, where children and youth had made a very popular point of gathering and different activities take place safely and dry.

Of course structures can be damaged time after time, but relationships remains and the example shown by these delegations and many others that have visited ILCO encourage and inspire us to continue responding together to situations of discrimination, exclusion and natural impacts.

Thank you guys, for your solidarity and Caring.

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