The student ministries are organizations of students who join together in the name of Christ to celebrate, engage and integrate youth in faith and exchange of experiences with brothers and sisters in Christ. Mission trips offer participants the opportunity to discover and strengthen their faith through action and devotion.
Youth representatives from the ministries of the University of Florida (Gators) and University of Texas (Longhorns) spent their spring breaks on a mission trip to Costa Rica, where they visited different communities of faith in the Lutheran Church of Costa Rica.
The student ministries are organizations of students who join together in the name of Christ to celebrate, engage and integrate youth in faith and exchange of experiences with brothers and sisters in Christ. Mission trips offer participants the opportunity to discover and strengthen their faith through action and devotion.
A very important aspect in these experiences is discovering the value of relationships with other people, especially populations facing discrimination and exclusion in society. The delegation from Florida remarked that:
“During the visit to Costa Rica, we returned with an entirely new group of students. This trip focused heavily on the "ministry of being" as we worked hand in hand with ILCO”
On their website the University of Texas delegation wrote:
“This coming Spring Break, March 12-20, we plan to renew our relationship serving and learning with our Costa Rican brothers and sisters in the Iglesia Luterana Costariccense! Costa Rica is beautiful and global relationships with Costa Rican Lutherans profound“
It is truly a pleasure to receive these delegations that travel to a new country to share in the solidarity of Christian brotherhood in each community they visit. It is difficult to describe in words the importance of these Mission Trips, but without a doubt the sentiment of being part of a global church based on the bonds of brotherhood is essential.
The delegations completed work projects to compliment their experience and during their visit they did the following activities:
--The Florida delegation had the opportunity to support the sustainability project at the Centro Etnoturistico el Descanso in the indigenous territory of Terrable, where they these people are working to restore and conserve their traditions and natural resources.
--The group from Texas participated in maintaining and improving the church in the community of Chilamate by applying plaster to the walls.
To end their visit to Costa Rica, the delegations had the chance to enjoy activities at Canopy and Rapids in the Chilamate area.
These Mission trips inspire us to continue working together with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to confront the problems that constantly cause discrimination, exclusion and the violation of fundamental human rights.
Translation:DeNae Van Westrienen
Faith Lutheran, Minnesota