Costa Rica Missions Trip Day 12

July 1

Today we were scheduled to visit the two Jaco clubhouses, but to get to the first one is a bit tricky so we decided to leave early enough to follow the staff.  When we got over to the staff housing area, Josh mentioned that one of the sessions was a workout & could I help lead it!  So we ran back to get tennis shoes and then headed out to Jaco.

We found our way to the El Rio clubhouse and since we didn't have to be back for an hour or so for classes, we went to Taco Bar for breakfast.  Hillary had some bomb french toast, and the rest of us had a variety of fruit, eggs and of course, fabulous Costa Rica coffee.  We had brought our bibles to SHAPE, and while we were reading we were prompted to take some serious time to pray over Esterillos Oeste, the staff housing area and Cecelia's restaurant and house that we are staying in.  We ate, shared our SHAPE and prayed over the staff and what our day might bring.

Love the swings at Taco Bar!

We returned to El Rio and waded through the little riverbed to the clubhouse where they were just finishing up their breakfast and getting ready for the exercise class.  I had the girls read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and then we did a series of stretching exercises.  After that Mirla, one of the staff, led some basic exercises that we all did together.  It was a lot of fun and after we were done, Josh bought everyone little fruit slushes in a bag.  They were awesome!  It's basically frozen fruit in a plastic bag, and you make a little hole in one corner and suck out the juice and the fruit as it thaws. Totally refreshing!

After we wrapped up in El Rio, we drove over to the other Jaco clubhouse which meets in the Civic Center.  It was very different than El Rio, and although it is a very nice facility, Josh is anxious to find a place of their "own" that the kids can feel more of a connection to.  During one of the classes the power went out and later we learned that it was out in the entire country of Costa Rica, as well as Panama and Nicaragua!  Fortunately it came back on about an hour or so later, just as the exercise class was starting.  There still wasn't air conditioning, but with the power out we didn't even have fans and it had started to get a little toasty.

There's not a lot of recycling in Costa Rica so we were excited to see this little recycle "center" at the Civic Center Clubhouse.  Pretty cool design!

We had a great time with Mirla and Josh.  Mirla is very gifted in doing hair, so she braided Hillary's hair in a beautiful braid. After class we all went to get ice cream at the Heladeria - it is SO good. Then we headed to the store for more water and a few other things, while Josh took Mirla to Parrita for youth group.

When we returned to Esterillos Oeste, we unloaded and then spent some time walking around the property praying over the area and asking for God's protection over the staff and SOH in general. They are doing so much good here that we know the enemy is out to thwart the efforts of so many people.  But as we prayed I felt a lot of peace here.  Everywhere I walked I felt God's presence and His protection.  That is totally out of my comfort zone so obviously one reason why I am here!

We met Sara, Josh, Ben & Brenda for supper at one of our favorite restaurants - it was our third visit! We had a great time talking, sharing stories and we would have take a photo but when they turned the lights off we took it as a hint to leave.  We closed down the place at 9:20 😊...Pura Vida...living by the sun not by the clock!