Day Three on the Worksite...and even a trip to Walmart

Day three on the worksite started with a walk around the Abraham Projects new property. It's beautiful and we can not wait to see the plans for it unfold (4 more Children's Homes!). Today brought us more precious time teaching lessons in the Day Care Center. Our kids are doing a great job teaching on how to hear God! Construction projects continued throughout the day...we have almost completely painted the inside of the worship center! We are excited to attend church there on Sunday! Soccer continued with mixing up the teams of gringos and ticos...our kids are getting good....and a little braver! The day at the worksite wrapped up and we headed to... WALMART! The team did there souvenir shopping for things like coffee and cookies, then we headed home for the evening. After dinner we had an amazing team meeting where we talked about prophetic words and then spent time asking Jesus for them for each other. It was a sweet time. The team is doing awesome. Everyone is healthy, sleeping well, and for the most part figured out how to make the hot water fixture work on the shower. Tomorrow is our final day of teaching in the Day Care and construction work..then we move into the Children's Home and Outreach portion of our trip. Thank you for praying for us! We are so grateful!

A Day in Pictures

It was a beautiful day! Our first day teaching in the Day Care, more construction work around the project, soccer (some napping during soccer!), back home for quick showers before heading out to dinner to one of our favorite dinner spots- Dona Lela's. It was then time to introduce the team to my favorite ice cream store-Pops! Back home for a quick team meeting, it is now time for lights out. It has been a very full day-and we all tired, but loving every minute of it! Enjoy this beautiful day through the pictures below!

Day One at the Abraham Project...and a stirring of the heart

Hello first work day of our trip! It was a great day and the team did amazing! We never heard them complain and they worked really hard!




We started the day with Jonathan sharing the beginning and the roots of the Abraham Project. It's incredible to hear how it all began and to know what you are giving your heart and time towards. I encourage you to take some time and read up on the Abraham Project and read their story by clicking here.




We took a tour of the facilities. Pictured below is the building that houses the Day Care Center. It truly is all beautiful. If you read the history, you read how God provided the wood for these buildings to be built--completely donated--scrap lumber that we would normally throw away has been used to build these buildings.




After the tour--the work began. One crew painted--pictured below is one of the Children's Homes that they are painting. Don't worry parents. They were completely safe!




Next group was leveling dirt for plants to go in -- in front of the beautiful new murals! They also spent time digging a ditch for a new pipe to go in.




Another group was chiseling cement off the cement truck--to clean it up and be used soon!




The last group was pulling nails out of a pile of donated wood. So neat to be a part of the wood process that has built the Abraham Project!












Lunch brought us an incredible meal made the beloved Olga...then it was outside for a game of soccer. Ticos (Costa Ricans) vs. Gringos (Americans). It goes without saying who won.....but we are happy to report that Gabby scored for the Gringos!




We worked a little more after lunch before the typical afternoon rain storms moved in...




And we had to move our afternoon projects to the "bodega" (the barn).




Back to Franco's for the evening...some rest time, a walk to the local market, an amazing dinner....








Then it was team time--worship led by John-then sharing our favorite moments from today and sharing what God showed us in our quiet times. We then talked about how the Abraham Project was built by people having faith and believing God for the impossible. Psalm 103:19 and Hebrews 11:6 were our verses of the night. The challenge of the evening was to write down the dreams that are in our hearts...and maybe even the dreams we have given up on. We then journaled and worshipped a little longer. We were encouraged today by the Abraham Project and the faith that the people have. Our hearts are stirred tonight to believe God for the impossible.

And now.....this is where you can find the team....enjoying sweet, precious fellowship. It's a beautiful thing.

A Day of Travel & Getting Oriented

To meet at the airport at 6:45am is E.A.R.L.Y. But the team did AWESOME!! We cleared security with absolutely no issues and even had 50 minutes to grab breakfast and COFFEE before boarding the plane. Plane ride was a little bumpy, but nothing too outrageous! Naps were taken, movies watched. We were even very pleasantly surprised to be served a sandwich... Not just peanuts!


Customs & immigration upon arrival in Costa Rica were a breeze. Thank you for praying us through this leg of our trip. We were greeted at the airport by the incredible Griffith Family... And one of their interns... Our beloved Matthew Meeks! Such a sweet welcome after months of preparing for this day!


First stop was lunch at the RostiPollo. To "orient" means to familiarize or adjust to. I could not have come up with any better way to orient us to Costa Rica than Jonathan taking us to RostiPollo for lunch. We all had the same dish of a very typical Costa Rican meal-roasted chicken, rice, black beans, salad, plantains, tortillas. It was an awesome welcome to the country!


It was then back on the bus to head to what will be home for the week! We settled into a few hours of rest before dinner, then back on the bus....reuniting with Diego our beloved bus driver from last year! We headed to the Griffith's where we were welcomed with a chicky tasting....


An introduction of the interns.....


And then a time of sharing a little bit about ourselves. It was a sweet time in the Griffiths home. Jonathan and Amy lead the Intern program at the Abraham Project, but they lead our team because they love us :). In all seriousness it does mean extra work for them, so please pray for them and that God would bless them exceedingly more than what their hearts desire. Ephesians 3:20 is what comes to mind, "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think."


We headed back to our home, had a team meeting and now the team is settled and tucked into bed. It's 9:42pm Costa Rica time. It's 11:42 back home--and it's been a long day. Praying sweet rest for each team member and that God renews, refreshes, restores. That God speaks to them in the night and they enjoy His presence as they sleep. Thank you for praying us here friends! Good night!

Go.

Jesus said in Matthew 28: 18 & 19, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."


Six months ago ten students, 5 adults said yes to this calling. Six months ago this team knew it wasn't just a calling to June 3rd. We've had many a team meetings. We've had fundraisers and team building moments. The youth conference room has become dear to our hearts as we've spent too many hours to count in that room. We've laughed together, worshipped together, cried together just a little, and prayed really hard together...already. And today is June 3rd.


I (Kristin) would like to publicly say how proud I am of this team. From the very beginning this team has done everything-and more-that we have asked of them. It has been pure joy to watch them grow as they prepare to lead the many aspects of this trip. I absolutely can not wait to watch each one of them lead this week and walk in their God given giftings and talents. It is an honor to be able to watch these students lead.


Thank you RiverStone for sending us off well yesterday. Thank you to all of you that have invested in us & believe in us.

We're Almost There!

June 3rd is almost here!  We are so thankful for the love, prayers, and financial support that has been sewn into our team so far!!  Thank you for believing in us and investing into us.  It has been beautiful to watch the Lord handpick each team member.  It has been a joy to watch Him unify us over the past 6 months.  Our team is 15 members strong...10 youth, 5 adults.

Costa Rica Fundraiser Night

We will be commissioned this Sunday, June 2nd at the 10am Worship Service at RiverStone Church.  We would love to have you come and be a part of this special day!!!  After the service we will have our "packing party" and work on any final details to prepare for our trip!  We would love your prayer covering even in these days leading up to leaving!!!

Daily Grind Fundraiser Night

Daily Grind Fundraiser Night

We leave bright and early Monday morning--having to be at the airport at 6:45am!!!  We are so excited for all that the Lord has in store for us and can't wait to share it on here with you!  Please check back daily while we are gone--we hope to update it that often!!!  Thank you for loving us and partnering with us for the advancement of the Kingdom in Costa Rica!!!