It's 5:00 p.m. - the night before we depart for Costa Rica, and my bags still remain empty.  As I’m staring at my suit case, hoping it would pack itself, I couldn’t help but wonder what I was in for during the next few days.  In just a few hours, my crew of 8 teens and 3 chaperones would be hopping on a plane to head for Costa Rica.  According to Brian, our team would be assisting in the construction of a multi-functional school/ daycare/ after-school facility for single mothers and their children. As a newbie to this whole mission trip thing, I could only imagine what all I was in for- hot sticky weather, backbreaking work, and a massive language barrier. But I kept my faith in Brian’s planning, due to his strong belief that "things always work out."

After the four hour plane ride, our team was greeted at the airport by the much talked about Fernando, our respectful bus driver for the week. The team all piled into his cruiser to set out for the Episcopal Diocesan house located in San Jose. Our journey to the house was one of twists and turns, and was perfectly narrated by Brian, seeing as this was his 26th trip to the land. Before our arrival to the Diocesan house, we had been informed of a major change in our work plan. According to the Bishop, the permits to begin construction on our original worksite had been delayed, meaning that the new school was no longer in the agenda. Instead, we were assigned two much needed different beautification projects for the week. The first task was to paint the interior walls of the Diocesan house, transforming it into a more welcoming and open space for the potential missioners to stay, along as the training center for the entire Diocese. The second undertaking was the restoration of an old abandoned play ground in the land of Heredia. Assigned with two meaningful projects and ready to go, the work week took off full speed ahead.

As dinner time approached, and I quickly found out Julia Spong’s testimony was true- the food was hands down amazing. The food we devoured was truly some of the best authentic home cooked Costa Rican food around. Our cooks, who consisted of the Bishop’s wife Sandra and two other kind Senoras fed us, and fed us well. Every morning, we were greeted with eggs, bacon, bean casserole, fresh cut fruit, and genuinely native coffee. For lunch, the crew was fed plenty of rice, beans, tortillas, chicken, and more fruit. And for dinner, we feasted on a myriad of Sandra’s many different gourmet meals, such as beautifully prepared tilapia, mouthwatering spaghetti, and tasty chicken casserole. We ate until our bellies were happy and full, resulting in a state of being dubbed a "happy fat baby." This term implies when one eats so much great food, ending in a sleepy daze like an infant.

Days two and three of our trip were filled with a whole lot of tape, paint, and walls. For two days, we completely transformed the look of the house, taking it from drab to full on fab. The walls changed from a bland shade of white to eye opening greens and purples with accents of silvers and yellows. The painting process was long and strenuous, with high ceilings and sketchy ladders involved. Paint was spilled and splattered, mostly by Hugh Boyd and Walker Smith, but eventually made its way to the walls. As a treat for our hard work, the crew went to see Toy Story 3 in a VIP movie theatre. "They bring you food during your movie!" Proclaimed Brian, who ordered sushi, just because he could. After two days of hard painting, a "fun day" was much needed. Day four came, and we piled into Fernando’s cruiser and headed for Hogar Esquela in San Jose, a nonprofit school for the neighborhood children. Located in the heart of a dangerous atmosphere, our team discovered some of the most beautiful and sweet children just dying to play with us. Our experience with the children was truly touching, running around like animals with them. Don Lowry was chased and attacked by at least 20 kids the whole time, while others were taking pictures and blowing bubbles with the little ones. The children sang and performed for us, touching everyone’s heart. As Hugh Boyd says, "Nothing’s cuter than a Spanish speaking baby!" Sad to leave, we headed for the outdoor markets to spend our money on the Costa Rican culture.

Days five and six were dedicated to the restoration of the old abandoned playground in Heredia. When we first arrived, the playground was so cold and unwelcoming. The teeter-totters were warped and hung low, the slide was rusty and corrosive, while the fence around it was practically falling off the post. We set to work, with a paint scheme of yellow and red. Our first day at the playground, we sanded, prepped, and painted the play materials. The next day, we repaired and painted the fence. Along the way, we picked up some local friends, such as Bancho and Kayley, who were quickly befriended with the help of Julia Spong’s impeccable Spanish vocabulary. The transformation our team created was amazing, making the playground inviting and warm for the children of the neighborhood to play and enjoy.

Soon, our work part of the trip was complete, and was celebrated with a fine dining experience at the monastery turned restaurant called Le Monastere. Before we feasted, The Bishop conducted a closing Eucharist in the beautiful and quaint chapel located inside the restaurant. We savored fabulous food as we enjoyed a bird’s eye view in the mountains overlooking the city. The next morning, we said our goodbyes to the Bishop and the work staff, and set out for Jaco Beach! For the next two days, we would spend our remaining time soaking up the Costa Rican beach, eating great food, and staying in swanky condos. The vacation part of this trip was such a treat for all of us, allowing us to reflect on our hard work accomplished earlier that week. On the last night, Brian performed the closing ceremony, resulting in a close and tight bond, not to mention tears, throughout the whole group. We arrived in Costa Rica as missioners, not knowing what to expect, but left with new friendships and ties. This mission trip was such an eye opening experience, allowing me to see not only how fortunate we all are here in the United States, but the simple joys of playing with children, laughing hysterically with friends, and helping others can really do to a person.

Mary DuBose Stewart