Article
Mission Report: Youth Costa Rica Team
by Savannah Boynton
One Midweek, when Sutton announced that the youth would have the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica, I immediately texted my parents asking if I could sign up. Traveling has always been a dream of mine, and the chance to share God’s love with a new community truly excited me.
During our initial meetings before the trip, we learned all about Limón, including its history, culture, and the mission work that Christ Church Cathedral had already begun there. I remember sharing how excited I was with my twin sister, Sadie, and my close friends, Catherine and Vivian.
One of the most memorable moments for me was our first Sunday there, the day after we arrived. We woke up and went to church at St. Mark’s. We had been told that church in Costa Rica was different, sometimes lasting anywhere from two to five hours. I was nervous, imagining a long service entirely in Spanish. But as soon as we walked in, those nerves faded. We were greeted with wide smiles and warm handshakes as reggae worship music filled the church through the speakers.
As an acolyte back home, I’m used to a more structured procession, but this was completely different. People danced joyfully down the aisle, waving incense, completely immersed in praise. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the pure joy on every face. To my surprise, the service was entirely in English and even included a surprise wedding when an elderly couple announced it was their anniversary. I remember walking out of that service stunned, telling my friends, “That was the best church service I’ve ever been to.” During announcements, Jarvis, who later became a good friend to our group, welcomed us by saying, “Once you walk into our church, you are no longer just guests. You are our family.”
Despite all the boundaries and differences in how we worship or speak, one thing connected us deeply: love. I came into the trip expecting to make a difference in someone else’s life, but it was the people of Limón who made a difference in mine.
Before the trip, our group spent time developing a mission statement, something we hoped to carry with us and reflect on throughout the trip. We eventually settled on: “One hope, one body.” After experiencing Costa Rica, that statement has never felt truer. While I had gone in with the mindset that I would be the one helping others, it was the people around me who had the most impact on me. Through their selfless love and quiet acts of kindness, they changed me and even deepened my faith. Every day, whether we were painting, sanding walls, bending wire, digging holes, or mixing cement, the women from the town made us meals with love and care. Roger, our guide, always checked in on us, encouraging us and helping us practice our Spanish. Jonathan, a contractor who didn’t speak any English, would always give me a thumbs-up or flex his arms to encourage me when I felt like I couldn’t keep working under the blazing sun. When we spent time with the Costa Rican youth at the church’s high school, we shared meals and made new friendships, even with the language barrier.
Despite all the boundaries and differences in how we worship or speak, one thing connected us deeply: love. I came into the trip expecting to make a difference in someone else’s life, but it was the people of Limón who made a difference in mine. Their perseverance, despite having far fewer resources than we do, and their determination to create a space where people can feel God’s presence and community inspired me every single day. God always loves first, and that truth was evident in everything we experienced on our trip.
Going forward, I will always cherish the memories from this incredible trip. Whether it was an ice cream run to Pops after a long day of work or rappelling down waterfalls, I loved every moment as I grew closer to my community at SJD, to people from another country, and to God. Because of this trip, I’ll always carry with me the reminder to always love first, to focus on what brings us together as one body, and not the things that might seem to set us apart.