Day 3

Today was such a full day. It was our second day of VBS, this time with a small house church and some friends from yesterday's VBS. There was a slight change of plans, however, and we adapted because we are flexible people! 

We've loved playing soccer with anyone and everyone that'll come to us. We added some beach balls in today, and that was crazy.

Some of the team pulled out more beach balls, a parachute, and frisbees, and the kids loved it. It wasn't just the kids having a blast; we have just as much fun with them as they do with us.

The rain came, interrupting the day's plans, but we decided to work with it.  We moved out into the road for the song and dance time!

We taught some of the Ticos the "Shackles" dance that we love so much.  The rain kept coming but we loved every second of it.

Our little mascot for our team - a frog.

The team hiked up into the jungle to see the site for a retreat center that churches will be able to come to  for prayer and fasting time, and to be refreshed.  They came back down bearing fresh momonchinos, the spiky-shelled fruit, and coconuts that Astruel (our wonderful bus driver) cut open for us.

After VBS, we headed back to the village we had been in for the past couple of days for lunch.  Some of the team went into the church for a conference of sorts with the church's ministry team.  The children's ministry team was so eager to learn how to help the kids that have been so hurt in the past.  Their ministry is so simple, but so powerful.

Some of the other team members played soccer.  The ground was soggy and sloppy, and in no time the energetic kids were dripping with muddy water.  They made sure that we were too.  They'd tackle us into puddles and surprise us an push us down onto the mud.  Soon, it was a soccer game turned mud fight.

The little boy here is our little monkey - he hangs onto everyone, and darts around with a huge smile across his small face.

Straight up mud here.

Te kids dragged each other straight through the mud, laughing the whole time.  These are an amazing group of kids.

This picture here says everything.  The kids accepted us as their own, even with our broken Spanish, and they trusted us and loved us.  We loved them right back.

William and Marlee dragged Casey in!

There aren't really any words to express the joy here.

This boy, Farling, was always with us, helping wherever he was needed.  He's a leader to the younger boys, for sure.

Then we just made the ground into the ultimate Slip and Slide.

We were drenched in mud, but we couldn't have cared less.

Thank you all so much for your prayers!  They mean so much.  We've been so blessed here.  God is good.

{written by Kayla Petersen}