In less than 2 weeks, I will be heading down to Guanacaste, Costa Rica with one of my interns, Stacey. At various times throughout the summer, we will be joined by 8 other interns and one amazing translator. We have a full summer planned with 5 teams of our own from all over Florida and Colorado, not to mention the fact that we will be helping serve several teams from West Palm Beach (and even a team of 30 from Pura Vida Missions in Costa Rica!) In addition to all of that, we have an opportunity to help a small church in a little mountain village near the border of Nicauragua and will working side by side with Pastor Norwin, doing construction and camping out in the church.

Busy days loom ahead, yet we are all excited to see what God will do in and through our team this summer. Please pray for the towns of Guayabo and La Fortuna...a little "ranch" right in the middle of these two towns will be home for the next couple of months. I believe God put us in that location for a reason and am trusting that He has plans to use us as lights in those communities! My hope is to integrate as much as possible through pick-up soccer and volleyball games with the locals, community service projects, English classes, involvement with the churches and youth groups, renovation of the Rio Blanco school as well as in everyday life: shopping in town, paying bills and opening the doors of our "corral" to the locals. I want them to know we are there and to know the love of Christ through every word and action that we demonstrate. But as always, my prayer is that He will remove our agenda and give us His.

I can't think of a better team to join me as we begin this adventure. When I first heard that I needed to find interns, I was a little overwhelmed not knowing who I would ask and immediately handed it over to God trusting that He would bring me His team. Not only did I get the 3 or 4 I needed, but He exceeded my expectations leading 9 amazing people to this project. Each of them have already been such blessings to me and I can't wait to see how He works in each of their lives this summer. I ask you to keep them in your prayers as you lift this project before the Father. God bless...Pura Vida!

Erika