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Costa Rica, Central America Mission Trip
July 18 to July 27, 2009
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| Ministry Detail |
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Project Overview:
If you’ve ever come this way, you know what an enchanting country Costa Rica is. Relatively safe and accessible, friendly to Americans, blessed with a diversity of plant and animal life; it is an eco-tourist’s dream. Within just a few miles, you can experience a tropical jungle, a cool cloud forest, or a windswept ocean vista. There are active volcanoes to climb and some of the best surfing anywhere. Sound like Eden? Well, there are two sides to this country, and for some, life is not so sublime.
There’s another side to Costa Rica that can be found in the slums in San Jose or the remote villages of the river basins. Outcast Nicaraguan refugees scrape out a life on the fringes of society. Indigenous groups lack even basic education and health care. Families have abandoned self-sufficient farming lifestyles for opportunity in the cities, hoping to participate in the flood of tourist driven prosperity. Crime in the urban centers has escalated dangerously. The population is nominally Catholic, but in many people’s lives, the neon god reigns supreme. It’s a time of change, the erosion of a gentle old culture and the emergence of a not-always-so-nice new one. For those elevated by foreign investment, traditional mores and lifestyles are giving way to the modern, consumer oriented world. For those left behind, the new realities offer few redeeming comforts.
In the midst of this, the church in Costa Rica is reaching out to bring hope and balance to the lives of its people. From the optimism of church planting pastors in Liberia to the evangelical coffee growers of Santa Maria de Dota ministering to the migrants who pick their coffee, the church is on the move. We hope you’ll be inspired to join us working in these venues. You’ll gain a perspective that no adventure tour or four-star resort could ever provide. And you may just lose your heart to this beautiful country and its people
Ministry Description:
Opportunities may include door-to-door evangelism, prayer walks, children's ministry, sports outreach, feeding programs, light construction and participating in church services.
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| Trip Requirements |
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Participants must:
1. have accepted Jesus as Savior and have a living, personal relationship with Him.
2. be willing, experienced, and comfortable with sharing their testimonies and a Gospel message.
3. be willing to submit to authority.
4. demonstrate a servant's heart.
5. acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
6. have prior ministry and field experience.
7. accept more difficult ministry and living conditions.
8. have a desire to minister to nationals.
9. have a commitment to identify and utilize individual spiritual gifts.
10. be willing to seek out adventure, try new things, and leave negative attitudes at home.
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| Food & Lodging |
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Expect rustic lodging with limited showers. Plan to bring all bedding and possibly air mattresses. Meals are cooked by locals.
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| Dress Code & What to Bring
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Dress Code:
FEMALES
• Ministry Dress (evangelism, church services, school devotions or assemblies)- Wear skirts that reach below the bottom of the knee or longer, or khaki slacks, and shirts with sleeves that cover the shoulders. You can wear short sleeves, but they must cover the shoulders and upper arms. No cap sleeves or sleeveless shirts of any kind. Shirts should not have scoop necks or low v-necks.
• Construction/Sports Dress/VBS-Jeans, capris or knee length shorts. Work shirt or t-shirt, (no tank tops, cap or sleeveless tops). Shirts should not have scoop necks or low v-necks. Boots, strong shoes or tennis shoes.
MALES
• Ministry Dress (evangelism, church services, school devotions or assemblies) -Nice pants (slacks, khaki slacks), nice shirt with a collar, nice shoes or tennis shoes.
• Construction/Sports Dress/VBS-Jeans, pants or shorts to the knee. Work shirt (no tank tops or sleeveless), boots, strong shoes or tennis shoes
No flashy clothes or jewelry. Do not bring clothes with American logos and advertisements. Something simple like Old Navy is ok, but remember what you wear is a physical representation of who you are. Both guys and girls do not bring clothing that is tight, too small, or form-fitting in any way. Do not bring pants that are low-cut. If you can bend over and touch your toes without showing any skin in the back, then your shirt and pants are ok. If you can raise your hands all the way above your head and not show your stomach, then your shirt is ok. For either men or women, no open-toed shoes or sandals of any kind in the colonias.
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| Travel Information |
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Airport & Transportation:
You must arrange and purchase airfare to Liberia, Costa Rica. AIM provides ground transportation in Costa Rica during the mission project.
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Visa & Passport:
Valid passport is required.
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Suggested Travel Insurance:
We highly recommend all program participants have health insurance coverage for international trips. It is important to know that most regular health insurance plans do not cover you overseas. Health coverage is not a requirement for domestic trips, but still recommended.
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| Location Information
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Location Description:
Situated in the Central American isthmus, Costa Rica is bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, with the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The ecosystems vary from lush rain forested jungles and cloud forests to arid lands in the northwest province of Guanacaste. Relatively small, Costa Rica is only about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. San Jose in the central valley is the capital, with the greatest concentration of people found in the temperate central valley bordering the city and its suburbs.
Weather:
With a generally subtropical climate, the weather in Costa Rica varies depending upon where you happen to be. Altitude plays a significant role, producing sharp changes in environment within relatively short distances. Close to the Nicaraguan border the low elevation and arid conditions resemble summer in the southwestern United States, while a 20 minute drive east can find perennial spring-like conditions on the flanks of the continental divide. Annual precipitation can be extremely heavy in the coastal regions and along the river basins, but varies considerably within the country, with the wet or “green” season generally occurring from April through November.
Area Attractions:
Costa Rica’s lush jungles, abundant rivers and rich biodiversity have helped to produce thriving adventure and eco-tourism trades which draw people from across the globe. Good surfing abounds on the plentiful beaches of both coasts, while many large volcanoes, some still quite active, draw tourists year round.
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| People, Culture and Religion
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The indigenous Costa Ricans generally did not survive the influx of Europeans, principally Spanish, and now represent only 1% of the population. Small communities who have retained their traditional lifestyles and largely avoided mixing with the prevailing Spanish culture can be found throughout the country. An influx of Jamaican workers in the 19th century imbues the eastern zone with a distinctive Caribbean personality, while waves of immigrants fleeing conflict in Nicaragua have contributed to a relatively large mestizo population. Most of the people speak Spanish, while the indigenous tribes also speak their traditional languages. English can be found in the eastern Caribbean sector and frequently among those interacting with the tourist and travel sectors of the economy.
As with most of Central America, Costa Ricans embrace the Roman Catholic church, including about 75% of the population. The Catholic church can be seen in the center of every town, occupying its traditional position facing west on the town square. A strong evangelical movement has also provided many towns with at least one small and largely independent protestant congregation.
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| Government and Economy
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Costa Rica is governed under a democratic republic with a president serving a 4 year term. The country has been one of the most politically stable in the region and is proud of the fact that it has had no standing military since the 1948 civil war.
One of the early “banana republics”, Costa Rica’s traditional exports have been dominated by agricultural products, including bananas, coffee, beef and more recently pineapple. While the population has been largely employed in the agricultural sector, the growth of the domestic tourism industry has produced a surge in service sector jobs, which now account for the largest percentage of GDP.
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| Statistics
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Population:
Roughly 4 million, with half those living in the greater San Jose metropolitan area. |
Literacy Rate:
96%
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Average Annual Income:
$4670 U.S. |
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