Costa Rica Mission Trip!

Over the summer, several ELCO high school students went on a missions trip to Costa Rica to help lay concrete for synthetic soccer fields and new dorms to be used by children in the surrounding community. Jaislie Schaeffer, Alyssa Weaver, and Colton Ocker all were on the trip, and we spoke to Jaislie to find out more about her experiences.

Jaislie explained that the synthetic fields were needed because the fields flood in their rainy season, and the pastor of the church asked for help from the government for the construction, but could not get assistance, so now they are bringing in groups to help them finish the project. She expressed how happy the pastor and the community are about all the support they are receiving.

Jaislie and over 20 other volunteers worked long hours every day to help get the construction finished. Although it was hard work, Jaislie was positively affected by the experience. She stated, “Sometimes I think I have so little, but yet they have less than me.” She explained how air conditioning and hot water are not available to people in the village. Mirrors are not widely used in the village either, and as a result they don’t fixate on what they look like all the time, in contrast to many Americans. Jaislie stated, “Sometimes I worry too much about what other people think, so it really opened my eyes.”

Thank you Jaislie, and all the others who helped for you positive impact! It’s awesome to see ELCO students making not just on our community, but on the world as well. Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!

Written by: Julia Macchione