When Community Spoke Louder Than Words
Costa Rica Mission Trip 2026

I went to Costa Rica thinking service would mostly look like projects, schedules, and the work we had come prepared to do. We painted, played sports, sewed, exercised, cooked, and helped however we could. Those things mattered, but they were not the part of the trip that stayed with me the most. What stayed with me was how quickly strangers became friends, and how clearly God reminded me that ministry is first about people.

Again and again, I saw that real care was not only something we offered. It was something we received. The people we met welcomed us into their homes, shared meals with us, laughed with us, and made room for us even when we did not speak the same language. At times we depended on gestures, smiles, and translation apps. Even so, there was a closeness that did not feel shallow or forced. It felt honest, warm, and deeply personal.

One of the moments I kept returning to was a time of prayer and Bible study with women we had come to serve. I did not understand every word that was spoken, but I did not need to. I could feel the love, sincerity, and faith in the room. By the end, people were crying, hugging, and thanking God together. That moment reminded me that faith is not limited by language. God was present with all of us, and that shared experience brought us together in a way I will not forget.

The trip also changed me personally. I had often hesitated to share my story or step outside my comfort zone, worried about saying the wrong thing or not being enough. In Costa Rica, I learned that showing up with honesty, compassion, and a willingness to listen mattered more than having perfect words. I came home wanting to slow down, pay better attention to people, and build deeper relationships here too.

I left Costa Rica grateful for what our church made possible, but even more grateful for what God taught me there. I went to serve, and I came home served. I went hoping to make a difference, and I came home reminded that loving people well is the difference.

Joseph Furno,
Students Pastor