It was an absolutely incredible experience getting to visit Costa Rica over the 2022 Spring Break.? Over the course of our five-day trip, I was able to learn a lot about the culture, the business environment, and the people of Costa Rica.? Most importantly, it was amazing to see God work powerfully through our group as we partnered with organizations to spread the love of Jesus.
The mission work that we were able to do in Costa Rica was extremely inspiring and fulfilling.? We were able to work with a local organization called Face of Justice which helps victims of human trafficking.? We were able to serve and spend time with teenage mothers and girls who had experienced domestic abuse.? It was incredibly eye-opening and sad to see what these people had been through.? At the same time, I realized that we serve a God who can provide comfort and peace to people who have been through terribly tragic things.? His eye is truly on the sparrow, and it was powerful to see these girls laughing and enjoying each other’s company.? In addition to this, we were also able to serve in an urban slum in San Jose by painting and picking up trash to beautify the local community.? We worked with a local pastor in the slum, and it was amazing to see her heart for spreading the gospel and reaching the residents.
In addition to our mission work, we got to hear from a commerce professional from the U.S. Embassy and leader in a Latin American private equity firm.? It was super interesting learning about the business environment in Costa Rica and how the government works.? We were also able to learn about the medical system and how healthcare is provided for Costa Ricans.
Finally, I learned a lot about Costa Rican culture by going out and exploring San Jose with my friends during the evenings.? All of the people were very friendly and made you feel extremely welcome within the country.? It was also interesting to notice how laid back they are.? The U.S. can tend to be very fast-paced and sometimes a bit rushed, but Costa Rica moved at a different pace.? While we sometimes had to wait a while to get our food, that wasn’t a bad thing because we had more time to fellowship and enjoy each other’s company over dinner.? All in all, studying abroad in Costa Rica was an incredible experience and I couldn’t be more grateful to Mays Business School for the support that we were given.? So many friendships were deepened over the course of the trip, and hopefully, we impacted people’s lives and glorified the name of Jesus.? Pura Vida!!
