April 16th, 2010

I have been meaning to write a blog entry on my trip to Costa Rica since the day I got back, so I’m sorry for the delay.

The mission to Costa Rica at the beginning of March was a very memorable trip, and I know that experience will be with me for the rest of my life. We were only there for five days but trust me, each day was action packed. From the time we landed to the time we left, we were constantly on the move working and helping others and sharing our own stories amongst each other.

What did we do? We feed and clothed families. We spoke to hundreds of kids at schools. We helped build a fence that provides much needed security around a community center for sports and education. We ran football clinics at night. We walked on the university campus, spoke to kids, and even played games with some students, but most importantly we shared our faith with others. Each day we woke up with the purpose to share the Kingdom of God, and though our task and settings changed our purpose did not. We closed our eyes late each night with exhaustion, and we opened our eyes in the early morning with hope.

Costa Ricans greet and say goodbye to one another by stating their purpose, “Pura Vida”. Which means “Pure Life”. What a simple but profound statement. Striving to live your life with purity is easier said than done. Oftentimes in my life I get caught up in the routine and chaos of life. And it’s during this time I forget what my purpose is for the day. But what if every day when I ran into someone I was reminded of my purpose…wow, what accountability! When I look back and think about the times my parents, friends and teammates held me accountable, I was able to accomplish and carry out my purpose with a greater determination. I did not want to let those individuals who cared about me down, and when I started to waver off course or fall it was the accountability that helped me reach my goals.

The word “pure” means to be without pollutant, roughness, or harshness, to be in tune or having the exact skill needed. Therefore, there is deeper meaning behind the personal mantra of Costa Ricans. When they meet you their greeting is saying that their mind embraces the idea to live their life in tune and without pollutant and when they send you on your way with a farewell they are reminding you of your purpose…to live, striving to be without harshness and developing the exact skills needed for the tasks that lay ahead.

Thus, during our mission trip we were able to provide items that met the needs of the people who were suffering, and we were able to share our faith in Christ to those whose spirits were willing to hear. In return we were given smiles and thank yous, and we learned a valuable lesson from individuals through the phrase “Pura Vida”.

Today I challenge myself to remember this saying and to embrace its meaning.

To my POG soldiers, may you take a moment to examine your heart and see if there is a place for the concept of pure life in there, and may you share this idea with someone to help hold you accountable.

RN