We joined 16 kids, 2 women and a priest for 5 hours in the air, 3 hours on winding asphalt and 2 hours on an 18 mile hole(y) stretch of dirt to get to our 8 day Catholic mission trip destination……Coopevega, Costa Rica. It was NOT a vacation, but it was fulfilling.
We were chaperones and we had quite an adventure. From visiting homes with dirt floors, celebrating mass in open air churches, reviving old community buildings with fresh paint (seemed like lipstick on a pig, but it was a pretty pig when done), playing futbol with kids, praying with the sick, standing in front of motorcycles, playing Dad/protector for a week and growing in our faith together.
J and I were so appreciative of our associate pastor, Fr Michael Hartley (playing guitar and singing above) for the invitation (he actually voluntold us!) to join him and the St Rita’s Youth Group for such an awesome experience. It was challenging at times, especially herding 16 cats…err…I mean teenagers in a foreign country, but it was a pretty awesome mission trip as an engaged couple.
Paw charged me with sheepdoggin’ and making sure his Lil’ Darlin’ (my future wife) made it home safe. I succeeded. He said, I passed another test.
We met Billy (the goat), ate homemade tamales (awesome), painted random walls (for a purpose…with new friends), made friends with the local Soda (diner) owner, watched a night a baptisms, enjoyed mass in the outlying towns, chilled with the locals (iguanas), took in the simple life (inc. prayer and journaling) and even had time for a simple ice cream date.
We plan to do some type of “mission trip” each year after we marry.
I sure am going to love my life with this woman!
jsadventures.com 
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