Day 11- Last Day in Quepos

By Coach Strikwerda
Holland Christian
Boys Varsity Soccer Coach

 Today was a great finish to an incredible ten days. We started out by going to Anna's school for the second time this week. It was great to see the kid's smiling faces as we did both PE activities and an art  project with them. We ended with singing five songs together. It was a blessing to see both the students and our fine soccer team sing to our Father together. Believe it or not our soccer guys have been singing in the van to games, while cleaning the school and while doing dishes. The sound improved every day.

After Anna's school visit was over we went on a brief souvenir shopping trip, organized a lot of clothes that we had brought to give away and for lunch ate any food that remained from the week. Next, we went back to Anna's school and listened to Jane VanderBeek tell us what a blessing the guys were to her and her family and how God has used others to impact and bless their family as they have started a year of mission work here. You can help the VanderBeeks by donating on their blog that is linked on our blog. Please keep them in your prayers as they adjust to a new climate (they do not have air conditioning), culture and school. Also pray for  and donate to Anna's school as they need money to build a school.  This is a Christian school that is changing hearts here in Quepos.

Next we went to meet guys from the drug rehab center. At the center we dropped off a lot of clothes and soccer cleats. We then headed to the soccer field for our final soccer scrimmage. There were about 8 players from the drug rehab center so I recruited some players that just happened to be hanging out near the soccer field.  This is a very common occurrence. Most of the recruits had to quick go home and get their soccer stuff as we warmed up. We then made some teams and had a blast. What I love about the soccer here is that everyone seems to play it and play it well. It has been a joy to play in a country where everyone is so passionate about the game. We also had Lenin play with us. He is a man we meet the first day at camp. I found out today that Lenin came to the camp because a social studies teacher, who heard about the camp from the peace corps at school, invited him. Lenin works the night shift and  normally slept during the hours of our camp last week but rather than sleep he came and helped at our camp all three days. He said it was worth it. Every time we saw him he had such a big smile on his face. Later in the week he refereed one of our games. It was a thrill to have him play with us today, go with us to hang out after the game at the drug rehab center, and finally go out to dinner.

At the drug rehab center we heard the powerful testimonies of 4 individuals. One of them told us he had been on drugs since he was 9, had slit his mother's throat over money and killed 6 people along the  way. He now loves the Lord and works at the center. After their testimonies Elliot shared why we did the trip and then our guys gave them their soccer jersey. It was great to see the smile on their faces. It has been amazing how excited the players here get about a simple jersey. Even refs and coaches ask to have a jersey. After eating some bread and having sweet coffee our group headed to dinner. I walked there with George VanderBeek and Lenin. George had already planned that he would go to the center once a week to mentor some guys.  Along the way to dinner Lenin said he would go with him. This excited me because the connections that were made due to soccer were now going to translate into something more that God could use to transform lives. I had dinner with Lenin, Anna and a delightful lady named Laura who started the drug rehab center with her husband. They came to Quepos from Indiana to serve the Lord here years ago. After a great dinner we said our good byes and went home to pack and then debrief. Tonight I learned what about the trip impacted the players and how they may alter their lives once we get home due to the trip. These are great questions to ask your son or grandson. For myself it has been amazing how much the Costa Ricans pay attention to us. We have had positive comments from the cleaning lady, people staying in the condo, people watching our games, the peace corps people that worked with us during the camp, and the teachers in Anna's school about how different and well behaved these players are. I have been blessed by my players. They stepped up and did many things that were out of their comfort zone. From reading scripture and sharing their faith with children, to running camps with players aged 5 to 12, to hanging out in a different culture for 10 days. Thanks guys for being on a trip that exceeded my expectations about what God could do with us and the game of soccer. It is truly amazing!

I would like to thank Anna Slenk for first thinking about this trip and then convincing me that it was a great idea. She was right! I would also like to thank her for all the organization, shopping and driving she did for us. She was constantly on her phone arranging the next game or making sure we were all set for the next activity. She bought us groceries, cheered us on and shared her heart for the Costa Rican people with us. She did all of this well while running a school and been a newly wed as she had been married for less than two weeks when the trip started.

I would like to thank Elliot for being such a great friend, coach and mentor to the boys.  I love seeing the way he impacts the young with his encouraging words and by playing with them with such intensity.  Elliot has a great passion for the young, soccer and the Lord.

I would also like to thank Lee Schopp for giving us soccer balls and cleats to give away.

Thank you families for trusting Elliot, Anna and myself to lead your young sons on a great Costa Rican adventure for the Lord.

It is now time to get some rest as we prepare for the long trip home. Thanks for all you who have prayed for us. Pray for safe travel today. God bless!

Coach Strikwerda

Phil 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus

Day 10- The National Park

By Stephen Busscher
Holland Christian
Class of 2012

Today got off to an early start with breakfast being at 6. Then we got ready to go to the National Park, our tour started at 7. We saw a lot of cool animals such as deer, sloth, monkeys, toucans, and iguanas. The tour through the rainforest lasted around 3 hours. After the tour we all went to the beach to relax and swim. Some of us even went snorkeling at the beach. 

After the beach we went to some local stores and looked for some souveniers. From there we went straight to the bible school at the church. The kids were very excited to have us there again. We played some games, read a bible verse and sang some songs with the kids. Then we went to a restaurant and had pizza for dinner. After dinner we headed back to the condos and had some time to relax before we had to scrimmage. 

Futbol Cinco (Indoor 5v5)

In our indoor scrimmage we were down 2-0 when suddenly the power went out because of the storm going on outside. The power was out for about 5-10 minutes before it came back on. After the lights came on we began to play much better and ended up winning the game 10-5. To celebrate our victory we went out for some ice cream after the game. Then we went back to the condos and talked about the highlights of the day and then headed to bed.

When the power went out...

- Stephen Busscher

Day 9- Youth Group Game

Lucas Vander Lee
Holland Christian Senior

This morning we woke up had some eggs for breakfast and headed over to help out at Anna's school. It was the first day of school for the new period and it was easy to see that the kids were excited. The kids were split up into two groups: pre-kindergarden and first-sixth grade. Each group did an art project and played games outside. 

Art Project

After we were done with these activities we read with the kids and finished with some singing. 

We then had a couple hours of free time to play cards and hangout. At 3 o'clock we went to a local church to have an after school Bible school. We played freeze tag and a couple other soccer games. Even though some of us were pretty tired the kids were definitely full of energy and that energy rubbed off on us. We also read Philippians 2:3-5 and Tim talked a little about what it meant. After the games all the kids got a snack and we just hung out for a little. When we had to leave it was very evident that the kids did not want us to. There were kids hanging on to us almost begging us not to go even though they knew we would be back the next day. It was really awesome to see the kids that energetic and enthusiastic about soccer and God. 

We went back to the condos, changed into our soccer clothes, and headed off to Naranjito (little orange) to play Ronald's youth group. We broke our outdoor scoreless streak and won 7-2! Tim recorded a hat-trick with one goal each from Austin, Elliot, Steven, and Drew. 

After the game we went to Ronald's church and enjoyed dinner with his youth group. After dinner we gave them our jerseys and Dykstra even received a Real Madrid jersey with John 3:16 on the back from the opposing coach. It was an action packed day and we finally recorded our first win, but also got to spend some time and play with some crazy kids which was just as fun.  

- Lucas Vander Lee

Day 8- Canopy Tour

Lucas Dykstra
Holland Christian
Class of 2012

The crew got up early today for a canopy tour. We had a nice bus ride (a.k.a costa rican massage) there and the guides explained a lot of history of the palm oil fields. After a long and bumpy bus ride we arrived at the location of the tour. They served us a nice breakfast of eggs and toast. After we ate we began the tour, which included a ton of zip lines, 2 repels, a tarzan swing and a suspension bridge. Once we all got comfortable on the zip lines we started going upside down. The guides were all crazy and joked about falling off and trying to scare people. After all the zip lines we got back and they walked around in the butterfly garden that they had there. 

Canopy Tour

The zip line

On the way home we did some sleeping and rag dolling on the bus ride back.  We ate lunch and then got the chance to help the Vander Beeks move into their new home. 

Moving the Vander Beeks

 After that we got ready for our soccer game. We were a few men short and some locals were more than willing to play with us. We played pretty well even though we lost 4-0. The game was at 4 so we got back and had a nice taco dinner. Then we relaxed around the condos for the rest of the night.

After our game

Enjoying the sunset

- Lucas Dykstra

Vander Beek Blog

The Vander Beeks

Holland Christian Spanish Teacher Jane Vander Beek and her family have recently moved to Quepos, Costa Rica to help at El Puente School.  They will be living here the next 12 months.  During our service trip they have helped us out a lot!  From showing us around town to translating for us, they have blessed our trip! Thank you Vander Beeks!

Check out their blog at
http://vanderbeekspeak.blogspot.com/

Day 7- Day of Rest

By Lucas VanHeest
Holland Christian Senior

Bus ride to church

 This morning we got to sleep in because Church wasn't until 10 AM. Everyone was a little worn out so we enjoyed the extra sleep. We ate pancakes for breakfast and got ready for church. Then after a bus ride and a short hike we arrived at church. 

The church was called Iglesia Casa de Pan. The service began with singing and it was obvious that the people of the church were excited to worship. People were dancing, clapping, and lifting their hands in praise. It was really cool to see the passion the people had for God. The service lasted about 2 hours and 15 minutes. 

Iglesia Casa de Pan

Afterwards we went to a restaurant called Aqua Azul which had an awesome view of the ocean. Half the team ordered the "Biggest Burger." The burgers and the rest of the food was amazing.

Austin VanderLaan

From the restaurant we walked to the beach. The waves were huge and everyone bodysurfed for a while. Then some of us started collecting hermit crabs. We probably found at least 100 of them and before we left the beach we dug an arena and a path and raced the crabs. 

Looking for monkeys at the beach

 From the beach we took a packed bus back to Quepos where Anna picked us up and brought us back to our Condos. Then we hung out until dinner playing cards and sleeping. For dinner we had kabobs on the grill, potatoes and chirezos. After relaxing for a little after dinner we debriefed and people started heading to bed.  

Overall today was a day of rest for us. We did a lot of relaxing after a busy couple days of camp. After today hopefully everyone is feeling refreshed for the next part of our trip. 

- Lucas VanHeest

Day 6- Around Town

By Spencer Morse
Holland Christian Senior

We got a chance to sleep in and then head to Strik's condo for breakfast and devotions. We headed downtown for a scavenger hunt to experience culture through out the town. The hunt finished with us getting a postcard to mail home. 

At the bus station in Quepos

Scavenger hunt downtown Quepos

After that we walked through the market and got our own cocoanuts to drink. We walked past the market to a beautiful cove where we were able to climb on the rocks and check out the area. We climbed along the shore on the rocks seeing tons of crabs. Most of us went for a swim in the refreshing water. 

After lunch from about 3:00 to 5:30 we helped clean up the school (El Puente). It was a ton of fun with Austin and Lucas VL keeping us entertained with their wall washing business. Other then the walls, we also cleaned the rooms, organized the place, and had a great time.

Helping around the school

After that we grabbed a bite to eat back at the condo and got some time to relax. We finished off the day with a indoor game with some of the locals who played the game before us. This turned out to be our first win of the trip. We got back, showered, and did our debriefing before calling it a night.

Futbol Cinco

- Spencer Morse

Day 5- Los Juegos Olimpicos

By Drew Bennett
Holland Christian Senior

Yet again we find ourselves surreally waking up in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. After spending valuable time in the word, we got some breakfast at what now seems like our usual place. Once again, we were not disappointed and ate quite well. When we made it to the field, we were meet by the smiling faces of our Kindergarten to 2nd grade friends. 

Today at camp we held the Olympic games, which consist of creating teams and competing against each other. The different events included slalom races, wheelbarrow races, penalty shootouts, and matches. In our younger group, Lucas Vander Lee and I had the pleasure of coaching the team that choose the country, Los Estados Unidos (USA). We ended up with a bronze medal but most importantly had a blast in the process. 

Olympic Races

Ronald sharing his testimony while
Mrs. Jane Vanderbeek translates to English

Following the awards and prizes, Ronald, a local youth pastor and former professional player from Quepos, told his story of how he overcame the odds and adversity to make something of himself. Which I must add was truly inspiring. After some dreaded good-byes, we welcomed the older kids to the second round of Olympic Games. This time Lucas and I coached the Spanish Team and after overcoming some adversity of our own in the form of fighting among the players, we once again took bronze. 

After our 3rd day of camp ended

Following some much needed lunch and siestas we went to La Villa Pelícano (the pelican villa) where we were graciously hosted by Tom and Kathy Essenburg. There we played pool volleyball and had burgers for dinner with the most beautiful view of the ocean and mountains as our backdrop.

Pura Vida and Thanks for Reading.

- Drew Bennett