Day 6!

Our group in our trip t-shirts!

Friday morning we returned to our work site for our last (half) day of work. We were scheduled to work until 12pm, then have a Eucharist with some of the people from Santiago, then have lunch, then head to the beach.

Our task for the morning was making more concrete, only this time there was something a little more exciting in store for us. The crew chiefs had placed the rebar pieces into parts of the trench, and the cement we were mixing was being poured on top of the pieces of rebar to hold them in place. It wasn’t exactly a wall or anything, but it was great for us to see part of the construction beginning before we left Costa Rica. We worked hard, mixing concrete, shovelling, and more, and our church service started a bit on the late side.

The back-breaking work of mixing concrete.

Ray, helping put the rebar in place.

What the base of the rebar looks like before it goes in the hole.

Martha and Lauree, taking an important break to tree climb.

After the work, Meaghan and Father Allen, one of the priests that helps serve at Santiago, led the service together. The first part of the service was in Spanish, with English readings from members of our group. Meaghan preached a short but moving homily, with translation help from Hubert, the exuberant! The Eucharist followed in English. The experience of gathering in that beautiful and simple church, with our new friends from the Santiago Mission raising their voices in song with us was very meaningful for everyone present. Just outside we could see our work from the week, but what we realized was that even more important than the physical structure we have to show for ourselves, the relationships that we have formed with the people in Estrada is the most important thing that we will take away from here.

After the Eucharist we ate one final meal with our friends in Estrada, and piled into the bus, dirty and tired (as usual) to head to the beach. We stayed the night in Porto Viejo, which is on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Our hotel was called Cariblue, and when we arrived we momentarily forgot about our tired bodies as we headed over to the beach to laugh and play in the huge waves. After the beach we enjoyed more water time in the hotel pool before cleaning up for dinner.

Meaghan preaching while Hubert translated.

Michelle and the kids taking communion.

After the service we enjoyed a meal out together and spent only a little time walking around Porto Viejo before heading back to the hotel for another much needed night’s rest. Some of us have found ourselves missing the digging a bit, though we are very grateful to have the chance to enjoy each other’s company on the coast in Costa Rica!

Our hotel in Porto Viejo!