Earthquake damage

We were able to go with our class and another staff member who is just now starting a Mercy Ministry on base to help out with the earthquake site. It was such a crazy and amazing time. It took 2 hours or more to get there and the road trip was so much fun and the scenery amazing. We couldn't see entirely all the damage the earthquake did, due to it being a foggy day, but what we did see was crazy. Roads were damaged and cracked and there were whole ravines of land slides. When we got to the site, we were very unprepared. It was the coldest day I have ever experienced in Costa Rica. It was raining and the wind was pelting and freezing, much like you would imagine in Scotland or Chicago. Yet the workers, there were so plentiful despite the miserable weather. W were all determined and in good spirits. We all got soaked and up to our ankles in red clay mud.

Despite this it was such an amazing time. Half our team helped transport huge bags of food for the camp. The other half helped take down and move tents, temporary shelters made of tarps, that had been set up for the volunteers from the rain and wind . One of our students and I went to the camp. The "camp" is really just a village of small tents set up as temporary housing for those who lost their homes in the earthquake. There is probably about 30 -40 tents all arranged in a huge carnival-like covering that surrounds the village. It was crazy but an efficient set up from the rain. We played with the kids in what little space we could find amongst all the tents set up side by side. We played on the muddy ground. Nonethless it was a blast. My student was so amazing she knows a bunch of kids songs in Spanish and together as a team we were able to communicate with the children in spanish.

I was amazed at how the community, having lost everything yet so content and unconcerned about the freezing cold they were living in while we felt as if we were dying. The police and all the volunteers were amazing and in great spirits. It was an amazing experience. I hope we can go back sometime. I know our base and many others will continue to bring help and I prayer support to them. Please pray with us.