The swim ministry has officially begun. After our first two weekends of lessons, we have already seen encouraging progress in the water.

2 classes each weekend · 18 students currently served · December pool construction expected

For now, local church members are generously allowing us to use their pool while we wait for the permanent pool to be built at NOWCostaRica Director Jordanna Ailor’s property. As of now, construction is scheduled to begin a month earlier than originally expected, which is exciting because it means we may have access to the new pool sooner than anticipated. While the current setup has required us to coordinate transportation to bring students to the pool and back, it has been a great way to get the ministry started and see these first students grow.

We are focusing on foundational skills such as proper arm movement, keeping the hips and body position high in the water, kicking at the surface, back floats, treading water, increasing swimming distance and endurance, and overall technique. We are also incorporating dryland exercises to help build strength that will support their swimming. These skills are not just about recreational swimming. The goal is to teach water comfort, awareness, survival skills, and practical responses to dangerous situations such as flash flooding. Even after only two weekends, we have already seen improvement in technique, endurance, strength, and confidence.

The current pool has also been a valuable opportunity for the two co-teachers helping with the ministry. They are gaining hands-on experience seeing what strong form, structure, and organization can look like in a swim lesson while building confidence in their own ability to teach and lead. I am excited about the way they are growing alongside the students and developing the skills they will need as the ministry expands.

Looking ahead to the new pool, I am especially excited about the possibilities. Because it will be much closer to the community, many students will be able to walk to lessons instead of relying on transportation. That will create a large surplus of opportunities to welcome more students, offer classes for different skill levels, and have much greater flexibility in scheduling lessons. The goal is not simply to have a better facility, but to create a sustainable ministry that can reach many more kids with both strong swimming instruction and life-saving water skills.

Sunday afternoons have become another important opportunity to invest in the kids and create a consistent place where they can learn, have fun, and be encouraged. The classes are going well, and through our English and Bible classes, we are working to help them grow in both practical skills and their understanding of who God has created them to be.

I specifically co-teach the English class alongside Kenneth. Because tourism plays such a major role in the Jacó and Herradura area, being able to communicate in English can open doors to future employment and opportunities that may otherwise be difficult to access. We are starting with practical, everyday language such as emotions, greetings, rooms and objects around a house, food, basic grammar, and simple vocabulary, while gradually working toward more natural conversation. I have also allocated some funds to provide the kids with pens and notebooks so they can take notes during class and complete homework throughout the week. The goal is to help them retain what they are learning and give them something they can return to and practice between classes. My hope is that the kids will eventually be able to use English confidently in real-life situations.

Danny and Vinicio co-teach the Bible classes. These classes are focused on helping the kids understand God’s love for them and what it looks like to follow Christ in everyday life. We talk about faith, character, treating others well, making wise decisions, and taking responsibility for the choices they make. We want these classes to be more than simply teaching Bible stories; we want the kids to understand how God’s Word applies to the way they live, the decisions they make, and the way they treat the people around them.

These classes also give us an opportunity to speak into practical areas of life such as discipline, responsibility, motivation, and perseverance. Many of the kids are growing up in difficult circumstances, including poverty and unstable environments, and may not always have consistent examples of these things in their lives. My hope is that these classes can provide encouragement, wise guidance, and a positive environment where they can develop the skills and character they need to pursue healthy and meaningful futures while building a strong foundation in their relationship with God.

I lead a small group of eight guys within the youth group, and I have grown especially close with them over these first few weeks. We meet Thursday evenings at Horizon Church from 5–7 PM, often staying longer as we share a meal and continue talking.

A lot of our time together is pretty simple: fishing, sports, food, and hanging out. Those things have made it easy to get to know each other and have more natural conversations about life, faith, school, family, and the decisions they are making. I have really enjoyed getting to know each of them better and having opportunities to spend time with them outside of youth group as well. I am thankful for the chance to be involved in their lives and to point them toward Christ through the time we spend together.

Burrito Ministry

Every Monday morning from 6–10 AM, I help serve food and build relationships in different communities around Jacó. Much of the ministry happens through simple conversations and taking time to get to know people. We especially visit and spend an hour or so at this one neighborhood where resources are very low and they have a lack of food and basic needs. We play sports with them and local games, bonding with the children and talking with them while they eat. Every so often, guys come from the farm and give the kids haircuts and also spend time bonding and sharing with the kids.

Awana

On Monday afternoons from 3–5 PM, I coordinate games for Awana, from dodgeball and capture the flag to activities for younger kids. It can be wild and sure does test my patience at times, but it has been a great way to serve and invest in the next generation. I used to be a games coordinator back in my hometown for a VBS program, so it’s been really cool being able to do something so similar in a different culture and environment.

Mentorship

I am mentoring a couple of individuals through weekly one-on-one time, conversations about life, encouragement, and discipleship. Fishing and surfing give us natural ways to spend time together and build deeper relationships. Though not personally owning a surfboard, renting one out has been an affordable alternative to have fun and bond.

Community

I have also become involved in a young adults Bible study, a small life group, Horizon Church, and other friendships throughout the week. Danny, Kenneth, and Vinicio are a few of the people I have enjoyed serving alongside. Kenneth and Vinicio are graduates of the Finca’s rehabilitation program who continue faithfully serving the community. And Danny is finishing up his high school years while actively being involved in the community.

Not everything this month has been ministry, and I have really enjoyed getting to experience more of what everyday life in Costa Rica looks like. One of the highlights was a beach day at Playa Blanca, where we saw around a dozen monkeys moving through the area. We saw several mothers carrying their babies, and one of the funniest moments was watching a monkey with a baby on its back drink straight from a juice box. I also got to feed one of the monkeys a piece of banana, and it took it right out of my hand. Moments like that have been a fun reminder of how different and interesting the wildlife can be here.

I have also been doing different ways to get out on the water. I went paddleboarding out into the ocean, which was a lot of fun and reminded me of being back home at our cottage. I also tried using a paddleboard to surf, although that did not go quite as smoothly. I spent a lot of time getting thrown off and hitting my head, since a paddleboard is definitely not designed the way a surfboard is. Eventually, I resorted to basically knee-surfing on it, but it was still a fun experience and something I would definitely try again with the right board.

Food has been another enjoyable part of settling in. I have gone out for breakfast a couple of times with some of the guys, which has been a good way to spend time together outside of ministry. At home, I have really enjoyed the meals with Samson and Chloe. We eat a lot of fresh, simple, whole foods, things like eggs, chicken, ground beef, and an oatmeal bake that I have especially enjoyed. Having good meals at home and getting to share them with the people I am living with has made the transition into everyday life here feel comfortable and familiar.

I have also spent a lot of time playing basketball with some of the guys connected to the school. We have played three-on-three games and King of the Court, and it has been a really fun way to get to know them outside of a structured ministry setting. There have also been some pretty memorable experiences at the farm. I got to see a poison dart frog, which one of the guys picked up, and we have spent time running through the forest together. One time, we were caught in a rainstorm while up in the mountains, and we could actually hear the rain moving toward us several minutes before it reached where we were. Being surrounded by the mountains and hearing the storm approach was one of those small experiences that I probably would not have had anywhere else.

Between the beaches, wildlife, food, basketball, time with friends, and just learning what normal life looks like here, I have really enjoyed getting to know Costa Rica beyond the ministry itself. These experiences have made this first month more than just a season of work and service—they have helped me begin to feel more comfortable, connected, and at home in the place God has brought me.

• Wisdom as I continue leading and sharing with the youth group.

• My relationships and friendships back in the United States while I am away.

• Discernment about God’s timing for my season in Costa Rica beyond the original nine months.

• The individuals I am mentoring, that God would guide and strengthen them and give me wisdom in how to walk alongside them.

• The swim ministry, continued growth, more opporutnites for lessons and the upcoming pool construction.

Thank you for being part of this.

Your prayers, encouragement, and support are helping make this season possible. I’m excited to keep sharing what God is doing here as the ministry continues to grow.

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