Costa Rica Mission Trip

Our youth mission team returned Monday from a meaningful trip to Limón, Costa Rica, where we partnered with St. Mark’s Anglican (Episcopal) Church and School – the oldest Anglican church in the country. During our trip, our youth served at St. Mark’s in Limón, participated in cross-cultural fellowship, visited local churches in Limón, and worshipped at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, San José, where our rector preached and celebrated the Sunday morning English service.

The Diocese of Costa Rica has been a companion diocese of the Diocese of North Carolina for 30 years. In 1998, the dioceses of El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama gained autonomy from the Episcopal Church and joined with Costa Rica to form the Anglican Church in Central America (IARCA – Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América). IARCA is the newest province of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church in the United States. Our teens were delighted to find that English worship is from the same Book of Common prayer we use at All Saints’.

Our Mission Location: While many people associate Costa Rica with the Pacific coast’s beaches, Limón lies on the Caribbean coast, east over the mountains from the capital, San José. It is known for its rich Afro-Caribbean culture and history. Founded in the 19th century during the construction of a coastal railway, Limón grew into a major port city – first exporting bananas, and later pineapples and coffee. Today, it is the largest port in Costa Rica and the tenth largest in Latin America.

St. Mark’s, Limón, was founded in 1892 and has long served as a spiritual and community hub for the region. Its school was begun to teach English to the local residents of Limón. Now the school educates K-12 students, emphasizing both academic excellence and Christian values. Our mission focused on painting classrooms – inside and out – completing work begun by two earlier teams this summer. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the school was ready to welcome students for the new semester, which began as we were traveling home Monday.

Beyond service work: Thanks to the efforts of Roger Pennett who is on the staff of the Diocese of Costa Rica, we had the opportunity to engage deeply with the local community. Roger was tireless in coordinating arrangements. We met Max, a local gallery owner who shared stories about the founding of Limón, the railroad, and the region’s plantation history. We spent time with Claudio, a theater and dance professor at the University of Limón, who led us in a moving “chair dancing” experience, and Kendall, a teacher at St. Mark’s and university professor, who gave us a tour of the city. While walking through the town, we were delighted to spot a wild sloth and her baby in a city park. A highlight of our time in Limón was witnessing the celebration parade for the 133rd anniversary of the creation of Limón Province. More than 30 youth marching bands from across the region participated. It was a vibrant expression of community pride and joy. We visited the Sloth Sanctuary, Aviarios del Caribe, where we learned more about these incredible animals. Did you know that although sloths are mammals, like reptiles, they can’t regulate their body temperature? We also explored the beach and rainforest of the National Park, Cahuita.

This mission trip was not only a time of service but also a transformative experience that deepened our faith and broadened our perspectives. Throughout this journey, we all gained valuable insights about gratitude, resilience, creation care, and the strength of faith in building

community. We returned with a greater appreciation for global Christian fellowship and the importance of serving others with humility and love.

Please mark your calendars for September 21 at 10 AM, when our team will be sharing more about our experience.

Mission Team Members: