The primary focus of our trip this June was to help with the construction of a small addition to the elementary school in Carrillos, which will allow classroom space for special-needs children in the community. Carrillos is a poor village in the province of Alajuela about 45 minutes outside of San Jose-the Costa Rican capital. Our current efforts in Carrillos also include the construction of a community park and playground and an addition to one of the local churches. All of these descriptions must be placed in the proper context, however. What currently passes for a "church" in Carrillos would be a near-condemned building in the United States.

Nevertheless, as our team members were led by and worked side-by-side with the people of Carrillos to help their community, we experienced pure life. We labored hard with a people who were grateful for our help but not without hope. These people know they are poor, but they also know the power and the hope the Body of Christ can offer. For the short time we were able to dig trenches, mix concrete, tie foundation steel and pour beams together, we were exactly that-the Body of Christ in action-keepers of The Way helping other keepers of The Way. Pura Vida.

On our third day in Costa Rica, we visited the refugee city of Los Guido. Thirty minutes north of San Jose, in a beautiful rain-forest valley, lies an endless sea of dirt-floor, tin roof houses and tents which is home to hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguan refugees and Costa Rica's most destitute people. For every three square blocks in Los Guido, there are 1,000 children. The needs in Los Guido are more fundamental than schools and playgrounds. Here, the missionary efforts involve food, clothing, shelter and medicine.

Our day in Los Guido was, by comparison, very simple. We spent the day playing with children and feeding them. We brought soccer balls, toys, clothes and even spent some time playing music for the kids. They appreciated it all, but nothing impacted them more than the reality that 21 people had come to the ugliest place in Costa Rica just to be with them. These kids are thirsty for attention and love. Pura Vida.

In the middle of all these ridiculous conditions is a small church run by Pastor Edgar Ponce. In spite of great personal danger to himself and his family, Pastor Edgar stays in Los Guido running his church and child-feeding program as a true "City on a Hill." One of the greatest pieces of wisdom I have been privileged to hear came from this man-who continually receives objections and concern about the feasibility and safety of his ministry and mission in Los Guido. His response each time, "No es mi problema…es problema de Dios." (It's not my problem, it's God's problem.)

That really sums up what we do when we try to help people. We don't have to understand the big picture. We don't have to foresee the ultimate strategy or save people. The truth is, we can't do that anyway. Those problems belong to God-not us. We continue to be blessed by the simplicity of mission. God presents us with people who need a level of help that we can easily offer. Our evangelism exists not in our words or our intellect but in our willingness to say, "Yes. I will take the time to help." Pura Vida.