Albuquerque Heights Youth Mission Trip to Costa Rica

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Five young members of the Albuquerque Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church, along with pastor Jerry Pinzon, answered the call “Here I am” to go serve their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ on a mission trip to Costa Rica in June. 

For some, it was their first time leaving the country. All reflected that God blessed them in their speaking efforts and that they witnessed Him working on their behalf to overcome various challenges stirred up by the spiritual enemy during the trip.

The youth agreed that the trip helped develop their blossoming evangelism skills and that they were blessed by both the youth and adults of the local churches in their assigned mission areas. Each participant was assigned to a local area and presented approximately nine to ten sermons. All shared the sentiment that they made many new friends.

When Pinzon asked, “What did the trip mean to you?” one student named Miriam explained that the trip had brought her closer to God and that she was able to understand the Bible better. She added, “The trip and having to speak encouraged me to read my Bible so I would know and understand what I was talking about.”

Another student, Mahaya, described having a good trip overall. She kept a prayer journal, and by reading back through it, she could better see her spiritual journey. The students faced various challenges at the beginning, including translation and technical difficulties, but they also witnessed God overcome those challenges. “God sent an angel,” Mahaya recalled, referring to an unfamiliar gentleman who stepped in to translate a sermon when the original translator encountered difficulties. “The phrase ‘trust in God’ became real and practical to me on this trip.”

Another student, Eligh, noted that he realized it was a blessing for him not to have to drive far to get to church each Sabbath after meeting people in his assigned area who walked three miles one way to attend. He said he continually asked himself, Who am I preaching to? and realized the answer changed throughout the trip. “For me, it wasn’t always the same person,” he explained. “The sermon was ultimately a message to me. What God spoke to me was the hope of the Gospel.” Despite translation challenges Eligh made a point to connect with people before and after sermons, asking them questions such as, “What is it that you’re really living for?” or “Are you willing to put your faith in Christ?”  Many, himself included, realized they needed to study and understand more.

Asriel shared that when he first spoke to his assigned local church congregation, the conversation felt one-sided. This reminded him that the best way to learn the Bible is to teach it to others. He explained that presenting sermons on the trip helped him have a deeper understanding.”

Clyde recalled hearing the common local phrase “pura vida,” which means “pure life,” and embodies the positive attitude of the culture. He had hoped to be assigned to “the middle of nowhere” and got his wish, serving in a small community near the border of Nicaragua, with a three-hour one-way commute from his hotel. He witnessed the local pastor using the evangelistic series to unify the congregation. During the long drives, Clyde prayed for the ability to take the situation more seriously and communicate better. He also had a conversation with his translator about discipline and realized that “to be a successful disciple, you need discipline.” He was determined to grow in discipline in his walk with God, put it into practice and see God bless his efforts.

Pinzon remarked that the youth learned from and encouraged each other during the trip. “It is a privilege as a pastor to watch your journey, how God has led you, and to see you mature,” he said, adding that the youth expressed a desire to take another mission trip next year.

By Julia Lewis