Mission Team
There were 12 in our team divided as follows according to their tasks:
- Kids/VBS team led by Eleanor, with the following members- Janet, Rowena, Eilyn and Menchie.
- Medical mission led by Nelsie, with the following members- Rudy, Doris, Gomer, Carol. They are nurses and healthcare professionals.
Demetrio (our Mexican, Spanish-speaking member) preached a few times in a church, prison and men’s homes. He also did interpretation in Spanish for me (Dr. Lil) when I shared the gospel one-on-one with the patients on medical mission. I ( Dr. Lil) was the overall coordinator of the mission team. The local team also led the games and songs, along with interpretation as needed.
Food and Lodging
The team stayed at the Salleys’ residence (Pastor LaMar and Joanna) and the mission house in their residential property. This couple is the founder of GC2 ministries (gc2ministries.org). Each bedroom accommodated 4-6 people with its own bathroom. The meals were provided by Pastor LaMar’s team (two other pastors and their families) along with daily transportation in a big 15-seater bus (Hesus Ching as the driver). Each team member paid $855 for six days of ministry and one day of sightseeing.
Ministry and Outreach
Day 1
We attended Pator Rigo’s church in an impoverished slums area at Fierro. Rudy and Gomer gave their testimonies. The girls also got the new dresses from “Dress A Girl around the world” ministry. Please pray for Pastor Rigo and family. Last year, one of their two sons ( both mechanics) fixed a drug dealer’s car and was shot by the rival gang due to mistaken identity. The Rigos are left with a set of toddler twin granddaughters and a grandson along with their mother, who they need to support.
Days 2 and 4
There was an outreach to two schools: Fierro Elementary with 150+ kids (where the kids in Pastor Rigo’s church go to school) and Sagrada Família, with 600+ kids. The Kids’ team shared the gospel using the Wordless book and the gospel bracelet. The local team interpreted for them and led the songs and games . Goodies of candies and toothbrushes were given to the kids (brought by the team from California) and snacks were provided by the local team. For Sagrada Família, it was the first time the principal agreed for a church-based ministry to hold their outreach. As it was their first time, the local team decided to host a carnival-style of gathering with various games in different stations. This was probably the most exhausting and challenging event for our mission team. The Lord sustained us and enabled us with both physical and spiritual strength.
Day 3
Men’s Recovery Home
Preaching by Demetrio and testimony by Rudy were done after the medical mission. Many men lined up for medical assessments like blood pressure, blood sugar, infection, etc. and health education as necessary including nutrition and self-care. Most of the men were Christians attending Recovery Church on site although some nonbelievers accepted the Lord as their Savior and Lord when presented the gospel after their participation in medical assessments.
Day 5
Prison ministry in the morning- Demetrio preached, Rudy and Gomer shared their testimonies. The medical team initially did not want to do medical mission with the inmates. However, once Pastor LaMar started getting the basic vitals of the inmates, the medical team stepped in. This was a blessing as the team allowed the Lord to replace their fear with faith. Another huge blessing was the breakthrough in the local team’s prison outreach as this was the first time GC2 ministries did it and it was a rewarding experience. Another men’s recovery home was the venue in the afternoon. Again, there was a rich harvest of souls as God’s word was presented to this largely secular place.
Day 6
The team ministered to a men’s home in the morning and another men’s home in the afternoon with some women in attendance from a women’s recovery home across the street). Rudy, Gomer and Menchie gave their powerful testimonies. Menchie’s testimony was encouraging to the women. The morning outreach was Spirit-filled as the men who came to Jesus knelt down and prayed in tears. What an outpouring of the Holy Spirit! We were all moved to deep gratitude to our awesome God!
As to our team, there was a member who fully surrendered her life to God and accepted Jesus as her savior. God works wonders in our midst!
Evaluation and future recommendations
It was overall a productive ministry, first to the whole team particularly for first-timers in missions, and most of all, to the kids, men and women who heard the gospel and accepted the Lord. Our nightly devotionals led by Pastor LaMar were a wonderful way to end the day with praises to the Lord. The harvest was indeed plentiful. To Him be the glory! The laborers remain to be few.
Suggestions
For future mission trips, we suggest that we be more intentional and mindful in planning who to send, when to go, and how to support them prayerfully and financially. More specifically, a younger group of our millennials and Gen X nurses can go together to do medical missions in both Costa Rica and Guatemala, one of the GC2 new outreaches. The youth led by Pastor Eric can also come as they will be blessed early on in their walk with the Lord and be equipped with mission awareness/ involvement. The Missions committee can spearhead planning and fundraising a year or so before the mission trip.
To summarize, “go and make disciples…” was a reality in our short mission trip to Costa Rica. We have experienced God’s presence and the Holy Spirit’s anointing in availing Jesus’ promise “Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” PTL!
Written by
Dr Lilia Salazar Remigio
4/13/26