The Biggest Blessing

Hello, my name is Ricardo. I’ve said that a lot these past couple of days. Inviting people and the kids of the different communities in Costa Rica to the VBS events we are having. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to come on my very first mission trip to Costa Rica with Kids On A Mission. When Ivette Jordan, the wife of Michael Jordan the pastor of La Viña Covenant church, thought of me when the Riffle family let her know that they were looking for an interpreter to accompany them on this mission trip I felt so honored and excited. I’m interested in traveling and the only other place I have traveled outside the US is Mexico so I was super excited to have this opportunity. And to travel and serve God is even a greater honor. But then I started to think that I was not fully qualified. I started thinking there was other people more qualified than me. My parents are Mexican and only speak Spanish but everywhere else I speak English. And I know there is some words I don’t know well. I prayed and asked God whether I should go. I felt like God was telling me I have to take advantage of the opportunity because I don’t know when I will have another opportunity again. Yesterday during our bible time one of the verse we read was Ephesians 3:19 which says, “the love of Christ surpasses knowledge…” I realized more and more that we don’t have to be experts. We just need to do things with the love of Christ. Within just these few days my heart has been filled. I came to bless others but I think I’m getting the biggest blessing. I have fallen in love with these people and seen the need there is here. They have filled my heart and have made my relationship with Christ even stronger. I hope I can continue coming for many years to come. And I’ve learned to be missional everywhere I go including back home. Today was my turn along with Ethan and Karissa to do the devotional and since it was a new year I felt God telling me to make our devotional about Psalms 90:12 which says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” To number our days is to realize that we are limited by the amount of time we are here in earth. So we must learn to spend them wisely and devout every time we can to God because we don’t know if we will be here tomorrow. Later on in the day we went to a frog farm and got to know the history of a guy named Claudio and how he started the farm. He showed us around his farm and through his farm we were able to see the beauty of God’s creation. We also gave out invitations for the second church we will be doing VBS for. I had a great time connecting with Andres Carballo a new person I met today. He grew up in the church and it was so beautiful to see his heartbeet for God. He was excited that Kids On A Mission are here again to help and wanted to know what other ways they can combat some of the struggles they go through. It was great being able to translate what was his need is to grow the church of God and being able to translate back how Kids On A Mission can help. I’m honored to be a part of blessing people’s lives and continuing to further the kingdom of God. All for God’s glory!

• Ricardo Campos