Costa Rica Mission Trip 2023

Hi friends and family-

I'm so happy to share that Brooklyn and I will be traveling this Spring Break with our church (FUMC Dallas) on a mission trip to the Methodist Children's Home of Costa Rica. This will be Brooklyn's first mission trip and my third time going to the Children's orphanage outside of San Jose. The first time, my sister, Sonya was so kind to join me on my first mission trip and my kids were babies. I still say, leaving them for that week was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but I had to follow my heart and I knew that's where God was calling me to be that week.

The second time in 2019 I got to take my then 11-year-old son, Carson with me and watching him experience his first mission trip was worth all the work it took to get us there and more. Now, Brooklyn is in the 6th grade and the church is back at it after having to take a break due to Covid in 2020. And I could not be more excited to share this experience with her!

We will spend 7 days and 6 nights working inside and outside the walls of the orphanage home knowing each day will bring something new and different. From experience, I know it takes some flexibility and yes, stepping out of your comfort zone for sure. The first time I painted a lot and the second time, apparently I’d worked my way up to stucco. Somehow that was the job I landed the most that week but joked it wasn’t my ‘day job’ for a reason. Nevertheless, it was fun and beautiful and messy and so imperfect. I have no idea what our work will entail this time specifically and that’s exciting and scary at the same time. But in the evenings usually, after our work is done and sometimes in the mornings too, we get to spend time with the children in the orphanage. I describe this as, the part that feeds my heart the most. I lamely, say, “Hola!” repeatedly like I’m fluent in Spanish (which I’m not but should be) just to see a smile or a laugh. With Brooklyn in tow, this time around I look forward to watching her interact with the children in the home the most.

I came back from the last trip saying, it’s like they think we’re there to help and serve them (the orphanage and the community) and we are! But they always end up helping and serving me more. The smiles from the kids, the love we feel from the “Tia’s” and the patience we get from the professional construction workers who show us what we’ll be doing for the day, means so much more to me than they will ever know.

There’s just no way I could pass this trip up. But especially these days, things like travel and airline fees are outrageous and it’s Spring Break so even more outrageous. I’m asking for friends and family to support us through prayers and gifts if you are able.

Faith is an incredible thing and I know if we’re meant to board that plane on March 12th, we will and Brooklyn and I will both be ready to do God’s work in this setting outside our norm.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Vicky (and Brooklyn) Benish