by EM Regional Coordinator Yonathan Moya
The first time I found myself hiking through the jungles of the Bribri Reservation in Costa Rica was in the spring of 2009. Right away, I was overtaken by the immense beauty of the landscape, but more importantly, I connected instantly with the smiles and warm hearts of the Bribri people. The Bribri are very close to my heart and are a home away from home. This year will be the fifth year in a row that I have the privilege to serve alongside the Bribri people through EM. Throughout this time there have been many stories of hope and perseverance that I could share with you, but I will focus on one short story that has deeply impacted my life.
Yonathan on the Bribri Reservation in Costa Rica (center).
The population of Coroma and the surrounding rural village of Bajo Coen is approximately 600 people. The nearest high school was about two hours away on foot, and the community leaders had a vision to build one in Coroma for many years. They were full of hope moving forward, but, when they approached the Costa Rican department of education and even the local indigenous government about a high school in Coroma, they were turned down several times. They were told that they would never be able to construct a high school in Coroma because of how rural and remote the community was. But the local leaders and school board didn't stop just because they were turned away. Instead they did the opposite and started working with the resources at hand to achieve the goal that others said would never be accomplished.
The steadfast Bribri people building their high school with support from EM Mission Teams.
When I visited Coroma in 2010, two years after they started construction on the school themselves, there were about fifty-five students regularly attending the Coroma High School. A couple of years earlier, the high school had started with only twelve students and only a couple of standing buildings. Since then, many EM mission teams have come alongside the community to empower and encourage them to continue moving forward, knowing that they could accomplish their goal. As Christians, our hope in God's promise to renew this world propelled us to move forward and act as agents of change alongside this community. Last December, after overcoming many trials along the way, the Coroma High School graduated their first senior class.
Here's a look back at part of the building process in 2009:
This community doesn't give up easily, and they motivate me to be a part of something bigger than just myself. They inspire me to give myself wholeheartedly to what Jesus has commanded us to do. Never losing sight of their goal, this community is a ongoing story full of inspiration, perseverance and hope. Knowing how much they can accomplish if they persevere, the local vision is much larger than it was before, and today they dream as if the sky is the limit.
This summer, for the first time, EM is offering a 3-Month Immersion program to Coroma, Costa Rica. Team members will live with the Bribri people and come alongside the local vision for their community. They will learn about the culture, participate in daily life, and help spear-head education and micro-finance initiatives in the area. It's still not too late to apply to be a part of the team leaving for Costa Rica on May 25. Learn more!
(Also, check out Mission Trips to Costa Rica)
YONATHAN MOYA is a regional coordinator for Experience Mission who spends a good amount of time in the spring and summer in Central America and the Caribbean facilitating mission trips and fostering relationships with community partners.
Site developed and hosted by Skycog, Inc.