Camp Penuel in Esparza, Costa Rica, has a mission to provide free camping experiences for 7-11 year-olds (especially those from shanty towns and impoverished areas) where they can learn of the love of Jesus.
Woodland Hills Costa Rica mission teams come alongside the staff at Camp Penuel to share the love of Jesus with campers through Bible teaching, skits, activities, and in the words of team leader, Tim Staiger, “overall just allowing them to be kids.”
This year, team members volunteered for three camps, with a total of about 190 campers! We asked them to share how they experienced God at Camp Penuel, and here are a few of their responses.
Nicolas
This was my first trip. I’ve always felt called to mission work and I taught gymnastics to kids so I knew I’d enjoy working with them no matter what the activity. God’s face was all over the people’s faces. I’d feel his presence in the music, my feet suddenly becoming lighter, my hands higher and my face brighter. A favorite moment was seeing a group of kids light up because I did a handstand—they acted like I was performing on America’s Got Talent!
Hilary
I went this year with the prayer “Lord, help me get out of my own way.” I didn’t want to be motivated by people-pleasing or trying to prove my worth, hoping to be liked, wanting to be seen or be “inspirational.” I wanted to serve wherever, however, and whenever God needed. I can get too attached to predictability, to control, to wanting to be needed. Guess what? God answered my prayer big time! I helped the kitchen staff by squeezing limes until my wrist ached. I peeled open countless packages of fish until I stunk. And I danced with the kids as we learned the words and movements of all the worship songs together (I think dance must be my love language 😀). And God proved to me that I was pleasing to him, created worthy by him, liked and seen and inspirational in his kingdom.
Christine
During the “freedom talk” I saw women from the church come and talk to kids about who they are in Christ and how they can be forgiven and have freedom in Christ. You could see the children’s hearts break and soften and receive the love of the Lord. This followed an activity where they took a balloon and wrote all the things people tell them they are, i.e. unwanted, fat, ugly, etc. They then break the balloon and stand in a circle and are prayed over and reminded of who they are in Christ. Powerful!
Judy
One of the clown props I brought with me was a handheld mirror. On the back I had written a message in Spanish: “Who Does God Love?”. When the children were sitting at tables after a meal, I went around and showed each child the message and asked them the question. Some responded “everyone”, others said “me?” and some seemed unsure. Then I turned the mirror around so they could see themselves. This brought many smiles and even some looks of wonder.
Tim
The place God touched my heart the most was in being able to come under our mission team and allow them to serve freely at camp. We had five people with us this year who had never been to Camp Penuel before, and seeing them engage and pour out their hearts in love to everyone at camp blessed me beyond measure. Our whole team showed up with hearts filled with kindness and willingness to serve, and I have tears in my eyes just typing this and thinking about how much they gave to the camp and to our team.
Thank you Costa Rica team! We’re grateful for Camp Penuel’s amazing ministry and our small part in it. 
