Salvationist Service Corps group ministers across Costa Rica

By: Brad Rowland

A group of 12 women recently participated in a week-long Salvationist Service Corps mission trip to the Latin America North Territory and, specifically, the Costa Rica Division. The journey, ranging from March 10-16, was led by Captain Valentina Cantu, assistant to the territorial youth secretary, and Jovanie Smith, young adult and mission deployment coordinator, and included a wide variety of activities.

The group spent time working in the San Ramon corps, as well as in a local nursing home, soup kitchen and Salvation Army-operated daycare facility. Majors Eddy and Margot Obando served as the hosts for the team and activities centered in and around the city of San Jose.

The team branched out significantly from the city's central location, regularly spending hours on the road to reach outside locales. Still, the focus was on spreading the gospel and meeting human need in his name, with direct participation in Sunday school and worship, including dances, solos and testimonies from members of the Southern Territory group.

"What we recognized with the group and ourselves is that the Army in Costa Rica is very intentional with community and incarnational ministry," Smith said. "They don't stay in the corps all the time but they are very connected to the neighborhood and community in a sense of outreach."