Senior Mission Trip
April 3–11, 2025
Westlake seniors will be traveling to Costa Rica to serve local children. This is the culminating discipleship experience for Westlake students.
You can partner with the Class of 2025 by praying for them and/or giving financially toward the cost of their trip. Your support is a huge encouragement to these students, who will be stepping out of their comfort zones and offering the love of Christ through hands-on ministry opportunities.
Our prayer is that through this trip, God will use our students in ministry, and that they would also grow in their faith and be changed through the experience of serving others.
Donations to Westlake Christian Academy are tax-deductible. In the event that this trip is cancelled, donations will be used toward a similar purpose.
Trip Updates
The senior class will be posting updates on this page throughout their trip. Please check back regularly to see pictures and hear testimonies of how God is working in Costa Rica!
Day #1
By: Matthew
Today was our travel day, but due to some issues (most likely thunderstorms/potential tornadoes in Texas), our flight at 6 am got canceled. Without knowing this, my Dad and I went to school at 4am and waited for a while until we finally checked our phones and realized that our flight was canceled. So instead, we got a different flight that was leaving at 2:30pm. While waiting, I, for one, took my sister to school (Hi Lexi, love you), and then a group of us went to Culver's for lunch before heading to school. We then got together at school and drove to the airport.
It was relatively smooth sailing, except four of us got flagged at TSA, most notably, Abbi almost had to lose her dollar tree unicorn stuffy. She did get to keep it, though, and we got on the plane to Dallas. In Dallas, we very quickly boarded the plane to San Jose, Costa Rica. However, we sat on the plane waiting to get permission to take off for at least a half hour. We then finally got to take off, and about 3 to 4 hours later, we were in San Jose! By the time we got to the hotel, it was about 12 am. We then got our rooms, but Kyle, James, and I quickly found out that the room we were supposed to stay in was already occupied. Eventually, at around 1 a.m., we got another room on a higher floor (with a great view :D) And we all went to bed. It was a pretty good day, but it was a little stressful for some portions.
Day #2
By: Taylor
Hi friends! Thank you for all your prayers and support. We’ve officially been in Costa Rica for a full day, and it's already been filled with days' worth of activity. After the confusion of flights, elevators, and settling into our hotel rooms, we had a good night's sleep, welcomed by a really nice hotel breakfast in the morning.
We then headed out to a local supermarket and prepared grocery packs for different faithful families from a local church. We then went to the church for a very yummy lunch, during which we had the orientation and learned the plan for the rest of the day. Then we drove the bus along windy roads to the fourth and fifth grade public school. Although it was a public school, we had the opportunity to share the gospel because there is not a restriction on teaching the Bible in school in Costa Rica.
When we arrived, we set up different activity stations for the students, ranging from a fun skit about Daniel in the Lions' den, to making bracelets, to playing with a giant parachute. We saw two groups of forty kids from the two grades. Overall, we did a great job connecting to the kids even through the language barrier, and we hope to have planted seeds in many of their hearts.
So far none of us have gotten sick, thankfully. We’ve been blessed with clean water and great food. Please continue to pray for our health and that we can keep up the energy so that we can best serve those around us. Thank you all for your love and support <3
By: Grayson
Today we started our mission work with food distribution. We went to the grocery store and all shopped for items to hand out to families in need. They welcomed us into their homes, and we prayed over them and their families. Prayers for health and safety are always appreciated and that God will continue to move in our works.
Costa Rica is an incredible country with lots of crazy roads and dogs and cats. It’s been an incredible experience, even though we have been here just one day. The driving is definitely a little crazy and takes some trust and getting used to. God has shown me all the things to be grateful for and how blessed we are back home. It’s really helped to show me some of the things that I take for granted and to appreciate everything we’ve been blessed with.
Day #3
By: Caleb
Day 3 of our trip began at 9am when we met in the hotel lobby to head out for the day. Salvador, the missionary driving us, took us to a park in the suburbs of San Jose. On the way there we were able to see more of the city and surrounding areas. Once there, we met up with some young people from the Score missionary’s church who we were going to be working with to have a VBS.
After brief introductions to their team, we began with some fun games, which were different variations of rock paper scissors. After that, we sang a few songs and danced with the kids, which led us to the message. We presented a skit about Daniel and the Lions Den, which went well, especially after Patrick unleashed the beast and let out a big roar.
Then we split up into small groups to review the story before getting into some games. We were able to connect with the kids very easily, being able to play different games and hang out with them. Some people played American Football, some played volleyball, others just hung out walking around and talking, and there was even a giant game of futbol (soccer). The teams (as suggested by the kids and leaders) ended up being Costa Rica vs America.
During this time, we were able to spend time, compete, bond, and have some fun with the children in the community. After wrapping up and saying some goodbyes to the children and leaders, we headed to lunch where we ate some monster-sized pizzas. It feels really good to be able to serve the community and help out at an event like that. The leaders were all very welcoming and the kids were very fun. It was definitely a great way to start the morning.
By: Payton
After we ate lunch at Monster Pizza, our group painted the walls of a school. God worked in amazing ways through this experience as we were each actively serving as the hands and feet of Jesus. We also played worship music and worshiped God as we were serving in this construction project.
Once we were finished, our group headed to dinner at a church and ate yummy tacos, and cleaned up a little to get the building ready for church the next morning. After church, Ellie and I convinced Salvado (our missionary bus driver) to take us all to get ice cream!!
God has been teaching me His love through the experiences of this trip so far. His love is active, and conquering over the language barrier between me and the people I've met in Costa Rica. He's teaching me how to love in action, and not just words. It's beautiful to watch and experience this with the kids, especially.
I ask that you pray that God moves and breaks through our hearts and faiths, and also through those that we're serving. Continue praying for health and safety over everyone on the trip and praise God that no one has gotten sick or hurt!
Day #4
By: Reggie
We started our day at 9:00 a.m. We went to church, and everything was very nice. Everyone was kind and the church was very accommodating. They had headphones, which were connected to a microphone, and the pastor’s wife translated the message.
We also got to join them in communion, and they played a lot of songs. The band sounded really good. One of the coolest parts of the band was when one of the members started to play a Soprano Saxophone. This blended in with the rest of the music very nicely.
The message was very nice. The pastor talked about having faith and how none of us are perfect, and we shouldn't worry because God does not look for perfection. He looks for faith and for us to do the best we can. After Church, we went to a traditional Costa Rican Restaurant. We tried a meal that had chicken or beef, rice, plantains, and a salad. The food was very good, and we had a great time. Our morning was very fun, and it motivated us for the rest of our day.
By: Abbi
After the yummy lunch, we headed back to the hotel for a bit. Most of us took naps and just relaxed until it was time for us to go shopping for souvenirs. We walked over to a large warehouse that was set up as a market packed with a bunch of shops selling all kinds of things. There were key chains, bracelets, shirts, earrings, cups, and a ton of other things. Super fun, we went crazy. Some of us even bargained for up to 50% off. Call us professionals.
Later, we headed back to the church for dinner. We had chicken and Alfredo noodles with salad and a chocolate cupcake. It was delish. We got back to the hotel and did our team time, talking about the day and doing a devotional. After that, we all swam and played cards. It was a good day to worship and rest before our next couple of packed days of mission work. Please continue to pray for health and for God to work through us. Thanks!!
Day #5
By: Ellie
Hey everyone! This is day 5 of the Costa Rica missions tripppp! Today was long but really fun and productive. We started out the day strong with a yummy breakfast, THEY HAD QUESADILLAS!!!!! Then we left the hotel at 8 and made our way towards La Paz Waterfalls. And guys, let me tell you, when I say it was beautiful, you better believe it. We drove high into the mountains and rain forest. The park had a zoo, and we saw animals such as sloths, jaguars, vipers, monkeys and more. Some of us even made butterfly friends. Personally, I had a little monarch that stayed on my finger for a long time.
Overall, the experience was eye-opening. Our class learned to revel in the beauty of God's creation, appreciate it as newcomers, and make it an opportunity to grow our friendships. After a few hours in the rain forest of Costa Rica, we went to serve at a daycare. At this school, we played with kids and spent time with them. Thinking about it, it's probably one of the most impactful things we've done.
Our lead missionary, Salvador, gave our devotion today and talked about this concept. He said that while working in missions, he and so many others do what they do because of these kids. Many of them live in poor communities and are put into childcare because, in some cases, their parents want them out of the way. On this trip, while helping at schools, our class learned to love and serve selflessly. To show Christ's love to kids and adults who may not always feel it. So I'm sad to say today was the last day working with kids, but it was so worth it. I hope we get the opportunity to do it again. Lastly, please pray that we are able to encourage and love people tomorrow as we serve the community again.
By: James
Hey everyone! Today is day 5 of our awesome Costa Rica trip! Our day started with us waking up and having a great tasty breakfast before going out on a long bus ride up a mountain to a place with a zoo and a few really cool waterfalls. The bus ride was fun because our awesome bus driver, Salvador, is a really good driver on the tight mountain roads.
When we got to our destination, we went into the visitors center and got our bracelets so that we could actually get into the place, and we set off into the zoo first. We saw all kinds of animals that you would not see in the U.S., such as toucans and monkeys. There was also an elaborate butterfly exhibit that I got a lot of pictures of. Afterwards, we saw a bunch more cool animals, and then we started down the staircase to the waterfalls.
When we encountered the first waterfall, we immediately realized how amazing it was to not only see how grand it was but also hear the thundering sound of the water falling and then see the calmness of it later on down the stream. This beauty goes for the three other waterfalls that we saw too. After we were done seeing the waterfalls, we took a shuttle bus back to the parking lot where our bus was because our legs were so tired from all the stairs we had to conquer on the waterfall path.
We had a very good lunch at a cafe, and then we set off to a school to play with the kids because they were out of school at that point. We all had a great time chasing the kids around and playing 4-square with them and other things. After the kids left, we came back to our church for another awesome dinner and devotion where Salvador gave his testimony and shared a few personal stories from his life, which were very touching.
Lastly, at the end of day 5 we came back to our hotel and had a pretty chill evening before having another restful night so that we could be ready for day 6. Overall, day 5 of our Costa Rica missions trip was a great day and a great way to start the conclusion of our ministry segment of the trip.
Day #6
By: Patrick
Hi Westlake Family, I’m Patrick, and I am a senior at Westlake Christian Academy. This afternoon, after food distribution and lunch, we headed to the school we started to paint earlier in the week. We finished the second half of the wall along with a whole other wall that we painted white and blue for the school to paint a mural on. This school was a semi-private school, meaning the government does help with some funds, and you don’t necessarily have to be a Christian in order to attend the school.
One specific person I’m glad we helped today was a friend I made named Jonathan. He was an 8-year-old boy who attended the school along with the after-school program the school provided. He was my best friend while we were here, and anytime he saw me he would run up and hug me. They were one of the most valuable and precious sets of hugs I have ever received in my life. Seeing his smile made all the work and labor we did worth it, and I would do it over and over again just for him.
When I thought about our week coming to an end, I imagined myself as tired and sore, but since our trip is basically over, I can say I feel fine. The main thing is the stickiness everyone feels at the end of the day before you take a shower. It is not pleasant.
One detail about Costa Rica I noticed was the number of dogs I saw everywhere. You could see one running down the street with cars, lying under fruit carts or cars for shade, or random dogs casually walking down the street like they were a normal civilian going to work.
Another cool thing I noticed about Costa Rica was the surprise views you get at the most random places. One that stuck out to me was when we were done shopping at a local supermarket and when you walked out of the main doors, you were filled with awe and thankfulness because of the natural structures our God has made for us. Outside the supermarket doors was a mountain range with clouds melting off of the tops of them, with even more mountains fading in the distance, which made the view that much more wonderful.
Before this trip began, I was really hoping God would speak to me or communicate with me in any way possible. I didn’t feel anything from him until last night (7th), when our main guide and missionary friend, Salvador, was sharing his testimony. His story was heartbreaking but motivational. In all honesty, it had me tearing up. And it was that moment where I realized that God had been talking and communicating with me through Salvador.
The comfort and peace that Salvador carried with him was like nothing I had felt before. I had known him for less than a week, but I trusted him with my life (even though I had to because he was driving our bus every day). He changed my perspective on a lot of different things, and I feel better about myself when I compare my new perspective, introduced to me by Salvador, compared to my old perspectives.
This trip really changed my life and I truly hope that the feeling I am feeling currently stays with me for as long as God wants it to, which I hope is for the rest of my life.
By: Laura
Hello from Costa Rica! Every morning, Dr. Flemming has given us a word to remember throughout the day, and today it was ‘perseverance’. With this being our last work day, we wanted to keep this idea in mind as we went through the day.
We started off by loading up on our bus and driving to one of the local supermarkets to buy food for families that belong to a church within the community. While at the supermarket, some of us bought Costa Rican coffee as well as other yummy snacks! We loaded up six grocery bags full of food, and walked around to homes to deliver them.
Being welcomed into peoples' homes, as complete strangers, and getting to hear about their lives was such a blessing. There was one lady in particular who greeted us with open arms. We heard about her life, presented the food bag, and got the opportunity to pray over her. Afterward, she stopped us before we left and offered to pray over us as well.
On this mission trip, we have been looking at how we can use this time to bless the surrounding community, but being prayed over like that reminded me that God can bless us too through these trips.
After dropping off all the bags at the houses, we headed to the local church to bless them with a food bag. We heard about how the church uses gifts like that to in turn bless their community. We prayed over the church as a whole and then headed off for a yummy lunch of arroz con pollo at another church.
Day #7
By: Bella
Hello from Costa Rica!!! Today was our day to spend at the resort at the beach! We had to wake up early to get on the road before traffic hit, so we left our hotel at about 7am. We drove for about an hour and a half before we stopped at a little shop and restaurant on the side of the road. There was also a bridge close by with a river full of crocodiles, which was pretty awesome!
Once we reached the resort, we went straight to the beach. The beach was super long and not crowded at all. There were even wild macaws and toucans just flying everywhere around the resort, especially the beach.
We all applied lots of sunscreen and headed over to a small island of rocks to go exploring. It was super cool to see all the rock formations and all the crabs that would hang out by the rocks. After about an hour, we decided to walk back to the beach and go swimming. We swam and sun bathed for about two more hours. After that, I even got my hair braided!
We then went to lunch at the resort, which had a buffet, and it was amazinggggg! They even had ice cream, which I think was everyone's favorite. After lunch, most of us got ready to go to the pool. All of us were pretty badly sunburned already by this point, but that didn't stop us! We played pool volleyball for about two more hours, and let's just say that the team I was on did not win.
After the pool, we decided to go back to the beach one more time. We found some small hermit crabs and made them our little friends. Then we started our last night of devotions on the beach during the sunset. I found another hermit crab to give me some company during devotions :).
After devotions, we had some dinner and then went out exploring a bit at night. We decided to chill outside our rooms to make friendship bracelets and listen to music. We even saw a raccoon pass by to say hello!
Today was such an awesome day at the beach, just hanging out and growing closer as a class. After a long week of hard work serving the people of Costa Rica, a day at the beach was very much needed. And when we get back, we will all be red as lobsters!