Tara Talk: Why I like short term teams

I like having our short term teams come and work with us here in Costa Rica for numerous reasons. They bring fun supplies for us to use for our ministry like pipe cleaners, white board markers, and multi-colored yarn. They help give our kids more one on one attention that they desire and often need to study at the Tutoring Center. They bring fresh ideas for art activities and girls' club cooking lessons. And they are another group of people that can speak into the lives of the children and youth of the community where I work. My kids love me and Jose, but to be honest, it's more exciting having a group of high school or college students from the States who are different and interesting than just a day with the same old same old.

We have hosted and said good-bye to two summer teams already, and both have been excellent! Our first group was a group made up almost entirely of college students from Reedly Mennonite Brethren Church, which brought some familiar faces. Jason Hofer, youth pastor and their team leader, was my high school youth pastor, and so it was really fun spending time with him and his son while they were here. This group only had 8 members on it, and they were such a relaxed but really fun group to work with. Our second group from the summer was a team from Indiana, made up mostly of high school students. The four girls that were at our site had so much energy and love to give to our students, and they made some of the deepest connections I've seen out of any of the students who have come through the doors of the Tutoring Center. The last Friday that they spent with the kids was a bittersweet day, knowing that they were saying goodbye and had no idea if they would be back in the future. This is one of the joys but also the realities of working with short term teams- they are an encouragement, help, and just plain fun, but it is also hard to see them leave.

Below are some highlights of time spent with team members these past weeks: