FMC missionary families and singles have been serving in Costa Rica since 2016.
During mission trips, short-term missionaries will find themselves enriched in evangelism and the corporal works of mercy alongside the full-time missionaries. Some highlights of a mission trip to Costa Rica are work projects, sharing of Scripture and personal testimony, praise and worship in local schools, and other acts of service to the poor. A “desert day”—a time of prayer and silence with the Lord—will be spent at a location that displays the beauty of God’s creation.
Interesting Facts about Costa Rica
Costa Rica, located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, means “rich coast” in Spanish.
Costa Ricans refer to themselves as Ticos (males) or Ticas (females).
Costa Rica has a population of 4.5 million. The country is small: it’s landmass only takes up 0.03% of the planet’s surface (slightly smaller than Lake Michigan).
There are more than 121 volcanic formations in Costa Rica. Arenal is one of seven of them that are active.
A soda is a small restaurant, often attached to the owners home, that serves traditional Costa Rican food including casados (meat, rice, beans, plantain, and salad) for $3-$6 a plate.
Costa Rica’s official language is Spanish, though some are bilingual. English is the most common second language in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has no standing army. They abolished the army in 1948 after their last civil war ended.
“Pura vida” is a happy, feel-good expression used often by the locals when asked how they are or in passing to say hello or goodbye.
There are usually no street names or addresses. People get used to giving directions via landmarks. When giving someone a home address, ticos usually say something like, “It’s the white wood house just south of the river” or “It’s 150 meters north of the school.”
