Boots on the ground
Join us in Costa Rica for a short-term mission trip
Why?
Our focus
The Nest is a mission with a BIG vision for what the power of God's love can do to rescue and save the lost. Your willingness to travel down to the jungle of Costa Rica is part of God's plan for the Nest and for you. Our prayer for you is this trip will have a meaningful spiritual impact on your faith journey, and we are honored to have you join us. We strive to make your time here mutually beneficial for you and our Nest team and the BriBri whom we’re here to serve.
Your
opportunities
We aim to customize each short-term mission trip to be as individual as those who choose to join us. We do not want to simply be “ tour guides” but instead have you bring your unique spiritual gifts and talents to share with the BriBri. Arts, crafts, and sports are great tools that bridge cultural and language barriers and create an experiential space for everyone.
The Nest outreach brings many women and children to our doorstep and invites the sharing of meals and fellowship through worship and the telling of Bible stories to the children and personal testimonies to the women. If you have a specific game or craft you would like to share with the women and children, let us know so we can coordinate the supplies needed.
We are also a farm and you may be asked to help with harvesting crops and ground keeping. Before each trip we schedule several zoom conference calls to meet the team and work out the details of the opportunities available who wants to do what.
Your spiritual growth
We absolutely love the heart of Christian service that folks like you arrive with, and are ready to pour out on others. It’s what makes short-term mission trips so dynamic..all these Christians in one place with a shared purpose! The Nest team wants to tap into and encourage your spiritual path, wherever you are on it.
To accomplish this we encourage team members to attend a time of praise and prayer each morning before we head out from the Bambu base and as well participate each evening after dinner to debrief and share in a team fellowship time.
We also recommend journaling as a great way to go deeper with God as you are on this brief adventure. Many times just being out of your normal routine can enlighten you to the Holy Spirit's guidance for your life. This time at the Nest is really about preparing YOU to go back home to your local church and busy life with a renewed perspective. Taking full advantage of the fellowship time will deepen your bond with Jesus and other believers.
One last note, begin praying for your trip today, even if it’s 6 months away. Casting your hopes and prayers forward is a great way to follow God's will for your short-term mission experience.
How?
Your accomodations
The Bambu base camp will be your home away from home. Nestled on the edge of a cliff overlooking the river and distant mountains we hope it is a place to relax and prepare for your activities. There is a women's and men's houses, each with two bunk bed rooms housing a total of eight per house. There are mosquito nets over each bunk bed.
Please bring a travel pillow and a light cover sheet to sleep with, also bring a personal towel as these items are not provided. Each house has a bathroom with a shower and toilet. There is an additional toilet in the kitchen/ fellowship house which is between the dorm houses. It goes without saying that men and women are not allowed in opposite-gender houses.
The accommodations are very simple and basic, with no frills, and no air conditioning but we do provide fans for the bunkbed rooms.
Our dress standards
Well it’s quite hot down here we’re in the tropics, and it’s likely you won’t have time to adjust. That being said there’s a lot you can do to acclimate. For starters plan on drinking lots of water, sunscreen is a good idea, and bring a sunhat of some sort. You can wear long sleeve shirts and pants for further sun and bug protection. Or you can opt for a T-shirt and shorts.
Whatever type of clothing you choose to wear here are a few further guidelines:
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You will be representing the Nest, a Christian mission so modesty is important, no revealing, tight-fitting clothing
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Moisture-wicking material is best, jeans and cotton should be avoided
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Most BriBri women wear knee-length dresses and are very modest, so girls take a cue from them to respect local customs.
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Footwear: comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots. We mostly wear rubber boots as the rain turns trails to mud quite often. We have an assortment of rubber boots at the base.
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Bring your bug spray and sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle
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Be physically prepared to hike a couple of miles a day, step in/out of canoes, and carry supplies up the hill to the Nest site
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Lastly, we do not provide laundry services so pack your clothes in zip lock bags to keep out the humidity.
Your free time
We appreciate that you’ve chosen to spend your time in a meaningful endeavor and that you value moving God's kingdom forward before your own pleasure and comfort. The work at the Nest is hard and demanding both physically and mentally.
With this in mind, we will be accommodating the team in an Airbnb near the beach for your last day and evening before you head back to San Jose and your flight home. You will have an opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous Caribbean beaches, do some tourist shopping, and have a restaurant meal.
This time is also a forum for the team to process the events and make commitments for re-entry to your own lives and family/work obligations. It is our hope that you all stay in touch with us and your fellow team members. Also that you would spread the awareness of the Nest and our endeavors back to your home church and family. We covet your continued prayers and faithful support.
Interested? Get in touch to find out more
If this kind of short-term missions trip is something that you or your church might be interested in participating in please just send us an email at:
We will send you more details asap.