Costa Rica Preparations for ISA World Surfing Games

Tourism makes up some 40% of Costa Rica gross income and they say surf-related tourism is 25% of that again. I can't think of many nations that say surfing makes up 10% of their GDP? Of course Americans are the majority of this, and with the waves they surf in Florida, any wonder this is an East Coaster's home away from home? (My apologies to my East Coast friends, but you have more world titles from Floridians than any other stretch of coast!)

It was great to be back at Cal and Coral's place. I am so impressed with a 62-year-old man who is willing to step out into the world of faith-financed mission at an age most are playing it safe and comfortable, Cal is such a man, and he drives a cool orange kombi!

We got to check out the ISA World Surfing Games site at Hermosa and meet with Coky about his upcoming role in hospitality and chaplain to the CR surfing team. They went from 28th to 9th to 5th
over the past 3 games and the boys accredit the fact to "our chaplain is praying for us." Don't know what it will mean when many teams have chaplains and all are praying, God has a very busy winner
schedule.

The CS property is looking really good with great gardens and teams passing through, still a need for a national family to live in and manage it.

Dennis Leon is a warm gentle surfer in a sleepy surf town, living in a house with a new baby overlooking the waves. A surfboard titled 'Pura Vida' is erected at his driveway, the name of a church he is planting. He was supposed to start next year after the birth of the baby, but first week back he had 25 turn up saying "We heard you starting a church Dennis, we are here to begin." The amazing thing about Dennis though, is that he was a loose Latino grommet hanging out scamming stuff off tourists when he first met a short-term mission team from CS Santa Barbara way back in 1988. He connected with the surfing gringos, came to Christ, was encouraged and supported to be schooled in the States, went onto college and became a pastor. Now he is back in his home town, planting a surfer-friendly church for kids just like what he once was.