FIRST-PERSON: Elaine Friedrich’s Mission Trip Experience Teaching at ILI’s History Maker’s Conference in Costa Rica
In August 2024, Mt. Bethel Church sent our Director of Digital Discipleship, Elaine Friedrich, to Costa Rica with our missions partners, International Leadership Institute (ILI). One way ILI shares the gospel with the nations is through their History Makers Conference, which they host through local churches and seminaries in various cities around the world. Below is Elaine’s account of her experience teaching at one of these conferences:
My sixth trip to Costa Rica was my best trip to Costa Rica! I was able to reconnect with individuals that I have known for 40 years as well as meet many new people to build even more connections with my Costa Rican friends.
As I landed in San Jose, I remembered the many times Mt. Bethel has sent teams to work alongside our Costa Rican friends to help them spread the gospel throughout the country. Since Mt. Bethel has been very involved in Costa Rica over the years, some of these individuals and places will be very familiar to many of you!
My first evening I was reunited with Bishop Luis Palomo from the Costa Rican Methodist Church. He and I were in seminary together and were able to catch up over dinner on what was happening in the Methodist church in Costa Rica.
Ray and Lidia Zirkel, son and daughter-in-law of my childhood pastor in Texas, joined us for dinner. Ray teaches at the Methodist Seminary and works with about 30 teams that come from the States to help them build churches, medical care facilities, and specific projects at the children’s home. Lidia started the Methodist Children’s Home in 2006.
The primary reason I went to Costa Rica was to assist our ministry partner, International Leadership Institute (ILI), in teaching sessions from their History Makers Journey, a course required for all students at the Methodist Seminary. The History Makers leadership development curriculum is about equipping leaders to spread the gospel. I was honored to lead four sessions: Servant Leadership, Goal Setting, Multiplication through Coaching, and Journaling. There were 29 people in person at the conference center and 60 people online.
Although ILI provided a translator for me, God had another plan!
Standing in line for dinner one evening, a gentleman asked a question and instead of answering in Spanish, I answered in German! (German is my go-to language when it’s not English.) Claudiu, the man who asked the question, then became my translator. He was born in Romania, spoke fluent German and English, moved to Spain when he was in high school, met his wife online, and moved to Costa Rica. Talk about an around-the-world experience! Only God!
The concept behind ILI’s History Makers course is that it be multiplied by sharing to other individuals. Claudiu, my interpreter, is working with 240 churches where he will teach the curriculum to groups. After completing the course, the idea is for the curriculum to be taught to groups wherever and whenever the opportunity presents itself.
After the four-day conference was over, I had a day free. I reconnected with many of my friends in Costa Rica and was able to visit the Methodist Children’s Home, the Methodist School, and the Methodist Seminary. It had been 10 years since I’d been to the Methodist Children’s Home, and a lot of work teams have come through the years to improve the buildings and make it a home for the 52 children that live there, included their newest resident – an 18-day-old baby!
The Methodist school provides instruction in four languages – Spanish, English, French, and Mandarin. It’s known in the country as being one of the best private schools in Costa Rica.
At the Methodist Seminary, I saw a very different seminary model than that of the States. All seminary students are also full-time pastors in churches. They meet for a few days every month to study at the seminary and spend the rest of their time in their local church. It is at this location where many of the women of Mt. Bethel have helped Bishop Palomo’s wife, Zulay, with a national women’s conference.
There were a number of young pastors under age 35 at the conference which gave me great hope for the future of the Gospel in Costa Rica! In addition, the joy I felt and heard in the voices of the Costa Rican people as they sang in worship was contagious! Without written words, it was clear the words were written on their hearts and minds. Throughout these connections was the commitment of the Costa Ricans to following Jesus.
My hope is that Mt. Bethel continues to grow in our partnership with the Methodist Church in Costa Rica to help build their ministries and encourage them as we walk alongside them in reaching men, women, and children for Christ!
You can learn more about International Leadership Institute (ILI) and their History Makers Conferences by attending Mt. Bethel Church’s annual missions dinner.