As a part of each team's training, we do something called the Amazing Prayer Race... Modeled off of the show "Amazing Race", each team gets a set of envelopes that they open one at a time and inside is a piece of paper telling them where to go and what to pray for at that location. They don't get a map of Heredia, so they have to ask people on the street as they go how to get to the places. I went as a translator for one of the teams and we had a fantastic time.
Our first location was city hall... we walked in and told them we were a group of Canadian missionaries and wanted to ask a few questions about the mayor and the city. Within a few minutes, we were in the mayor's office with his personal assistant as she apologized that the mayor himself couldn't be with us to talk with us (he was at a meeting). Wow. We felt very honored to hang out in the mayor's office, and his assistant answered all of our questions and gave us little booklets about Heredia so we could learn more.
Our next stop was the police station... we showed up and I started explaining about our group and one of the policemen was like, "Hey I know you!" haha, indeed.. I was there two weeks ago with the other group and had talked with that same man. He happily called the chief of police over to speak with us about problems that the Heredia police force faces- drugs, street crimes, and theft against foreigners (but he assured us that there wasn't too much to worry about...) He went on to ask us how we enjoyed Costa Rica, and he insisted that this country is what God had in mind when he created the garden of Eden, ha.
Our third envelope took us to the Heredia high school. One of the administrators took us around and gave us a tour of the school. It is one of the best schools in the country and many important people in Costa Rica have passed through here as students and teachers, including an ex-president. We got to see several classrooms, the library, dining hall, auditorium, etc.
Our final stop was the Heredia soccer stadium. One of the workers took us on a tour of their trophy room, which included one from 1921, when Heredia won the first national championship. Then he continued on to show us around the grounds, including letting us into the field. Apparently the team would have been practicing when we were there, but it had just rained alot so it was too wet. They used to have a roof over the field, but the guy said a tornado tore it off.
Later we all got to go out on the field - it was so fun!
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