BUILDING BRIDGES

 
The Beginning - Building Bridges
Alto Coen, Costa Rica

Since 2007 Experience Mission has had the privilege of working among the Bribri and Cabecar people of Talamanca, Costa Rica. In the last few years, many volunteer teams have assisted with various significant work projects, but perhaps the most crucial was a suspension bridge in the remote village of Alto Coen, deep in the Costa Rican rainforest. An isolated community of about 130 people, Alto Coen is only accessible by an hour boat ride, a half hour bus ride, and a four hour hike.

Yonathan Moya who served with EM as a summer staff member recalls the first time he hiked to the village in the spring of 2009. "I was with my fellow EM staff member Josh. He and I were leading a group of college students from Indiana Wesleyan University. The local leaders shared their vision for the construction of a 100 meter suspension bridge, which had been a dream of the Bribri families for more than 6 years."

The project had been a prolonged, complex process for the Bribri as they fought to find aid and funds to build this much-needed bridge. With the addition of a bridge, families would no longer be constrained by the powerful river that divided their village. The children from the far side of the river would be able to attend school regularly, and doctors would be able to reach the entire village to provide medical attention for the ill.

Desiring to come alongside the community and help complete the bridge, EM assisted the Costa Rica Emergency Commission who procured US military helicopters to deliver the necessary supplies which were primarily donated by the Costa Rican goverment. EM then began sending specialized contractors and volunteer teams to assist. After many hot summer days and endless hours of intense labor, the bridge in Alto Coen is complete. EM staff and volunteers played a crucial role, but equally important were countless local organizations that contributed.

By far the ones who labored the longest and the hardest were the people of Alto Coen. It has been nearly 9 years since they first began planning for the apparently impossible endeavor, yet they never gave up. They accomplished tasks by hand that most people would only consider undertaking with heavy equipment. Experience Mission came alongside the people of Alto Coen to empower them and connect them with the necessary resources to achieve their vision. They had the dream and the motivation; EM helped provide the means. Together we were able to make the bridge a reality.

It is an uplifting feeling every time we return and see them eager to work and accomplish a new project that will empower their community. Continue to pray for the people of Alto Coen, as Experience Mission continues to partner with them.