“Then they gladly received the word: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls… And they, continuing daily with one accord… praising God, and having favour with all the people.”
Acts 2:41, 46–47

Today’s Thought

Every journey eventually comes home. The suitcases are unpacked. The stories are shared. The pictures are posted. Life slowly returns to its familiar routine. But God’s desire has never been for His people to return the same way they left. One of the greatest dangers after any mountaintop spiritual experience is assuming the journey is over. It’s easy to think of a mission trip as an event. It’s easy to think of camp as one incredible week on the calendar. But in God’s economy, these moments are not destinations. They are launching points. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly sent His people out only to bring them back with a greater purpose. When Jesus sent the seventy into the villages, they returned rejoicing over what God had done. But Jesus used that moment to deepen their understanding of what truly mattered—not their experiences, but their relationship with Him. After Paul’s missionary journeys, he didn’t quietly move on to the next assignment. He returned to the churches, encouraged the believers, shared stories of God’s faithfulness, and strengthened the body of Christ. When the disciples returned from ministry, Jesus gathered them, listened to their experiences, taught them, and prepared them for what came next.

God has always used the “coming home” to continue His work. As our Costa Rica Missions Team and our students will prepare to return, let’s go ahead and pray for more than safe travel. Let’s pray even before they leave that they will return with hearts that have been changed. Pray they come home with a greater love for God’s Word. A deeper appreciation for the local church. A renewed passion for prayer. A greater compassion for people. A stronger burden for those who need Christ. A clearer understanding that the mission field isn’t only across an ocean or at a summer camp. It’s also across the street. One of the greatest blessings of a mission trip is that it often changes the missionary as much as the people being served. When we see believers worship with joy despite having little, our perspective changes. When we watch God answer prayers in remarkable ways, our faith grows. When we witness someone trust Christ, we’re reminded that the Gospel still changes lives. Likewise, camp has a way of stripping away distractions. Students often hear God more clearly because they’ve stepped away from phones, schedules, sports, homework, and the constant noise of everyday life. But the true test of camp isn’t what happens during the week. The true test is what continues after the buses return.

Will students still spend time in God’s Word? Will they continue praying? Will they keep the commitments they made? Will they continue walking with Christ when life feels normal again? The same question applies to every one of us. It’s easy to seek God during extraordinary moments. The challenge is walking faithfully with Him during ordinary days.

Today’s prayer is that God would not allow these experiences to become cherished memories alone. May they become lasting milestones. Milestones that shape future decisions. Strengthen future faith. Inspire future obedience. And remind our church that God is still at work.

As we eventually welcome these teams home, may we celebrate not only where they have been but who they are becoming. May every testimony remind us that God is faithful. May every story encourage someone else to serve. May every changed life become an invitation for others to follow Christ more closely. And may every person who returns understand this simple truth: The trip may end.

But the mission continues.

Pray for Our Costa Rica Team

Today, ask God in anticipation to…

Bring every team member safely home.
Protect them during every step of their return journey.
Help them process everything God has taught them.
Keep them from quickly returning to old routines without reflecting on God’s work.
Give them opportunities to share testimonies that encourage our church.
Continue blessing the churches and communities they served after they leave.
Help them remain connected to the people they met through prayer and encouragement.
Use this experience to deepen their lifelong commitment to missions.

Pray for Our Camp Team

Pray that God would…

Bring every student and leader home safely.
Help students remember the truths they learned throughout the week.
Give parents wisdom as they encourage spiritual growth at home.
Strengthen the friendships that were built around Christ.
Protect students from losing their spiritual focus when normal routines resume.
Help leaders continue discipling students after camp.
Give students courage to live differently because of what God has done in their hearts.
Allow camp to become the beginning of something much greater than a single week.

Today’s Challenge

Reach out to someone who has served on a mission trip or attended camp in the past.

Ask them this question:

“How did God use that experience to change your life?”

Listen carefully. You’ll likely discover that some of the greatest lessons God teaches don’t become fully evident until long after the trip has ended. Then pray that God will continue writing that same kind of story in the lives of this year’s teams.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for what you will do on this journey.

Thank You for preparing hearts, strengthening faith, opening doors, protecting our teams, and changing lives. Because we know you will do that! Before our teams even leave we ask you to prepare them to return home, we ask for Your continued protection. Bring them home safely and reunite them joyfully with their families and church family.

But Lord, don’t let the work end when the trip is over. Help every lesson become a lifelong conviction. Help every decision become lasting obedience. Help every testimony inspire someone else to follow You more faithfully.

Continue working in the hearts of those who heard the Gospel in Costa Rica. Continue working in the lives of students who made decisions at camp. May the seeds planted during these days continue producing fruit for years to come.

And when our teams return, help us as a church to celebrate what You have done, encourage one another with stories of Your faithfulness, and recommit ourselves to the mission You have given every believer.

Thank You for reminding us that while some journeys have an ending, Your work never does.

May we leave this season with a greater love for You, a greater burden for others, and a greater desire to make Christ known wherever You send us.

We pray all of this in the precious name of Jesus.

Amen.

Reflect & Respond

If God answered every prayer you’ve prayed during these ten days, how would your own life need to change?

Ask the Lord to help you carry the same passion for His mission into your everyday life.

Family Discussion

Ask together:

“What do you hope our missionaries and students bring home besides souvenirs?”

Talk about qualities like stronger faith, greater compassion, deeper humility, and a desire to serve Christ. Discuss how your family can continue supporting them after they return.

Then thank God for His faithfulness and pray that the work He has begun will continue long after the trips are over.

Children’s Prayer Prompt

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for taking care of the people from our church. Please bring them home safely. Help them remember everything You taught them and help them tell us all the amazing things You did. Help me love You more each day and be ready to tell others about You too.

Amen.

Memory Verse

“And they… continued daily with one accord… praising God.”

Acts 2:46–47

Tomorrow’s Focus

Day 10: To God Be the Glory

*“Tomorrow we conclude our journey by remembering that every salvation, every life changed, every safe mile traveled, every open door, and every answered prayer belongs to God alone. We will celebrate His faithfulness and commit ourselves to continue living on mission until He calls us home.”