About This Blog
This blog records the experiences and observations of Nathan and Amber Babcock, missionaries with Global Outreach Mission in Orosi, Costa Rica. Amber and Nathan serve as a host couple in administration and medical missions at El Jardin Sagrado.
El Jardin is a Christian retreat center situated on 5 acres of land along the Rio Reventazon in the beautiful Orosi Valley. It’s a simple place - with only a few dormitories and cabins, a dining hall (which is also the chapel), and a kitchen - but the grounds are perfect for experiencing God’s creation! El Jardin - and the Orosi Valley for that matter - has beautiful plants, trees, fruit…and amazing mountain views!
The Orosi Valley is southeast of the city of Cartago and only about 25 miles from the outskirts of San Jose (but an hour and a half away by car due to poor mountain roads and traffic in the cities). Orosi is a charming little town surrounded by mountains on three sides and “el rio” on the fourth. Many areas of the town are quite picturesque (including St Francis, the oldest Catholic church still in use in Costa Rica).
Church groups from all over Central America come to El Jardin for weekend or week-long retreats. The facility currently houses approximately 50 people, but not comfortably. One of our top priorities is to expand the camp to house 80 guests (and house them more comfortably).
Nathan’s primary responsibility is to direct the retreat center and ensure that expansion projects are going according to plan. Amber will serve in medical missions and help coordinate short-term missions teams from the U.S. and Canada to come to El Jardin, bringing much needed medical care to Ticos. There will also be opportunities for short-term construction, children’s ministry, and evangelism teams.
If you’re interested in learning more about El Jardin and how you can get involved with the work that’s being done there, please click here. And if you would like to watch a short video about El Jardin, the missionaries serving there, and the great need in Costa Rica, just scroll down. We hope you enjoy this glimpse of life in Costa Rica, the ministry at El Jardin, and how you can “join us” in the work being done here. This may not be Oscar-worthy, but I pray that it blesses you as you watch. Enjoy.
