Matt Lyons, Missionary

I just want to say thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime in letting me come with you to the city of Atenas, Costa Rica and help the city’s youth and elderly. I never thought a group like this would do what we did, but I was wrong.

To start, I just want to tell you about what I experienced. It was all about a kid I met named Dominik. He was at our second distribution, a K-8 school that had about 25 kids in total. He was a quiet and shy kid that did not want to talk to me at all. After he got his shoes, he went straight to his mom and said, “Quiero ir” (I want to go). I followed him around that morning and he said nothing to me at all. When it was time for him to get his toy, he did not want a toy. He wanted my water bottle instead, which I did give to him. Five minutes before I was about to leave with the group, he pulls me aside. He says to me quietly, “pierdo mi padre” (I lost/miss my dad). I immediately hugged him and he talked with me until I had to leave. On the last night in the country, I learned that if he could, he would play with me again and felt sorry for not being happy when I was around him. Without this story, my life would not have changed, as well as his. It was very inspirational and life changing for me and many others.

I would like to thank many people out there who helped me. First, my parents, who agreed to let me go on the trip in the first place. Without them, I would be the receiver, like the people in Costa Rica. Next, to Jen. She was the one who kept everyone calm and created this trip. Without her, we would not even have been there. Then, Father Jay. He was the one who helped, and cared, for everyone on this trip. He lets me keep the memories with his podcast (which you can check out at The Padre Jay Cast). Without him, we would have one less translator and way less Masses on this trip. Without these people, they would not let me and many others not have the experience of a lifetime.

I would like to thank everyone who went on the trip. You guys made it better for me and the kids. You really caused me to get out of my comfort zone and still do back at home. To the ones down in Costa Rica, you guys really changed our experience and still change our lives back in the states. Continue to do what you do and stay safe down there.
 
From the bottom of my heart (with thanks and love),
—Matt Lyons, Missionary