Trip To Costa Rica: Awareness For Every Generation

During our trip to Costa Rica, ShineBright partnered with Mujer Completa and had the opportunity to spend time with children, parents, and older adults throughout the community. From the beginning, the goal of the trip was not simply to host activities, but to create conversations around mental health, psychology, faith, and healing in ways that people could truly understand and apply to their everyday lives.

One of the first places we visited was an elderly facility. While spending time there, we focused on helping residents find healthy ways to relax, express themselves, and trust God through every stage of life. Music and worship became a large part of this because they are familiar, comforting, and accessible to many older adults without requiring much movement. Through worship, we wanted to remind them that they are not alone in what they feel and that faith can continue to be a source of peace, comfort, and strength. Alongside this, we also introduced simple ways to manage stress and emotions so they would leave with both practical tools and encouragement they could continue using on their own.

We also spent time with parents through workshops focused on identity, character, mental health, and faith. One of the main things we wanted parents to understand is that the way they view themselves often affects the way they respond to their children. During these conversations, we talked about how past experiences, habits, emotions, and thought patterns can shape family relationships, and how both psychology and faith can help bring awareness, healing, and growth within the home.

At the same time, our team held sessions for children that were centered around understanding emotions and learning healthy ways to cope with them. Rather than simply lecturing, we wanted children to learn through creativity and participation. Dance, art, movement, and flag dancing were all included as ways for children to express themselves naturally while remaining engaged. Through these activities, children were reminded that their emotions matter, that they were created with purpose, and that they can trust God while learning healthy ways to respond to what they feel.

Another important part of the trip was a separate teaching held specifically for adults focused on healing from past trauma and experiences. We recognize that many struggles people face today are often connected to things they have carried for years. Because of this, ShineBright wanted to create space for adults to reflect on those experiences, better understand their emotions, and begin thinking about healing in both practical and faith-centered ways. We also emphasized how personal healing can positively affect future generations, especially their children.

During the main event, parents and children separated into their own workshops for several hours. Parents spent time discussing the importance of healing from childhood wounds, understanding their identity, and recognizing that children often become what they consistently see at home. At the same time, children participated in sessions reminding them to enjoy their childhood, build a relationship with God, and understand that they are uniquely created with value and purpose.

Throughout the trip, ShineBright members also shared personal experiences involving faith, mental health, and their own journeys growing up. These moments helped create relatability and openness within the community. More than anything, we wanted people to feel understood and know they were not alone in what they experience.

Looking back, what made this trip meaningful was not only the workshops or activities themselves, but the conversations that came from them. Every part of the trip was designed with the intention of helping people better understand mental health and psychology while also showing how faith and trusting in God can be part of the healing process.

For ShineBright, this trip represented another opportunity to meet people where they are and bring awareness to topics that are often difficult to discuss openly. By working with children, parents, and older adults together, we hope to continue strengthening individuals, families, and communities one conversation at a time.