The Men's Basketball team recently traveled to Costa Rica on a mission's trip. They conducted basketball clinics at local schools and played four games.

Eleven returners and one newcomer joined teammate Andy Mora in his hometown of San Jose, Costa Rica. The team spent eight days in the greater San Jose area using basketball as their platform for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
Mora, who organized the trip along with his parents and served as the main translator for the team said, "It was a trip of a lifetime. It was incredible to see how God used us to impact the lives of so many kids while representing Cornerstone Men's Basketball. Being around the places I grew up and playing some basketball games with my teammates is a memory I will cherish forever."
 
The team was welcomed by hundreds of students each morning who were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Golden Eagles. During the clinics, the players also divided into smaller groups to share their personal stories of salvation and present the gospel of Jesus Christ. While at the schools, the team sang songs and worshiped with the students, played soccer, and participated in other fun games and activities with them.
 
The Golden Eagles found the competition challenging as they played the National Team twice, as well as one of the top professional teams from the capital city.  Senior Mark DeVries, who shared his testimony during halftime of one of the games said, 
"What a blessing it was to see and preach the gospel in Costa Rica.  This was a life-changing trip I'll never forget and doing it with my teammates made it really special."

The team was also invited one evening to a rally of several hundred high school and college students where Coach Elders shared the gospel message. Senior Levi Schultz shared his personal story of salvation and challenged the students to fully surrender to Jesus Christ and to follow His plan for their lives.
 
Former player Al Gortmaker and his wife Bethany also traveled with the team to Costa Rica. Al, who played on Cornerstone's first National Championship team in 1999 and was a member of CU's first mission trip to the Philippines in the summer of 1998, had this to say about the trip, "The Costa Rica trip was truly special for Bethany and I.  Spending time worshipping with the kids in the schools and seeing how God is working there was life-changing.  Watching the players interact and share their testimonies was great to see.  The team did an amazing job representing Cornerstone University, our Lord and our basketball program." 
During the mission trip, the team was able to experience some Costa Rican culture and food. They also experienced a few non-basketball activities such as ziplining, hiking into the mountains to see some amazing waterfalls, and touring the downtown San Jose market.
 
Senior Kayden Bird had this to say about the trip, "The mission trip to Costa Rica was truly life changing. Being able to serve and bring the light of the Lord to different schools was truly an unforgettable experience. I am so glad we were able to teach the game of basketball and spread the love of Jesus to all those we encountered in Costa Rica."
 
Coach Elders, who has taken twelve different CU MBB teams on mission's trips over the last 25+ years, said this of the trip, "We had an incredible trip from beginning to end.  The Lord blessed our ministry in Costa Rica and used us in so many significant ways.  We were able to share the game we love with hundreds of students, but more importantly, share the love of Jesus and present the gospel message.  We were also used by God to encourage the believers in Costa Rica.  This was a trip of a lifetime for our players, and they will never be the same because of it."