How do we know the need at each site?

We have amazing missionary partners at each site we take trips to that scope out the need before we get there as well as follow up after we leave, and meeting them is honestly one of the best perks in our job! In Costa Rica, our partners are the Aspegren family (Phil & his son, Skyler pictured here--Jill & sons Laramie & Jadmin, not pictured). They handled a lot of the logistics on that end--transportation, finding housing, a worksite project, and the church that would host our VBS program--but their 'day job' is working with an organization called "Casa Viva." Casa Viva strives to get the church involved in providing Costa Rican homes for abused, neglected or orphaned children--essentially a Costa Rican Adoption/Foster agency, but one that functions very deliberately through Costa Rican churches. The one Sunday we attended Trono de Dios, the local church we were working with, they brought a couple up on stage to introduce their 2 new adopted children to the congregation--what seems to be a pretty regular occurrence. As often as they can they work with the families to keep them together and bring healing.
Before coming to Costa Rica, where they've been serving for 6 years, they had been in the DR for 6 years doing the same thing--a missional life-style. It was great for our students to see just a glimpse of who they are--passionate about the God they serve and what they do, yet love to have fun! Thanks Aspegrens for all you did to make our trip possible, including a great zipline experience, a couple great dinners & fellowship, and a show-stopping bonfire! Blessings on your ministry!