As we enter the final quarter of the year here in Costa Rica, our ministry sites continue to serve faithfully while also beginning to look ahead and prepare to close out the year strong. For now, we’re enjoying this “normal” season before a busy month of November arrives.
And in the middle of it all, we have something especially exciting to celebrate: a new staff member has joined us in Costa Rica!
We’ve been anxiously awaiting Paden Whetzel’s arrival, and he is officially here. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Students International Costa Rica team and can’t wait to see how God uses him in the years ahead.
For those of you visiting Costa Rica next year, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Paden and serve alongside him. But if you aren’t planning a visit yet, we’d love to introduce you to our newest staff member!
Meet Paden!
Where are you from?
My name is Paden Whetzel, and I grew up east of Lubbock, Texas. When asked where I’m from, I believe the most adequate response is Roosevelt Independent School District, where I attended K–12.
How did you learn about Students International?
I discovered Students International a couple of years ago through my home church in the U.S., Ransom Canyon Fellowship Church.
After learning about SI, I ventured to Costa Rica for four months and served as a volunteer at Casa Verde in Las Fuentes. After returning to the States, I went on a short-term mission trip to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where I served at the Health Care clinic in Quinigua.
What excites you about working with SI?
What excites me about working with Students International is the opportunity to bring the Best News in the world to a beautiful and spiritually hungry community: that in Jesus Christ there is salvation, because our debt of sin has been paid; that He is our Lord and will guide us in paths of righteousness; and that when the trumpet sounds, we will experience fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore because we will be with Him.
I am also eager to begin all of the upcoming opportunities to serve alongside short-term mission teams, semester students, college interns, and our staff.
Serving Through Sports
One of the ways Paden hopes to serve the community is through sports ministry.
Soccer—fútbol—is a sport that Costa Ricans eat, sleep, and breathe. For Paden, what excites him about serving the community through sports is that this generational interest will serve as a bridge to build relationships with the youth and their parents.
As those relationships develop and trust is established, his greatest desire is to be used as a vessel to make as many disciples for Christ as He wills.
He also hopes to encourage young people in God-glorifying principles and virtues that will help develop their maturity, including integrity, discipline, compassion, and love.
Please join us in welcoming Paden to the Students International family!
We’re so thankful to have Paden here with us and excited to see how God will use his gifts, passions, and experiences to serve the community and advance the Gospel in Costa Rica.
And if Costa Rica is on your heart for the coming year, it’s not too late to sign up for a trip. We’d love for you to come serve alongside Paden and the rest of our Costa Rica team.
