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Our Story
The founding of Sojourn represents a wonderful opportunity to look back with gratitude for all that God has done over the past three decades, and to look forward with confidence to all that He will continue to do in and through the school in the years to come.
Sojourn began as a school designed to support the children of missionaries studying at the Spanish Language Institute, helping them transition from their home countries and schools into a completely new educational environment. An early statement of the school’s purpose was to “help children progress academically in a spiritually nurturing environment under the guidance of a competent international staff.” This included guiding them through the emotional process of leaving behind familiar people and places while embracing a new culture and language. The name “Sojourn” was chosen to reflect the reality that most students would attend the school for one year or less while their parents studied at the Spanish Language Institute.
Over time, however, some children whose families remained in Costa Rica for missionary service continued their education at Sojourn and eventually graduated from high school. At this point, it became clear that Sojourn was not only serving children in transition, but also forming leaders for the Kingdom of Christ. Graduates have gone on to attend prestigious public and private universities, equipped not only with the academic preparation required for admission, but also with the Christian convictions and sense of calling needed to follow in their parents’ footsteps of service to God.
In 2006, under the leadership of Director Kevin Reilly, Sojourn began welcoming children from the surrounding community into its program. This step expanded the school’s mission to include the preparation of bilingual Christian professionals from within the country. At the same time, it enriched the cultural experience of missionary children by allowing them to interact with Costa Rican students and others from across Latin America on campus.
Through the efforts of Director Dorcas Enriquez and others, Sojourn was officially recognized by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education in October 2012. This recognition has been a blessing not only for Costa Rican families whose children plan to attend national universities, but also for missionary families relocating to other Latin American countries where government accreditation of the previous school is required for admission.
Shortly after its founding in 1993, Sojourn was nicknamed “the miracle school” due to the remarkable way God brought together the staff and facilities needed to begin operations within just six weeks. Today, Sojourn continues to depend on God for the provision of the human, physical, and financial resources necessary to support children in transition, develop Christian leaders, and serve as a witness of Christ to the surrounding community.
