University Students - HangOut
Carlos and Ana Lagos are developing relationships with students at the National University of Costa Rica (UNA). Every Wednesday they provide a meal for a group that meets on campus. After an hour, some students leave for classes and a handful remain to play games, usually Exploding Kittens. As the games wind down students continue to spend time together – lots of stories and laughter. Late in the afternoon the group disbands. Through the week Carlos and Ana connect with the students via social media and when students visit them in their apartment near campus.. Everyone knows Carlos and Ana are Christ followers, yet the group includes students who aren’t yet followers. In time, Carlos and Ana will share the Gospel with these students.
Check out this HangOut video.
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Maria's Story
Maria Jose's Story
Before discovering Hangout, Maria was part of a church community—but after a painful experience, she stopped attending. The disconnect left her feeling spiritually adrift. In late 2017, she moved out of her grandmother’s house and was desperately searching for a place where she could reconnect with God and feel like she belonged.
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Then, in early 2018, everything changed.
While walking through her university campus, Maria encountered a group offering free hugs. It was a mission team from Hometown Church in Minneapolis. “I immediately felt like I needed that hug,” she remembers. One of the women invited her to speak with Carlos Lagos, who introduced her to Hangout, a student-led Bible study and outreach that met weekly on campus.
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Carlos described Hangout as a safe and welcoming space—a place where students could be themselves, find community, and experience God’s love. Maria started attending every Tuesday. “That group was a life-saver for me,” she says. “I was going through a rough time, but I felt welcomed, accepted, and loved.”
Over time, Maria became deeply involved. She invited friends, shared free hugs, cooked for the group, and served others through acts of compassion. “Hangout helped restore my connection with God. I saw His love in people—especially in unexpected places. I love that you don’t have to be perfect to carry God’s love. Even if you’re a little messy, it can still shine through.”
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When the pandemic hit, everything paused. Like many, Maria struggled with the shift to online connection. “I’m a face-to-face person. It just wasn’t the same,” she says. Even now, she works from home and rarely leaves the house—but returning for a recent Hangout lunch felt like a spiritual homecoming. “It’s like going back to my roots,” she reflects. “Things have changed—there are new people, new stories—but it’s beautiful to see how the group has grown and kept reaching others.”
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Though her life is more complicated now—working full-time and no longer a student—Maria still carries a deep affection for the ministry that helped her reconnect with God when she needed it most.
Daniel Joshue's Story
In September 2022, Daniel was approached by a classmate in his university English class. “Hey, are you going to Hangout?” Isaac asked. Curious, Daniel replied, “Why are you hanging out? What will you be doing?”
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Isaac explained that Hangout was a student group that met on campus. “We have food, play board games—it’s fun. You should come.”
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Daniel was unsure at first, but decided to give it a try. “Just go,” he told himself. “Try to enjoy it. Don’t be shy.”
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Social situations weren’t always easy for Daniel, especially with new people. But he pushed through the nerves, hoping something good would come from it. What he found exceeded his expectations.
​“I remember Carlos and Anna’s happy faces welcoming me,” he said. “They served chalupas that day. I still remember the taste, the color of the sour cream, the brand of the tortillas. It even started to rain, and we moved under a covered deck to keep talking.”
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From that day on, Daniel began attending Hangout every Wednesday through the end of the semester. Through those weeks, he built new friendships—and heard something that stayed with him.
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“Carlos always talked about his belief in Jesus,” Daniel said. “It made me more interested in Jesus, too.”
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When school let out for break in December, Daniel returned home to northern Costa Rica. But before he left, Carlos invited him to help with a one-week children’s program in San José, led by a mission team from Iowa. Daniel agreed.
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Now writing just after the program ended, Daniel reflects on what the experience meant to him.
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“It’s hard to put into words,” he shares. “This week changed my life. I got to help tell Bible stories to the kids—and they taught me lessons too. Watching the children laugh and feel loved made me want to keep serving.”
The impact left a lasting impression. “I want to see those happy faces again. I want to do something like this in my own hometown someday. This week gave me a desire to serve God and help people. I’m excited for what’s next. I believe many adventures are coming.”