Pura Vida. The most common saying here in Costa Rica, these
two words directly translate to “pure life” but are often used to mean “awesome.”
This is the only expression that comes to mind to describe my time in Costa
Rica so far – and that’s not just because I now think in Spanish. I’ve been
here for 19 days now and it feels as normal to me as living in the states. I
love every new experience, every new person. The way of life here is so simple,
so warm. The people are kind, generous, and have such a good sense of humor.
Jonathon and Amy are our directors here and are even more
awesome than they seemed when I was preparing to come. I love my discipleship time
with them. The other interns here are constant reminders to me of God’s
goodness. Each one of them has a different story, a different past, a different
path that brought them here – but every one of us has our same great God in
common! Some girls here have grown up in church, others have never been. Some
have known Christ for more of life than they haven’t – others came to know him
just this year. It’s amazing to me to see the way they respond to truths that I’ve
heard countless times. It shows me the awe I should have of God that I don’t
always have. One of my favorite conversations has been with one of the interns
who just read about the Holy Spirit for the first time while here in Costa
Rica.
All the interns before the Canopy Zipline
Back Left: Isaac, Kayla, Kelli, Blake, Jennifer
Front Left: Me, Melissa, Bailey, Katie, Kelsey
My host family is beyond words! I love them so much!
Mitchelle is my Tica mama, Jeffrey my Tico daddy, and Felipe is my little
brother. They’ve taken me and my roommate, Kayla, in and love us like their
own. Felipe gave up his bedroom for us and sleeps on cushions in a closet. He
gives us big hugs and calls us “My Gringos.” We laugh a lot when he tries to
say our names! “Lay-er” and “K-ayyy-la.” Nights spent with our family are Kayla
and I’s highlight. We practice Spanish and laugh at things we say wrong.
Jeffrey and Mitchelle are learning English so the lessons go both ways. One of
our big jokes is that Mitchelle taught Kayla and I to say “Estoy satisfecha” or
“I am satisfied” when we are full. Jeffrey laughed at us and held up his pinky
and made a very snobby face and repeated it. He told us it’s snobby and to say “estoy
llena” or “I am full” instead. Mitchelle tells him “Ellas son muy educadas” or “The
girls are very educated.” Another big laugh has to be Jeffrey singing Adele in
the shower for the whole house to hear. We laugh so much at home!
Mitchelle and I at the Fería (Market)
Felipe
Our extended family is wonderful too! Doña Olga is our
Abuela and takes good care of us, Don Carlos our funny, Hollister-wearing
abuelo, we have many aunts as well but I must say one of my favorites is little Isa. Isabel is our 11 year old genius of a cousin. She speaks Spanish, English, and Mandarin! I love
her to death!
Isa
How's the whole Spanish thing going? Well I guess I'm getting the hang of it - according to my Kayla I am sleep talking in Spanish!
Kayla
At the project, I enjoy the construction which so far has
varied from digging dirt, gardening, painting, pulling nails to, yes, I used a
power tool! Don’t worry only one person was injured in the process! Just
kidding! This week we are doing an archeological dig on the new property which
is required before getting building permits to start on 4 new Children’s Homes.
The Children’s Homes are located on the project. I love my afternoons spent there! The house
parents are awesome missionaries (both gringos and ticos). The kids’ stories
would make anyone’s stomach turn. Some stories involve a dad making his son box
against bigger boys, betting on him like a chicken fight, and then giving him
whiskey to numb the pain of the hit. This had been going on for years when the
boy arrived at the age of 7. Others were addicted to alcohol and drugs by their
parents, used in robberies, and one was even lying in bed with her mom when her
dad used a machete to decapitate her. The horrors these kids have suffered are
unimaginable to me – and even more so when you see their precious smiles. They
are as normal as any kid you’ve ever seen. They love to play on the playground
and be pushed on the swing and to wear my watch; and they don’t like doing
homework or going to bed! I can’t post any pictures of them though because they
are under protective care.
I’ve has some really cool experiences while here! Riding the
canopy zipline was amazing! It’s was so beautiful. During a mission trip to
another church last weekend I drank coconut milk from the coconut – cut open with
a machete. I also ate sugar cane and palmitas (palm tree heart) cut open for us.
The food here is bland and repetitive but still so good! The fruit is fresh and
melts in your mouth. I think I eat a pineapple a day here!
Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever
seen. The first word to describe it is verde – green. Everywhere I look is
green and other vibrant colors. Mountains surround me no matter where I am. The
weather is perfect – especially after a rain cools things down in the
afternoon.
There is so much more I could say about life here – but I’m
enjoying it too much to waste time writing about it!
If you’ve taken the time to read this far I’d ask for some
prayers though:
- · Pray for the kids here. My heart is heavy for them. Pray for speedy adoption processes. Also pray for quick adaptation to the changes they encounter. We recently got two new kids (one with a broken arm and both with bruises). We are also getting new kids this week. It’s very hard for them to transition. Another girl was recently adopted and it’s been very hard on one of my favorite little boys here who grew up like a twin with her.
- · Pray for continued unity with the interns and for growth for all of us.
- · Pray that we’d all finish our month out strong, taking every opportunity to serve and to get to know each other and our Savior better.
- · Pray for me that I’d be an encouragement to the other interns and missionaries here and that I’d leave having been used by God.
