Last week, we packed up our daypacks for a trip to Talamanca. For four days, we stayed in a remote, indigenous community in the mountains of Talamanca. The family that graciously welcomed us into their home seemed to be the prime meeting place for the rest of the community. Our hosts, Moya and Berta, had their children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, friends, and anyone else in the community come visit at anytime of the day. Needless to say, there was never a dull moment. At home, I would “warn” people when I am coming over, giving them a heads up so I’m not imposing. I would make sure to do this as courtesy, and I, in turn, would get angry if someone showed up unannounced.
Here, though, there is drastic shift in the mindset. Privacy isn’t highly regarded. Alone time isn’t necessary. Plans aren’t made. Moya and Berta were overjoyed to have people in their home because they deeply valued hospitality and quality time. Even though I can only speak very broken Spanish, Berta was patient; she took the time to correct my Spanish so I could communicate better. Instead of avoiding conversation with Berta that had potential to be uncomfortable, we pushed through the awkwardness and found laughter and joy in our mistakes. (By our mistakes, I mean mine. Instead of saying I was 22 years old, I said I had 22 kids…) Her patience and grace gave me the freedom to stumble through my Spanish without having to rely on teammates to translate. It was exhausting, but it was liberating.
The first day, the men on our team taught English at the local high school while the women stayed home to teach Berta and some of her friends how to bake bread. The only problem was, the only recipe we had came from my teammate Rebecca for pizza crust, and we didn’t have any pizza sauce, cheese, or toppings. These women wanted a bread recipe, but all we had was pizza… with no toppings. I think it’s fair to say I was mildly panicking. The women came in to the kitchen and I was so embarrassed to tell them we were not doing what they asked us to do. It was a struggle at first to explain what we were doing, but once we shared the recipe and made the pizza (with only spaghetti sauce) the women were excited. They were thankful for a dish that had options and possibilities. We spent the afternoon making batch after batch of dough, delighting in one another and learning from each other.
Reflecting on the day, I realized how much comfort I take in being prepared and knowing that I am giving people exactly what they want. The situation that morning threw me for a loop and I did not know how to react but in fear and shame. I prayed the women wouldn’t come to give us more time to figure out a plan. But the Lord wanted to show me that day what grace looked like. He wanted me to see that people won’t always judge me or be disappointed in me when I don’t give them exactly what they want. I am thankful for the ways He puts me in these uncomfortable situations to show me more of who He is and how He gently reminds me that I only find worth in His unfailing love.
During those four days, we were able to hear Berta’s whole life story. We spent hours on a couple of occasions listening to her speak on her life experiences. Through everything she has been through, she has never lost faith. Berta would frequently say, “Dios es bueno” or in English, “God is good.” It’s such a simple statement, but it stood out to me. I found that I started to say it to myself regularly. On the bus ride home, I was honestly disappointed and a bit angry that we had to leave. I was so reluctant to leave a place that had such an impact. I wanted to continue to learn and grow from that community. At one of the stops, I looked out the window and saw a giant painted rock. On it read, “Dios es bueno.” A smile quickly spread across my face. The experiences and lessons I learned in Talamanca will always remain with me, and God is always good.
Coming soon is a blog written by my teammate Marsha dedicated to Berta’s story and her life experiences. Her story is an amazing example of God’s sovereignty and goodness. Check it out.
