First off, HAPPY ‘MERICA DAY everyone!! I hope that today was fantastic for all!
We had an awesome day! Cheeseburgers, french fries, apple crisp, and ICE! (Ice is a huge thing for me- I love it!!)
Secondly, we came into Costa Rica on June 30th. The ministry that En Fuego is at this month contacted us and told us that we couldn’t come to the site for a couple of days, due to historic flooding. Lynda is with our team this month. She came here two years ago for a study abroad semester. Through connections that she had, we were able to find a place to stay a few nights within our budget. PRAISE! We also got to meet up with most of her friends and family from when she was here two years ago! (I wrote a blog about that, you should check it out)
Now, on to the story of the day-I-took-two-showers-on-the-Race.
I woke up yesterday morning at the house that we were able to stay at. We received word that we were able to venture to the Ranch that day because the roads- though not fully functional- were passable.
I figured that since we didn’t know our future living conditions, I was going to take a shower- since we had showers and the water was warm. (PSYCH- the power went out right as I was washing my hair… there was no warm water- crap)
After we ate lunch, we set out on our last travel day before we go to America(!).
(3 weeks people!)
We left the house. All seven of us with our big packs, our day packs, one guitar, and one kahon squeezed into two taxis and drove to the bus station.
When we got there, we bought some bus tickets. We were told that the bus leaves in an hour. After 20 minutes, I was with B.J. checking out the bus station, Nick came and told us that the bus was loading up to leave. Gotta love Central American time. lol.
After an hour bus ride we got to another bus station. Our team got out and waited in the station for an hour for the next bus.
We got on the second bus. We had to take all of our bags onto the actual bus- they had no space for bags under the bus like others do. After we got all of our stuff on and waited for 15ish minutes, the bus engine was turned off. The bridge that we were going to cross had just been washed out by the rain. So, we went back into the bus station and waited for 30 minutes.
Then, we were told to get all of our stuff and walk across the bridge that was closed to vehicles. So, we did.
After we got to the other side of the bridge, we waited for an hour or so for a bus to come. We put our stuff onto a bus. It was around dusk. Then we pushed/butted our way onto the bus that we just put all of our belongings onto. As my good friend, Lynda, says, we pushed our way on there “African style”.
After driving about 15 minutes, the bus driver dropped us off on the side of the highway. At this point, it is dark. We don’t really know where we are. We thought that we saw a landmark a little while back that we were supposed to be looking for. So, when we were dropped off, we just looked for signs to a grocery store that was a landmark for us. We walked about a kilometer on some back roads, asking directions like every 5 minutes.
After we reached the store, we set our packs down, and Anna and I went and bought some food for our team. While we were in the store, Anna said to me that we were not going to have to walk to the Ranch, she told me that someone would give us a ride.
Guess what??
That is exactly what happened! God gave us a ride!!
PRAISE!
Vanessa had been talking to a lady when we had just crossed the bridge earlier during the day. This lady is the only local that we were able to talk to in our limited Spanish.
Anyways,
the person that gave us the ride was
none other than the lady that Vanessa had been communicating with hours before!!
So, we got a ride for the last kilometer.
Let me tell you:
We are so thankful that we didn’t have to carry all of our stuff that final kilometer. It was dark, really rocky, and there was this really scary suspension bridge!! I am so thankful that we did not drive over that thing during the day!! I was praying the ENTIRE time!!
We’re here, safe and sound!
PRAISE!
Before I went to bed, I took my second shower of the day! It was HOT… okay- it was NOT frigid!! We had REAL towels… What is this life?!
Beds. Sheets. Pillows. Swanky Showers. Not frigid water. Toilets that FLUSH. Refrigerator. Freezer. Stove. OVEN. Microwave. Washing Machine. DRYER.
I am living. in. the. palm. of. luxury.!!!
PRAISE!
<3 Ash
