So I realized after five days into my month in Nicaragua, I never really said much about Costa Rica. I don’t have a good way to describe all the thoughts that went through my mind, the feelings I had [high and not so high] and the overall experience of the month. So I am going to briefly describe a few of the highlights.
Ministry – Two hours of sports, crafts & games with kids each day during our ministry’s “Feeding Center” hours. I played a lot of soccer; I even gashed my nose up real good (sorry I don’t have pictures). We also had opportunities to play volleyball with the youth and serve alongside other mission teams. We got to do street evangelism, discipleship and even host a kids day event, including stations for face painting, jump rope, crafts, balloon animals and more, with our finale being songs, dances and skits [all in Spanish]. It was a blast, and it pushed me much farther from my comfort zone.
The Parking Lot Project—One of my favorite work projects of the first seven months happened in Costa Rica. We partnered with a group of 35 parents, teens & kids from Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee to make a concrete parking lot for a neighborhood school…from scratch…by hand. We worked in a three group rotation combining rocks, fine dirt, dry cement and water into the ideal consistency to pour into the frames built by the group and level it out with good old hand-trowels and a long 2×4. The only equipment we had was shovels, wheelbarrows and buckets. It was the best two days of the entire month…conversation was phenomenal, muscle was in full-force and our spirits were always high. I don’t remember a time we weren’t laughing or high-fiving or thanking each other for being a part of it all. I already miss the comradery.
The Mercado Central in San Jose – The Central Market, founded in 1880, was one of the coolest markets I have ever been to. In fact, it is the same market my father frequented for when he lived in Costa Rica for two years while serving in the Peace Corps in the late 60s. And by the same, I been the very same building, exterior walls, ceiling beams, etc. The moment I entered the building I felt like I was walking in my father’s footsteps. I cannot explain how neat that felt. It was my favorite excursion of the month.
The Coffee – The best I have had so far on the race (and I don’t drink coffee often). Before I came on the race I rarely drank coffee, usually just for a change of pace from tea [I love tea]. I started tasting and enjoying a cup a few times a week in Bolivia (month 3). In Ecuador (month 5) I had three to four cups of coffee a week). In Costa Rica (month 7) I had coffee every day. And no, an addict has not been born—I drink coffee black for the flavor and if it doesn’t have a quality flavor there is no point in hiding it with sugar and milk [this is just my opinion of course]. The only exception to this rule is my dad’s Café Con Leche after special dinners. So I cannot imagine I will be drinking much coffee once I return to the States because U.S. has nothing on fresh roasted Costa Rican coffee.
Birthdays –Between the 13 women that worked together at my ministry in Costa Rica, we celebrate four July birthdays, and we celebrated in style. My two favorites included a ladies night out for a movie in English with Spanish subtitles and deep fried Oreos for dessert (my first), and a night of rustic Italian pizza and roller-skating. Two of my favorite outings of the whole race.
Free Time – Because of the short bursts of hours of our ministry schedule I had plenty of free time to read, start a new devotional series, start reading the books written by Paul in the Bible in chronological order, and write poetry (a lot of it).
That about sums it up. I look forward to telling you about my new month in Cocotal, Nicaragua. So far, I have only incredible things to say. Please stay tuned and thank you again for following me, supporting me and praying for me while I am on this amazing journey.
Gracefully,
Isa
