How crazy is it that my team and I have already been in Costa Rica for a week?! We are in a provence outside San Jose called San Pedro. For the month we are serving at ZOE Ministries, a Christian school that offers many other services to the local community. The first day we were here, we got to see the children and played soccer with them during their recess, and that is the last time we saw them. Our first full day was a Thursday and they didn’t have school on Friday because it was report card day. School here is like school in the states, in that they have class Monday through Friday. All we have on Sunday’s is service then free day and we have Mondays off and Tuesday was Costa Rica’s Independence Day! So now it feels like almost 4 straight days off. Next week will have more structure, but already there is a lot of free time. Some people would think that would be nice, but I am getting restless.
God give me patience to accept the calm.
One of the main reasons I decided to do the race, is because I love to help people and doing things for others. Even though it’s only been a week, I feel like I am not doing enough. Most of what we have done has shopped for food for the team. We have been to the grocery store, price smart (like a Costco) and the fresh market. It is amazing that we have the ability to shop for and cook our own food, but it can be extremely frustrating shopping with 7 people who don’t care what we eat. I have the type of personality that I want to get things done, and it just takes a long time with decisions with all of us.
God give me patience with people.
However, I do like the work we have done so far. The first day we went with a fellow missionary, Mallory, to English Club and Spanish Club. Both are run by Mallory in an apartment in the provence of Heredia. We took the bus there and met with the locals (Ticos). During Spanish Club time, only Spanish is to be spoken, because we are newer to it, they allowed us to speak English, but it was a time we got to work on our Spanish, learn new words and meet the people who live here. The reason most of them came, however, is English club, where they are only allowed to speak English. They come to practice their English with people who are native to the language (Gringas). I talked to a man who was studying English in university to become a teacher. My favorite part of the night was when he pulled out Sherlock Holmes and asked me the meaning of different words. Try explaining the word “stern” or the phrase “twisted their face” to someone who doesn’t speak English, its not easy! (If you think of a good way let me know!) Spanish and English Club meets every Thursday and I am excited to go back and talk with everyone!
We also helped paint the bathroom at the school we are staying at. (Oh ya all 7 of us girls are sleeping in the same room on our air mattresses!) I was right at home with paint again! (Just kidding haha) There was 8 of us painting the bathroom area, and it didn’t take us very long. We are hoping that we can make decorations with different sayings and verses to hang on the wall to give it a warmer feel.
On our first adventure day, we went to Monte De La Cruiz. It is a mountain that has a large cross at the top. We took a bus there and then hiked around the park. It was gorgeous up there and was so fresh! After that we ended up walking around Heredia, a city about 15 minutes by bus from where we stay. We found a taco shop that served a taco that is larger than a footlong sandwich!! It was a long day for all of us and we were ready for some rest!
September 15th is Costa Rica’s Independence Day! To celebrate we met with some of the leaders of the school in Heredia for a parade. For Costa Rica, the parade is of all kids in school. Each school has a section and has either a band, dancers or both. It was really cool to watch however it lasted for three hours and was packed.
God give me patience with situations.
I am learning during this first week that ministry is not always about how much work gets done, or even what gets done, but it is more about relationships. This is where I struggle, for I am very much a person that likes to finish the tasks.
God give me patience.
I need to sit and wait. Waiting with people builds relationships that will last longer and make more of a difference than a painted wall. I will do the labor when is required, but I will do it with different intentions. I will work with the mindset of getting to know my fellow workers. I won’t stress as much about the task at hand, but with learning the lives behind the faces. Waiting and taking in all the beauty can help us see the world through the eyes of God. So I will sit here and wait. I will open my eyes to see the beauty, and I will open my ears to hear the stories that make those around me who they are.
(Sorry for the lack of pictures, they won’t upload on here, but if you would like to see pictures check out my facebook: Jamie Boespflug)
