So this blog is not overly spiritual, or emotional. It isn’t about anything massive I have learned here in Costa Rica, but I just wanted to let you guys know a few things about my time here and this beautiful country!
1. My team of 6 and I are staying with an amazing host family, the Tatums. We have a host mom (Momma Beth), host dad (Papa Bryan), a host sister (Kirsten) and a host brother (Drew)…there is another host brother but he goes to college in the States. I have learned so much about joy and hospitality from them already. They are seriously the best and so much fun. We especially like sarcarsm, painting nails and watching Chicago Fire.
2. We are working for an organization called Conexion (connection for you English speakers;) ) The organization was started by Jherson (another one of my favorite people here) many years ago with the vision of connecting people who have a heart for mission and service with people who have the resources to make it happen. Conexion does work in schools, where they first build relationship through service jobs such as painting, and then are given the freedom through having a good relationship to have teachings, kids clubs, and share about the Lord’s love within the public school system, which is awesome. They also do medical excursions about every two weeks to rural areas to provide medical care for those who may not normally have access to it. PLUS they do all this other stuff for other people cause basically they have huge hearts and just want to show others the love of Christ. One of their mottos, which I love, is “Less words, more actions”. Many people in Costa Rica have heard of Jesus and maybe believe, but to them plently of people have talked about it, and less have shown that love through actions, so there isn’t a big relationship aspect.
3. Tattooed facial features are a thing here. Like having eyeliner tattooed on (which is actually really neat and looks just like you’re wearing eyeliner), and eyebrows (which majorly freaks me out at the moment.)
4. There are McDonalds restaurants here that are solely dedicated to desserts. (I am never leaving).
5. You can’t flush toilet paper.
6. People here are perfectly willing to let us teach in classrooms and practice medicine. Which is both terrifying and exciting. (For the record, I did not play doctor. The nurses and CNAs on our team did. I was in reception.)
7. At the movie theaters here, you can get divided popcorn with regular popcorn on one side and carmel corn on the other side. We are going to see insurgent on Thursday and I cannot wait for this.
8. People are generally afraid of big dogs. Our host family has a beautiful big dog named Lucy who we walk to the store with us, and people avoid us like the plague. It’s pretty empowering. And hilarious.
9. The people of Costa Rica are SO joyful. There is so much joy in this little country. I have so loved the smiles, the hospitality, and just the good heartedness of everyone I have come in contact with. Each person on staff has been so fun to be around and have had just the best attitudes. I can say the same for all of the patients we have seen, the kiddos we have loved on, and just everyone I have come in contact with.
10. Costa Rican spanish is beautiful and easy to understand #PraiseJesus
11. I met a boy. He is 11 and his name is Josef. He has special needs and is in a wheelchair, and parked his chair right next to my reception desk for the majority of the morning yesterday, and talked to me the whole time. His favorite color is blue, his favorite food is meat, and he is naming his bunny after me.
Here is a picture of us:
