FREE DAY! On Monday I wouldn’t have thought a free day was necessary; but by today (Saturday) I was ready. Bring on the beach! My ministry team, Charis, asked our translator to come with us to the beach for a little relaxation. He was excited; so excited and grateful, he even arranged our transportation. A school bus-ish vehicle pulled up at the house at 730 this morning. We loaded and made our way two hours to a tucked away strip of beautiful coastline.
As the bus mightily fought the pot holes, traffic and hills, I watched the country go by. We drove through the countryside, agricultural areas full of fields and irrigation systems, and industrial sites with rigs, tractors, construction and more. It was a smorgasbord of the country. Below is some of the traffic we encountered:
The ride made me think of how quick I am to stereotype a country by the small area I experience. This month I am staying in San Juan, one of many districts in the country. I can not assume that the buildings, people or language are the same in all other parts of this beautiful country.
The two hours were more of a sight seeing excursion than a lengthy drive. Small villages popped up every so often with people milling around outside, waving political flags, preparing businesses for the day ahead, and selling anything from coffee to fried plantains. It really was a treat to be exposed to so many different places, faces and spaces. If a free day is not for exploration, what is it for?
Arriving at our destination we were all pleasantly surprised. The beach was GORGEOUS! The waves were tall, breaking big and early, rising high onto the pebbly shore and quickly rushing back to the sea with a loud “swoosh” that reminds me a rain stick from the Nature Store J. The beaches in Alabama and Florida are unique in that they have warn soft white sand that is kind to bare feet and encourages long walks, sandcastles and more. This beach had no such sand. Instead there are rocks; however these rocks have been so thrown about, immersed in the powerful rush of the ocean that they are the smoothest stones I’ve ever seen. Honestly, they made me think of a hot-stone massage…hint hint.
It is such an obvious metaphor how God, when we let go of the shore and allow ourselves to be jostled by His power, will mold us into smooth, glistening followers.
