Life in Costa Rica was bliss.
My team and I lived in the mountains of San José and spent many of our days taking care of our garden. We would weed, fertilize, prune, and harvest the plants. For lunch we would eat from the vegetables we picked – tomatoes, chives, kale, onions, basil, raspberries, and these cool red flowers that tasted like radish. It was the best.
Every morning I would wake up, climb out of my hammock, open the door of our shed (we slept in a shed and it was actually amazing), and stand in awe of the mountain I lived on. The birds would sing, our dog would come with a stick in her mouth to play fetch, the neighbour’s dog we adopted would come to say hello, the sun would shine, and a magical fog would roll in. Within seconds, I was standing in a cloud. I’d think to myself “this must be a dream”. And the best part? It wasn’t. Everyday was a sweet reminder of how dearly loved and how incredibly blessed I am.
Everyday for a month, I got to wake up in the mountains of Costa Rica. How many people get to experience that?
Every morning there was an “oh my gosh. I’m on the World Race” moment. It was beautiful. And I am so so thankful.
To care for a garden everyday and see the fruit of what you’ve worked on, literally, was so rewarding. Caring for it provided the perfect amount of mindlessness and mindfulness. It allowed me to rest and it allowed my thoughts to run free – to dream and to plan and to imagine the life my Papa and I were going to create together.
Even more than that though, we had an amazing host, Edgar, who everyday would pour into us. He invited us into the chaos of his life (moving houses, sick dogs, newborn twins) and reminded us that just as this garden was a little haven for him, we had that Haven with us wherever we go, whatever our circumstance. He reminded us that as big as our dreams are for our life, God’s dreams for us are bigger. All we have to do is say yes.
Our last night together with him, Edgar spoke words of life over each of us. While only knowing us for a month, he pointed out characteristics, dreams, hopes, and qualities in us that he’d yet to see – that’s how you know Holy Spirit is in a man, boys and girls – he speaks in love and he speaks with wisdom beyond himself. Edgar affirmed in me dreams I’ve dreamt for after the race but didn’t know if I could make a reality. He literally spoke on behalf of Papa to tell me “this can be your reality”! And it was so sweet.
Costa Rica, you did me well. You brought me rest. You brought me community. You brought me sweet evenings of cooking together, eating together, baking cookies together, and falling asleep to movies in hammocks together.
Papa, you did me one better. You brought be a Haven away from Home.
