It seems like just yesterday I was struggling to shove an excessive amount of deodorant and essential oils into my backpack minutes before boarding a one way flight out of Colorado. It seems like just yesterday I was excitedly telling everyone I encountered about the adventure ahead, it seems like just yesterday I was daydreaming about nights spent on my sleeping pad and days filled with ministry.
Now, here I am, sitting in a coffee shop in San Pedro, Costa Rica drinking a really good latte at a loss for words about the fact that the first month of the race is almost over.
There is something so special about this place, and it quickly became home for my heart. It is beautiful here. There are towering mountains, coffee fields that stretch to infinity, and sunsets that light up the sky. There is rain that pours down every afternoon, warm mornings and cool nights. There is good food, good views, and good weather. Although all of these things are a huge plus, there is something else that makes this place so dang special, and it flows from every moment.
From the moment we stepped onto the Zoe school property (our ministry and living site), we have been relentlessly poured into and loved. The greatest desire of the hearts in this place are not to see us serve them, but for them to embrace and love us as their family, and them ours.
Each day, I find myself being so stretched in my ideas of community and unity. Whether it be through teaching english to a challenging (but SO cute) class of 1st and 2nd graders, my sistas and I’s (in)famous? dance party karaoke meal cooking combo, or weekends spent pressing into deeper freedom and intimacy (complete with lots of hugs and tears), I am learning how to pursue each person I am around and allow myself to be pursued with an open heart. I am learning how to praise and celebrate our Papa’s perfect love in such a messy free way. I am learning how to grow, how to chase an unhindered love, and how to cook.
All of this and it’s only the first month.
We truly are #blessed out here in Costa Rica. Our chacos stink, peanut butter is expensive, teaching is hard, there are spiders that could quite literally eat me, and life flows from it all. There is endless laughter, the most special nights spent eating around a table or dancing our socks off in community, and evidence of Jesus and his love in every moment of every day. Life with Jesus and the family he has given me is a beautiful mess, and I really wouldn’t have it any other way.
As we like to say, “todo esta bien”.
As of now, I am around $1,000 away from being fully funded!! Any support in any way is such a blessing, this journey is not one of walking alone. Thank you for walking with me, let’s all move some mountains!
