1. What were your living arrangements like?
This month we stayed in our tents but we were lucky enough to have a concrete floor and a roof so we didn’t get rained on. (We each had our own tents with sleeping pad, etc.).
2. What was the food like?
The food was good! A mixture of what we have at home and Central American. We were blessed because we had wonderful people at church who kept us well fed and spoiled us!
3. What is the culture like?
Compared to other Central American countries it is the most American but there is still a lot of Spanish. Jaco’s culture is typical beach town, tourist/surf culture.
4. What did you learn about yourself?
I learned a lot about myself and about my pride and wanting to control how people look at me (I am still learning about that). I learned how much God can do with someone who is passionate about him. I learned that often you don’t know you are growing until you look back and see the change. I learned that I crave deep, personal conversation and relationships!
5. What did you learn about how the culture effects the way the people understand the gospel and live as Christians?
In Jaco no one really shared the gospel until around 10 years ago; it was a town for partying and that was all. There is a growing amount of missionaries and churches in the area and the way God is using them to change the community is extremely apparent.
6. What was your most memorable moment from this month?
I really enjoyed preparing Thanksgiving dinner. We went to the house of a wonderful lady at our church to use her kitchen (that overlooked the ocean!). We listened to Christmas music, watched Elf, and sampled all of our delicious desserts!
7. What was the hardest thing about your month?
Sharing a small bathroom and kitchen with 12 girls!
8. What was the biggest lesson you learned?
I learned how much of an impact it is to bring Jesus’ presence to a place. Jaco already has Jesus in it but I saw the difference you can make in a person’s day when you are present with the presence of Jesus.
9. What did you see God doing among the people of Costa Rica?
I saw God rising up a generation in Jaco. The younger kids and teenagers have outlets to go to not only to learn about Jesus but to grow in Him. (To be a part of God’s work in Jaco’s younger generation please click here).
10. What did you learn about the community and the people you served?
They have the biggest hearts. They were constantly looking for ways to bless us and love us and they taught me by example how to put others before myself. The people God has in Jaco are wonderful councelors, have serving hearts, and are filled with Christ.
11. What fun activities did you get to do?
We lived at the beach so that in itself was pretty fun! We went surfing twice, hiked up a mountain to see ruins, and became friends with the people we worked with which was the ultimate best part. (Shout out Sa-rah!)
12. What was one thing that surprised you the most?
How hard it is to go to the beach when you are living there and not just on vacation!
13. Explain your “typical day” this month.
We started most mornings walking the beach to collect sea glass, driftwood, and sea beans (sometimes accompanied by a prayer walk along the ocean). Then we would clean up the property where we were staying for a couple hours (move rocks, garden, rake). After lunch we would have craft time turning our beach finds into Christmas ornaments, beach signs, or jewelry. After dinner we would usually have a group activity bible study/game night/movie but most nights we would all be in bed by 9!
14. What different projects did you work on this month?
We had one main project that all the little projects played a part in. We had a fundraiser at the end of the month to start a ministry for women coming out of rehab to learn job skills. All of our beach crafting was to see how successful the teaching and selling at the future organization would be.
15. Name one main difference between this month and last month (Nicaragua).
We only worked with the kids on Saturday mornings this month (kids club: we put on Bible skits for kids in the neighborhood) and last month was all about the kiddos.
16. Where are some places you saw the face of Jesus in Costa Rica?
Every single day! The people we worked for, the people we worked beside, the people of the church. I often saw the face of Jesus in one of the surf instructors we got to know. He is struggling with walking in the Lord but knows a lot about His love. Every time we saw him we tried to talk to him about his day and about God. One day we were organizing money for a shared check when he walked by and laid down extra money saying, “it’s from God, not me.” and then walked away.
17. Why are missionaries needed on the beach and in a surf town?
Vacation and surf towns are where people go to find something – freedom, joy, themselves; what they are in search of is Jesus. Missionaries are needed so that more people can hear and see the love of Jesus. And to give the children being raised in the town good role models.
18. Did you have lots of big bugs like last month?
No big bugs but HUGE iguanas! They would walk down the street and climb trees and were around three feet long.
19. Since this was your first month of tent living how did it compare to a dorm/hammock?
It hurts your back a little more than sleepign in a bed and a little less than sleeping in a hammock but I loved it!
20. Tell us about your Costa Rican Thanksgiving!
Our Thanksgiving was amazing! We are seriously unbelievably blessed. We were invited to Thanksgiving with our church (www.horizonchurchjaco.org). They had it at a resort near Jaco that had a beautiful pool (where we played ultimate frisbee) and we all brought traditional Thanksgiving dishes for a potluck. It was so much fun to be with my Tica family for Thanksgiving!
21. What are you looking forward to most about Thailand?
It is our first month in Asia so I am excited (and a little nervous) to be in a completely different culture!
-C
