While in Costa Rica, I did something that I’ve never done before. I ended up getting a tattoo. This is something that my parents knew I wanted at some point but discouraged me getting while on the World Race – primarily because of sanitation. However, they are both happy with the result and the meaning behind me getting it. So while the title is Sorry Mom and Dad, it is only because they didn’t know I was going to get it in…Well… Costa Rica!
The Day Of:
For a while now I have wanted a tattoo but I wanted it to be very meaningful and so I could never commit to the physical act of getting one. There were many ideas flowing throughout my head but I didn’t know which one I wanted to be on my body permanently. When I was in Honduras, I finally had a confirmation of what I should get. From there, it was simply waiting for the right time to get it: a safe and clean city where I trusted the tattoo artist with creating an art piece that will forever be something that I look at. When I arrived in Jacó and realized that it was a tourist city, I decided that if God’s will allows I would get a tattoo there. I didn’t really have time to make an appointment and so I waited until one of the last days in Jacó. One of my squadmates was communicating with a tattoo artist at a specific shop and so it seemed that that would be the best choice for me too (as you can see, I’m very uninformed with this procedure so I was relying a lot of my squadmates and God).
On the second to last day in Costa Rica my new team (Mix & Match) walked by the shop to just see if it was open and I could talk to the tattoo artist. Unfortunately the shop was closed and so I thought, “Well, maybe it’s not meant to be.” We had a busy schedule for the last day so I was thinking that the tattoo wouldn’t be occurring in Costa Rica and maybe ever.
However, on the last full day in Costa Rica, it happened! Brianna (one of my Sweet ‘N Low teammates) and I were trying to find supplies and souveniers for family and friends when I had the urge to ask if we could stop by the tattoo shop one more time, just to see. I wasn’t confident that anything would come out of it because we didn’t have any free time but just in case. We entered into the shop and the first thing I noticed was how clean it was – probably cleaner than some shops in America ( <– Ma’s biggest worry). I asked Antonio (the tattoo artist) if he had free time to do it later that afternoon and his response was, “No, but I’ll do it right now?” HOLY CRAP. I was put in the position of deciding impulsively whether or not I really wanted this on my body and had no time to really think about the decision. Bri and I had to be back to the property in thirty minutes and so I had to think quick. Before I even realized it I told Antonio, “Okay yeah, let’s do it.” WHAT ELISABETH, immediately I thought was that even me speaking or the Holy Spirit through me. I’m honestly thinking it was the Holy Spirit.
So right then and there I began prepping to get a tattoo, during a lunch break that was supposed to be same old same old. Bri and I were sitting in a tattoo shop and I was about to get something tattooed onto my body. I also think I should mention that I’m not a huge fan of needles so I was just sitting there praying that I wouldn’t faint, pull my arm away during the process, and cry (luckily I didn’t do any of those things!). So, yeah, during an hour break for lunch I received a tattoo and that’s when I realized that something like that could only happen on the World Race – spontaneous, God led, and with good company.
The Meaning:
I chose ‘Beloved’ because throughout the past 3 months on the World Race, I have realized that in my testimony a common theme is threaded into it. That theme is identity issues and what value I have. I would often do whatever someone asked of me because I felt like that would give me worth and value to them. Simply, I was a people pleaser. And while I knew that that was true, I never saw it as a negative. I saw it as productive and that I was just someone who wanted to help at any moment. Then someone said something that brought to light the issue in this. Someone said that I remind them of a chameleon because whatever people need from me I will sacrifice and become for them; stretching myself thin and always saying yes. At times this is something that I take a lot of pride in but I’ve realized that it has also become unhealthy. I will sacrifice my own needs and wants for the needs and wants of others. Again can be a positive attribute but it had became unhealthy for me. The saying ‘if someone jumped off a cliff would you?’ touched me because most of the times I would answer, ‘yes’. That’s when I realized that I put more emphasis on who others said I was rather than who God says I am. If people say I’m a ‘good student’, I will work countless hours to be that for them. If people ask me to become something that I’m not or don’t want to become I would often sacrifice my morals and opinions to also become that for them. However, God says that regardless of my education level, my future occupation, my past and future guilts and shames; I am beloved. And therefore I should love myself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually because that’s how God sees me. So that is a short version of why I chose the word ‘Beloved’.
Tattoo: New Skull Tattoo (Jaco, Costa Rica)
Handwriting: Clara Garcia (<– I had my best friend from Cornell write out the word ‘beloved’ for me because she is one of the only people in my life, besides my family, who has never tried to make me into someone I’m not. Instead has been the one constant person who has always said I’m loved regardless past sins, experiences, and arguments.
