It’s impossible to believe that this is our second week in Costa Rica. Time is literally flying by!! And while there have been a couple situations I would have liked to avoid, life has been very sweet.
Working at the school has been a great first ministry. They are very invested in relationships here, and I love it! On Monday the teacher I assist just didn’t show up, so I was awarded the opportunity to teach third and second cycles* by myself, as well as teach first cycle with Molly (a wonderfully sweet girl on the Wildflowers team) and lead devotionals for third cycle. My teacher finally showed up around 11, and he brought me fruit from his house as a thank you! Guavas and some sort of cross between a little plum and a grape? Yummy!
*Third cycle is 7th and 9th graders, second cycle is 4th and 6th, first cycle is 1st and 2nd graders
Another highlight has been the fruit stand just down the street from us. Their mangos are to die for, and I’m pretty sure I’ve spent most of my personal money there! The owner is super sweet to us every morning when we walk down there, greeting us Costa Rican style with a kiss on the cheek and a “pura vida” while I buy my mango. (Funny story: today I had to buy three mangos for team lunch, and the owners wife made fun of me for buying three instead of one. We laughed together and it was swell.)
Yesterday we had our first real off day. We took the public buss to Heredia and then had to transfer to another bus line for the drive to San Jose. We got to the city and split into our teams, and pretty much walked around shopping and eating food and taking touristy pictures. We had some churros with chocolate and dulce de leche and they were so good. (My taste buds are really enjoying Costa Rica. My legs are ‘enjoying’ running lots and lots of miles!) I also bought a pair of earrings I love. They are huge and tacky and amazing. (I’m going to try and insert a picture here, if theres no picture, check my instagram. @hhallifax)
One really great thing my team does is girl/guy time. Pretty much you get with your gender and spend some time talking or playing a game or eating food or multiples of the options and getting close to the people of the same gender on your team. So on Sunday, my fellow ladies and I (and our squad leader Abi) took the bus to Heredia to find an ice cream store. Somehow, we got off at the wrong stop and there was no ice cream to be found. So we walked around and explored and had a great time before coming back. Then, yesterday when we were going to San Jose, we asked our ministry host where we were supposed to make our transfer, and voila! You know that bus stop that was the wrong one? Well it was the one we needed to get off at to make it to San Jose! We knew our way around the area! It goes to show that everything happens for a reason.
Let me just say this again, Costa Rica is amazing. There hasn’t been a day yet where I just looked at the ceiling and asked “God, why in the world did you call me here?” (at launch, heck yes I said that. Like every other hour. But not here.) I’m loving my time and my team and the ministry here. I can’t believe I get to spend three more weeks here!! I’m one lucky girl.
As for prayer requests, I don’t really have anything too specific! Mostly just the general day to day things, and that God keeps up the work He has started here. I love you all and I’m so grateful that you all have stood behind me to give me this opportunity!
Love, Hannah
