Hello from Costa Rica! I would first like to say that I am very sorry for the lack of blogging, considering this is my first one. This first month and a half in Costa Rica has been one of the best times in my life. It’s absolutely beautiful here, the people are so nice, my squad is amazing, the base is gorgeous, and the ministry is so stretching.
Since being here we have already seen so much! My team and I got the opportunity to go to La Montaña Christian Camp, which is in the middle of the rainforest where we saw tree frogs and volcanos. We also were able to spend a week in Jacó for our month one debrief. We got to surf everyday and eat breakfast, lunch AND dinner at a cute little açaí bowl restaurant. And yesterday we went to a beach at the Caribbean Sea called Manzanillo. The water was so clear you could see your feet. We have also been able to spend many days in downtown San Jose which is very crazy, but really cool.
The culture in Costa Rica is very people/ relationship oriented. Everyone we have met is so friendly and they just want to get to know you instead of what they want you to do. Being able to create relationships with people here is one of the easiest things. Every time we pass someone on the street we always greet them with a “hola” or “buenas” and they say the same.
One of the best parts of being here in Costa Rica is Squad Z. I know that every night without fail, I will be able to laugh so hard I might pee my pants or have a deep conversation with someone and feel 10 times closer to them. We are definitely a crazy, loud, big and a sweet, sweet family who I can’t wait to do life with for the next seven and a half months.
When I think about beautiful, I picture our base. Being able to wake up and go outside on the back porch and look out onto to a mountain just chilllin is one of the best things about Costa Rica. And when I think about family, I picture our common area where we eat meals together, play games together or watch movies. And when I think about creativity, I picture our giant chalk board wall where someone is either trying to figure out who left out a dirty knife or letting us know about squad wide church. Our base is home and everyday I am extremely thankful that I get to wake up in my bed in a house with 30 of my favorite people.
We recently started working with the organization “CRU” at the University of Costa Rica, which is really helping me get out of my comfort zone. We spend 2 hours in the morning going up to college students and talking with them about God’s word and creating friendships, and if you know me then you know that talking with people I don’t know is a big fear of mine. Being here has allowed me to grow in so many ways and I know that God is working through me to help me share His word with so many amazing people. We have also been able to go to La Montaña Christian Camp. There, we were camp counselors and had to help on the high ropes course, which is another fear of mine. I was put on one of the highest spots and helped transfer 45 year old ladies to the next part of the ropes course. By the end of the 2 hours we were on the ropes course, I wasn’t scared at all and didn’t want to come down. God is using different ministries to help me grow in so many ways. I already feel more comfortable going up to strangers and talking to them and being able to feel more confident in myself while I share His word has already made a huge impact in my life.
It’s so sad to think we only have 5 more weeks left here in Costa Rica, but I can’t wait to see what Cambodia has in store for me and my relationship with God and to see how much more I am able to grow in His name.
