On a random side note, you will notice from my pictures this time around that I and the other male interns in the office are growing beards so that come this December 1st we can have ridiculous mustaches. I know that is very juvenile, however, this is one of my last times that I can do it without seeming too unprofessional.
This week has been a special one for me, because both sets of parents finally “met” and talked and saw each other via Skype. I had to translate the whole time, but it was still really fun to hear them interact; though a bit strange talking about myself to each of them.
Also, my mentor and I are making great progress on his rancho. We have been pouring a lot of concrete this week, but should finish tomorrow with our pour of the pizza oven. The hope for me is that I can enjoy an oven-baked pizza before I leave.
Work is work is work, yet I enjoy doing all of it, because I know the benefit that it bring for hundreds or thousands of people who will eventually use it. With regards to our work in the office, it was encouraging this past week to find out about the successes of past projects that the EMI office in Central America has completed. I am not gong to lie, there are some days were I don’t always know if the work I complete will come to pass, because who knows (Well, God does.) if the ministry that we are serving can raise the necessary money and that construction goes well. However, we work by faith unto the Lord and leave the rest up to Him. He has control over everything and is intimately involved in each of our lives. So really there is never any reason to worry.
Now on to praises, prayer requests, realizations, and pictures from my recent travels.
Praises & Prayer Requests:
- The EMI Costa Rica projects, both past and present, are progressing at a good rate, but we still have much to do for the YWAM Gonaives project, before I leave in the next few weeks.
- Everyone in the office is in good health and good spirits. Some times we can all get beat down, however, recently this has not been the case. I have noticed that things seem to be amplified when you live in a foreign country. Little annoyances can become larger problems if you let your circumstances get to you.
- As I mentioned earlier, my parents all were able to met each other, and I hope that they can talk more in the coming days. As well as when I return to the States.
- Time with my Tico family is just like I was actually born into the family. I absolutely love my family and enjoy our mornings, evenings, and weekends of conversations, joking around, and enjoying life together.
- I need the mental tenacity for my re-entry to Texas, especially at Christmas. I have a feeling it might be a bit hard for me.
Realizations:
In my time here I have realized several things:
- First, gallo-pinto with natilla and a fried egg are much more filling than cereal, oatmeal, or fruit, but much less healthy.
- Second, consistently going to before 9pm is not difficult when you wake up an hour before dawn.
- Third, taking public transportation is fun. Never have I ever been more dependent on buses and taxis in my life.
- Fourth, every time I travel to a touristy place, I get embarrassed at just how “American” gringos can be.
- Fifth, people are people; which means that regardless where in the world you are, people have similar wants and desires. For example, my Tico family and friends have some of the exact same wants and desires as my family and friends back in the States. The only difference is that the vast majority of my friends here only speak Spanish.
- Sixth, you can thoroughly enjoy life with much, much less than you realize. There are many things that I have not had with regularity here, and yet I have cannot remember a period of time that I have enjoyed more than being here in Costa Rica.
- Seventh, God knew that I needed to be in Costa Rica right now. He knew that He needed to pluck me out of my life in Texas and remove things and people of value from my life in order to bring me back to Him.
- Eighth, I forget too easily the true magnitude of God’s grace, and the level of love and devotion that our Savior deserves. We must daily preach the gospel to ourselves.
- Finally, faith is a pivotal and integral to our development as followers of Jesus Christ. It grows as we grow in our relationship with our Heavenly Father, and step out more and more in lovingly obedience towards Him.
Our Travels:
Manuel Antonio:
Over Halloween weekend I and the other interns went to visit Manuel Antonio, a very famous and beautiful national park on the Pacific Ocean side of the country. I always feel like such a gringo/tourist when I go on paseos during the weekend, but you know what… I am!
It was fun taking a tour through Manuel Antonio. We had a really good guide and asked him to speak mostly in Spanish. I don’t know exactly what it is, but there is just something about taking a tour listening to a “foreign” language in a foreign country!
Jaco:
The weekend before last most everyone from the office went to Jaco to savor a relaxing day at the beach. While there, we also celebrated a couple birthdays!
Volcan Arenal & San José:
This past weekend we spent time near Volcan Arenal and in the capital city of San José. In La Fortuna – the city at the base of the volcano – we enjoyed our time at Baldi Hot Springs and Resort. We ended up getting a really good deal there and enjoyed our afternoon and evening relaxing in the different hot springs. The only two unfortunate things about that day were first, that Baldi was basically all married couples on their honeymoon or anniversary, and second, that it was cloudy the entire time we were there and could not see the volcano. Maybe next time I will get to see it. We stayed at a very, very inexpensive hostel and hotel.
The next day we rode a bus back to San José, to go exploring a bit more downtown. We walked around the older part of town and spied out the different theaters and museums that we would like to visit before leaving Costa Rica. The weather was absolutely perfect in San José; it felt just like fall!
