Finally Focusing on Christmas

I make the journey home tomorrow. It's still hard for me to believe that Christmas is only 5 days away, I feel like I haven't done anything to prepare, even though I have a little ;)

Costa Rica is a colorful place. They paint their houses and their metal gates and windows bright colors. While most of the houses have lights and decorations up for Christmas, they are often lost on me. There is so much to look at here, probably because I don't live here and I am often seeing things for the first time.

Most houses have greens up of some kind. Whether it's over the doorway, or a Christmas tree on their porch (or both), They have hung their greens. Real OR fake, they have both. My friends Hugito and Katherin have a real tree in their small apartment. It is fragrant and smells like a Christmas tree, but it is different from the trees we would have at home (it looks more like a bush). I took a picture of it, but it is stuck on my phone that is off and not connected to anything :)

The trees that I have found decorated have been decorated with ribbon and ornaments that match-- like they came in a set. This tree actually had a butterfly theme and a nativity scene beneath it.

Butterfly-themed Tree

LIGHTS. Lots of places have lights. Whether it's a house, apartment complex or house; there plenty of lights here. Costa Ricans prefer lights that are colorful and that blink. Almost all the lights blink. It's fascinatingly distracting.

Many public places have decorated for Christmas as well. Not "The Holidays". Christmas. I haven't seen a single Menorah, Star of David or anything that has to do with Kwanza. Many stores have full nativity sets out declaring their beliefs. Most, if not all, people here celebrate Christmas so I guess they aren't really offending anybody. On television last week we saw a parade of Christmas Lights in San Jose (the capital of Costa Rica). There was no Menorah.

Here are some pictures of various Christmas things I've seen around San Isidro. Enjoy!

Lights on palm trees always look cool

This apartment complex made a tree out of light-up ornaments

A street in San Isidro at night, close to the town square

This is what they've decorated the park with. The tree has the logo of the local cell service provider on it and there is a Nativity Scene on the right

This is a church member's house we went to for a party

The church member's Nativity scene. Notice the tongue on the cow :)

Change of plans...

I had a list, albeit short, of things that I wanted to blog about. Things that I have seen and experienced while here that were new and exciting or just happy.

Then today happened.

While scrolling through twitter to get my fix of "home" news or whatever you want to call it, I saw the first couple of tweets from legitimate news sources. Shooting at an elementary school in CT they said. 20+ dead they said. Most of them students they said. Elementary school students.

I started soaking up as much as I could, visiting all the news outlets for their version of the breaking news. I read some friend's emotional postings on Facebook along with the ones I had already seen on Twitter. Just trying to get all the details I could.

I am far way. Even though the news here would probably be talking about it, I can't flip it on and see a familiar news anchor tell me what is going on. I can't call up a friend who knows more than me. But I wanted to tell someone. Maybe I could tell Tannia. Maybe she would want to know about this horrific thing and we could pray together. Maybe she could comfort me a little. I went out of my room to find her. She (and we, I'm her helper) was in the process of cleaning the house for the 3rd time this week. She was washing things in the laundry room when I found her and told her what I had heard and read about. It was then that she said the most mortifying words I could imagine.

"That happens so much in your country"

My country. I was left there feeling generalized. Like I was supposed to take some responsibility for some sick guy who had some SERIOUS problems going on and decided to take the lives of innocent people. I know she didn't mean it that way, she was just making an observation. A TRUE observation. But I felt embarrassed. I can't ever remember hearing of something like this happening here in Costa Rica and I am not from here.

Isn't the United States of America a place people move to for a better life? Is the "American Dream" not a thing anymore? It is turning into a country where you might send your child to school in the morning never to see them again. Or where you can go to a midnight showing of a popular new movie never to walk out of the theater.

Where is God in all of THAT? With the shooters of these tragic events? With the innocent children sitting at their desks learning a new math skill? With movie go-ers eating popcorn and drinking soda? All of them? I'm no theology expert. I consider myself young in my faith journey. Despite often feeling a closeness to God that makes all the hairs on my body stand on edge and tears pour out of my eyes, I don't know how to explain events like this. I don't even know what a starting point might be. How can something like this happen?

I have been in Costa Rica for 2 weeks now. During this time I've felt my love for this place reach the brim and spill over. But today, right now, I want nothing more than to have the comfort of my family close, to squeeze my niece and nephew until they both say ouch.

I praise and thank God that this tragedy didn't happen in Northern Virginia, but what does that say about me? Newton, Connecticut may be another community just like ours. I know nothing about that area, but there are families there. Families with children that had no idea that December 14th would bring the indescribable sadness and loss.

I pray that the community of Newton, CT can find healing. That God would provide them with the strength they need to continue. While He may never provide a "why", I pray that in time, all the families affected will reach some sort of peace.

I've been here more than a week and I'm sorry

I'm starting this post with an apology. I sent a bunch of you the link to this blog and then didn't write anything for days. I guess there were enough things to write about, but what if they were things that are only interesting to me? I'm not going to pretend to know what parts of this trip whoever is reading this cares about. But what we did yesterday was familiar.

We woke up early for what Tannia called a "day of missions". Tannia is the daughter of the family I am staying with. She is the sister of my friend, Hugito, who works with Wil and CRMP. I could spend the rest of my trip explaining how everyone I know here is connected. I've even learned more of the "web of relation" while I've been here. It makes my head spin. So-and-so is the cousin of so-and-so and is dating so-and-so who just so happens to be the brother of so-and-so. Ayyy.

Anyway, focus, day of missions. We stopped by the church to grab some supplies, then Don Hugo, Hugito and I went in the truck about 15 minutes down the Pan-Am Highway. We arrived at a small house that was clearly in a neighborhood worse-off than the one I am staying in. Most houses on the street (and in the whole country) have gates that are made of metal bars for protection and to mark the lot, kinda like a fence. The house we went to did not. It had very overcome-able barbed wire. It needed LOTS of work, but we were there only to install new front and back doors...with working locks.

The house

The other special thing about this house was that one of the sons of the family has Down Syndrome. The family has 2 young sons, Moises and Ulises with another on the way, and they didn't have properly locking doors or a gate.

Ulises

Moises

 The 3 of us got to work. Well, I mainly assisted. The boys were both so cute, I was small-talking with them-- asking them about their toys & what they were watching on T.V.-- things that I can say in Spanish. More workers joined us and we got the job done before 11. When we left, I got giant hugs from both boys. Ulises, the boy with Down Syndrome, really didn't want us to go. He clung to me for a good while. It was heart-warming to me that he could reach out to a group of people with such loud scary tools and smelly wood sealer.

It was a very full-filling morning to say the least. I'm thankful that on this random adventure/trip where I had no planned activities, I was able to participate in something like this. It makes my heart smile so big-- just those few hours that we spent with them. It also makes me count my blessings many times over. However when I do count my blessings while I'm here, it really puts things in perspective. Perspective as in distance. My daily life and daily relationships are VERY far away from here. Far in distance, but also in similarity. No mom, don't take that as homesickness. It's just an observation.

I won't be gone so long next time, I promise.

The work group

Dios les bendiga :)
Carrie

Here I am again...

HOLA!

Yes, I am in Costa Rica again. The previous posts in this blog are from my visit in February when I worked with Wil and Costa Rica Mission Projects. Since then, I have lead a team of 10 to this fine country in May/June and now I am here on my own....just visiting. Some people I've talked to about this trip called it a vacation, but I hardly think of it in that light.

I am staying with a family that I know well in the middle of San Isidro, I'm not on some beach somewhere. I don't know how many of you have been completely submerged in another culture, but it's not exactly the  easiest thing to do. But I am enjoying the moments I have just to be here, taking in my surroundings. This place is important to me.

I changed this blog title to "Christmastime in Costa Rica" for a couple of reasons. I love Christmastime. It's my favorite time. I've never been away from home for this long before the beloved holiday, so it is kind of serving as a reminder to what time of year it actually is. Also, I want to compare what I see here at Christmastime to what we do in the states. Please note that it says ChristmasTIME and not Christmas. I will be coming home the 21st :) 

Staying with this family is pretty perfect. I feel like I am at home with how involved in their church they are. I've set foot in that building everyday since I arrived. It's been awesome. Today we even did mission-type work for church which was a familiar feeling.

They are also feeding me well. Every meal I've had since I've been here has been delicious. Which concerns me since there is no consistent "working" aka sweating. Nothing to work it off! Also, I've been the last person to finish eating every meal. I don't know why and I don't know what this says about me. I didn't think I was a slow eater. Just something I've noticed I guess.

Hasta luego!

Carrie

A week later.

Well, here I am, sitting in our family room on a mild Sunday afternoon watching hockey. When I look at pictures and think about where I was a little over a week ago, it feels very far away. It is literally so far from where I am physically right at this moment. Which means I am a person divided. My body is here, in Herndon Virginia, but my heart is still in Costa Rica.

It's been a crazy week. Upon arriving at our house and catching up with my family, I discovered that every day and night of the upcoming week was booked. I had told work that I would be back on Monday barring any extreme exhaustion or sickness. But between birthday celebrations (A.J. turned 20 on Tuesday and Gaby girl turned 8 yesterday), church commitments and work, I didn't have much time to breathe. I didn't even have a chance to even unpack until yesterday.

Just like when I arrived in Costa Rica, I knew coming home would be an adjustment. But I wasn't expecting to be so immersed right away. Maybe I was hoping for life to get back to "normal" in stages instead of all at once, I don't know. But I'm not going to lie, it's been a tad overwhelming. I'm not only overwhelmed with adjusting to my weekly activities resuming, but just being back in this country. Being back in the United States with our customs and our way of life, is different. It's a feeling that is hard for me to put into words.

At random moments, my mind likes to remind me of where I was. For example, on Thursday Sean and I went to the Caps game. The tickets came from a family who has kids in the youth group and Drew got me a set of tickets for Christmas. Sitting there in a full Verizon Center, I all of a sudden thought of the nighttime sky in La Bonita. I thought about its serenity and its vastness. The sky at night, if it is clear (which it was almost every night since it's not rainy season), is striking. Again, it's not something that can be easily and properly explained with words. Anyone reading this that has been anywhere remote knows what I'm talking about. The stars, las estrellas, are breathtaking. They are not only SO CLOSE, there are so many of them. Whole constellations can be seen instead of just partial ones. Why this aspect of the trip popped into my head at that given moment, I don't know. I'll probably never know. But it makes me feel sentimental and sad. At the time, it made me feel like I was in a room with FAR too many people. And believe it or not, I had a great time...it was a great game.

Reminders like that happen often. Usually when I look at my watch. Knowing the schedule of the CRMP workday and week, I know what they are up to down there at any given moment. Which is both good and bad. It just makes me wish I was there. And even though I KNOW I'll be going back, it doesn't help my longing to be there right now. It's hard for me to decipher what exactly that means. Yes, it means I love the place and most definitely feel called there, but my draw to Costa Rica is only getting stronger.

My wants and needs to be there aren't going to go away any time soon and I know my love affair with that country isn't over. But until the wheels are down in San Jose again, I will think and pray about it every single day.

I don't like you, March 3rd.

I mean, I knew the today would come. This trip couldn't last forever. I just did a terrible job preparing myself I guess.

When you are in one place for so long, you get used to it. Not only used to being there physically, but in my mind I was used to being here as well. I was living in Costa Rica, I didn't have to worry about driving or getting to work on time or SNOW or other commitments. But that time is over. This glorious month of February has come to an end. And what a month it was.

I am experiencing mixed feelings about the whole thing. While I know I've been here a month, I feel like I got here yesterday. While I am here, sitting IN the airport, I still cant believe I'm about to get on a plane. I've experienced all of these emotions every time I come here. While this airport (SJO) is very nice, I absolutely hate it. I hate downstairs because there is the possibility that a young gringa could get lost or have to wait by herself for over half an hour. I hate the upstairs because that's where you go when you leave. And I don't want to leave. I never want to leave.

Daniel and I left the hotel in Alajuela at 2:00 this afternoon and grabbed lunch. Then we came to the airport. He was stalling I think because he wanted to pick up the incoming group before taking me up to the dreaded departure area. We waited for the group from Duke for a little while. I introduced myself to all of them but I'm not really sure why haha. Once they were all loaded on the bus we left the airport and hung a U-turn. Through watery eyes, I made the joke to the group that they were turning back and heading home so soon. Daniel helped me get my stuff off the bus and gave me a tight hug. In English, he said "I love you", kissed me on top of my head and sent me on my way. Then he honked the horn until he was out of sight.

It was then as I was walking through the doors of the airport that every goodbye I said in the past couple of days hit me. Some people I met this trip are people that I know for a fact that I will never see again. The people in La Bonita de Changuena were so so good to me. I will miss their smiling faces and their love and trust in Jesus Christ. I wish I could bring them all with me and have them live next door.

I don't have much time before boarding, but I need to say a few thank yous:
-to Wil and Yolanda for everything. For having me, feeding me, teaching me, loving me and yes, even firing me. I loved every second with you and am so thankful for what you do.
-to Sean Devolites for actually getting my ticket. Without it, I obviously wouldn't have been able to go. And for your support and chats throughout. I can't wait for you to come this summer and am jealous of you already.
-to HUMC and the youth there for supporting me and praying for me. I miss you guys and will see you soon!!
-to my ACTUAL blood family, especially my mother. Thanks for all the cards. The guys enjoyed the Mardi Gras beads.

And thanks for reading!!
Dios les bendiga.

Too, too fast.

In my lifetime, I'm sure I've said it over 100 times. February is too short. I've never liked the fact that there are the least amount of days in my birthday month. Now that I am here in Rica, I dislike it even more.

This week was amazing. They have all been amazing. There has been unbelievable progress on Humberto's house, and substantial growth in my family. There is a kind of routine when groups come on this trip (and it may be universal), where the most work gets done on Monday. As the week goes on, there is less working, more talking. Talking to fellow gringos and also to the Ticos. I've observed this with every team so far this month and now I see myself doing it.

Now that I am 3/4 of the way through this journey, I find myself clinging to conversations with the people in La Bonita. Like today. In between breakfast and lunch I basically sat and talked with Pastor Humberto. That's all. No stucco, no sweeping the floor, no watering the cement (which I didn't even know was a thing). Maybe this is why Wil keeps firing me. Anyways, we helped each other through language confusion and taught each other new words. We talked about many things and I wouldn't trade that time for anything.

I have a feeling this week will be more of the same. The fact that my last week here is about to start is setting in. I'll be doing things for the last time. Eating with the new team, taking communion with mis hermanos in La Bonita, sweeping the daggum floor. These are all things that are creating a sinking feeling in my stomach...already. I can't even imagine what next Thursday/weekend are even going to be like.

The only light of it is that I know I carry these people with me, always. Every time I take communion I'll be taking it with all of them; Daniel & Ana, Henry, Pastor Humberto, Amber & Juanito from Mississippi, my dear friends from Fort Lauderdale that found me at the airport, my CRMP family and every other person that I've had the pleasure of meeting.

Tonight I am staying with Wil's mom, Ginna, who has an adorable little house right down the hill from Wil. Wil & Yolanda aren't home because they are in San Jose. This past Tuesday, Yolanda's nephew was diagnosed with Leukemia. He's 11. Wil left La Bonita Wednesday night after church to join Yola at the Children's Hospital. The doctors seem to think that they have caught it early enough for a positive outcome, but the road will be rough. Andre, the boy, will recieve treatments for 15 days straight. But in between those treatments, he cannot go home. He has to live in a clean environment and his family's house isn't good enough. His father own a butcher shop. So, when he is not staying at the hospital, he and Yola's sister, Katia, will live at Wil's.

It is a hard time for the family. I'm looking for prayer soilders to keep them in your daily prayers as they begain this difficult journey.

Dios les bendiga. God Bless you all
:)

More pictures!!

Last Friday (the day after my birthday), Wil and Yolanda and I traveled Manuel Anitonio. It is a beach/ national park about an hour from San Isidro. The plan was to spend the day there with the Mississippi team and the I would ride back to Alajuela with them on the bus.

We had a great time. That beach is so beautiful, some of my friends that came on this trip in 2010 will remember. It was also relaxing to be in Alajuela. I know.that sounds weird, but there is this great hotel there that the group was staying at. Daniel and I stayed there too. We hung out until about noon Saturday to pick up the new team.

Yola and I at lunch at the beach :)


In Alajuela, I was also lucky enough to meet up with my friend Leccy. We met her last summer when we worked in Alajuela. Knowing I had a few hours to kill, I contacted her through Facebook. The power of technology, I'm telling you. Just the fact that it all worked out amazes me. Here we are :

Another week is upon is upon us my friends. This group is a hybrid. Part from California, the LA area and the rest from Virginia, Fredricksburg. They just happened to work together on a mission trip in the past and liked each other so much they wanted to do it again. How POWERFUL is that?! I'm excited.

Until next week!
RAGU

The fastest blog ever.

So, I'm sorry. There is much to share about last week but I have to unpack and repack my stuff before going to bed tonight. Therefore, this will be a pictorial view of last week.

The team from Mississippi was amazing. I feel honered to know them and be a member of their family. I was invited to their devotions each night and was sad to see them go this morning.

This is the front of our church in La Bonita.

This is the eating area with the kitchen in the background. This area is behind the sanctuary.

Here is the project. This is the parsonage where pastor Humberto will live! Thank goodness it has a roof. No more sunburn for this chica.

This is the back of the house. Those Mississippians are sitting back there watching....

....this sunset. This was Valentine's Day actually.

This was the sunset in La Bonita on my birthday. As you can tell, there are no shortages of beautiful sunsets here. My birthday was very fun and I got sung to a lot. After traveling back to San Isidro, there was a cake waiting for me. I shared with the group and the CRMP. Team and Daniel, all my friends!!

One more thing....

For those of you with Facebook, the best way to keep up with Costa Rica Mission Projects is to "like" their page. Wil has been compiling videos of each group and posting the there.

For those of you without Facebook, you can check the link below weekly if you are interested

http://vimeo.com/36454387


Thank you so much for reading :)

Glorious weekend.

Within CRMP, the weekends are for resting and preparing. There really isn't a full day off in between teams going and coming, but in between loads of laudry and packing and repacking, relaxation is found.

Yesterday; Wil, Yolanda Pedro, Pedro's cousin Andres and I all went to a local river for a swim and cool down. Some friends of theirs have a river basically in their backyard and they've created a sort of swimming pool by moving rocks and logs so that water accumulates. It was very fun, but I got even more sunburn!

The new team that arrived tonight is from Brandon, Mississippi. I have a feeling I'll be saying y'all on the regular by the end of the week. Wil and I went to dinner with them tonight and I can already feel it rubbing off on me. Southern drawl...Spanish....I'm gong to be all confused.

I am a little surprised that I am so ready to get back to the worksite. Maybe the fact that there are fresh new faces ready to work is a factor. It cant be that I want to lay MORE concrete. There are 9 new people here for me to get to know. I cant wait to see La Bonita through their eyes- especially the newcomers on their team.

Now that I have replenished my sunscreen supply, I'm ready for week 2!!

PS. My Haiti team will appreciate this..the water up on the mountain in La Bonita is some of the cleanest water in the country. I wish my water people were here to test it :)

(Tonight's sunset)

I made it!

Sorry it has taken me a while to update, I don't have much access to wifi!

Coming to Costa Rica is similar to coming home for me. I feel like I am where I am supposed to be, and it is a great, great feeling.

After finally finding Daniel and the team from Ft. Lauderdale outside the airport, the home feeling settled in. I've never really had that feeling in a place so far from my actual home. Its an interesting sensation.

We are working on a parsonage in a village called La Bonita. For those of you that know Spanish, believe it. Translated, bonita means beautiful. I knew we were going to a place with this name, but I didn't fully understand the name until we headed up the windy, steep, mountain road up to the village. The village is surrounded by green mountain views and lush areas of plant and animal life.

The people in La Bonita match the name as well. They are so wonderful and inviting. They don't hesitate to invite you into their lives even though they have never met you and there is a language barrier. Although my Spanish has already gotten better!!

I'm thankful for the opportunity this trip presents for many reasons, but one of those reasons is the fact that I am meeting so many new people. Not only the Costa Ricans in La Bonita and elsewhere, but the teams from the States. We are all here to be the hands and feet and arms and muscles (some sore ones that I didn't even know I had) of Jesus, why not do it together? Its amazing what the love of Christ does for individuals to make up mission groups. Never ceases to amaze :)

I'll write when I can! Goodnight from San Isidro!!

PS. 6 days until my birthday! You love it, I know.
PPS. RAGU!

Support!

This week has been full of support. I have seen many people in the week leading up to my trip, and I must say. I feel completely engulfed in love-- wrapped up in the arms of everyone who loves me. Special thanks to the following:

Sally Block for making me a birthday cake and putting ALL 24 candles on it. And for hugging me for like 15 minutes before I was allowed to leave her house.

Jay, Sheri, Melissa and the rest of my Haiti team (I mean family- let's be honest) for the goodies and GADGETS for me to take on the trip. For the support and prayers. OOPPS! I mean simply, RAGU!!

Katy & Justin for dinner last night and for the hugs to last me ALL of birthday month <3

To the best coworkers a girl could ask for....Kelly, Stephanie, Calvin & Semisi. Thank you for the goodies and for lunch today. I'm going to update as much as I possibly can!

My mom, for picking things up at Target and the grocery store and various other places that I didn't have time to do. I need that stuff! :)

 Off to do my packing...not the last minute kind...all of it!

Testing 1...2...

You know me, trying to be prepared. Gotta make this blog look right before I leave :)

1 1/2 days!!