Costa Rica - Day 5

“The world is calling your name to come and see what beautiful things you can discover.”
-Author Unknown

What a beautiful quote to encapsulate what’s happening this week, both for our group and for our Costa Rican partners and friends.

We’ve all quickly settled in to our new routines and roles. That said, each member of our group has been quick to jump in to help course-correct if plans change. It’s pretty remarkable to have a group of 14 people who work together so well in such short order.

Today seemed to dawn earlier than usual. Maybe it’s an adjustment to our new surroundings. Our bodies might be getting used to the morning chorus of birdsong, with the soft sunlight coming in the bunkhouse windows. No matter the cause, this morning seemed to have everyone up earlier than usual. It was a quiet time, and that’s always good for reflection, for journaling, for prayer, for sending a note to loved ones back home, or to simply sit in the quiet, absorbing the sounds, just being still.

It’s such a gift to be able to slow down, to use our talents to help create new things, to disconnect from the “real world” for just a little while, and to breathe. It’s a part of this experience that was somewhat unexpected, but it’s so, so precious.

Costa Ricans have a saying: “Pura Vida.” It translates to “pure life,” but it means so much more. It can be hello, goodbye, don’t stress, be grateful: it’s a motto here, and it’s a good one. It helps remind them, and us, to not sweat the small stuff, and to focus on the good. The projects we’re working on can bring frustration. Some of the tools might not be ideal for the task, but they do the job. Some plans might need to be changed midway through, but again, this group is remarkably flexible, and the course-corrections happen pretty quickly. To put it simply, we’re making it work, even if that requires a re-do. Or two.

Pura Vida!

Jayden joined our team today. He’s a first year online college student at Pike’s Peak College Colorado, and his family moved to Costa Rica in 2021. Their story is amazing: they came for a visit, fell in love with the country, and never left. His plan is to study business and to soak up life lessons from his new home. He added so much to the day. His enthusiasm, his great energy and his lightning-fast painting skills were welcomed by all.

In the morning we met members of ‘Iglesia Evangelica Metodista Peniel de Peje,’ the on-site church. Carlos and Valeria stopped to visit in the recreation center after tending to the beautiful flowers and plants on the property. They volunteer on Wednesdays, assisting with grounds keeping, which is no small task.

Valeria is taking a university course in English and is hoping to study English or computers in the future. Carlos is retired. Two of our group joined them for a walk through the thriving, colorful gardens covering the property. Their meticulous work, the beautiful flowers they’ve planted, and the ongoing work being done on the grounds is a testament to their love of the church and the people here. Afterwards they joined our group for a visit, sharing stories and laughter. What a blessing it was to spend some time getting to know them.

Pura Vida!

Our noontime meal at Peje was nothing short of spectacular: a local taco salad dish garnished with salsa that’s simply out of this world! Luscious, juicy watermelon was served as dessert, and we had a mid-afternoon snack of sugar cane and fresh-pressed juice, which was sweet, refreshing and so, so good.

Our groups made amazing progress today! There is now a completely assembled bench to sit on that also serves to protect external wall pipelines. The privacy walls in the new bunkhouse restrooms are progressing nicely, the accent wall is becoming a realized vision, and virtually every ceiling girder in the recreation hall is coated with fresh blue paint. What a feeling of satisfaction it is to walk from building to building, seeing the results of everyone’s cooperation and efforts. There have been hiccups along the way: everyone simply took a moment, made some changes, and tackled things again.

Pura Vida.

Back at the Mission Center, we all quickly cleaned up and enjoyed an early devotional led by Martin. He asked us to be kinder to ourselves. The quest for perfection serves no one and can often keep us stuck instead of growing in our lives and our faith. He also served up two fantastic quotes off the top of his head: ‘Live to give’ and ‘The past doesn’t last.’ Both are truly words to live by.

After another fresh, delicious dinner, we quickly cleaned up and drove five minutes to the Methodist Church of Cocori’ to experience a smaller, more intimate service. Yolanda joined us, and it was such a special treat to be able to share that time with her. Once again, we were treated to a beautiful praise service with wonderfully talented musicians: two terrific vocalists, keyboards and guitar, with an absolutely spectacular drummer who might have been all of 12 years old. Their artistry and musicality made the service very special, and the pastor’s passion and energy were palpable and contagious. We were warmly welcomed, as we have been everywhere we’ve gone, all week long. The love, the hospitality and the immediate connections we’re making with our Costa Rican friends continue to thrive.

Pura Vida!

It felt good to have some familiarity and a bit of a “routine” in our day. Fanny and her amazing family and friends continue to make our tummies so happy, and the coffee in the morning is strong and good. The ride to Peje has become a chance to hear stories, to learn more about each other, or to look at the beautiful mountains, the clouds skimming their peaks. In the fields we can see workers harvesting pineapples. Scattered here and there are cows, grazing on the rich green grass.

The flowers and trees. The unbelievable beauty of this place. The opportunity to worship with another new group, to share God’s love through music and prayer, and to leave knowing we’ve made new friends is absolutely priceless.

All of our lives are changing through this experience, in the best ways.

Pura Vida.

“The most important thing is to love God. The rest is just details.”
– Carlos, member and volunteer at ‘Iglesia Evangelica Metodista Peniel de Peje’