Taste and See that the Lord is Good

Died and went to fruit heaven. Oh my goodness. Frutas y verduras como no ya he visto en mi vida. Sorry... okay English. This morning my Papa Tica... aquí...

... took us to the Feria (farmer's market). It made my heart sing a little bit, and I wish a couple people, namely my mom, sister and dear friend Kayla Powell, could have been there. They would have loved it. It's probably an experience best described with pictures.

I made out pretty well with some guayabana juice, carrots, mangos, and a new shirt.

Story time: Last night I was having a major homesick moment. They happen. I do love it here, but I'm at the point where I really wouldn't mind hopping on a plane, sleeping in my bed, eating steak and potatoes, and getting those long-awaited hugs. But last night I read in Psalm 34 verse 8 which says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" That verse resounded in my heart, and then it came to life. It started with a mom hug from a wonderful lady named Flori who we went to church with and has kind of taken me in. I had invited her daughter, Montserrat, to hang out with me and my friends. And yes, that means I have a Tica friend! She is so wonderful. Then the Lord rocked my world with his Spirit displayed through children pouring their hearts at a talent show for a Christian organization that helps get kids off the street. Follow that up with some pizza, and there's one good night. Finally today, the fruit market and spending the afternoon with my Tica sister, Stefani.

We went to a museum, shopping, and ate some McDonald's (she loves it, and well every once in awhile I enjoy a few greasy papas). I got to speak a lot of Spanish the last couple of days and experience the city with my family, and I'm quite content. Literally, I've tasted and seen... and felt and heard and enjoyed the goodness of the Lord this weekend.

You know you're traveling in Latin America when...

The road looks like this

And the ferry looks like this

The words poop, constipation... etcetera are a part of normal conversational vocabulary.

Sorry just had to...

You’re trying to figure out how to pay for a meal for 8 people with a combination of colones, cordobas, and dollars.


You know you’re traveling cheap when…

You walk into the hostel and say, “Wow, this is really nice.” Then you look around again and laugh at how your standards have changed.

A cold shower outside feels like heaven after hike in crazy humidity.

You’re the only gringos on the bus.

You don't sleep because your room is a mosquito and gecko infested sauna.

A clif bar and a bag of beans are your most treasured possessions.


You realize how incredibly blessed you are when…

You’re swimming in Lake Nicaragua at sunset.

You get to see fireflies for the first time!

You’re hiking up a volcano to a 500-foot waterfall.

This is what you see at 5:30 in the morning.

Magdalena, who you just met on the bus, offers you a mint to help settle a very queasy stomach.

You're laughing your head off playing telephone pictionary and charades with great new friends.

You reach that moment after everyone has talked and laughed and maybe cried, and all the sudden there is silence as each person looks out the window, lost in their own thoughts and prayers.

And one more pic because I like it...

So yeah, basically I had an amazing, blessed weekend. We were on the Isla de Ometepe, the island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua.

That's all for now. Bozeman family, I really miss you just so you know :)

La Riqueza

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Check out the church service I went to on Sunday! It might surprise you how familiar it looks, knowing that Costa Rica is a developing country. It was such a beautiful time of worship, full of the Holy Spirit and so much joy. Even if you don't understand the words, I think you can get the idea:) The pastor is sharing Isaiah 43 at the beginning.

Easy to Please

I'm such a simple person. Really small things make me happy. Like making macaroni and cheese with a couple friends yesterday while sitting around and talking about life. Comfort food anyone? Like this morning I woke up, made coffee, and did devotions while the rest of the house was still asleep. What it is about being up before everyone else that makes you feel like you've already kicked the day's butt? Anyway, then I went for a walk. And it was sunny. And that's very rare. It was a big deal that I went for a walk in the sunshine by myself. I found a great big park my Mamatica told me about with her crazy Spanish directions, and I even stopped to do a little shoe shopping on the way. Today was refreshing because it just made me feel like me. I've really stuggled here with lacking freedom. I'm a free spirit, and it's hard to not feel safe, to not understand my surrounding, and to always travel in groups. So really... all it took was a little sunshine and a long walk. Ha. Also, tonight I did something epic. I went roller skating. Yes like you did in 5th grade. My Tica sister took Sara and me, and we had lots of fun.

I've been here for over three weeks now, but I feel like it's been a lot longer. Sometimes I think about where I am on the map. This little strip of land in the middle of two great big oceans. I think about how far away I am from the people I love, and about how incredibly small I am. And then the Lord reminds me and shows me again and again his sovereignty over ALL THE EARTH. He is the KING of KINGS, constant, Truth, revealed, the one and only. He is Jesus, and he is all I need... and so many people need him.

That's all... Goodnight:)

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Provides)

Well turns out I'm terrible at blogging. I could make excuses, but I won't. I'll just try instead to paint a picture of my last few weeks in this place called Costa Rica. My journal is a crazy scribbled mess of emotion, but I won't subject you to all that. I've had my moments of homesickness and panick, but the Lord always helping me. I'm falling in love with this culture and starting to build some friendships.

In classic list form:

My Tica family is so wonderful and so are my roommates. I love hanging out at home with everyone. Some of my favorite moments have been sitting around with my Mama Tica talking about life and asking her questions. I have a sister who is 15, and I also love talking to her. And their grandkids are over a lot in the afternoons. Camilla is 5 and and Gabriel is 8. They both are very entertaining and playful, and love giving us Spanish lessons.

We have two toy poodles named Ceecee and Mini. Sometimes they wear clothes.

We have four incredibly loud birds in the kitchen. One died, and my roommate found it dead under some newpapers in the garage. We're conspiring how to get rid of the rest of them... just kidding:)

Deeelicious food. Even if we go to a restaurant that has American food, all I want is gallo pinto, which is basically just beans and rice mixed together with a few seasonings. I just have to learn to cook this one thing and I'll be good for life! Ah so much pressure off.

One of my roommates has been here for about 8 weeks, and in that time, we've been through four different domesticas (maids). Our Mama Tica keeps firing them, and it's a weird thing we can't figure out.

I'm taking a yoga class in Spanish. Very fun.

My intensive Spanish class is... intense. I actually have to study. What the heck? :)

I never understood umbrellas. I mean, when would it actually rain enough that you would go to the effort of carrying an umbrella? Mmmhmmm in Costa Rica in October it does. Everyday. Great for napping.

And while we're talking about weather, this Montana girl also experienced her first earthquake. The whole house shook for a second, and I thought someone fell out of bed. My family thought my confusion was very funny.

Transportation. Figuring out public transportation is also a new experience. How do you find the right bus?? Ask someone or guess. It all works out in the end.

On the bus this weekend, a couple behind me poured Pepsi into a baby bottle and gave it to their small child. No wonder he's screaming!

I got to see a sea turtle while snorkeling! I've always wanted to see a sea turtle.

Fact: You can cram 11 people into a car that has 5 seats for a 45 minute drive, and passing buses on corners in the rain is still no big deal.

Fact: If your bike chain breaks 5 miles out of town in Puerto Viejo and you're stranded... don't panic.

Fact: If you need to see a doctor, no worries. Family friend Dr. Carlos will see you at the house and maybe take advantage of government healthcare to get you your prescription. (Don't worry didn't happen to me)

Final Fact: There's nothing quite like a long-awaited letter from a much-missed boyfriend to turn a day around :)

Those are all out of order and random, but some of the happenings of the last few weeks of my life. Everyday I start to feel more at home and adjusted here. The Lord has provided some great Christian friends, a random church service at our hostel last weekend, opportunities to talk about spiritual things, and so much more. He's teaching me so much already. It's been hard and I've had moments where all I want to do is get on the plane and be home and comfortable, but at the end of the day, I'm soooo thankful to be here.

Miss you all!!