fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

It rains “cat hair” here.  Yep, cat hair.  Pelo de gato.  They use it to describe the gross, misty, annoying rain.  Like the rain just annoying enough for you to get out your umbrella, but you’re not really sure if it’s raining actual drops.  So move over, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” cause it’s raining “pelo de gato” here!

You can’t buy return bus tickets before leaving for your trip.  Nope.  You’ve just got to go to your destination and hope you can get a ticket back!  It’ll give you a taste of “Tico Time” real quick, haha.  It’s usually not an issue, it’s just the first thing you do when you get to your destination.  But there is virtually always room, at least standing, on the buses.  (Yes, you might have to stand the 4-6 hour ride back from the beach).  Pura vida.

GOOOOOLs and ELLAbrations!!!

Today, I went to my first ever Costa Rican soccer game!!  And it lived up to all my expectations!  A cultural experience to say the least!  Ticos are passionate about their soccer and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!

We went to the Saprissa vs. Liga game, two of the biggest rivals in the country.  Rachel and I awkwardly lingered behind a group of people wearing Saprissa jerseys down Avenida Central downtown until we built up enough courage to ask them if they were going to the game/could tell us how to get to the bus...

Most of the game was zero-zero, and we were just hoping that someone, we didn’t even care who, would score so we could hear them yell GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!  And our dreams came true late in the second half when Saprissa scored and the stadium absolutely erupted!!  It was a home game for Saprissa, so the crowd was absolutely going crazy!  So fun to watch!!

Saprissa Stadium in Tibas

L to R:  Rachel, Me, Bonnie, Laura, Elizabeth (front).
Laura and Elizabeth are two girls from the States,
student teaching here, and being hosted by Bonnie’s family, too!

Later that evening we had an ELLAbration!!  We went out to dinner (to the only “Mexican” restaurant you will find in this country) to celebrate our sweet friend Ella who is finishing up her last trimester of language school here, and will be moving to Managua, Nicaragua next semester.  I am so sad to see her leave, although so excited for what the Lord has for her in Nica.  Ella is so full of joy and life.  Always smiling and laughing.  She cares for people deeply and has invested in her time here in Costa Rica.  Not letting it pass as simply “space inbetween”.  Our team will not be the same without her next semester, but the Lord is going to do awesome things in and through her as she joins the YL Staff team in Nicaragua!

In her own great words, “slightly awkward pic of a
super fun group of people...”  Els, you’re the best!
L to R:  Bradyn, Jason, Bonnie, Jessie, ELLA,
Grace, Me, Alex, Rachel.

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

The Auto Mercado is not a car dealership...it’s a grocery store that has a lot of imported goods.  Tricky.

Ticos are not happy with the quality of fruits and vegetables grown here in late October/November.  Mama Mayra (my host mom) loves to tell me this, haha.  “No está rica/dulce.”  Apparently the amount of rain that they get in October in the height of rainy season, makes for less desirable produce.

¡feliz día de acción de gracias!

Today, Thanksgiving, was the first major holiday I’ve celebrated away from my family.  It was different, but I had a great time celebrating it with 50 other Vida Joven staff here in Costa Rica.  It was so fun to share with the Ticos a significant piece of U.S. culture.

I started the day with a Turkey Trot!  My friend, Susannah, and I have both Turkey Trotted with our families and wanted to have one here.  So I made tshirts, she mapped a course, and we had one!  There were about 35 people who ran and we raised almost $500 for a children’s home Susannah is volunteering with!

L to R:  Me, Ella, and Jessie before starting the
First & Last Annual Slightly Less than 6k Turkey Trot!

Kevin (YL Regional Director) and his wife, Michelle, host Thanksgiving at their house every year for all of the Vida Joven Staff.  And it’s awesome!  They are from the States, but have lived in Costa Rica for years.  I am so grateful for their hospitality.  There was so much love and joy and laughter in their house.  So much to reflect on and celebrate together.

“It is not joy that makes us grateful;

it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”

Brother David Steindl-Rast

I recently listened to a sermon from Common Ground (church in Indy I went to in college).  The pastor talked about this idea  that our job as the church is to be unusually and radically welcoming.  I think a lot of times this is done poorly.  It’s inauthentic and it turns people off.  But today was such a clear picture of what I think this idea looks like.  Being radically welcoming.  Realizing and embracing that everyone has a seat at the table regardless of culture or background.  I knew some people well, and others hardly at all, but we were warm and welcoming.  Rooted in Christ.  Celebrating the things He has done.  The way He’s provided and loved all of us this past year.  And that’s so much bigger than culture or place!  It’s beautiful the way the staff here have embraced the holiday, and it’s a gift to share it with them.  My heart felt full as I looked around the room, one of 10-15 Gringos in a room of 55, talking and singing in Spanish, just taking it all in.  Such a picture of the Kingdom of God.  

Most of the group!

We all had a paper leaf to write what we were thankful for.  Michelle keeps them, strings them on twine, and decorates with them every year.  Mine read,

I am grateful for a year of adventure and celebration.   

We sang.  We played games.  We laughed.  We ate.  We shared.  We celebrated.  So very grateful for this year.  For the lessons.  For the adventure.  For family.  For new and old friends.  For rich experiences.  For embracing opportunity.  For seeing and experiencing the Kingdom in a new and beautiful way.

Grateful for these friends.
Young Life International Schools Costa Rica.

They have the BEST view from their house
and the sunset was absolutely stunning!
It just kept getting better!
You can see all of Sabana, the National Soccer Stadium,
AND THE OCEAN!!!

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

Every person/household/business is responsible for the sidewalk in front of their property.  Therefore, as you might imagine, there is quite a range of “sidewalks” here.  Ranging from inexistent, to crumbled, to brand new.

Costa Rica does not celebrate Thanksgiving.  This is obvious, it’s a U. S. holiday, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget (even when you live here!).  It’s interesting how powerful cultural constructs are.  I’ve always been part of the dominant culture celebrating a specific holiday.  I catch myself wanting to ask people what their plans are for the holiday, and sometimes actually do, which is embarrassing...

wowza!

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Psalm 19:1

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

They make their own Black Friday...or día de menos precios.  Thanksgiving is a U.S. holiday, so they don’t celebrate here.  So there is no day after Thanksgiving retail craziness.   But, since there last major holiday was Independence Day, many stores elect to have a day of savings as an attempt to increase sales.  Looks like most of the retailers will be having this day tomorrow, November 16.

that didn’t go as planned...

So Club has been a little bit of a roller coaster this year.  Lots of kids, no kids, lots of kids, no kids, no kids, no kids.  It’s just super unpredictable and can be really frustrating.  We have been faithful, and continued  to plan events in the hope of kids coming...believing and rejoicing over one.  Wednesday night was no exception.  We had, or were supposed to have, Hunger Games Club.  Our leadership team met weeks before to pray, brainstorm, and plan to make it the best possible night for kids.  We were so excited!  We arrived early.  We dressed up.  We had everything set for a great night.

Or so we thought...

One girl showed up, which was great!  But most of our plans would be a little bit of a failure with just she and a couple leaders.  Alex and I had a meeting in the kitchen.  Not going to lie, we were a little frustrated.  We weren’t really sure what to do.  But we prayed and talked about it and decided to give her the decision of how she wanted the night to proceed.  Either go on with Hunger Games or hangout by the bonfire.  She choose to hangout with the leaders and make smores.  AND IT WAS AWESOME!

Where we saw discouragement, the Lord saw opportunity.  Out of all the kids I know in CR, she is the one who would most enjoy and feel most loved by hanging out with a group of young adults pursuing Christ.  She got to see our team be our team.  And she didn’t just see it, she experienced it.  She was invited in to it.  That night, she was part of our community.  We ended up having a pretty significant conversation that started with a debate of Team Gale or Team Peeta and ended with serious evaluation of what the world says of relationships, how that’s warped, and how Christ gives us another option.  There is no way we could have planned that!  So thank you Jesus for not leaving us in our discouragement, and for faithfully providing an opportunity to reach just one kid here.  It was a great reminder that I am not needed for this ministry.  That this is not my work or our doing, but Christ’s.  And He invites us in.  He invites us to be his hands and feet.  But it’s not about us.  And it’s not about anything we do or don’t do.  Plan or don’t plan.  Ultimately, it is His.  And I say that with freedom and gratitude, it is HIS!

If you are willing, please join us in praying for Club the rest of the year.  For wisdom of how to proceed.  If Club is the best option for our students here, given the reality of their crazy lives, or if we should consider making changes to our schedule and programming (and what those would be).  Thanks for being in this with me.  With us.  With Him.

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

The Children’s Museum used to be a penitentiary.  Yep, interesting.  And it looks like a castle.

The Hunger Games comes out here November 28!  Better late than never, right?

real friends

The past few weeks have been so fun!  I told Rachel that I feel like we’ve reached a new level of friendship.  Like, we’re real friends now.  Not just friends because we have to be, because we’re both here and leading together.  And this is true for our entire leadership team!!  It’s been a couple of months, we’ve adjusted to life here, and we’re really getting to know and love each other!  It makes the fun and joy and laughs exponential!  The Lord has brought some seriously amazing people to Costa Rica, and this experience would not be the same without all of them.

Yesterday we had a Friday Night Hangout.  We leaders had the best time hanging out and eating dinner together at Alex’s before kids came.  Then we had a fun night of Headbandz (GREAT game!  And, you can download it as an App if you have a smartphone...) and kids teaching us leaders how to dance.  Hilarious.  I so wish that was in my blood.  But, as many of you know, it’s not...haha.  But we had three schools represented and some new kids!  It was definitely my favorite hangout so far this year!  We just had a blast!!  I laughed.  A lot.  Which, as many of you know, meant tears were shed.  It was just the best night!

pura vida?

So one of our cross country girls made this awesome video about Costa Rica!  It’s hilarious!!  And right on!  Have you ever thought any these things about Costa Rica???

gettin’ wYLd!

This past weekend was WyldLife Camp at La Cumbre!  And it was SO fun!!  I don’t have a ton of experience with middle school kids and I had forgotten how small and cute they are!  But it was so fun to be able to sit back and watch the weekend unfold before my eyes!  Sixty middle schoolers experiencing joy and life to the full!  Watching leaders pour into kids so they could have the best weekend of their lives!  Adventure activities, ropes courses, carnivals, delicious meals...it was great!  Take a look at our crew!

Three of our high schoolers came as Work Crew for the weekend, so my primary responsibility was Work Crew boss.  Together we washed dishes, swept floors, cleaned bathrooms and cabins, helped Jason and Bradyn with details of Club, and ran special events.  Basically, we were in charge of everything behind the scenes.  We had such a good crew and the Lord did amazing things!  Our high schoolers were from all different parts of the city and had never met prior to the weekend.  It was fun to see them become friends over the weekend and work well together.  Cool how a weekend can touch so many hearts.  It was geared toward our middle school friends, but was also significant for our high schoolers and our team of leaders.

We spent a lot of time in John 13, talking about Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.  Alex (YL staffer) and I were able to find an hour of time that we could give kids to be by themselves.  Silent.  Resting with Jesus.  And they marinated in these verses.  Our kids said that they haven’t really ever had the opportunity to do that before.  The conversation we had after that hour was, by far, my favorite part of the weekend!  Rich and real.  Honest and vulnerable.  Just the best!  We challenged our kids to memorize Colossians 3:23, as well, as our theme verse:  “Whatever you do, work at it wit all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”  It was a great reminder that we were not serving for a “thank you” in return, but out of gratitude for Christ and what He has done for us!

It was a marathon sprint of a weekend!  There was non-stop activity from 5:30AM to 11:30PM but it was the best!  It’s amazing how much you can fit into a weekend when you really try!  And, it was COLD!!!  We were in the mountains and we had to bundle up!!  The best when you’re used to sweating every day!

fun fact friday!

FUN FACT FRIDAY!!!

The base price of taxi’s and buses has increased.  The first kilometer in a tax now costs 605 colones (from 595) and all bus fares increased 5 colones.  That’s about an extra 10-20 cents.

People are paid double in the month of December.  Yep, you heard that right, double!  Every person in every industry gets double pay in December to boost retail sales.

Postage is also twice as expensive in December.  Yep, need to be pro-active in sending Christmas cards here!  Get them finished by Nov. 30 or pay double the whole month of December!  But, it’s not all bad, they donate the  extra revenue to the Children’s Hospital.

The Color Run’s colors got held up in customs.  There was supposed to be a Color Run race last weekend but the colors got held up in customs, so it’s rescheduled for this Sunday.  And lucky for us, we were able to snag some last minute entries!

rain, rain, go away...

Today was a FULL day.  Mondays we always have meetings at the office, and today was no exception.  We have WyldLife camp this weekend (the middle school version of Young Life) and so today’s meeting was jam-packed with details and prep for camp!

I will be taking a couple high schoolers with me and will be acting as a Work Crew boss.   We will be serving the campers by helping with food prep, setting tables, doing dishes, cleaning, running music and supplies for Club...it’s going to be busy but it’s going to be so great!!  Excited to spend a whole weekend with a hand full of high school friends, serving alongside them!

A few prayer requests for camp:

• Protection and safety.  We will be traveling in buses 2 hours outside the city to and from camp.  We also have some kids with some pretty serious health issues/food allergies.
• For our speaker Rich Ward.  That Christ would give him words that would resonate with these campers and Work Crew kids.
• For our leaders.  For deep sleep and rest these final days leading up to camp.  Specifically for Jason and Bradyn who will be leading cabins AND doing program.
• For FUN and energy and adventure at camp!  That kid’s see and experience the Gospel this weekend!

And a Monday wouldn’t be complete without a trek back across town in the pouring rain (the YL office is on the opposite side of San Jose from my house).  We equate the mile walk from one side of Avenida Central to the other as a game of Umbrella Frogger.  You are constantly punching air, moving your umbrella up, over, to the side, between light posts, trying not to hit the other hundreds of people on the street with their own 5-foot-umbrella radius around them.  Lucky for us...rainy season is almost over!!

visitors are the best!

Look who’s in Costa Rica!!!  Sarah, so glad you’re official PA status landed you in Nica/CR for a couple weeks!!  Our beach plans folded because of the weather.  Then I had this great plan to show her all my favorite spots downtown:  Kalu Cafe, Jungle Fruit, David our jewelry friend at the Artisan Market, spice ice cream at the Central Market...Well that plan folded, too, because it was a Sunday and pretty much everything down there was closed.  Boo, not my best performance as tour guide.

But, we still had fun!  Had some fancy coffees at the National Theater (following our fancy breakfast at Taco Bell...you’re not missing anything in the States on that one...it wasn’t good).  Then we headed to Avenida Escazu and ate lunch at Bulali, this sweet cafe with swings!  Yes, SWINGS at the table!!

Yes, we’re matching.

So great to see you, Sar!  Hope you enjoyed your time in the Rica!  See you at Christmas!!

karaoke night

We came back from Nica, had our taxi driver swing us by Sisso to pick up the dinner we had called ahead to order, and went straight to our YL Hangout:  Karaoke Night!  It was so fun!!  The kids LOVED it!   Many of them came because it was karaoke, which was awesome!  We have some super talented high school friends and it was fun seeing them embrace their talents.  You could tell that they felt loved having a place to perform in front of their peers and an encouraging audience.  A couple of our kids even sang songs in Japanese!  It was so cool and a great reminder of how unique the international community is!

#puranica

I got back from the States Monday night at 8:30 and left for Nicaragua Tuesday morning at 4:45am for our visa trip!  Craziness!!  In Costa Rica you receive a visitors visa is valid for 90 days.  Since we are here for more than 90 days, we have to leave the country for 72 hours to renew our visas.  I technically didn’t have to go on this because I had been in the States for 3 nights, but the other interns needed to renew theirs so I went along for the adventure!  And what adventures we had!!  #puranica

Adventure 1:  The eleven hour bus ride to Managua, Nicaragua.  We sat in traffic for over an hour because there was an accident blocking the road.  But, good news, the driver put in Top Gun and we watched pretty much the whole thing before we started moving again.  Luckily, it was smooth sailing from there, including the border!

My go-to bus snack.
Platano chips and a Diet Coke.

Adventure 2:  Riding in the back of a pick-up truck from Managua to León.  Yep, the picture you have in your head is correct.  Four girls and our luggage in the cab of a pick-up.  For two hours!!  Now just add pouring rain and the four of us huddling under a plastic tarp for an hour, clenching it tightly so it wouldn’t blow away!  Haha, quite the experience!  Definitely not what we were expecting, but still grateful for Juan Carlos and Juan Carlos driving us safely to León.

Adventure 3:  Volcano Boarding.  That’s right, we wore bright orange jumpsuits and rode pieces of modified plywood down the side of a huge volcano!  Unlike the previous two, this adventure was planed.  The scenery around Cerro Negro was incredible!!  It looked fake.  Cerro Negro is an active volcano and experts predict it will erupt again at any time.  It’s crazy.  If you “dig” down 1cm at the top and feel the ground, it’s hot!

Adventure 4:  The behind the scenes, roof-top tour of the Cathedral in León.  The normal roof-top lookout was closed because they are repainting the church, but somehow we found someone to take us to the top.  We were literally walking on the roof of the church.  And not the part with the nice little railing.  I never felt like we were going to fall off, but it was very obvious that’s not where they normally let people go.  Regardless, glad we found a way up because the views were gorgeous!  360 degrees of the city and surrounding areas!

 


I love that for the rest of my life, I will laugh when I think about the events of this trip!  Despite its craziness, it was actually quite restful and I am grateful for that.  We have one week until WyldLife (YL for middle schoolers) camp, so we can all use a little rest!

#bretwedding

I went back to the States this weekend to celebrate the wedding of two dear friends!  And what a gift it was!  First of all, I didn’t think I was going to be able to go to the wedding at all.  Costa Rica isn’t exactly close to Lake Placid, NY.  But gratefully, I got the go-ahead from my boss, so I made the trip!

Going to the chapel for the #bretwedding!!!

Megan is one of the sweetest people I know.  She has such a heart for Christ and for serving others.  She overflows with the most authentic joy and is so full of life.  I am so grateful for her friendship that started on a hike up Ampersand, August 2010.  And Evan is another great friend.  He was my boss when I was an intern at Saranac.  He has such a servant’s heart and everything he does is intentional.  It was the absolute best being back in New York with so many great friends, celebrating their marriage!  So here they are, Mr. and Mrs. Bretschneider!!

And what a wonderful weekend it was!  It was quick, just a weekend, but it was great.  I was mentally preparing myself for not being able to see everyone I wanted/have all the conversations I’d like to have.  I was trying to have realistic expectations of a barely 72 hour trip back to America.  But I was blown away!  It didn’t feel like a whirlwind.  I felt like I got quality time with people.  Catching up on life, what’s been great and what’s been hard, what we’re learning and where we’ve seen the Lord at work.  How we’re all adjusting to new jobs and to calling new cities home.

Katie, so grateful for you.

Great place.  Great people.

There were other little gifts in the weekend.  The taste of Chick-fil-A and Chipotle.  And real Diet Coke.  I was reminded what it felt like to be cold.  Got to live in Katie’s Patagonia fleece and have a hot shower.  I was able to see what was left of the fall colors and sip a pumpkin spice latte with another sweet friend, Corine.  I left the States feeling full, rejuvenated, and rested.  I left with energy and an eagerness to dig deep into life here in Costa Rica.  To be intentional and make the most out of my ten months here.  It’s already going by so fast!

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

You cannot clear an accident from the road until an insurance adjuster comes.  And where do accidents happen?  In intersections.  So yes, it causes a big mess and more accidents.  Even the smallest fender bender has to stay put until someone (usually from government) comes to assess damage.

Ticos really want Mexico out of the World Cup.  They were real upset when the US pulled out a last minute victory over Panama, because it meant Mexico still had a chance to qualify.

jaco!

This was a long time coming, but we finally made it to the beach!  Interns usually go in their first weeks before things really pick up the pace, but our first weeks were crazy.  So we decided to take this week’s Monday meetings to the beach!! And how glorious it was!

There were a few hiccups.  One, that our teammate almost missed the bus to Jaco because her bus downtown was taking FOREVER.  She even bailed at the first stop and pulled up in a taxi as the bus was departing.  And two, that our bus broke down on the way there.  #puravida

But, we made it!  And it was beautiful!  We went to Jaco, the closest beach about an hour away.  Well, in theory.  It’s on the Pacific coast and according to the locals it’s the “worst beach in Costa Rica”.  Let me tell you, the worst is pretty darn good!  It was beautiful!

See what I mean?!  This place is pretty gorgeous.  It was really cloudy when we got there (it’s the height of rainy season) and we were convinced we were going to get poured on, but then the sun came out and it was absolutely beautiful!  No rain at all!!  #rainyseasonmiracle

fun fact friday!

DID YOU KNOW???

If a phone number starts with a 2, it’s a home phone.  Starting with 6, 7, or 8 indicates a cell phone line divided by provider (Claró, Movistar, Ice).

The movie theater has the BEST popcorn!  Here, you can mix the butter popcorn and carmel corn for a delicious sweet-salty mix.  Genius!

“La bomba” is also what they call gas stations...same word as “bomb” and “firework”.  Yeah, they don’t teach you that in Spanish class.  I was really confused when I saw a sign “La Farmacia de Bomba”...didn’t seem right.  Or safe.  But, turns out, the pharmacy is in a building that was previously a gas station.  Makes sense now.

After Independence Day, Ticos start celebrating Christmas.  Yes, it’s only October but there are full window displays on Avenida Central (the main walking street downtown San Jose) and I walked into a store playing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  It makes sense because they don’t celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving but it’s just too soon...too soon...

START.

Jessie, the International Schools Area Director, shared this with us at training this week.  I found it intriguing so I thought I’d share.  It is a talk given by Jon Acuff, the author of Start:  Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters.  

Some of my favorite take-aways:

You don’t have to be ready because we have a ready God.

Let the first thing be your worst thing...give yourself permission to be horrible.

God will never be handcuffed by our failures or unleashed by our successes.

Someday is not on a calendar.

Lets not just talk and think about these things, but put them into action.
Lets START.

third culture kids

What/Who are "third culture kids (TCKs)”?  Well, they’re our kids.  And they have a very interesting story.  It’s been such a gift to be a part of this international community, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.  So many of our kids have lived in five or six countries and they’re only in high school!  Without giving it much thought, most of us would respond by thinking their experience is pretty sweet! How we would kill to see all the cultures/experiences/places they’ve seen.  But being a TCK has it’s own unique challenges.  When you think about it, these things are obvious.  It’s just that a lot of times, people don’t think about it...

Here’s a good definition of third culture kids to give you an idea of what life is like for them here.  Or really, anywhere...

A third culture kid (TCK) is a person who has spent significant part of his or her developmental years outside of the parent’s culture.  The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any.  Although elements from each culture may be assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background.

TCKs tend to have more in common with one another, regardless of nationality, than they do with non-TCKs from their passport country.  TCKs are often multilingual (our kids definitely are - all speaking 2+ languages!) and highly accepting of other cultures.  Although moving between countries may become an easy thing for some TCKs, after a childhood spent in other cultures, adjusting to their passport country often takes years.

So basically, our kids create a cultural identity from their passport country (or countries - not uncommon for our kids to have multiple passports!), Costa Rican culture they’re living in, and the culture they create to identify with others like them.  It’s pretty complex!  And that’s the reason we never ask kids where are you from?  That’s a tough question to answer if you’ve moved around your entire life or are, for example, a Gringo who was born outside the US.

Here are some characteristics of TCKs written by TCKs.

You know you’re a third culture kid when...

-You may look like everyone else around you but still don’t fit in

-You get culture shock upon returning to your “home” (passport) country

-You have a passport, but no driver’s license (true for almost all of our kids - driving age in CR is 18, so most leave for college in the States/Europe before they’ve had a chance to learn to drive)

-You think VISA is a document that’s stamped in your passport, not a plastic card you carry in your wallet

-You know the geography of the rest of the world, but you don’t know the geography of your “own” country

-You have friends from more than 30 different countries

-You often speak of your “home” country in the third person as if it were not yours

-North Americans consider your hometown a a tourist spot

-Your circle of friends is as politically, racially, and religiously diverse as the United Nations

-The end of the school year is always bittersweet because so many people moved (or will be moving) away

Doing ministry here is a super unique opportunity.  Christ is really reaching the globe, and we get to see that first-hand!  The reality of the international community is that people leave.  Friends leave.  Teachers leave. They, themselves, leave.  But we get the opportunity to share with these kids about someone who is constant.  Someone who doesn’t leave.  And that someone is Christ.  And not only does He not leave, he goes with them wherever they go.  What a hopeful message for these kids!  Someone who is constant, whose love is constant, whose presence is constant, whose forgiveness and grace is constant.  In a culture that lacks permanence, where kids have a hard time seeing their identity, we get to help them see that they have an identity in Christ.  And that their identity in him is not conditional.  It is not dependent on culture of origin or language or where they are living at the time, rather independent and unchanging.

team time!

It’s been fun to hit the ground running the past two weeks and dig deep into Young Life and life post-language school!  I feel like I’m starting to settle into a “routine”, which, isn’t a routine.  Every day is different, but the weeks are similar.  For instance, every Monday we have meetings at the office.  Tuesdays I go to lunch at Lighthouse (another International school here) and then have Cross Country practice at Country Day School.  That sort of “routine”...

We haven’t had a ton of time outside of YL to hang as a team.  And since we had intern training at the office this morning with Jessie (Area Director), we decided to stay on that side of town and kill some time before we were meeting with some other leaders to catch a movie (half-price Wednesday!).  First, the four of us (3 interns and Jessie) at lunch at Veggie House and ate this delicious wrap!

Who knew falafel and beets could be so good!
And, not going to lie, the first time I ate this I didn’t know I was eating falafel or beets
because I didn’t know those words in Spanish...#puravida.

Then, Jessie dropped Rachel and I off at the mall to wait for everyone else.  Rachel and I are pros at killing time at the mall.  We pulled the total Gringo move and hopped into a coffee shop, ordered a coffee, and set up camp for the rest of the afternoon.  Ticos don’t really do that...

Last minute, as in we were standing at the counter buying our movie tickets, we changed the move we were going to see to El Ataque.  Funny, they “translate” the movie titles of adult films here (the actual movie is in English) but they’re not even close to the actual titles...we saw White House Down.  That decision gave us 2 more hours to hang out and eat dinner together!  So fun to share life together outside of YL!  You don’t think about the impact transportation has on relationships until you’re in a place like this.  Public transit here is good.  The busses are reliable and there are taxis (Well...except for when you call them and they say they don’t have any...).  It’s just always a 1+ hour trek across the city or a 7 mil cab ride ($14), which makes spontaneous hangouts or drop-bys pretty difficult...

All that to say, grateful for some team time today!  You just really learn to make the time together count!

incognito

Last night, International Schools WyldLife (Young Life for middle schoolers) had their annual Incognito Club!  This event requires more adult volunteers so I got to help out and “hide” in the mall!  So fun!!

This is how Incognito Club works:

Adult volunteers who are “incognito" all wear something a little “off” and “hide” all over the mall.  Our event was at Multiplaza Escazú, a huge 3-story mall, so we were able to be super spread out, which was great.  Each incognito person has a puzzle piece, and the kids need to find everyone to complete their group's puzzle.  The middle schoolers divide into small groups and go with their leaders throughout the mall looking for the people who are “incognito” and get their puzzle pieces.

All of us in our “incognito” outfits!

When they think they’ve found someone they ask, Are you incognito?  And then we would respond, Have you seen my donkey?  And in order for us to give them the puzzle piece they’re looking for they have to respond, Yes, he’s wearing a sombrero.

This is a super hilarious event!  I was sitting on a bench on the third floor and could see down to the other two levels.  It was so fun watching the kids speed-walk through the mall, laughing hysterically with their leaders.  It’s funny to see who the kids decide to ask...they’re searching the mall for people in outfits a little “off”, yet, they end up asking lots of regular patrons which is just funny.

It was also hilarious to hear them close to you, deciding amongst themselves if they thought you were incognito.  I was wearing a neon pink at, lime green glasses, and a Hawaiian lei and a group wasn’t going to ask me because according to them, I just looked hipster.  Bahaha!  One of my teammates was sitting on a bench wearing all animal print, holding her OPEN umbrella, and kids were telling her she looked totally normal!

We re-grouped at the end before, Jessie shared her Club talk,
to reveal everyone who was incognito!