Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye - Our Last Week in Tuis, Costa Rica

Adios, pero no para siempre!

Saturday, March 16

We slept in as late as we could, had a relaxing morning and then made a plan with the Morigeau family to go to the pool.  On the way, we heard from Johan that there was a fair and that there were two pools there.  He said that it was a better place to go, so we decided it sounded fun.  He helped us onto the correct bus and then told us he would be there soon. 

This new plan did not go as planned.  Our first clue should have been: we were the only ones on the bus that was going to the fair.  When we arrived, it was a ghost town.  The only people there were people working the booths and the booths weren’t open yet.  It was lunch time, but no one was there.  Anyway, we headed in the direction that the bus driver pointed to find the pool.  We found the pool all right… but it was empty.  They had closed the pool in order to paint it.  We did not have much luck.  We asked when the fair was starting and they said: 3:00.  We paid $6 for a taxi to take us about 2 miles up the road to CATIE to go swimming in the pool there.  We had been there before, and that is where we should have gone in the first place… if we had only known about the pool being empty and the fair starting later in the afternoon.  Oh well.

When we arrived at CATIE, we were pleased to see that the sun was still shining.  In fact, it never rained all day... finally the weather cooperated with our swimming plans.  It was sunny until past 4:00 when we finally decided to pack up and head for home.  What a great day to relax and do nothing after a tiring three days!

When we arrived home, our friend Chingi was waiting for us on our doorstep.  He came to visit us and say goodbye one last time.  He told us he wants to visit us one day and that he will be practicing his English for that day.  What a great kid he is!  We will miss him a lot.

At 7:00, we headed to CISA for youth group.  When we arrived, only Christian and Ariel were there.  Eddie played a game with them on his iPhone and I entertained Jaden with mine while we waited and hoped for more kids to show up.  Around 7:40, Eddie was getting a bit antsy.  

He had called Josué, and he didn’t answer.

  

He called Hector, and he didn’t answer.  

The youth group threw us a surprise going-away party!

He was just about to call it a night when about 15 people showed up from around the corner, 

much to our surprise!!!

After feeling so "unloved"... the kids surprised us and made us feel SO LOVED!  Gracias a todos!!!

They planned a “going away party” for us, and they got us.  We were both sad that no one had come to our last night at youth group.  Instead of no one coming, everyone came!!!  We had a blast.  We played “Chubby Bunny” Costa Rican style: “Chancho Gordo” (fat pig).  

Chubby Bunny Costa Rican style: Chancho Gordo.

Chubby Bunny Costa Rican style: Chancho Gordo.

We also played pass-the-life-saver-with-a-toothpick-in-your-mouth game (I don’t know what it is called).  We also made one last “Harlem Shake” video, and then Hector shared a few words of appreciation for us and a few other people spoke up to thank us too.  We were so encouraged by their love and appreciation!  Afterwards, we celebrated with pizza!

Hector, Eddie and Daniel

These two guys have been great friends to him for the past 6 months... they have also been a great source of entertainment and encouragement to us all!  Thank you for everything!

 Sunday, March 17

Our last Sunday at the Mission was a special one.  Hector planned Special Service during church where he asked Eddie to anoint the core church members and in turn anointed us.

After church, Kirsten and Ryan ate lunch at our house and invited us to their house for dinner

since we had very little food left in our kitchen.  (That's what happens when you lay by the pool all day instead of being responsible and going grocery shopping.)

We grocery shopped in La Suiza for some necessities, took a taxi home and then caught the 6:00 bus to their house.  Kirsten made tacos, and Noah and I made a sweet dessert. After a fun night of socializing and soaking up one of our last evenings hanging out with the Morigeau family, we tried to take the 9:30 bus home.  I am not sure if we missed the bus or if the bus was really late, but after about 15 minutes of waiting, Jason, a friend of Eddie’s, picked us up and gave us a ride home.  Praise the Lord!

 Monday, March 18

This is our last week of Spanish Class.  We still have class with Patricia and we are still learning more "subjunctivo."  I am not even sure your average native Costa Rican would know how to use the stuff we are learning... I am starting to "check out."  If I don't know it by now...

I spent the afternoon in the kitchen while Jaden napped.  I made Mango bread, guacamole, and started the process of packing because this coming week is so busy.  There was a Core Church Member Meeting at our house, so about 15 people were coming over for a light dinner and snacks.  Gatica made arroz con pollo for everyone and Hector led the meeting.  He encouraged them to make a commitment to this group and to make it a priority in their lives.  When Eddie and I leave, it is Hector and this group of people who are going to lead this church.  We are thankful for our time here, but we know it is in their hands and God's hands now.  It was such a bittersweet moment.  As each person left our house this evening, it was with both joy and sadness.  We are joyful for the time we had with them, but we are also sad to say "goodbye" to such a beautiful group of people.  I know God used Eddie to help them to refocus their church, but God also used them to touch our hearts and change us forever, too!

Tuesday, March 19

In class with Patricia today, we practiced our Spanish that we had learned so far, and we finished watching “El Estudiante.”  I love that we can watch movies and t.v. in Spanish and have an idea of what is going on.

We wanted to go to Turrialba this afternoon without Jaden, and Diana volunteered to stay with Jaden and study for school while he napped.  We invited her over for lunch and she stayed with Jaden while we made our last trip to Turrialba.  We wanted to do some last minute shopping before it was time to say "goodbye" to this beautiful country.

We took the 4:00 bus home, hoping to give Diana time to get to class at 5:00.  Unfortantly, the bus sat still for 15 minutes because they were painting the lines on the road.  She had to meet us at the bus stop with Jaden and head quickly to class.

Josué came by at 6:00 to help plan the Bible study, and about 6 people showed up for our last meeting.  Eddie discussed the basics of the gospel with them and demonstrated how Christ is the only way to God.  It was also sad to say "goodbye" to this group of people.  Instead, they all promised to come over on Thursday to say one last "goodbye."

 Wednesday, March 20

Even adults like field trips.  Today, we went to a farm.  A few months ago, Eddie and Amanda’s teacher Karen planned a trip to her parent’s farm for us, but it rained so it got canceled.  On Monday, she invited us to go, and thankfully today was a gorgeous day.

The farm is a 45-50 minute walk up the mountain from CISA.  Her dad ended up giving us a ride, for which we were grateful.  The house and the farm are gorgeous.   The property and the farm are owned by a woman who lives in Florida and she only comes once or twice a year.  The view is indescribable, and the clear day made it all the better...

There is a large house, a cute cabin, a barn with 4 horses, a goat, 2 cows, 3 ducks, several chickens and an oven that uses manure for fuel!!!

We had class outside and spent part of the time touring the farm.

Of course, Eddie is entertaining Patricia during class on this gorgeous morning.  Going to the farm was a great experience for our last week of class.  

The biggest kitchen we have seen in Costa Rica

The living room.

Ezra and I were hanging out in the barn
with the horses.

Our vicious teachers: Karen and Patricia

Kirsten, the "Goat Whisperer."  She made sure to check to
see if this goat was still giving milk.  It wasn't.

What a view and what a handsome husband I have!

Eddie and Ryan, with a whole lot of crap between them.
Literally.  This is where they store the manure that is
transfered into fuel for the two stoves in the houses
on the property.  Eww... gross... but very cheap!!!

The hungry chickens all huddled together.

The Birthday Girl!

Once we arrived back at CISA, we headed home for lunch.  After lunch, we surprised Gatica by calling everyone from CISA to come sing happy birthday to her and eat cake (it was her birthday yesterday).  She loved it, and it was such a great opportunity to have one last celebration with everyone before we leave in two days.

Jaden played with Noah and Ocean outside until it was time for them to catch the bus and for him to nap.  After he woke up, we headed to Samia’s house for dinner and for a chance to meet her friend, Cheryl.  Cher is a former student of CISA, and she returns to visit each year for a few weeks.  She arrived today with her friend Julie, so Samia and Freddy were excited to be able to introduce her to them.

When we met, we were trying to speak in Spanish and Freddy interjected to remind us that we could speak in English... i knew that, but i just wanted to speak in Spanish to include everyone in on the conversation and for more practice... that didn't last too long!

Anyway, Cher and Julie were very sweet.  I am glad we got to meet them.  They are both nurses and they both love Jesus.  God has used them to help Samia start her business "Samia's Garden."  She sews bags and Cheryl brings them to the US and sells them for her and sends her the money.  It is awesome... check out her page on Facebook!

We said our goodbyes and headed home with Jaden.  After we got home, we finally prepared for culture class (without internet) and fell exhaustedly into bed.

 Thursday, March 21

Our Culture Class topic this week is "Semana Santa" which means "Holy Week."  Patricia helped us with our topic and our research because our internet was not working.  I think it was blessing from God because it gave us an opportunity to converse with Patricia about her faith and her journey with God.  She wanted us to talk about the traditions of the Catholic Church during "Semana Santa" and to also talk about what the Christians do during this week also.  Since we had no functioning internet, Patricia was our sole source of information.  She shared with us the many traditions and superstitions (one of them involving this "holy branch" hanging on our door thanks to Ryan) of the people in the Catholic Church.  She also shared with us that she is taking a break from church because she does not believe that all the rituals and routines are necessary for a relationship with God.  She is right, but Eddie also got to encourage her to find a church that believes what she believes... like the Mission.  She asked more probing questions about it and told us that she likes the way Eddie thinks.  Eddie was quick to tell her that he is not the only one who thinks like that, and I hope the seed planted means that she will search out a church family where she can grow and be nurtured in her faith.

Eddie and I on graduation day with Karin, Patricia, and Ana.
Jaden with his  teacher, Diana.
I was so sad that Sonia could not be there
so I could say goodbye to her, too.

After Culture Class, we GRADUATED!!!

After a tearful goodbye speech in español... (that I never thought I would get through)... We said our last farwells to the beautiful people of CISA.  I am thankful for our 6 months here, and I will never forget it.

This afternoon was packed full of more things to do and people to say goodbye too.  At 1:30, I went to my nail appointment with Siomata and said goodbye to her.  Then I stopped by Erika's house to say goodbye to her.  Then we headed to Kirsten and Ryan’s house for dinner and goodbyes to them and Macha's family...

Then around 8:00, Karen and Silmer came over with banana bread and they gave us a ride home.  Around 9:00, our living room was filled with people who came over to say one last "not goodbye, but see you later."

... and we can't forget the photographer, Freddy!

Karen and Silmer and Sael were the last to drive away, but the final goodbye was from Josué.  He waited until everyone left before he said his final words.  Eddie and I about broke down in tears once again as he thanked us and promised to see us again one day.  (I am kicking myself for not getting a pick of those two.)  Lord willing, he plans to get apply for his Passport and Visa and come to visit us in a few months.

Finally, around 10:30, we finished packing and headed to bed.

Friday, March 22

Our last morning in Costa Rica... what a bittersweet day.  We are filled with sorrow that our time here has come to an end, but we are filled with joy at the same time at the thought of seeing family this evening.  We are sad to leave and ready to go back to the US... all at the same time.

We woke and ate breakfast and loaded up Daniel’s car with all of our luggage.  We said about a hundred "goodbyes" to Gatica and left our home for the past 6 months.  Tuis is one special little town that will always hold a special little spot in our hearts.

All went well as we caught our 1:00 flight out of San José and landed in Miami.  Jaden did well on the plane… although it was the first time he seemed to really notice when the plane took off.  He was a bit nervous to be near the window.  When we got our luggage and were ready to go, we borrowed a stranger's phone to call Eddie's dad... he was waiting for us near the baggage claim and we reunited with him and headed to our new "home," Coral Springs, Florida.

It is there that we will be living with Eddie's parents for an indefinite amount of time.  If you want to reach us, contact us on Facebook.  We have a new phone number and functioning internet for the time being!  We praise God for the little stuff!

I plan to keep this blog, but I will be updating it a lot less frequently.  I will continue to use this a s means of sharing about all the new things that God is doing in our lives, but the day-to-day journaling ends here!  Thank you to all of our faithful followers and those who encouraged me to keep it up.  We have learned so much along the way, and we hope to continue practicing our Spanish with Eddie's family, our Spanish-speaking friends, and any Latino stranger on the street.  Thank you for your prayers along the way, and please continue to pray for us as we seek out where God is leading us. 

Chirripo - Day 3

Friday, March 15

Chirripo: 

I woke to sore muscles once again, but my ankle felt almost as good as new.  We ate breakfast, sorted through our stuff to decide what to leave behind and packed up to leave.  I left behind the whole outfit I wore there (Amanda’s yellow-flash t-shirt will be a part of Chirripo along with Alison’s fit-flops which will be used by a sweet old woman with sore feet).

After breakfast, we packed up and headed out.  

We stopped by the school to see the aqueduct that was built a few years ago for the school.

We also stopped to see another house... 

...and to visit the same woman who came to visit us yesterday.  I was able to give her the shoes in person...

This is her granddaughter...

This is their family's shower...

We also visited their latrine...  It was awful... And it was so full that it was hardly worth using anymore.

Soon, it was time to start our hike back.  This is the part where I was following Daniel and his monkey strapped to his back pack... he soon got so far ahead that we couldn't see him...  hiding in the trees... when we pass him is when he jumps out at screaming... just the right moment to scare us to death.

I was feeling pretty good on this part of our hike, but my legs were defiantly still sore.  Thankfully, I had elected to rent a horse to take me back.  After crossing the river, hiking along the bank of the river, 

 ...and the relatively flat area of the jungle for about 3 hours, we arrived back at the plaza where I was able to mount the horse.  Adrian's horse was just across the plaza.  We stayed together for our ride up the mountain.

This ride up the mountain involved a lot of mud, running into a tree, rain, a horse who stopped to rest every three steps or eat leaves every five.  Even though it wasn’t easy, it was way better than walking.  My poor horse wanted to stop and I totally understand why.  The poor thing had to carry me, two bags and climb up a mountain for 3 hours.  The owner of the horse sent his 12-year-old daughter to lead the horse up the mountain.  I felt so guilty sitting on that horse while she and the horse carried me up the mountain.  She hardly broke a sweat by the time we arrive; and, after a 20 minute rest, she turned around and headed back down the mountain to go home.

Once we arrived, we were able to purchase snacks and rest while we waited for our ride.  Once the truck arrived, we piled in and snuggled up with sleeping bags because it was such a cold ride home.

We had one last adventure on the way home.  At one point, a truck driver coming from the other way stopped to have a conversation with our driver.  He was warning him that there was a problem up ahead.  A truck was broken down in the middle of the road... and there was only a very narrow path on the edge of the cliff to go around it.  Our driver believed that he could do it, but he instructed us to get out of the back and for some of the guys to climb onto the outside of the truck on the driver's side to try to add weight to the side of his truck to keep it from falling over and rolling down the cliff.  

I watched in shock... too shocked to even move (therefore I don't have a pic).  The truck precariously passed by the broken-down vehicle.  It was successful... and I believe God must have had his hand on that truck to keep it from tumbling down the mountain.

We finally arrived back in Tuis safe and sound at 4:10 pm.  We asked Josué to help us go pick up Jaden from Freddy and Samia's house.  Once we got home, we showered, played with Jaden for a bit, and then crashed... I think I slept for 12 hours straight!

PS... When we picked up Jaden from our friend's house, they told us that he did not cry a bit.  He slept well, he ate well, and he definitely played well!  He already misses his "familia tica!"

Chirripo - Day 2

I apologize for the extreme length of this blog... I just had so much I never want to forget...

Thursday, March 14

Chirripo: I have NEVER been so sore in all my life.  I felt like my thighs were being stabbed just by trying to get up off the floor to go outside to use the bathroom (I mean tree).  Walking down steps or down a slight hill was nearly torturous!  I thought that after 6 months of living in this country and walking almost everywhere had gotten me into pretty good shape.  Boy was I wrong.  My muscles were not used to this.

These sweet people live in a house with a dirt floor, one bed, one hammock.

After a quick breakfast, we headed over to the school.  It was another 15-minute hike through the jungle and my legs were screaming with every step.  On the way, we stopped at a house that the pastor wanted to show us.  This is a typical home for these people.

 Dogs, pigs, chickens and people all living under one roof... along with the smoke from their fire.  The fires serves to give them a place to cook, a source of warmth and light at night, and the smoke helps to keep the bugs away.  It also gives them asthma.  

This is where this family does their laundry.  A rock, a tub and a bucket of water.  It makes my life look like a piece of cake.

Once we arrived at the school, we looked around a bit and greeted the kids.  

Ryan also got some great photos and I have to give credit to him for many of the photos on this blog during this trip.

Eddie proceeded to entertain the kids as only Eddie can… no language barrier gets in his way!  

David and I tried our best to do a lice check and treatment on some of the kids.  We were way under prepared for that, so it was kind of a failure.  I know nothing about treating lice and we only had one kit (which is maybe enough for 2 people).

Jaden was staying at Freddy and Samia's house, and Hector was using the payphone to call collect.  He offered for me to call Samia, and I burst into tears at the thought of a chance to talk to Jaden.  Poor Hector… any normal person would not start crying when asked if they want to use the phone.  I declined because I figured that if I was crying I couldn't really talk to him anyway.

Eddie was doing such a good job entertaining the kids, we decided to try to play “freeze tag” with them.  In Tuis, the kids call it “Conhelado” so that is what we taught them (that means “frozen”).  They LOVED it.  

Eddie would chase them and they would squeal with glee.  Once they understood the concept of the game, Eddie was sweating in no time.  He elected one of the older boys (who seemed to understand quite a bit of Spanish and helped Eddie translate) to be on his team to tag the kids.  Eventually, we moved on to other games such as “blob tag,” “Cat/Dog” (or “wishka/chichi” in their language), Over-Under, and any game we could think of that involved a ball or no other materials.  

There were about 20 kids playing with us all morning.  I don’t know what happened to their classes… their teacher locked up and said goodbye as we were still playing. 

Eventually, we had to go back for lunch.  When we did, we found an almost working shower. 

In a matter of hours, Adrian, Johan, Jefferson and one of the indigenous men had built a shower.  The water wasn’t working for it yet, but it would be in a two hours or so. 

There was also a new door step made out of cement.  We were waiting for it to dry, so we were not walking on it.  While we were all inside, we had a visitor.  As she approached, Hector tried to tell her not to step on it.  She didn't understand:

She ended up standing on the wet concrete in her sweet, little, sore bare feet... but that's okay... it was almost dry. 

David and Ryan were in the church organizing medical supplies and clothing to hand out to the people.  After watching Adrian tear corrugated tin with his hands, I headed in to help with the sorting.

Eddie was also hanging out in the church trying to teach a song to one of the musicians who was interested in learning a new song.  Eventually, we did a lesson for about 15 kids on how to brush your teeth and handed out toothbrushes and toothpaste.

After an interesting afternoon of trying to help all the people who came in claiming to be sick.  We weren't doctors so, we checked the temperature of each child whose parent’s claimed they had vomiting and diarrhea and handed out gummy vitamins.  We came the conclusion that they probably live in that condition most of their lives.  It is so sad to see that, but I know that Daniel and Hector will continue to plan trips to help these people in anyway they can.

Two of the pastor's daughters.

Here are some more pictures that Ryan took of some of the people there.

David looking at a woman's foot.  She was suffering with a painful fungus.  Many people there suffer from that because of their poor foot care.  The only shoes they wear are rubber boots, which are meant to keep their feet dry.  The problem is, when they get water in them, the water just sits in them and never dries. 

 Also, here are some pictures Ryan took during the evening church services.

This is the living/sleeping quarters we stayed in.
I didn't take a picture of it in the day light.

The church lit up inside only by candlelight.

The pastor reading the Bible in their language by candlelight.

These people are worshiping the same God I worship.  I had the stark realization that I never really knew these people even existed.  I know nothing about how they live... yet one day we will all live together in Heaven praising the same Jesus!  What an amazing God we serve! 

The jungle... at night.

Herwin, the pastor.

Herwin is a 30-something young man with three kids who loves the same God I love.  He is also a "chief-in-training" for his tribe.

After dinner and another church service where Eddie preached on the "Good Samaritan," we headed to bed.  The rat disturbed our sleep again around 10:30 pm and I opened my eyes to Adrian with a flashlight and machete trying to find the rat.  We never found it, but a few minutes later as I drifted off to sleep, I heard tiny footsteps scamper across the wall near me.  It took a second for it to register in my head, but once it did, I sat up and screamed as I hear the footsteps run back the other direction.  Eddie grabbed the flashlight, but we didn’t see anything.

Hector proceeded to pray aloud that God would give us a peaceful nights sleep, and after that, we all had a restful night’s sleep.  If you do not believe in the power of prayer, you haven’t experienced the instantaneous answer to prayer like we did that night.