pura vida

On a very rare day off, the family (Morgan, Burcu, and Drew) and I were laying on the beach peacefully reading our books when a large group plopped several yards away from us. We immediately knew they were Americans, yes there were blonde’s in the group, and yes they spoke English and were loud, but it was the manner in which they carried their primed selves. Each came individually carrying chairs, coolers, speakers, abundances of towels, and all their worldly baggage and materialism. This is one thing we do not miss about the States and admire about the Costa Ricans, the contentment in simplicity.

The people here don’t worry about what they have or don’t because, as I too have learned when I tried to cross the river with arms full of stuff, the more junk you have only further complicates life. The Ticos take one day at a time, rather one hour at a time. No worries for the future, because the future doesn’t exist yet. So why waste energy fretting on a non-existent idea. No worries, Pura Vida. As I have been told, work with what you’re given as opposed to fighting it. It’s about the reaction. Watching surfers, they move with the wave and literally roll with the punches, as unexpected as it can be. When you don’t worry about what’s to come, one is able to appreciate the small things occurring in the present. You never know what you may pass up when appreciation lies too far ahead of you. Life is what happens, when you’re waiting for it to begin. Live life now, not worrying about what to bring along.

sin fronteras

A religion, I feel, has been diverted into an organization that has rules and boundaries created out of fear of chaos. We instill laws because we have no trust, which by any means is legitimized when mass murders and other awful, human caused events occur. We create institutions like marriage, religions, rules, and borders in attempt to grasp security and control. These structures are in effort to a sense of security where there isn’t any. Only God is able to provide true security in our lives. Life is about a circle of relationship, not a hierarchy of power.

That’s one neat thing about Beach Community Church, where we worship- I would call it a hut. And what’s neat about our bungalow is the fact that it has no walls. We worship “Sin Fronteras” (Without Borders). There’s no limit to who can attend, to our love, to the hands and feet of the church which extend across the world. There is nothing to hold us back.

We were created to share life and build relationships, not place boundaries on love. Submission to God and those in our lives isn’t out of obedience either, simply out of respect. If we are submissive to one another, equally and in the same manner out of genuine love, there’s no need for authority in relationships. God wants us to join them in their circle of relationship. One thing I’ve learned is that God doesn’t want to be number one on our daily to-do lists, rather the center of our lives. We should be revolving around him, not placing him first. With ranking comes a sense of power, which is not how relationships were intended to be lived out.

Equality in pure love brings true contentment, but first we must be willing to give up our independence. Learn to rely on God, to trust that He is good. It’s hard to rescue someone that lives by fear and has no trust.

a lesson from the ocean

I was humbled the other day by the crazy, rippin’, Costa Rican waters. While sharing life with our youth group, we got together for our weekly football game; which takes place on an island moated by the river on one side and the ocean on the other. This
one day, however, the waters were extremely rough, ready to sweep anyone away into the ocean.

Our youth leader, Kevin, headed out first into what we thought was the shallowest section. It soon became apparent that even this big guy was no match for the waters. He turned around waving and warning us away that the current was too strong, and the rocks were to slippery. My stubborn self and I decided that I could handle it. I ignored the warning and began a slippery and unstable truck to the sacred playing grounds. Half way across, I realized something; I was stuck. The group was either on the safe grounds back on shore, or already carried away several yards down… I was alone. Yet, I believed I could succeed unaccompanied, single handedly. I was wrong. With my beloved and world traveling Chaco’s and Kleen Kanteen in hand, sadly, I was more worried about losing them than busting a knee. I lifted up a foot to start heading back to shore, when I was caught off balance and stumbled into the slippery rocks. My friends on shore saw that I was struggling and Drew began to wade out to my rescue. Nope, I thought, I don’t need help, I don’t need anyone. A few feet a away from Drew, I took a hard fall and scraped my knees up… but I still had my Chaco’s! Drew asked if he could help carry my stuff so wouldn’t be thrown off balance and weighted down as much. Again I denied. I can carry my own crap load. It’s mine to carry. One more hard fall, a pleading glare from Drew, and I handed over some of what had been taxing my effort to cross back to safety. With his help I made it to shore in one piece.

I was a bit disappointed in myself in the fact that I couldn’t do it alone. But later, I realized my faults. It took me yelling, “No I can do it by myself,” and hard falls to conclude that in fact I can’t. Who knew? We are supposed to share each other’s burdens, help carry each other’s loads to make the life journey a bit easier. These burdens, I’ve found, could be tangible like Jesus’ cross. Or it could be struggles, sorrows, and pains locked up and kept secret. If dammed up, this poison will continue to fester and eat away at our insides until eventually, we explode. Facing this toxicity only cuts away at its looming presence. Sharing it evens out the troubles as more people unite to fight it.

The independence in us, tells us that we don’t need God. We have the belief that we can handle life on our own, even though we truly don’t know what’s best for our own lives. We demand independence, but complain when God loves us enough to give it us-especially when things don’t go our way. Why couldn’t God have prevented this? How could God have let this happen? I’ve learned that God gave us free will, our individualism to make decisions. Sometimes these choices lead to bad things which affect our lives and we immediately look for someone to blame, usually out Abba in Heaven. We need to give up that independence, and trust in God. Trust that He is good, and whatever we do – because it’s in and through Him- it’s also good. True faith is giving over the control to Christ. My independent attitude has only gotten me stuck, literally. Sharing and trusting helped lead me out of the mess, my choices had tossed me into. Rely fully on God. I’m learning to trust; to comprehend that Jesus already carried the sins and burdens of the world.

I was scared standing alone in the middle of the river, unsteady, untrusting. It would have been a heck of a lot easier if I obeyed the warnings, and placed my hand trustingly in those who want to help.

shining star

The most eager minds I’ve encountered are those of the Tico kids in Tamarindo. We’ve been teaching English and art classes for the past 2 weeks, at CEPIA, to open minded and enthusiastic 11-year olds. We have the kids participate in art projects such as writing their names and drawing five things that represent them around it and write those objects in English, and making a pop-up card with a note to someone they care about in Spanish and English. However, our all time favorite art project was the day Morgan ‘shone’ her light and love on these kids, literally.

We’re still not sure how it began, but a lil Tico girl grabbed glitter paint and began slathering it on Morgan’s arms, then legs, and eventually the impossibly fun matter was everywhere. It was such an unforgettable day, we ate up every moment with the kids who continue to smile despite their hardships, and find joy in everything. The kids continue to remember Morgan as the crazy gringa who let them sparkle her and turn her into their shining star.

They’ve picked up English so incredibly quickly! We’ve been repetitively gone over phrases such as “How are you?” “My name is…” “I am from Costa Rica” and basics such as colors, numbers, months, body parts, and random objects. One class we gave them the choice of Arts & Crafts, a game, or learning English, and to no surprise they chose English. They’re just sponges who soak up whatever we can give them; knowledge, time, love. On Friday, we have pieces of wood prepared for the kids to paint encouraging words like “esperanza” (hope) or, “drive carefully” to be nailed to trees along the roads. The kids are learning English, friendship, being conscience of the environment, and helping each other and their neighbors.

With them, a smile means instant friendship and an organic love that extends beyond language and combines cultures. Glitter always helps making the process a little more fun too.

la pura vida - costa rica

After one week in Costa Rica, I’m in love. The people, places, and surroundings are beautiful. Only on the second day I began to see God shine through smiles, stories, and nature. In the Café we work at, our boss Mirna, told me of how although her and her 2 daughters live in a one bedroom apartment, her ex-husband doesn’t support her, she has numerous medical problems, along with tragic family issues, she gives thanks to God that she’s alive. It never ceases to amaze me when I come across stories like this – how thankful people are even in tough situaitons.

We work in an awesomely cute coffee shop nextdoor to where we live Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8-4. We volunteer Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at CEPIA teaching english/art classes to a 4th grade class. This organization helps empower impovrished local (Tico) kids in the area, teaching them everything from envronmentaly friendly practices to computer classes to swim classes. Its organizations like these that we really feel like we’re making a difference in the kids lives.

During the nights we’re also busy. Mondays we go see our friend play guitar at a local restarunt, Tuesdays we lead a Tico VBS, Wednesdays we have youthgroup with the local gringos, Thursdays we head out for more live music, Fridays we have a Tico spanish youth group. We’re are incredibly busy, and our days are packed, but we love every minute of it!

One thing we’ve definetly learned, like in Jamaica is to be flexible and take things as they come. Plans usually don’t work out exatlcy the way you want them to, buses never come on time (or at all), and usually we get caught in a downpour walking home. It’s these moments where we have to be patient, laugh, and move on. There’s never room for frusteration.

One thing that I love here is that we have friends! The locals are so welcoming towards us fresh meat interns. After youth group one night we piled 11 people into a 5 seater car and drove down the road for ice crem. It’s moments that those that we’ll remember because of the purity in fellowship we felt with people from completely different backgrounds. I can’t wait to continue to learn and grow more over the next few weeks!

Here are a few pictures!
The Outside of CAFE CAFE

Our Cabina


The Group