Day 2 in Costa Rica
Journal from Russ Rickert:
As I lay in bed last night before falling asleep, I realized that I have been functioning in the physical world - the world of airplanes, passports, support letters, money, schedules, rain, clothes, buses, food, suitcases, cold showers, people, projects, languages, and journals. But the real work, the real life occurs in a different realm, a realm where I have not functioned for a very long time. This is a realm where people's souls are real, where God loves us all desperately, and where how I live my life matters.
My prayer is that I don't end up walking through this awesome missions project entirely in the physical world.
Journal from Jaime Hangsterfer:
Where to begin... what an amazing day! After two flights and a bus ride, which I should say the bus ride was like being in a action movie in the middle of the car chase scene. Stop signs in Costa Rica are completely optional. Seriously! After we got settled in, unpacked and picked out bunk-mates (my bunk-mate is the sweet Emily Pearson) we met our host Daniel Rojas. He is a funny, engaging, loving man that has a wonderful ability to relate to a room full of adults and kids alike. He explained to us that there are 138 volcanos in Costa Rica (4 of which are active), earthquakes are very common and we are at an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet. This morning we all woke to a beautiful sun filled sky that lit up the mountains that surround us on three sides and our alarm clocks were replaced with roosters that woke us up at 3:30am. Daniel also explained to us that we are going to be the very first Missionary group to visit the Indian village where we have planned to install the water filter and help them complete their church. It took them almost 10 years just to save up enough money for the cement floor and now we get to see the finished project and help with the final touches. Pray that we may do God's work and that while we are here we do the God-sized task He brought us here to accomplish.