Day 3 in Costa Rica
Journal from Aaron Smith:
Today was the first full day of our mission trip to Costa Rica. We started the day to a cool, refreshing morning in the mountains of San Jose. We all relaxed before our day of hard work by resting, meditating, or praying in the mountains. Breakfast was wonderful some of the best food I have ever had, beans and rice with fresh Costa Rican coffee (Now I understand what Mr. Daniel Rojas meant he said that I would look like him when I left).
As we drove through the city of San Jose the houses, all made of corrugated metal, and the streets were filled with cars, carts, donkeys, women and children, and it was packed. They all gave us stares with awe, and smiles of joy.
The church was no bigger than the fellowship hall back in WC. Our goal was to organize a vacation bible school for the kids, but when we got there, there were no children. Pastor Rojas set a wonderful example, he sent us out into the community of shacks of the people shouting "VAMANOS A LA IGLESIA" gathering children of all ages to come to the church.
Walking through the cramped streets was probably was the best part of the morning. Mike Bair played catch with Jorge and his brother in the streets with a lime, oblivious to the fact cars were weaving through us all as we walked. It was like animals in the zoo. In the zoo you never see a cheetah running 75 mph like you would in the wild. It was similar with these kids. Had we brought them to us, they would behave more as they were raised to behave. But since we met them at their homes we saw their true selves. We had a full contact futbol game in a driveway, getting crosschecked by three-year-olds into the sheet metal walls of the neighbor's house. It was a blast to see them all play with people they had never met before. The children just needed to have fun and have someone to have fun with them.
Me being a Spanish-speaker, I enjoyed lunch the most. Everyone was talking and laughing and I had entire conversations with young children, without a translator which truly helped to connect with them. After we left the church for another church (the one we will be attending in the morning) where I had to act as the translator because Davie Rickert was distracting our translator with interesting conversation (LOL). Again this helped me form a relationship with Jose.
San Jose is truly beautiful, it reflects the heart of the people as their smiles reflect their love. Those people loved to talk even though we had no idea what they're saying.
Update from David Pearson:
Hello Journey family and friends, Our trip is going great and the team is doing very well. Relationship are growing and God is working both in and through our team. I am sorry that the updates come a couple of days at once but we don't have internet access without going to Daniel Rojas' house (he is the missionary here we are working with). We leave EARLY tomorrow for the Indian reservation to do the water filtation system, build the church walls, and work with the children. There is no way we can get you another update before Wednesday at the earliest. We will do our best to get you another update as soon as we can after that. Thanks for your prayers and support!