Confessions of a Clueless Costa Rican

Because time on the internet is limited here, I don´t have a funny anecdote to tell and then relate to a Biblical truth.  But I am sure those will come later... when I have more time.  But for now, here´s an update on my Costa Rican happenings:

1.  The food here is incredible.  The Costa Rican ladies make dinner for us every night and it is AMAZING.  Lots of beans and rice, vegetables, and good meat.

2.  The people here are so kind.  My first memory here is walking out of the airport to see a man who was smiling, greeting us and guiding us to our bus.  It was a good feeling.  I felt welcome.

3.  I do not care for the tarantulas known to grace this area of the globe, including the kitchen where we are staying.

4.  The carnecerias (meat shops) here are not like the ones in the United States.  The smell is less than appetizing, along with some of the cuts of "meat" (cow stomach, chicken throats, sausage made from pig blood, etc.).  However the two people who work there every day are so kind.

5.  Soccer is HUGE here.  I think I have watched more soccer in the past 3 days than I have watched over the course of my 21 years of existence.  I tried playing in a little practice game back when we were at training camp.  It was fun, but laughable on my part.

6.  Previously mentioned soccer watching has resulted in awesome opportunities to talk with the Costa Ricans.  Yesterday I talked with a family, one of the members (names Rossy) is suffering from cancer.  They asked me to pray for her.  Would you pray for Rossy too?  Pray for healing, for comfort, for finances, and for the doctors´ wisdom. 

7.  Costa Ricans are not familiar with mint life savers.  We shared some with them and they had no idea how to eat them.  I tried not to laugh, knowing that I have done some fairly ridiculous things since being here as well.

8.  The stray dogs here are like guard dogs.  "Sophie," who has been here for the past couple years, waits for me to go get bread every morning.  She runs up to me and follows me all the way to the panaderia (bread shop). 

9.  If you think of it, please pray for our team.  Pray for unity, courage in sharing our faith, pray that the language barrier would not hinder our testimony, pray for safety and health, and pray that God would prepare the hearts of the people we talk to here in Costa Rica.