fin

So here I am back in the USA. I am so very delighted to be home and to be with my real family again, but I will surely miss Costa Rica. On Thursday evening we had a farewell dinner with our host families and it almost seemed surreal. I just couldn’t quite grasp the fact that this might be the last time that I will ever see them. We chatted and laughed all through dinner and then the end came. We snapped a couple of pictures and before I knew it Mema had her arms around me and was crying. I won’t deny, I cried too and I think that’s quite alright. We may have said goodbye, but that doesn’t mean that they are forgotten. I’m excited to keep in contact with them via snail mail. I also was reassured several times that if I ever come to Costa Rica again I am most welcome to stay in their home free of charge.  God truly blessed me with a very very special family in Costa Rica and I am so thankful for that. The memories and moments that I have had with them I will always cherish.

 The video is basically just Amalia and Mema saying goodbye, as well as Leticia (Mema's other daughter). They wanted to greet my parents and thank them for letting me stay with them. Is that not ridiculous!? They were THANKING my parents for being able to take care of me. Unbelievable. Also in the video Amalia said that I was a beautiful girl and that she hopes I can visit soon, after that Mema said that she loves me and hopes I can come visit again. Oh, and the laughing (or squeaking) is definitely me. I have no idea why my voice jumps up like 2 octaves in spanish, but it does.

And here are a couple of pictures of our final days:

This is Ferry we took to Montezuma for a little relaxation before going home. It's called "The Drum II"

Emily, Elisabeth, and I on the Ferry.

After the last dinner with Amalia and Mema.

Harry Potter opening night in Costa Rica, and in 3D. I wish it had been in Spanish, although the subtitles were amusing.

Sunset out the airplane window.

The landing in O'Hare. Home home home---Hooray!

Corazón

just my view out the airplane windo for my journey home

visiting momma at camp

at the wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez. WOOOHOO!

my art...in my house in Costa Rica

precious Alison, my cousin in the dryer. cutie.



Lorenzo, no wonder all the lady cats love him. look at those eyes.

oh how these people make me smile

Corazón , in case you didn’t know, is the Spanish word for “heart.” I think what I like most about it is that the word also means core—the very center of who we are. This summer, especially in Costa Rica I’ve been thinking a lot about my heart. Between Scripture I’ve been reading and things that I see in Costa Rica, I think it’s all starting to fit together.

“Above all else, guard your HEART, for it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23 Nearly every home here is surrounded by giant, sturdy, metal fences with locks and all. What is interesting to me is that nearly all the fences have patterns and designs, and the most prominent being hearts. Each time I look upon the fences I cannot help but think of this verse, Proverbs 4:23. It is a bit of a strange concept because although their homes are heavily guarded, when someone knocks or comes to visit, they are always more than willing to let them in and care for them in the most kind way. Anytime we have visitors it is as though they are some long-lost relative that they have been awaiting to return home. I was even treated this way when I went on weekend excursions and as I returned home on Sunday Amalia and Mema would be waiting for me arms wide open as though I were their own daughter that they had not seen in years.  Well, back the  train of thought… what does it mean for me to guard my heart? Which led me again to think of another verse: “For where your treasure is, there your HEART will be also.” Luke 12:34. Costarican people guard their homes, their dwelling place, as if it were a treasure. Through living here I have seen time and time again that these people treasure their homes because within them is the most precious thing—their family. Within my heart dwells the most precious thing as well, the Holy Spirit, my God, my Savior. Although the Spirit of God lives within me, sometimes I falter, and let other things become the treasure of my heart. I suppose this will be something that I will have to continue to wrestle with my whole life, but He sure is worth it. There’s more I could say, but I think these verses can speak for themselves:

“Love the Lord your God with all you HEART and with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

“How lovely is Your tabernacle oh Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord. My HEART and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Psalm 84:1-2

“For out of the overflow of the HEART the mouth speaks” Matthew 12:34b

 “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye…write them on the tablet of your HEART.” Proverbs 7:2-3

Now for a little bit more of an update:

This past weekend I had the honor of witnessing and taking part in one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever seen in my life. My dear friend Brittaney got married to an incredible man, Peter Gonzalez and I could not be more delighted! It was such a blessing that I was able to go home and be a part of their wedding.  Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gonzalez!

On Monday I returned back to Costa Rica and will be here until July 15^th (Korey, my younger brother’s birthday!!!).  I brought back with my some of my artwork and snickers bars (you’d be surprised how excited they were about those—they love them, and they’re so expensive in Costa Rica). They immediately hung up my artwork on the walls of their house and continued to chatter about the snickers bars to their neighbors and amongst themselves for the rest of the evening. Who knew candy bars could be so great.

This could get a little sentimental, but I think I’m okay with that.

It’s my last week in Costa Rica. My last week to see people mow their lawns with weed-whackers, to wake up in the morning to the rooster across the street and dogs barking, to take busses everywhere that I need to go, to take ice cold showers that I have to dance to make it through alive (okay, exaggeration, but it’s cold!),to walk to the pulperia (convenience store) in the morning with Amalia to pick up the groceries we will need for the day,  to hear Lorenzo our cat fighting on the roof with the neighbor-cat over who gets the lady cat, to wake up in the morning to a plate of art made of fruit, to hear Mema’s uncontrollable laugh after she’s said something sassy, and so much more.

It has been such a blessing for me to be here. Time here flows so gracefully, like a stream. It is calm, peaceful, and constant. Yes, sometimes a river may rise or fall or rapids come, but the stream still flows just the same. It creates its own beautiful song that I have enjoyed dancing with during my stay here. I pray that this new way of life that I’ve gotten to live and experience would be something that I don’t forget. To be quite honest, I don’t think I will. I hope that like Amalia and Mema, my heart and home will always be open and welcoming to all who come my way.