Wonder Voyage 2009 Summer Blog

God’s beauty is diverse in so many different ways and that was very evident in our journey through Costa Rica today. The plants in Costa Rica are very different than the plants in Texas because the plants here in Costa Rica have a different purpose and have different features because of the atmosphere they live in. That also applies to the people, we are different than our brothers here in Costa Rica, and people are different because everyone is called to different places to do different tasks.

God also showed us a different side of his beauty today in the Barra Honda caves. The intricate details and the amazing structure of the cave showed us this. This reminded me of all the hidden beautys that God has created. Just like God has hidden this cave below the ground God has also hidden things inside of us. God has given us all special talents and abilities. Some have been blessed with good athleticism and others were not. There were many testimonies today of people on our team struggling hiking up the mountain but with God they were able to have the strength and they were streched in ways they have never been before. God is alive and very evident here in Costa Rica.

Each hour we are here in Costa Rica is a learning experience. Our group has learned so much although the trip has just begun. Today we realized an important aspect that opened our eyes to so many different things. It was something Ive never thought about despite its importance and great value. Today we learned that we should not just sympathize with the people that we come in contact with here. That we shouldnt just give handouts and do some work and be done with it. We must feel for those who have less than us and let our actions reveal that mindset.

The travel was long but worth it as the team from First at Firewheel arrived in their new home, their base in Guanacaste, Costa Rica after stopping for a quick lunch on the drive from the airport. While there the team got their first experience of Costa Rican culture, a Tucan and some local food.

Throughout the week the team will be working in a local community named Copal, repairing a water-damaged roof, teaching some english lessons, visting with some special needs families, and doing some bible distribution. It will be a week full of ministry and adventure that is sure to move beyond loving others with just words to loving others with actions.

What an amazing week in Belize! As we sat as a group tonight and shared our week, my heart just kept thanking and praising God.  Three weeks ago we were not even supposed to be here in Belize.  We were scheduled to be in Honduras.  Then everything changed due to the political situation that developed there. Our trip was cancelled. We were not sure if our team would be able to go anywhere.  There were a lot of questions being asked, decisions being made, and details to be worked out to see about going to another location. Time was very short!  Then God opened the door to Belize. 

We stepped off the plane with very few details and no detailed schedule.  All we had was trust in God!As I look back on this adventure, one thing rings out in my soul – God is sovereign!  God is in control. This is where we needed to be!  God took an obstacle and used it for His glory!  What a privilege to be a part of the on-going story of God.We had an amazing week and an amazing team!  God worked in us and through us.  Thanks to our sovereign God for all that He has done!

We spent our final full day in Costa Rica driving from the Arenal volcano, through winding mountain roads back to San Jose. Our final destination of the trip was the Anglican House in the Zapote district to the south of the metropolis. Upon arrival, we settled into our new location and were greeted by Father Hector. We were overwhelmed by the hospitality and attention of the bishop; who welcomed us in, made coffee for us, and spoke to us about his vision for the Episcopal Church in Costa Rica.

After our time of fellowship, we ventured into downtown San Jose for a final meal together, and a time of fellowship. The area presented yet another sot of culture, different from the rural fields of Guanacaste or the richness of Arenal. This week has been one of many new sights, people, experiences and ways of seeing God. St. Bart’s title for this pilgrimage was “Abundant Life,” and it was a fitting one. We lived life this week in a few different ways, all of them as pilgrims.

Today we got to sleep in after a long evening of playing at the hot springs. After a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs, toast, beans and rice, we went to the waterfall. There was about a 15 minute drive on semi-paved roads and then we walked down an uber-steep hill. That was not so much fun, but we were rewarded by getting a chance to see and swim near an amazing waterfall. The water was almost perfectly clear and very cold. We got used to the temp and continued to enjoy our time there.

Diego drove us back into La Fortuna and dropped us off at a restaurant named Luigi’s. When we had finished a very relaxing lunch, the girls and I went shopping in the city. We stopped at the church in the center of the town and were amazed by its beauty. Behind the altar, instead of a solemn Jesus hanging on a cross, there was a flying robed Jesus. Kenzie said it reminded her of the Greek church in Atlanta. It made me sad that our journey in Costa Rica is almost finished.

Today was really cool. We were doing the one thing I was looking forward to most- zip-lining. We drove for about an hour to a place called Callas. The zip-lining was so much fun! There were eleven lines and each one was a different length, running through the tops of the trees. We saw some iguanas and a lot of monkeys. There was one wire called the monkey line- you were supposed to go upside down like the monkeys in the trees. It was so much fun! Almost everyone went upside down. Most of us (at least the kids) went upside down multiple times. There was even a ¨Tarzan¨ swing that took us from one platform to the next. 

After the ziplining we went to a high school in Nicoya, near where we´re staying. There we talked to some kids about where we were from and the food and culture in the United States.  It was really cool. The class we talked to was a class where the kids were learning English, so we could talk to each other and they could teach us Spanish. The whole day was awesome!

Today we painted a house for Ivan and his mother. Ivan has a sickness that makes his head really big and his body small and mangled. His mom is a single mom and has no money. We painted their house and Ivan´s room and gave them a fan so that they can have a better quality of life. While some of us painted, others played Bingo and other games with Ivan. 

Tonight, we (Kenzie, Margaret, Trevor and I) made dinner for sixteen people without any help. It was amazing. We made lemon chicken with beans, rice, fruit salad and fried plantains. Did I mention that we had to buy all of our ingredients at the market? With about Ç1700 ($30)? Our group was under budget, so we bought some ice cream. All in all it was a very rewarding day.

Our first day plunged us into the tropical beauty of Costa Rica, where we came close to Howler monkeys, various species of heron, crocodiles, iguanas, tiny bats and a plethora of other creatures. We floated down the Corobici River, a peaceful ride that involved animal spotting, fresh pineapple and trying to understand our tour guide. We were all awestruck by the natural beauty of God´s creation in this place. Everything is so exotic that its almost hard to believe it´s real. It´s a sort of wildness we can rarely find in our big cities and busy lives.

The day ended with a soccer match in Copal (a nearby village), where we joined with a missions team from Canada to play against the local villagers. We had a fun time and were able to interact with the Costa Ricans. By the end of the game we had about half of the Costa Rican team playing for us- just to keep things even. It was a great day. We thank God for the opportunity to enjoy his creation and to meet new friends along our journey