Tico Tuesday, April 12th

Happy Tuesday! Today doesn't feel like Tuesday because yesterday was a fascinating national holiday (a battle against gringos, actually). More about that on the blog. But, I took advantage of the 3 day weekend and headed to my dear Isla Venado. My friend Heather, who is also with the LAM (and currently at language school here) accompanied me and we had a WONDERFUL trip, resting in the hammocks, conversing with doña Epi and Pastor Eladio, eating mangos off the ground, going to a lovely church service, exploring all over the island, eating delicious fresh fish, sleeping, going to the beach, hanging out with Pastor Eladio and doña Epi's grandkids, coconut apretados, etc. Oh and we also got to visit a special friend of mine on the island. She is so sweet! Heather and I also got to enjoy almond fruit, cashew fruit, multiple kinds of iguana/lizardy things, lots of different kinds of scrumptious mangos (what a sin to have mangos rotting off trees there and lousy, expensive, hard to find mangos in the States!), some kind of gorgeous blue bird, a jellyfish that stung Heather and a few other people at the beach, tons of beautiful flowers, cows, roosters, chickens and more. Please note, we did not eat all of the above. Jijiji!! This trip was quite a learning experience!
More on the blog!
God bless you!
Carrie

Ok briefly, yesterday's holiday. Known as the Battle at Rivas, or Juan Santamaría Day, William Walker was trying to invade Costa Rica and we wouldn't let him in. (Oops, did I just say we, referring to myself as a tica? Well, let's call it me referring to myself as someone who lives here. I know I will always be a gringa, but Heather did tell me this weekend I'm more tica than I think. Jajajajaja!!) Juan Santamaría, a tico soldier, volunteered to go burn the palce where all the gringos were and he was successful in his mission, but died in the process. Our airport is named after him. That is a very brief summary of what happened. I should learn more Costa Rican history.
I'm just more excited to talk more about my weekend. It was SOOOOOO great! I went to the island not only to visit, but also to deliver to Pastor Eladio a book he wants to use in discipling others. It is called "Uses and Customs of the Biblical Lands" or something like that. That would be my translation of Spanish back to English. The trip wasn't planned that much ahead of time, so I wasn't able to plan much else. I love going to the island and it has started to serve as a kind of retreat center for me, but I always want to be of blessing when I go to the Island. God's timing is so perfect and I believe He continues to use me. I was really excited to visit my friend Marlen, (the one I mentioned above), because she and I just kind of clicked when I was there in June of last year with the medical mission team. However, when I arrived this time I found out that she could use a visit and I was really glad to be able to check on her and see how she has been doing. You can pray for her and whatever God is doing in and around her right now.
I got to talk a little bit with Pastor Eladio and doña Epi about what I might possibly do during my next visit to benefit the island community and that will take some prayer and consideration, but Pasotr Eladio mentioned giving a talk to the youth about not doing drugs. I think I would probably talk about good decision making and not just drugs (I don't know too much about that. I just remember scary movies in elementary school). But, I don't know.... We'll see. There is much to think and pray about!
This is funny. I go to Isla Venado and love it there. Heather loved it too. But she did point out that for some people going there would be difficult. Eating the same thing pretty much every day (rice, beans and fish), not hot water (you don't really need it though), heat, having to walk everywhere on dirt roads, poverty, no much in the way of stores, chickens all over the yard, sleeping on foam pads on a bed frame... I don't know, it still doesn't sound that bad to me, and I HATE CAMPING. But, I guess that's me. There is running, potable water. I think that's probably the most important thing to me.
Island life is so interesting. Sunday morning a man on the island passed away. He wasn't a part of the church, but we still had a little pow-wow before the service to decide if we should still have it. People looked at me to see what I thought, and I asked what were the pluses and minuses of having the service. Thank God for reminding me to keep an open mind and not just say something. They explained to me that when someone passes away, the community usually gathers around the family and supports them. Hmm, kind of sounds like the awesome sermon by Dr. Gordon I listened to the other week! (Jesus Wept, So Can We). So, we decided to have an abbreviated service. It was definitely the nicest service I'd been to there. I don't know if it was because I'd had time to prepare my heart, I knew more of the songs we sang, or if there was just a different spirit/ambience. It was lovely though. And a very down to earth sermon on lying (he was ag'in it). Pastor Eladio and doña Epi went to be with the family while Heather and I visited Marlen.
Ok, I would love to write more and share every detail, but I got well rested over the weekend and would like to stay that way for as long as possible. :-) G'night!