Jaco Beach

Sometimes my heart is so full I do not know where to start. My days are filled with things that fill me and touch me. I do not understand why I enjoy certain aspects of living here so much, or why I enjoy the rain here and not in Wisconsin, or feel so at home here sometimes and other times feel like an outsider looking in. I only know that God has a specific reason and purpose for me to be here at this time and I am very thankful.

Thursday night we had a good time filled with Latin American dancing and music. I enjoy ballroom types of dancing so this was pretty fun. We definitely learned some new moves and had a good time, however, Friday morning dawned early and beckoned us to school. We had our first exam, composition, and presentation on our composition. I have to say that it is really hard to do a presentation in Spanish. I forgot so many words and conjugations, but my professor loves to give us practice so I am sure I will improve. After class, I came home and took a nice long nap! I am really enjoying the food here and all the new things, but sometimes we miss the familiar without realizing it. Like when I talk and hear from family and friends, and today my host dad bought pizza for supper and it tasted so good! Friday evening the girl next door and I debated plans for the weekend and decided to join a group going to Jaco. We called her host dad to ask if he could buy us bus tickets since we have to take a bus half an hour to buy tickets. He could not at that time but offered to take us later to buy tickets. Later when he drove us the ticket office was closed, so we didn't get tickets anyway. He was sad for us, but we felt really bad he drove us and it was closed! Some things are more complicated here and so we just have to be flexible and willing to adjust.

Saturday morning I decided to risk it and went with the group to the bus station and hoped I would get a ticket. I did, but the bus was full, so it was a standing ticket. I was ok with that, but a taller student who doesn't find the bus seats comfortable took my spot on the floor so he could stretch his legs. So after two hours, we arrived at the beach. It was very different on this west coast, and on the Pacific side of the ocean. The sand was dark and like clay. The water was not as clear, but just as warm. I do not know if it was saltier, or I just forgot how salty the ocean is from a week ago. This time there was a great beach and I got to run into the ocean and feel waves over my head. It was amazing! I do not think I will ever become a beach bum, but I thoroughly enjoyed the peace and tranquility of this day.

I leaped in the waves until my eyes burned and then I laid down and took a nap on my beach towel until the high tide came and soaked me. I was only on the beach for three hours, it was overcast the whole time, sprinkled for awhile, and I put on sunscreen when I arrived, however, I got burnt to a crisp! I did not realize how bad until we went to get a smoothie and relax before we left. I immediately began to feel it and still feel it actually.....

I cannot get over the beauty of this place. I love Wisconsin, and I find so much beauty there, but this is different. I am sure that the ocean becomes commonplace for some, but I do not understand how we can miss the beauty that surrounds us. Nature cries out that there is a God and He is Lord and Creator of all.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

 This is the verse that I thought of as I lay listening to the ocean and praying. How can I as a young adult that is required to live in this world and be part of it, still be set apart for the work of God. I do not know the answer to this totally, but it means to be completely captured by my King. It means spending time with Him and nurturing my relationship with Him. It means sacrificing and following Him. It means turning my back on advice that is not from the word of God and filtering everything I know and hear through the Word of God. I do not want to be known as a perfect person, but I do want to be known as a person that loves Jesus and desires to serve Him.

Here is a very sunburnt me with a wooden parrot. Unfortunalty it was not real, but there were a pair of parrots flying around in the sky all day.