I am so thankful that this trip was something that my husband wanted me to go on, and while he wanted also to go very badly, he asked me if I would like to go while he stayed with the kids for a few days. He drove us as far as he could to the reservation and then turned around and made the long trip back home solo to take care of the kids. He wanted us to have as much time as possible out there in the short amount of time that we had, because if he had not driven us the 3.5-4 hours then we would have had to spend 8 hours getting there on the bus system.
Yamileth, one of the Cabécar women, who works with Dr. Judith to help the woman on the reservation is married to a Tico, and her husband, Isaias had planned to drive us as far as he could in his 4x4 truck and then we would hike the rest of the way in. When we arrived he invited us into the home he, his wife, and son share with his parents. His mother had prepared us lunch before she left early that morning to go take care of her grandchildren. This family by Costa Rican standards is poor, by American standards poverty stricken, and by Cabeccar standards very well off. It is all in how you look at things and by what standards you hold. This family invited us into their home and have opened their arms and hearts to us like family. I had only met them once before, but this trip allowed me to build a foundation for a relationship that I am sure will only teach me things that I hope will make me a better person and better steward for the Lord.
One may think that rice, beans, and chyote (a squash like vegetable) is not a grand meal, but the fact that this family prepared that for eight of us is huge. I know that it is not a light gesture when people offer you a food or drink here, because they are literally offering you all that they have, the food that they are stretching for their own families. I always feel immense guilt when eating their food, but also feel such honor as they wash their best plates to serve you and search all of the cabinets in the kitchen in fridge to serve their eight guests. I have never seen hospitality like what I see here, because these people will offer you something, anything when they have hardly anything to give. And they give with such pleasure. The attitude that these people show always reminds me of what I think God means a cheerful giver to be. While I cannot see the inside of their hearts, I do see their outward demonstration of happily giving you everything they have and not a giver of their extra leftovers.
I feel so privileged to be on the ground in this country and to be a witness to these things that are such simple gestures, but such huge reminders to me of the expectations that God has for me. So, thirty minutes into arriving and the journey of Godly reminders starts. And, so our journey begins, as Rob says, "I spent one week here one day."
Oh, and we can't forget the laughs we had as we arrived and David found himself stuck in mud and sawdust. Funny how you will let the locals talk you into doing things that you know will not work. They are relentless when they tell you something will work and you kindly decline and they are very persistent in insisting that it will be fine.
And you find yourself in pickles like this.....
This picture does not even begin to depict the hilarity of the situation. But
us girls had to move our way up the hill and turn around because it was so
comical. Keith and Rob had not even started the trek and were splattered
with mud only minutes after arriving. Side note: The girls made the final
push that made the difference. : )
We will just say we were all in some really awkward sitting positions to fit
all 8 of us and our 8 packs and 8 small backpacks into the back of this...
The beginning of a very bumpy ride that we were so thankful we had, and that appreciation grew
immensely once we started our incline.
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