So, Where Are You Guys? by Cameron
At the start of July, we traveled from Santa Rosa de Pocosol
(our mission base) to the Rio Pacuare near Turrialba, Costa Rica. There we volunteered
at a river lodge in the jungle with the intent to practice Spanish with the
workers, guides, and clients.
We did practice Spanish, and had many very blessed
conversations and interactions - not only at the river lodge, but also with
numerous taxi drivers. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we practiced Spanish
but also prayed with many of them. One in particular that we really befriended was
Don Juan.
Every Sunday, to get to Mass, we had to hike 30+ minutes
uphill through the jungle. Then we had to get a four-wheel drive taxi to the
neighboring town of Santa Marta, where the Catholic church was located.
Don Juan was our driver, who was Catholic and really, really
nice. One time he even got us homemade ice cream bars and artisanal chocolate
en route. Throughout our time there, we were able to have him as our driver most
Sundays, which was a big blessing for us. We are also very grateful to the
guides and workers who helped us coordinate it all because they knew we
couldn’t miss Mass.
At the end of July, we saw Carson off at the airport in San
Jose, Costa Rica. Saying bye was definitely bittersweet, as this was his first
time away long term from the family. But we are happy for him, and, thankfully,
he is doing well back in the states.
After that, we traveled back to Turrialba, Costa Rica, to
attend Spanish school for four weeks. The owner of the school was great, and,
after learning that we were missionaries, she had said that she had just the
homestay for us.
She was right! Our “Mama Tica,” Liseth, was awesome and very
Catholic. Whenever we weren’t at Spanish school, we were with her (whether at
home, daily Mass, or out and about). It was complete Spanish immersion, and it
was a blessing to see the Holy Spirit moving in our conversations and
encounters together.
From school alone, I personally feel like my Spanish at
least doubled, and I enjoyed learning. We each had our own teacher, and they
were all really great. A bonus is that all of them were very faith-filled. So,
we were able to share testimonies, pray with them, and sing praise and worship
songs in Spanish and English.
We went to class from Monday to Friday in the afternoons for
four hours a day. Turrialba, in general, is less hot than Santa Rosa, and the
school was located up a mountain so it would get nice and chilly sometimes. We
would see sloths, toucans, and other wildlife almost every day. Sometimes we also
cooked food like plantains, empanadas, fried cheese (it’s sooooo good) and
more.
We were also able to take a break from school and ministry
and, for my birthday, go to one of Costa Rica’s beaches, which was very nice
and relaxing.
And that just about sums up the last two months! Thank you
for reading, and please continue to pray for us as we are for you. Hopefully we
will start posting more frequently again as we have settled much better.
God bless!
-Cameron
