In the Valley

So....living here has proven to be more difficult than I thought it would be.  Much more, in fact. Sure, I knew it would be different.  But geez!  I am having to learn quickly how to adapt here.  A Costa Rican resident wisely told us on the first day we were here, "He who hesitates is lost in Costa Rica."  The color of my skin is not helping much, though.  

I am a Gringo, through and through.  From the flip-flops on my feet to the lost look on my face.

So far, I've learned to hide my money in such creative places that potential attackers would have to be just as creative to find it.   I've learned that some of the various suspicious smells that abound in this city may never be identified.  And I've learned that pedestrians most certainly do NOT have the right of way.  

But, I am also learning that God is true to his word.  I can see in almost every situation how He has gone before me.  I can feel myself getting stretched and molded.  I can feel the anticipation building up....a deep-seated knowledge that He knows exactly what I'm doing here.  Even if I don't.   

Isn't that exciting?  We are being taken care of in ways we don't even realize.  What a comfort to know that we have a God who guides us and protects us.....even when we are too absorbed in ourselves to notice.  

And so my prayer is that I can camouflage my "foreign-ness" and highlight the similarities.  That I would realize that God is ready to use me NOW... Regardless of the fact that I am nervous beyond all reason and my Spanish skills are well, non-exsistent.   And finally...that I would remember that He has prepared the way for me.  

Even when the way includes receiving too-bold catcalls from the men and city buses who WILL run you down.  :)  

Amanda the Latina

Hola from San Jose, Costa Rica!  

We are here!  I can't believe it!  Mandy and I have already had so many adventures and we haven't even been here 24 hours yet.   We got to our apartment at about 9:30 pm last night and our landlords (who live below us) were outside waiting for us.  They invited us into their home and  served us probably the best coffee I've ever had (a bold statement, I know) and crackers.  How quaint.  :)  AND...they don't speak English.  So we're in for an adventure, fo' shiz. 

LOVE our apartment.  It's so cute and bright.  The walls are painted a lovely shade of melony orange...as all Latin American homes should be.  (That's how I always imagine them, anyway.)  Mandy and I stayed up super late last night unpacking because we were just so excited to be here!  And plus, we didn't have much planned for today so we could sleep in, right?  WRONG.  The sun rises at like 4:30am here!  It's 100% ridiculous.  The sun just came blazin' in  all the windows demanding that we wake up and seize the day.   And so we did!  very reluctantly, though.

Overall, everything is looking good.  I'm not gonna lie, I've been feeling a little freaked out by not knowing what in the world in going on around here.  It all gets better in time, Amanda.  Hang in there, amiga!  

Following my heart has proved to be an interesting ride...