Deja Vu

Our afternoon today brought a very different experience from our joyful carefree morning with the children. After lunch (yes, we're still eating!), we caught a bus to check out the sights of downtown San Jose. This is a picture of us standing around waiting for the bus and discussing the best ways to avoid pick-pockets... not nearly as fun as singing about little green frogs in Spanish with a room full of children! A short ride later, we were on the main walking thoroughfare in the city's center, which is lined with all kinds of shops and restaurants. It came as a bit of a shock to some to be in the heart of Costa Rica and see everything from Quiznos and Pizza Hut, to Payless shoes. 

Every evening, the team is sharing with one another the moment in the day when he felt closest to God, and the moment she felt furthest from God. It was nearly unanimous, but everybody had something about our time with the children as the highlight, and something about the city tour as the time we felt the furthest from God. The city itself is truly beautiful, and has some really remarkable architecture and artwork, but as one team member stated, "All big cities just feel the same." There was trash and the occasional waft of a foul smell from an unknown source. Everything was crowded and loud with cars that would just as soon run you over as yield to a pedestrian.

Loren shared a devotion with us this evening about seeing things from God's perspective rather than our own, and I think we all felt reassured that we are here for the right reasons. While some are looking forward to a bit of shopping, and others to some time of rest and rejuvenation, above all we found our time in ministry with the children of La Isla to be the most rewarding and fulfilling of all. We truly are excited to begin working tomorrow morning on the construction and will post the specifics of what we're up to when we find out for ourselves.

The National Theater

Elizabeth in the lobby of the National Theater

Inside the National Cathedral