Jodi Marie's Costa Rica Summer Project 2007: A day on campus and a free weekend

Well, I have been here for three or four days now. Honestly it is hard to figure out how long we have been here because everything is so different from "normal" that it feels like we have been here for a long time. So many things happen each day. On Friday, our first day here, we went to an Italian restaurant (I thought of you Cara and got pizza) It was delicious. At almost every restaurant here you can get fresh fruit drinks. There, I got a papaya, pineapple, and watermelon (fruit punch) drink. I believe I have had a fresh fruit drink every day. The food here is my favorite. I could eat rice and beans and chicken every day and I just might.

After lunch, we hung out around the hostel and then went onto campus. We did a prayer walk with partners and prayed for the campus to recieve the gospel and for great change on the campus. We also were told to initiate a spiritual conversation even if we didn't get to share the gospel or not. Brad and I talked to a sweet girl who played the french horn (which is why we talked to her, brad plays the french horn) She played us a Mozart concerto right there. She grew up in the evangelical church, but doesn't consider herself to be very religious. It was fun to interact with her. Oh, did I say, this was all in spanish. Poor Brad doesn't speak any so I had to translate and various times I tried to speak to him in Spanish and then I was wondering why he didn't understand me. We are going to meet with her again. She is actually from Mexico and Guadalajara specifically which I have been to and I absolutely love Mexico. She was so excited to talk to us and meet again I hope it works out.

We totally got caught in the rain and looked just like Americans because we paraded into the mall soaking wet. What an adventure.

Yesterday was a free day where we were split into our three groups within our group that has different tasks. I'm part of the worship team, go figure. So I get to sing and praise God with the team here which is exciting. We explored the downtown parts of San Jose and went to the central market with lots of food and lots of things to buy. We had a scavanger hunt to find the most interesting thing under five dollars. Our group wanted to buy a bunny, but didn't think our leaders would like that. We ended up taking pictures of the market and then making a photo collage (WE WON!!!) It was great bonding experience and we now call ourselves team churro because we love the churros with the carmel inside them. Last night we led everyone in a time of worship that was well needed. It helped us focus off of ourselves and onto the Lord our savior.

This morning was church, but our leaders Nathan and Kristen thought church was an hour later than it really was so we were late. It still was great to have church with each other and the ticos. We read through John 8 where the pharisees want to stone the woman who commits adultery and Jesus says that whoever is without sin can cast the first stone. none of them do stone her and when they all leave jesus says that neither does he want to stone her and that he forgives her. It reminded me that sometimes I can judge people and say that I am better and then Jesus comes along and I realize my need for forgiveness. Again, so much has happened already. Today is father's day here as well. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all who are fathers. You are my heros.

I went with a Tico friend, Memo to his fathers house for a party with all his relatives. My friend Sarah came with me. Memo went to Moscow High School on exchange from Costa Rica my senior year so it was nice to connect with him again. Please pray for him because he has not recieved the gospel before and I am nervous on sharing with him, but I know that I need to in some way. It was neat, however to see his family and friends. On the way in his geo metro, we got caught in what I would call a monsoon. The rain was craziness.