Hello friends! Here's some details from my first full day (Monday) in Costa Rica!
{Written in my journal Monday, typed and posted Tuesday}
Woke up at 5:30 am to some crazy motorcycle driver outside.. The driving here is absolutely insane, pedestrians don't have the right of way, there are no street signs, the list goes on! One of our leaders through 6:8 Ministries (Chipper) actually says it's one of his favorite things about Costa Rica...it's an adventure, I'll give him that!
After getting up and getting dressed (maxi skirt and t-shirt :) I went downstairs to get some coffee. Now, at home, I'm actually not particularly a coffee drinker. But Costa Rican coffee is super fresh! I'm already completely addicted. It's actually farmed right on this mountain near the place we're staying!
These pictures show the view outside of our giant garage-door-window thing upstairs!
After breakfast, we did a prayer walk around Alajuelita. The craziest thing I saw was a place called Café Tal. It was a coffee farmin field back in the day, but now, it serves as a center for a dump, drug dealing, and prostitution, as well as a place for homeless people (many of them here in Alajuelita) to get some cover from the rain under the plants. In the words of Alix, one of our leaders, "coffee plants have a good structure to hide things". Empty lighter fluid containers were strewn everywhere...we were told that it's not even for getting a "buzz" or anything like that; it's to die faster. Our leaders here in Costa Rica have known many a person who has passed away due to drinking lighter fluid. It was, by far, the darkest place I've seen in my entire life. Heartbreaking. Google it, learn more, and PRAY for the people's safety in the surrounding areas, and of course, the people who are directly involved in the goings-on of Café Tal, Alajuelita.
The rest of the prayer walk was eye-opening as well. We prayed over many wonderful churches and schools, including the Catholic Church here in Alajuelita. In every single Costa Rican city, there is a beautiful ornate cathedral right in the center of every single town. About 75% of the country is Roman Catholic. It is interesting to see the kind of impact this has on the culture!
After returning to our house and eating lunch, we headed to a local market to buy five bags of fresh frutas for some families in Verbena. Basically, Alajuelita is the ghetto of all of Costa Rica, while La Verbena is the ghetto of Alajuelita. It's like the projects. This neighborhood (el barrio) consists of slums made from whatever scrap materials that can be found: plastic, small boards of wood, or tin. I really don't have words to explain how different it was from anything I'm used to... However, these kids are the happiest, most joyful kids I've seen in my life. These women (almost always single moms) are the strongest people I've seen in my life. I had a blast praying for them, blessing their homes, and giving little children piggy-back rides. I also got a lot of Spanish practice, which was awesome! I would consider day one a complete success!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, I'll share about my experiences today, Tuesday! Hope that isn't too confusing! Anyways, love y'all, and I appreciate your prayers so so much!
(Here's me with one sweet little Tica Amiga)
Caroline :)
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