Adjusting...

Our Ecotrans shuttle from the airport to our new home for the most part was fine.  I think John was surprised with the poverty, dirt roads and random horses/cows in the middle of the street. I had immediate flashbacks from my prior stay in Costa Rica over 7 years ago, where I lived in San Jose for 2 months.

Once we got to our place, we then realized it was off a dirt road and up a steep hill...but thankfully the hill is mostly paved at least where the tires go (which will be critical when the rain starts).  When you look for places online you just never know the surroundings...like what your driveway will look like. We felt like we were going through the jungle (which technically the jungle is where we now live)...but it's crazy how a week later that now seems normal.

Our first night I was a little overwhelmed. We got a pretty nice place compared to most of the living in the area, but I wasn't expecting the BUGS. When the owner showed us around in the daylight everything seemed awesome, but then we had to go pick up our little 1992 GeoTracker car and when we returned it was night time. 

We came into our place (and of course turned on all the lights, which wasn't a good idea) and there were 5-6 geckos on the ceiling, bugs on the windows and floors, random ants, and a few flying creatures. So, I react the way any girl would in a new place.  John and I went around killing the bugs and were moving around so a gecko wouldn't be directly above our heads.  We said the first thing we would buy in the store was a fly swatter (which we still haven't been able to find).  Luckily by now, I am much more calm about the bugs, but it still takes energy to be aware of your surroundings all the time. Every night we do a bug check in our bed and I always do a toilet check.  I've even started making my bed in the mornings to make it harder for bugs to crawl in...so I guess that's one positive.  Of course the next day I was asking all the ticos/gringos about the gecko situation and thankfully the geckos are our friends (I keep repeating that to myself).  If anyone has ever watched "Finding Nemo" I felt like I was in the 'Fish are our friends not enemies' club.  Thankfully John was very supportive through my mini breakdowns, which I still have every now and then. 

For my family and friends that want to come visit, please don't let this post scare you. It really isn't that bad!

This centipede pic is for Bob...

 

Here's our new ride...It was sold to us from a lady that goes to the English speaking church. It struggles a little bit going up hills but overall will be a nice local ride.

And a view of Costa Rica..."For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" Psalm 95: 3-6

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The beginning...

For starters, I've never blogged before, so this should be an interesting writing adventure in and of itself.  I'm hoping to use this blog for all of our most favorite memories and moments in Costa Rica so we don't ever forget this amazing adventure and blessing in our lives.  It's going to be my semi-online scrap book. I've completed 3 scrap books in my life and I'm looking forward to going digital.

Some background...John and I decided to take this leap of faith towards the end of last year. For those of you that know us well, we had been talking about going to serve in another country for some time...but that's all it was for about 2 years...talk. Until finally...through prayer, John's persistence, and having some very encouraging conversations with my GE family, we made the commitment to make this desire a reality. There are countless prayers answered as I look back on the beginning...having the courage to move to a different country; God providing John with a flexible job in order to provide for us; God giving us the moral support through our Lifegroup, family, friends and work; finding the organizations we would help (I still remember the day we signed the contract with Abriendo Mentes...John and I were giddy that night...that process is a long story by itself), and finalizing the logistics (CR apartment, CR car, visa, vaccinations, insurance, selling half our household on craigslist (even though if you look at our storage unit in Raleigh you wouldn't be able to tell). So many things fell into place and I know it's not through John's and mine planning, which is encouraging!

As I start this blog...I'm about 10 days in (due to technical difficulties). Sooo many interesting things have happened already and I'm so excited to share them.

Below are a few pics of our travels Day 1 in the U.S. I thought my Cincinnati crowd would enjoy my shirt that I randomly picked that day...I guess those memories are supposed to cool me off when I'm sweating down in Costa Rica.

I hope you enjoy!!!