So I have almost been here in Costa Rica for 5 months now,
which is so weird to think about. Being here definitely has its ups and downs,
but this past month has been more up and down than usual. Things here are very
normal now. I have a routine I’m used to, I know how to take the bus really
well, I know what food I’m going to get everyday for breakfast lunch and
dinner. Things are no longer new and exciting. I’ve left the “honeymoon” stage
if you will. This is good in that I feel like I have really settled here.
However, because everything has lost its newness now, it makes me miss things
back home more. I will say this past month has been the toughest when it comes
to homesickness.
Like I said though, this month has also had a lot of ups. We
had the annual youth camp this year, and in many ways it was like all the other
youth camps I have been a part of here. We had some great messages, games, and
free time. My favorite part of course was the free time because I had the
chance to just sit and talk to several of the youth that I didn’t know very
well. It was the first time that I didn’t have to translate the camp, so I was
able to sit and listen to the other youth leaders share their lessons and in
turn was richly blessed. It was also the first time that when the time come to
go back to the church to be greeted by all the parents and have the closing
ceremony that I didn’t get choked up in tears. I didn’t have to say sad
“goodbyes” and “see you next years” and that was an amazing feeling. I am able
to continue building relationships with the youth here and my ministry doesn’t
just end after a week. The difference is amazing being able to see how the
youth continue to grow and change after the camp when they return back to
school and reality. I get to be there when they struggle with daily things,
when they celebrate their birthdays, and when they need help with their English
homework. The blessing is so much great when I am able to invest this whole
year and not just a week. This is all I have to think about when I am in those
low times and it puts everything in perspective again and makes it all worth
it. Just today I was walking to my house and saw a family from the church that
has 4 little girls. A missionary from the Mormon Church was talking to them. I
stopped to talk to them, and one of the little girls would not stop hugging me
while we were chatting. It was such a beautiful image of why I am here. The
other missionary was trying to share her religion with the family in a short 5-minute
conversation, but because I see these girls every week at church I am able to
have a true relationship with them.
My adventure here has not been easy, especially being away
from my family. However, little by little God is strengthening my relationships
here. I have learned a lot about what it means to “leave your father and mother”
to serve the Lord and I am continuing to learn everyday what it means to fully
rely on Him in everything. I have always known how important my church family
is, and here it is growing even bigger.