Overwhelming as usual -- in a good way.

The other night, we stood in front of our house watching lightning coming from one of the three volcanoes that surround our city (you read that right).  The other night, we saw a sloth literally dangling from a telephone cable (that one, too).  And this weekend we’re going to a rain forest where there are glow-in-the-dark mushrooms (ditto).

I'm currently "borrowing" Keith's photo from the beach at Manuel Antonio to show another wonderful nature scene from here in Costa Rica:

The question so frequently on the front of our minds is: are Costa Ricans so used to nature that they take it for granted?  I mean, you can’t hide from it.  You have to get used to it, right?

For us Kentucky college students living down here, we still aren’t used to the natural surprises every corner brings.  In fact, I love it so much I wish I could take home photos, paintings and maybe even actual parts of the landscape with me from here.  Today we found the most precious man who sits on a step in downtown San José painting beautiful works of Costa Rican life.  He can’t read; he can’t write, but he sure can paint.  (Don’t worry, we took home some proof.)

While we were talking to this gentleman, a young Costa Rican (or tico) man came up to us, and (in English—they can always tell we’re not from around here!) he started talking about how talented this older man was but that no one ever buys from him.  So we continued talking to this other guy as well (mainly Keith, he was excited to talk in English, I think).  Through the Spirit of God, Keith poured so much love into this young man!  He shared his testimony and prayed fervently with him.

After we finished our nearly-3-hour-long conversations with our new friends Manuel and the painter José, we arrived at our host home for the night.  At dinner, our host mom proceeded to tell us all sorts of stories...

Her son Christian (our tico bro!) was supposed to be a twin, but the other didn’t make it.  She told us that she just cried and cried forever, and one day she realized that she wasn’t rejoicing for the birth of her son that was alive!  She spent so much time mourning the loss of the one that never lived outside her womb, that she hadn’t thanked the Lord for the one was breathing and healthy.

After that, she told me that every morning while in the shower she prays for the entire time.  When she’s feeling the presence of the water, she feels the closest to God.  She pointed out that water is a gift from God, and as simple as it seems, it’s so incredibly powerful.  Alba (our host mom) doesn’t need the volcanoes, colorful birds or glorified nightlights made out of fungus.  She just needs…water.

And every time she prays without fail, she weeps for her mother who passed away a few years ago.  As someone who didn’t have much contact with her father growing up, she said she can’t say much for a dad.  But according to her, losing a mom is the worst feeling in the world because her mother was her best friend.

Well, today is my mom’s birthday (July 25^th at least, who knows when I’ll finally post this entry).  Alba reminded me how lucky I am to be able to video chat with my mom on her birthday, and wanted me to specifically tell her, “I wish many more happy years for her!  God bless her!”

So many things happened today, I don’t even know if this post could possibly make sense…I think all I can take out of it is this: see God in the little things as much as the big ones, take every chance you get to share the love of Christ with someone, and love your mom.

Happy Birthday Mom!  I love you!