What I'm Going to Miss

For some of you it may come as a surprise to read that I am preparing to leave Costa Rica and re-enter life in California.  Why, you may ask?  That is a hard question.  The short version answer is that I signed on with Students International for 2+ years of service, and now after 4 years I have a peace about returning to my home state for the next chapter of life.  I don't know exactly what that will look like yet, but I am trusting that the Lord will be guiding me as I walk in obedience with Him.  I would appreciate your prayers, knowing that it is going to be really hard to say goodbye here to the place and the people I have come to love so much over the past four years.  

I told my semester student friends the other night, when we were talking about which ice cream they would be that described them emotionally at this moment, that I was a wonderful Cold Stone chocolate creation, complete with strawberries and brownies and peanut butter cups and placed inside a crunchy waffle cone, but...I'm beginning to melt and drip down the sides.  All those delicious toppings are yummy and fun and awesome, but the meltiness is because I'm starting to break down a bit.  Becoming more emotional.  Not in the state that I would like to be, that I should be to be a "good ice cream."  And I expect more melting to happen as the departure date gets closer and then as I try to navigate again life in California.  

As I've been riding buses recently and having some good "me and God time," I've been reminiscing on and reminded of a lot of wonderful things about this time here in Costa Rica and so many things that I'm going to miss.  They include but are not limited to:

• Costa Rica's national soccer team is a unifier for the entire country.  I have grown to love this team and will miss watching the games with friends and talking about them the next day with the man at the corner store and the children at the Tutoring Center.  I will miss the soccer culture in general. 
• Everywhere you look is green, green, green!  Some of the most beautiful places on Earth are here in this tiny country.
• The way the children at the Centro shout out my name "TADA" all day long.  Honestly, sometimes I consider changing my name because of how often it's shouted by the kids at the front door, but I know it's because I'm loved and the "mama" at our ministry site.
• Speaking Spanish everyday.  I know that I have struggled sometimes and doing life in your second language is hard, but it's been such a good challenge that I will miss.
• Cheap transportation around the country.  I've mentioned on here before how much I dislike driving here (so that will not make the list of things I will miss) but I am thankful for cheap bus fares to go to San Jose or any of the desirable destinations around.  
• The cafecito culture and that idea of having more time for our friends and family.  Relationships are vital to Costa Ricans and I see that as such an asset to the culture.  I want to bring back that more "pura vida" and relaxed mindset when I'm doing life with people in CA.  What's the rush/what's more important that this moment I'm in with this loved one right now??
• Talking about Jesus often and freely with the children I work with.  What a joy that has been and I pray that the Lord continues to water those seeds that have been planted.
• Loving on high school and college students who have come down to partner with us in ministry.  Having this position as a "missionary" has been a very unique opportunity where I've been able to mentor and speak into the lives of hundreds of young people.  
• FOOD!  Even though Costa Rica isn't known for their cuisine necessarily, I have come to love gallo pinto, patacones, picadillo de papas, casados de pescado, rice and beans with chicken...my mouth is watering just thinking about all these things.  And what would this list be like without the beloved "granos de oro" or coffee beans that are grown here!
• The rain forest.  I fell in love with the rain forest during my summer in Ecuador in 2006 and it still has such a strong appeal to me.  Whether it's ziplining through the tree tops, walking across hanging bridges, looking for poisonous frogs and sloths...I love everything about the rain forest, including the vast amounts of rain it receives.  
• Clean air!  I'm moving back to California.  Need I say more.
• My SI friends and family.  Cailah, Jessie, Jana, Diana, Norma, Jose, Diego, Cindy, Thompson, Juan, Jeff, Tracey, Kyle, Theresa, and all the dear children that belong to these co-workers.  I am forever changed and impacted because of my relationship with these people. 
• Worshiping God in a different language.  I know that I could find a Spanish speaking church or group of people to talk about things of God with, but it won't be the same.
• That green house that is the Tutoring Center on the corner in Orowe, Los Guido.  So much laughter, tears, homework assignments, Bible lessons, recipes, friendships, art projects, Uno games...and of course, the children and their families.  They are the reason I have stayed for four years and I have tears in my eyes as I think about saying goodbye for the last time.

Transitions and goodbyes are never fun.  But they must be embraced, because they are a part of life.  There is sadness because there has been much love.  I don't really know how to do this transition, but I'm thankful for the God who knows exactly what it's like to say goodbye to a loved one.