CR: Day Seven

Middletown UMC Costa Rica - Day 7 (Sun, 06/12/2011)

Costa Rica is beautiful.

Beautiful doesn't begin to describe it. In a way almost completely opposite from yesterday in the slum, we found that God is so evident in the patterns of fern leaves, the pounding waterfalls, the delicate orchids, the beaming sun, the rainbow sherbet beak of a toucan, the camouflage of a poison dart frog. He is mind-blowingly creative, not that I would ever want to worship a God whom I could wrap my brain around.

At La Paz Waterfall Gardens, we let toucans land on us and eat from our hands, saw pumas and panthers, tree frogs and tadpoles, watched as butterflies emerged from their cocoons and landed on our shoulders after their very first flight, and so much more. Words can't really describe what we saw today at La Paz, and so I will leave it at that.

After a long day of hiking the bus driver took us on a long trek up the mountain as the sun set to a restaurant that sits at the top of one of the mountains. By the time we were about half way up, the city lights were spectacular. Imagine what it looked like when we reached the very top, over a mile above sea level. The sea of sparkling, twinkling lights--although created by man--testifies to the Lord as creator of ordained co-creators. After a fabulous dinner and a quick trip to the grocery store we arrived back at the church.

Debrief was short while devos encouraged us to allow God to use us as his tools of the trade, as we learn what that trade is. This short email cannot possibly sum up one week in Costa Rica, especially not one spent with Middletown UMC, but it must suffice.

Big day tomorrow. Flight leaves at 1 PM (Costa Rica time) and we should be on the ground in Louisville by midnight.

To everyone that has prayed, donated money, time, and extra effort to get this fabulous team to Costa Rica, I thank you. You made a wise investment in the future lives of the Middletown youth and adults, and in the world. I will reiterate what Sandra said at the Episcopal feeding center on Day 5. Whether or not you participated in this trip in person, or vicariously through one of these team members, "estan cambiando vidas." You are changing lives.

Pura Vida, Nathan Rider