dear Costa Rica, 

thank you for...

community deeply rooted in love

sharing a room with my whole team and sleeping on the top bunk

gallo pinto every day

bus rides with Alfredo where we scream the lyrics to 'Holy' and share our favorite colors

Pablo and his dance moves

mornings spent in your word with coffee and a bean bag chair

hang washing clothes outside Align's room

debriefs with Layna

Jewel and Nicole's room, where I found myself so often

bringing Kacie and Jez into my life

conversations that send us deeper into the word

a good wrestle with the Lord

CHIKYS

stacking enos outside on the porch

new songs on the guitar

mocapan coffee

walks to the park for evangelism

the space to see and know a Father and Mother's love

Facetime calls from home

bungee jumping off a bridge - yup you heard that right!

all the ants

pb&j

beautiful beaches

hard days

Beauty for Ashes events

FREEDOM

broken Spanish and little children

the night at the Mixons

teaching me about leadership

worship 

that one waterfall we got to see

Jonathan from Fresh Market

Waves of Grace and all the women we got to meet

my missing socks

the night our room was infested with mosquitoes and half of us slept in a different room

business classes with Charli and sessions with his wife, Astrid

my first time teaching English and watching a student succeed

helping me find that I really am loved

all the Grace

Every one on one with Carter Groves

Shathal's 2 weeks at Abraham's Project

Steve and George's home, their hearts, and everything they are - and don't forget Connie and Lucas!

all the borrowed clothes

'throwing things off the balcony' with LJ

our weekend on a mountain in Edgar's Garden

days spent cleaning

humility

and most of all Costa Rica, thank you for building me up and helping me see. leading me closer to the cross. closer to my deep passions and dreams for the world. you've been kind to me. 

love, 

gretchen

until next time <3