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
Aww, sweet, you had great times there and spent time with some wonderful people, so many memories. Love love