August 2, not a day of rest.

 We live very close to a main road, since last Saturday devout Catholics have begun their trek to Cartago to arrive at the basilica in Cartago. It is a very fascinating thing to watch as an evangelical. They walk for hundreds of miles. All the way from Guanacaste which is three hours away by car, up on the Nicaraguan border. Vendors began setting up stations along our road last week. They sell fruit, pipa water, drinks and snacks. We have seen more police presence as well. My question remains, How do they sleep after the dark hours come upon them? Where do they stop and rest? These are not just young people, persons from every age walk to do their penance. It is just amazing. When they arrive at the church they get to their knees and slowly make their way to the altar........on their knees.

However when we leave the office today our road nearer to our house will be a wall of people. We will have to find another way to go home. Tomorrow will be the same. It is estimated that since last Friday till tomorrow, three million people will find their way by foot to Cartago. Just incredible. It makes me evaluate my deepest devotion to my Savior.  My heart devotion runs very deep, what about my outward devotion? What sacrifice am I truly willing to make? If He asks, do I obey? If He calls, am I listening? Although a Catholic holiday, it moves me to ponder.

I saw this brief description in Wikipedia.
The Virgen de los Angeles (the Virgin of the Angels) is Costa Rica's patron saint, also known as La Negrita.

According to tradition, La Negrita, the Black Virgin, is a small (less than a meter tall), probably indigenous, representation of the Virgin Mary found on this spot on August 2, 1635 by a native woman. As the story goes, when she tried to take the statuette with her, it miraculously reappeared twice back where she’d found it. The townspeople then built a shrine around her.

In 1824, the Virgin was declared Costa Rica’s patron saint. La Negrita now resides on a gold, jewel-studded platform at the main altar in the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in Cartago. Each August 2, on the anniversary of the statuette’s miraculous discovery, pilgrims from every corner of the country (and beyond) walk the 22km from San José to the basilica. Many of the penitent complete the last few hundred meters of the pilgrimage on their knees. This basilica is equally visited by tourists and locals.

Virgen de los Angeles Day is a Costa Rican holiday celebrating the Virgen.

Perspective is everything.

My friend showed me this interesting piece of writing. When you read it from the top down it is sad, negative, blue, sorrowful. Then you read each line from the bottom to the top and it has a different twist.

It is just so easy to fall into the woeful trap. Every since our personal attack/ robbery experience, I see things so differently here in Costa Rica. My naevity is gone, completely bashed. I look at people differently. My heart becomes full of suspicion. I find myself afraid. When the cameras were installed in the house, the app was put on our phones so we don't have to enter the house without first looking to see if all is well. I find myself going to that app a lot throughout the day "just to be sure."

I read His word. I pray. I speak to myself words of faith. People are praying for me. I am encouraged by Jesus and others. But the bottom line has to do with my perspective. My perspective needs adjusted. My perspective needs the "God factor." My perspective needs to be constantly evaluated in relation to His word.

Perspective versus the Word. At times they are very similar, other times ridiculously opposite. When my perspective is cloudy and dark, the Word is sharp and clear. It is always sharp and clear. Never any question. Just so hard to keep my perspective aligned with the Word of God.

When my heart is overwhelmed, Jesus lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I.

La Paz Waterfalls and Nature Path

We are coming down the wire to Renee's departure, boohoo! We want to fit things in that she can experience before she goes back to the university. It's making our life crazy albeit tons of fun!
La Paz is a beautiful nature sanctuary with waterfalls, animals, toucans, just a beautiful tourist attraction. Renee loved it!

a Costa Rican kind of wedding!

Saturday was so much fun! just so much fun! Denn's assistant's daughter married. She was actually married in a Civil Ceremony 3 days before. Here a Christian pastor doesn't have the authority to sign the official documents, the lawyer does in the Civil Ceremony. However, since Catholicism is the official religion, a priest can sign the official documents and no Civil Ceremony is needed. The family is present as witnesses at the Civil Ceremony.

Kailyn's church wedding was so precious. I didn't get pictures of the ceremony, I didn't want to intrude. The family walks down the aisle. Her sisters and their families, then her parents walked her down the aisle to the traditional wedding march. The men of the family sit on one side and the women on the other side. So the 2 mothers sat together and the fathers on the other side. I thought that was very interesting. The bride and groom are seated in pretty chairs facing the altar. The pastor gave a message about marriage. Then the audience stood for the remainder of the wedding. As they promised their vows and exchanged the rings. There was a kiss and the pastor said ESO. meaning that's it. The family walked down the aisle and then the bride and groom.

When we were dismissed to leave the church the bride was standing on one side of the passageway and the groom on the other. Most of the people were transported by a big bus to the Event Salon for the reception. We in cars followed behind the bus.

Loud music, lots of dancing, a beautiful cake, an arroz con pollo dinner plate, a toast which the bride's mother gave, the throwing of the garter and bouquet were all part of the reception. However a different thing for me to see was when someone wanted to dance with the bride or groom, they pinned money to the dress/suit. I found that interesting. My friend from Puerto Rico said they do that there too. There was a gift table as well.

Part of learning culture includes weddings and funerals. There is so much to learn and it was really fun to observe this part of Costa Rican life.

 One of our professors is teaching Renee how to dance Costa Rican style!