The Traveling Tome: Biblioteca III: estamos aquí

As the saying goes, "the Lord works in mysterious ways." And even though we don't always understand his ways (For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. Isa. 55:8), the Lord is definitely always working.

Dayton airport, 5am on 7/5/2012

As the plans for our trip to Costa Rica developed, we found out that if we were going to take an excursion as part of our trip, it would have to be right at the beginning. I wasn't crazy about this idea... I believe in "work first, play later" (ask my kids). But the best logistics called for a pickup at the airport and then going straight out to the coast for two days of relaxing and enjoying the nature of Costa Rica. As I mentioned to the ladies, "This is not the way I usually like to do things, but apparently God knows that one of us needs a vacation before we get to 8-5 library work." We're still not sure which one of that it is, but we're all reaping the benefits.

We arrived at the Dayton airport at 5am, and about 8-1/2 hours later, we arrived in Costa Rica after two flights and one layover and not a single glitch. Praise the Lord (and thank you USAirways). Right there waiting for us, the business dean of the seminary, Bob Nesbitt, picked us up, and we headed off for a "almuerzo tipico" (typical lunch). We had gone a long time without a full meal (neither flight offered a meal), and this banquet of pork, chicken, steak, refried beans, corn tortillas and more was a very satisfying way to start our visit.

crocodiles in Río Taracoles

The other sweet beginning to this trip included meeting Alex, an accompanying college intern, and our transportista (driver), Juan.

So we traveled out to a house at Playa Esterillos where we have been enjoying fellowship with Bob and his wife Barb and another Costa Rican missionary Stephanie. We took time to start our work plan with a briefing from Bob and discussion of library start-up strategy and housing logistics and etiquette. Our group will be split up and living with three Costa Rican families, to whom we are very grateful, and to whom we want to be a blessing.

I have already seen how this time at the beginning benefits our well-being as a team. If I dare simplify it into a list, this is it:

We have had an excellent time to get to know each other better (living with another person certainly brings bonding up to another level).
We have had opportunities to see and get to know the culture a little better, which helps put the work that starts Monday into a more human perspective.
Throughout the daytime, we have enjoyed the beauties of such an intense and detailed creation. Thank you the Lord for all we enjoy.

Last night, we shared around a bonfire on the beach a time of worship and praise, with Alex and Stephanie leading us. With the simplicity of guitar chords and with the backup of crashing waves, how much clearer and precise the words of these songs can touch my heart. And then again, here in the morning, our devotions and fellowship have that same background music, punctuated with all sorts of bird song and chirps and squawks. (Those little green parrots make a ruckus!)