One more sleep...

and I'll head home to mi espousa. I have enjoyed everything about my time in Costa Rica but I sure miss Pam.

It's early Sunday morning so my head is working on the sermon I'll preach in a few hours. My body is almost completely recovered from the last couple of days at the beach. Yesterday began with a most delicious breakfast of huevos rancheros con fruita. Oh my. Then a walk - Guillermo, Alonso, and I - down the road of their community.

What you can't see is the heat (I'm guessing about 85 degrees) and the humidity, which must have been at 90% at least. We walked on the left side of the dirt road to be in the shade but every square inch of your skin still drips perspiration. About a mile down and a mile back with houses all along the right side where they front the ocean, and often along the left. Some are old and pretty rough, but next to it might be a new, very modernistic home. One in particular with a "vende" sign out front could be had for a mere $1 million. Too bad we just bought a place in Oregon.

Every quarter mile or so is a public access through to the beach for those who have homes on the left side of the road. But be careful where you walk.

After our walk some time in the pool was req'd. Wonderful. And watching 10-year old Sofia and 6-year old Samuel frolic in the water was worth the price of admission. Guillermo, who is not only a gourmet cook but also a master of liquid refreshment, brought is fruit cocktails made with orange juice and I-don't-know-what, with fresh cantaloupe slices. So good. (I had a refill.)

The mid-day meal is the big one in Tico culture and he brought out the big guns in his guest's honor. He'd asked if I liked seafood (duh) so we had paella, this wonderful dish with an underpinning of rice, seasonings, and vegetables, but loaded with lobster, giant shrimp, small clams, fish, and chicken. To drink, more of that wonderful Argentine Malbec. (gotta look for that one at home.

This meal was served to our group, but also included some neighbors and Guillermo and Gladys' youngest son and his girlfriend. Ticos are very open and hospitable, and family is at the core.

After all that great food and drink the hammock just to the left of the group picture was calling my name. Gone. Shortly after that it was time for the 90 minute drive back to town through the beautiful C.R. countryside.
It seems "are we there yet" is an international phenomenon.

We got back just in time for me to speak to the men's group at their church where once again Alonso did a wonderful job translating for me. Great group of men who interacted well with my lesson.
Afterward they presented me a thank you gift - three bags of coffee. Yes!

After that I met for a little over an hour with the elders of their church. I talked with them about good administrative practices and ways in which they might improve their ministry. Alonso doesn't take a day off (bad), they don't have any system of performance review for either of their pastors, and there are several things they can do to sharpen their focus. They asked good questions and I explained throughout our conversation that they had to filter anything I said through their needs and culture.

Home to my hosts, Juan & Laurie's beautiful home, for a quick sandwich (I was still feeling the effects of that paella), a Facebook conversation with Pam, and a great night's sleep. Now it's time for a shower, a review of my notes for this morning, and off to my last time with this wonderful congregation. I'll have some pics of our time in my next post.