The people are the best part.

I've been home about 40 hours now and consciousness is beginning to return, albeit slowly. More time will give more perspective, but here are some current reflections on my 12 days in Costa Rica. They're in no particular order, just a series of thoughts I need to express.

The Costa Ricans - they call themselves Ticos (TEE-coze) - are incredibly warm and friendly. Except for those I encountered in a few retail establishments everyone I met was in some way associated with Comunidad Biblica de la Gracia so we started out as hermanos y hermanas, an instant family connection. But I can't believe they're that much different than the general culture.

Ticos express that warmth with each other. Women often touch right cheeks when they greet a friend, and do so with a man if they feel a particular connection with him. Men openly hug each other, and everyone touches - a hand on the arm or shoulder - during a conversation to emphasize sincerity. I really like that.

Tico kids are too cute, and the children & youth I encountered were surprisingly polite and friendly. I sat in back during the beginning of the two Sunday services I attended and saw families sitting together and interacting with each other easily. I'm sure there's plenty of teenage angst but I watched teens interacting warmly with mom & dad during the service. The only teens I saw sitting by themselves I later learned were from the neighborhood and came by themselves. Family is a central Tico value and you see it in lots of ways, including their housing, with extended family often living in adjacent homes.

Costa Rican food is wonderful. It's tasty, but not spicy like Mexican dishes that give me trouble. The fresh fruit is...fresh, and sweeter than any of the same fruit we can get here. I told Pam I see no point in buying a pineapple in the store after discovering what they're supposed to taste like.

As I said, I was treated warmly by everyone I met, but two stand out in particular. Juan and Laurie opened their beautiful home and took me in as a guest. It can be stressful to stay in someone's home for almost two weeks; you worry about being a burden, you're not sure about conforming to their routine, you don't know the particular ways of doing things unique to each household.... But the Gonzales's made it easy. Classic "mi casa, su casa."



The other family - Alonso & Sylvia Cabezas and their two adorable kids, Sofia & Samuel. Alonso is the pastor of the church and seriously good at what he does. Take it from someone who spent 32 years in ministry and 10 teaching it, that church is very fortunate to have someone as skilled and committed as Alonso. But that's not how I think of him. Alonso is now a friend deep in my heart and his family is right there next to him. Sylvia is a sweetheart and ideally suited to be a pastor's wife. What good, genuine, and gracious people. If I told you about their kids you wouldn't believe me so I won't try. Have you ever met someone with whom you instantly connected, and that you were very sad to leave behind? The Cabezas fall into that category.

The country is beautiful. If you get a picture in your head when you hear the word tropics, Costa Rica fits.

I have been a pastor, I am a teacher. Why do drugs when you can teach in places like Costa Rica to people like that?? I had a wonderful time speaking to and interacting with groups large and small. The topics, most of which revolved around the concept of grace, are important to me, the people were eager and engaged listeners, and I got gratifying feedback. I made some adjustments after the A and B sessions that first night and after that it went as well as I could have hoped. I am a rookie at this; except for a trip to Africa 20 years ago Costa Rica was my first foray into teaching in a cross-cultural context. (I go to Puerto Rico next February and maybe Brazil a year from now.) I could not have asked for a better first experience. I worried a bit before leaving about doing a good job; God clearly took care of this newbie.

T'ank you, Fadder.
(I taught them that, but a Swedish accent doesn't come easily to Ticos, so we settled on Gracias, Padre.)

This post serves as a kind of wrap on the experience, but you'll have to forgive me if I revisit specific experiences in the weeks ahead.
Mostly I'm glad to be home but sad to leave the people of CR behind. And I'm very grateful to my Father, from whom come all good things, including the 12 days I spent with my Tico friends.

Pura vida.