My Two Homes

On 12 December 2008, I began my journey back home to Missouri early that morning. I was happy that I would see some of my dearest friends later that day. Yet I was almost nervous about going back to Missouri and could not imagine not being in Costa Rica. As my plane began to take off, the back wheels weren't off the runway yet, I began to cry! I realized I would be devastated if I did not get to come back to this country. This is when I realized God answered my prayer much quicker than I ever thought possible; to fall in love with Costa Rica and her people.

I made it safely back to Ozark, Missouri. I got to relax with my amazing friends, worship at LifePoint Church, visit with my friends, see a few of my kids I use to work with, and just celebrate life and what God has done so far in our lives together.

The thing that shocked me the most was how easy it was to get back in the groove of life (except life is so much more stressful and fast paced in MO and cold than what I had been used to.) It was also crazy to me how it almost felt as Costa Rica had been all a dream or I was living in a dream. I really began to get confused with which place is home. But I'm so blessed to have two places to call "home".

I am also blessed to have my "adoptive" family who have taken me in and treat me as if I was truly one of the family members. I am so grateful to God to provide such people in my life and grateful to those people for just being willing to love on me. I was thankful to have spent a great Christmas with all of them and then start New Year's with my beloved friends.

As the New Year began, I was quickly sadden to think about how I would once again say good-byes with not knowing when I would return again. I found myself excited to get back to my life in Costa Rica but even more sadden to leave. In fact I almost didn't want to leave. I found myself now unable to imagine life once again in Costa Rica and not be in Missouri. So wierd how that works.

Early Saturday morning of 3 January, I left to return to Costa Rica, after some semi-minor hassles at the airport. (No one told me about an embargo and my bag couldn't be overweight!) I was greeted in Houston with a nice surprise of having a friend on my flight, sitting right next to me. I also was able to meet up with my "little sister" (who I would show how to get around in San Jose.)

We got back and finally got off the plane as we were welcomed by the Costa Rican way of not really knowing what was going on. Our gate was taken by another plane and so we had to go to some "temporary pad" but we were still half way on the only landing strip at the airport! Even our pilot didn't know what was really going on and said he would give us more info when he found out what was going on. BUT we made it eventually after a bus ride and waiting for bags. It felt so great to be back.

The thing that felt the best (besides 80's and bright sun dancing on my skin) was that I felt like I was returning home from a vacation. Who would have thought. Thank you Jesus for allowing this to feel like home!

I have been nothing shy of being busy since returning. I have the privilege of helping new ILE students adjust to being here and that means being an interpreter. Thank you to Jesus that I really didn't lose much Spanish while I was gone for three weeks. I have enjoyed getting to know the new students and trying to get them out on the buses, show them the favorite spots, and just be someone there for them.

I am excited about the possibilities this trimester and can't wait to see what God will do in it all. I just want to be where He wants me and I feel that I am exactly there!