Left Behind - CR Awe

        
      The 2013 service team is keeping busy. My husband says they experienced good services yesterday, and the students LOVE Brazil and Brazilians. He is taking videos and enjoyed an interesting chat with 83-year-old missionary Doris Johnson. She has been in Brazil for 55 years. One student has been vomiting. Brazil's temperatures are quite hot. It's a good thing there is nothing that Gatorade and prayer can't remedy.

Hillside march at one of the schools to the b-ball court

      Returning to 2012's elevating Costa Rica service team memories, we experienced unexpected aerobic activity, many times "marching" up steep hills... even at the schools. 

     One particular march was through a primitive, impoverished hillside neighborhood. The school children to whom we ministered lived in that neighborhood. The old song says: "Walk a mile in my shoes" and Missionary Mary arranged for that. It was a steep descent, at least 75 steps (no exaggeration) down, down, down. We knew that what goes down must come back up, and I wasn't looking forward to it! After a brief intermission, we ascended, up, up, up, step-by-endless-step... unbelievably winded. Good thing Daniel and Tim had this old lady's back and I exercise regularly!

     I photographed only one of the primitive casas (or homes), trying to not be a Peeping Teresa. The crude structures were a "spit distance" or less from the steps. A casa (with its chickens) is pictured in the short video above.

     At the very bottom of the hill we discovered an unexpected surprise... rolling, lush, green hills, AND a brilliant orange, Flame of the Fire tree, ablaze with color and beauty. I was awestruck. The tree more than lived up to its name.

     “So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.” (Happy March 2nd birthday Dr. S)  ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

      Missionary Mary shared with us a story about when the current school principal first started her position. She sent a student home who had forgotten their notebook. Once she learned of a student's vigorous journey to and from school, she felt terrible... she now uses caution to ever request a student do that again.