CHILE

So I think the last time I posted was about two weeks ago when I was getting ready to finally head to Chile. I have been here for a bit now and can honestly say I am having a fantastic time. It was nice to have a few days to collect myself at the hotel before being thrown into family life. From the moment I arrived in the city, I have been impressed with the level of cleanliness and modernity. The people here are unlike any I have met prior, such a mix of cultures, levels of living etc. It is nearly impossible to distinguish a person's rank socially by their clothes in this country, it is in the way they speak. I live in the Cuico part of Santiago, the "Rich" part, in which people refuse to pronounce -sh. For example Sushi here is pronounced Suchi to make sure everybody understands your importance and social level.

My family is amazing. They are so tight knit and make me feel just at home. We pray over our food and they are very religious, which reminds me of my family. I have three siblings who are all married. Jeanette is the oldest and she is married to Mauricio and they have two children Aracelli, 3, and Benjamin, 8 Months. Tonight I will be heading to their house to see the area and visit. Franz is married to Nadia (a Russian Painter...YAY!) and they have Barbara, 3, and Irina, 8 Months. Then Hans just recently (May) was married to Carolina. So I am an only child in the house, but we have family over for lunch/dinner all of the time. Also when my mom went out to the South to work on the reconstruction from the earthquake, my brother Hans and Carolina literally came and babysat me haha. It is a strange feeling being 20 and usually independent with babysitters haha. And then my mom threatened to smack them if they hadn't fed me properly oh goodness I love her. Oh and my parents, duh, my Dad and Mom are both Civil Engineers and my mom is also in Real Estate (I can't escape it...)! Our departamento (apartment) is one of few with central heating. What a blessing I am not always frozen in the house, but it is expensive so we don't always have it on or very high.

The city is so COLD right now I sit and shake. In church I have to wear everything including my gloves just to try and stop my body from shaking violently. I have a newfound appreciation for heating of any sort found in the United States. The upside of it being winter is that the Cordillera (The Andes), which surround one part of the city, are covered from tip to toe in snow. They are a site to behold and honestly help me reflect on life, my purpose etc. I have been so incredibly blessed in my life and I know God is the overseer of my life. There is a definite reason I am here right now, doing the work I am. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be on this journey and to serve those around me. I started helping this morning with piano lessons at church, have gone out with the sister missionaries teaching/visiting, and will soon be helping teach English. I don't think for a minute that this is my time to waste, but rather this is a season in which I am able to grow and bless those around me.

Alex Hildebrandt and I have been exploring the city and we walk absolutely everywhere. It is awesome some days we log more than 6 miles in total. Yesterday we went to Cerro Santa Lucia, a hill in the middle of the city, which is also a municipal park. It was absolutely magnificent the view was impressionable. And after the rain had subsided, there was a huge rainbow stretching across the city. We also ran into our friends from the group, Pavi & Davis. What a nice surprise that in a completely different part of the world, it an area that is comprised of more that 4 million people, I am still able to see a familiar face or two. This is such a beautiful world we live in. I can't wait to see more of the museums and places this country has to offer. I promise to be better about updating and I honestly can't wait for classes and such to start. This is the beginning of something very special.

Ciao & Bienvenido

I am currently sitting in the San Jose, Costa Rica airport awaiting my flight to Colombia and then on to Chile. I went to church this morning it was so wonderful. Wendy spoke about eternal families and our roles and responsibilities within them. They also had their youth conference this week so the Bishop invited all of the youth by name to come up and safe their testimonies with the congregation. I know the programs of the church are truly inspired and it was so wonderful to hear the stories and feelings of these youth. They may be few in number, but they are strong in spirit. I am so grateful for the priesthood in the church. Today our lesson in La Sociedad de Socorro was about the priesthood and I am so incredibly thankful to all those who hold and honor that sacred gift. It is with sadness that I left the ward members and my family here in Costa Rica, but I know that these friendships will live on and that I will have the opportunity to return and visit once again. Life is a beautiful thing and for me the most important part of life are the people we meet and the relationships we have. We are all tied together and I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned while here in Costa Rica. I cannot wait to serve and participate in activities in Chile. I am truly blessed in all ways. Anyways wish me luck...I have a feeling this is going to be a life altering experience.

El Final

So I have been a complete slacker lately and have been neglecting my blog. Today is my last full day here in Costa Rica and I have mixed feelings towards what lies ahead. I am so incredibly grateful for the experience I have been blessed to have here thus far, for the new friendships made, for my new extended family and for all of the people I have met randomly on the streets and buses. I guess I need to catch everybody up on my life a little bit...

The weekend of the 25-26 we ventured out to Guanacaste (one of the seven provinces) to go hiking and exploring. The first day on our way out to the hotel, I found my new favorite sweet treat...CAJETA! How did I not know this wonderful treat existed before...I have Cajeta with Macadamia nuts....YUM. When we finally got to the hotel Heliconias the beginning of Briel, Allison, Maddie, Victoria & my room problems started. Our door would not open. Maybe we should have taken this as a sign but alas we endured the toilet not working, losing power, millions of bugs and beds that were as hard as rocks.

In the beginning of our first hike, it started to poor rain and when I say rain I don't mean mist it was rain. We hiked 3 Km and crossed 3 beautiful suspending bridges. I of course made everybody wait while I snapped photos...I want my memories to be clear. I was soaked from head to toe...what an experience. I liked it so much that after a cup of hot herbal tea, I decided to take Alex back for a second go. We met up with Briel on the trail and enjoyed the hike again without rain. The sounds of the rainforest are so calming and peaceful. Also I love the smell of rain, the clear air and newly emerging life.

The next day after surviving a night of intense rain, we journeyed to the Parque Nacional Rio Celeste. I would like to thank Sarah for all of the hikes we do during the summer...you would be proud to know I was right behind the guide and carrying my own pack...Anyways this park is not like national parks you find in the US. The terrain is quite rugged and without a guide you would literally die in the park. During parts of the hike, the bridges had fallen and we had to wade across mud, in other parts the incline was literally vertical so descending the mountain was extremely dangerous, but the waterfall and ability to swim at the end made it all worth it. We returned to the hotel to find that there was no electricity and that meant no hot water so I went home on the 5 hour or so bus ride smelly, sweaty and gross. Luckily I survived and the next day I could not walk at all. I did some yoga and eventually my muscles calmed down, but it was not fun getting to that point.

On the 28 of June (Monday) I turned 20 and experienced my first birthday away from home and away from those who love me. Lets just say it wasn't easy, but I am learning to be more and more independent (not that I wasn't before I guess I am learning to trust in God more fully). I also have some wonderful friends here who made the day special for me as well. We spent the afternoon at our professor's lovely home, Quinta Feliz, and cooked lunch etc. Overall I am getting used to being 20 and such I think I had a mini-quarter life crisis, but its all good now.

Instead of traveling to Manuel Antonio, I opted to stay for our cultural outing. We went to the Teatro Nacional and listened to the National Orchestra play with Combo Nuvo (a group of six jazz musicians from NY). I had an absolute ball. I also met Gerry, an incredibly nice ex-pat, who sat in the box next to me. It pained me to hear that his family in the states does not have time for him, and made me reflect on what is most important to me in life, family. I spent my fourth of July at church and had an absolutely wonderful testimony meeting, during which I shared my testimony in Spanish. I felt so much peace and love. I will certainly miss all of the members of the Montes de Oca Ward here and am sad to have to say goodbye tomorrow.

Yesterday we went to Volcan Irazu, one of fourth active volcanoes in Costa Rica, and it was a lovely end to a great adventure here. It didn't really hit me until we dropped the people who live in Curridabat at the Taco Bell and that was goodbye. I guess I am learning that these aren't really goodbyes, but more like see you later. I have been so richly blessed by the rich coast and will forever treasure these memories. I cannot wait to return in the near future and bring my family with me. On to Chile it is...