Trip 3, Days 7 and 8!

Our last full day in Costa Rica began with beautiful sunshine and a breakfast by the ocean. Due to our late arrival and the rain the night before, we hadn't really gotten to see much of the beach until morning. We planned to meet late in the morning so that everyone could relax or sleep in as they chose. Some took advantage of the air conditioned room and slept in, while others had an early breakfast and went for a walk on the beach.

The hotel dining room is an open room with beautiful views of the ocean and we all enjoyed listening to the waves as we ate breakfast. After breakfast, most of us decided to spend the morning taking an Aerial Tram Tour of a nearby rainforest while a few of us decided to stay behind and relax by the ocean.

We arrived at the rainforest and were met by our guide, Hugo, who first took us took us on an hour long walking tour around the gardens and the serpentarium. We were all especially impressed by the medicine garden and all it had to offer. At the serpentarium Hugo explained how to tell the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes and about ehd ifferent varieties of snakes that are indigenous to Costa Rica. We then walked around and saw a variety of snakes in cages, including a boa constrictor whom we had fun teasing.

After the walking tour we split into two groups and went up into the rainforest on gondolas for the aerial tour. On the way up the cars hung lower into the rainforest, allowing us to see up close the trees, plants, and animals there (one group saw a sloth, one group a monkey, and both groups many spiders and birds). Our guides were wonderful, stopping the gondolas several times to allow us longer and more detailed looks at things. On the way down the cars hung up higher giving us spectacular views out over the forest to the ocean.

After a late lunch at the restaurant we had eaten at the night before (it was so good we just had to go back) we went back to the hotel to enjoy the beach and the hotel pool. A few of us braved the waves and went out into the ocean, though none of us was brave enough to try surfing. We went to dinner at one of the popular local restaurants where we sampled delicious seafood and Costa Rican dishes before heading across the street to TCBY for dessert.

We also socialized with members of a youth group from the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina. Although not technically from NORTH Carolina, Trinity is participating in our companion diocese relationship with the Diocese of Costa Rica. This particular group had been working during the week at the Diocesan House, and will eventually be building a new school in Heredia, near San Jose.

We shared Compline together when we got back to the hotel before going to bed.

We woke in the morning and had breakfast, enjoying our last hours at the gorgeous beach before reluctantly packing and boarding the bus for the final time. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time, said goodbye to our magnificent driver Marvin, and checked in before heading to our gate. We did some last minute shopping before having lunch and watching the Argentina-Mexico soccer match in the waiting area at the gate.

Overall it was a wonderful trip and touched us deeply. I know personally, having been on the last trip in February, I felt that I knew what to expect from the week, but from the moment we arrived I found myself constantly surprised and awakened by new experiences and insights. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful to have had the opportunity to visit this wonderful community and country not once, but twice. I hope that through this blog we have been able to convey to all of you, at least a little bit, how much these trips and the community and people of Estrada mean to all of us.

See you all again in February.

written by Katharine Vess

Trip 3, Day 6

Our last day at Earth and in Estrada began much as the other days had, with a breakfast of rice and beans and a short morning prayer, this time led by Katharine. We arrived in Estrada and were greeted by our work crew and a group of children (some of whom had run to the church behind the bus). To our surprise and delight there were even more new faces among the children gathered and we set about getting to know them and finishing our work projects.

The painters worked hard and soon ran out of paint and so moved on to help with other projects. On the second floor of the building, most of the outer frame was up and so we worked to get as many of the roof trusses up as possible, an interesting and impressive feat without a crane! And of course, we continued to play with the kids, enjoying our final morning with them.

After a delicious lunch, which we enjoyed with many of the children, we took lots of pictures and received lots of hugs before reluctantly loading onto the van and heading back to Earth one last time. After quick showers and a few last minute purchases at Earth we headed out. You may remember that when the group was here in February, they purchased a tree to plant on the Earth University campus in the name of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. We talked with the staff at Earth and they told us where the tree was planted, so on our way out we stopped to visit our tree. It is still very small, but looks good. It is a part of a nice hedge along the side of the road that leads to the main campus.

The main road through the mountains of San Jose was, thankfully, open, after being closed on and off during the week due to mudslides, and we made it to San Jose by 5pm. We stopped at the Diocesan House to drop off Father John, who had to return to Emmanuel a day early for the Bishop's visit on Sunday, and Clarence, before quickly getting back on the road. Unfortunately, the new road to the Pacific coast was closed and we had to take the long way, driving through the rain and traffic for three hours before arriving at Jaco Beach. We checked into our very nice rooms at the Cocal Hotel and Casino before going out for a late dinner.

Leaving Estrada, and all of our new friends there was sad and we were all sorry to go. Saying goodbye, however, was made easier knowing that our connection with this community has been strengthened and that we will return, some of us in person, others through pictures and stories brought back by others who will make the journey next time.