Then we went to Monteverde for a few days and hiked up a mountain and ziplined through the cloudforest. It was one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever seen!
Then we went back to San Jose and visited Bekah’s school and her family that she lived with.
On Friday we took a day trip to Manuel Antonio—one of the most beautiful beaches in CR and we agree! The trip home and Saturday were two very memorable days, but not that fun. As we were traveling back I started feeling really sick and started praying really hard that I would not throw up on the bus! I started getting really hot and naseaus—at this point I feel so horrible that I want to die, it’s a really horrible feeling and then I pass out. Embarrassing! Bekah taps my shoulder and wakes me up, ‘are you ok?!’ I said NO! I felt horrible, she switched me seats so I could sit by the window and get the cool breeze on my face. We still had two hours to go until we were ‘home’! Those two hours went really slow, but we finally got back and a taxi driver was there to get us, he starts hitting on us and I was so sick and about to throw up all over his car—poor Bekah had to handle everything. The guy ended up charging us double… I guess he thought he was pretty charming and worth more than the other taxi rides. We didn’t have that much money with us, so tough for him, he only got like 1.5 times what the ride should have cost. We made it inside and I ended up in bed for 24 hours. I was so upset because it was our last day and we were going to go meet a missionary whose family Kristen met in Bolivia and I really wanted to meet her! I told Bekah she should go alone because I was not able to go anywhere. She did go and her and Kari returned about 40 minutes later with crackers, something to drink and medicine. I felt so loved and special. They were going to go eat breakfast and then Bekah was going to go souvenier shopping. I was really worried for her safety because I was supposed to go and be with her to protect her. That’s what big sisters do! As she walked out the door I started crying of frustration and I felt like a failure because I was supposed to take care of her and I was sick in bed and she was taking care of me! But God spoke to me at that moment and told me that He’s got this! And a verse that I had read the day before came to mind: Luke 12:6-7 ‘Aren’t two sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet, not one sparrow is forgotten by God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!’ He knows my sister, He can take care of her much better than I can. And I really had no option other than to trust Him. He does take really good care of her; of US!
This is one of the times when God has dealt harshly with me, but ever so beautifully. First off, I felt kind of bad and selfish for going on vacation. God is doing so much throughout the world and has so much for us to do, who am I to take a week, take money that could be spent better elsewhere all on myself. (Granted--Bekah and I travel super-frugally! I’m pretty positive we spend way less money on vacation than when we’re home.)
That week of vacation was one of the greatest times in my life where God just broke me and made me see a lot of my weaknesses. I guess we have a tendency to compare ourselves vertically… with those around us. Its easier on me this way because I definitely come up looking pretty good and I feel good about myself and how good I am. And God must be pretty satisfied with me! But, when I focus on myself and how I measure up to HIM, I fall so short of what He requires—which is perfection(Matt 5:48). And all I can do is fall at His feet and ask that He forgive me.
Who am I to stand before the God of the universe and tell Him that I deserve anything! He was perfect and yet loved such imperfect, selfish and horrible people so much that He sent His son to die for us so that we could have a relationship with Him and bring Him honor. What love. What Grace. What beauty.
Not that I think I’ll take a vacation ever again ;) But I think a week away was really wonderful and gave Him space to work in my life because I was totally away from everything I knew—except Bekah—and He took advantage of that time and working in my life very strongly. I praise Him for this!
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