It was our privilege to visit our family and the other families in Costa Rica, this spring. Costa Rica is in Central America, located northwest of Panama. Guadalupe, the town where our brethren have established an ecclesia is just about in the center of the country. The capitol city, San Jose, is only three miles away. The elevation is about 3500 tt. above sea level, which accounts for the mild tropical weather enjoyed there. The city is surrounded by high mountains that are always green and lush due to the frequent rainfall. One can also see 3 dormant volcanoes that are about at the 10,000 ft. elevation. These slopes too are covered with either natural growth or are under cultivation.
During our stay we went to the Atlantic port of Limon and the Pacific post of Punta-rends. Our trip to Limon was most interesting. We took the train from San Jose, leaving „bout so en in the morning and arriving in Limon about five that night. There were 50 stops listed on our tickets and we must have made them all! The ride takes you up winding mountain slopes beside Costa Rica’s largest river which flows far below. There are coffee and banana plantations the full length of the trip and dense jungle through much of the area. Flowers of all kinds grow beneath the trees. making a beautiful carpet and wonderful scenery. At each stop, vendors jump on the train selling anything from soft drinks, hard cooked eggs etc., to hot corn on the cob. As you get closer to Limon, the jungle is even more dense and houses up on stilts line the tracks. Many of the houses had the sign. Warning, it may be malaria” attacked on the front of them. When we arrived at Limon, as raining lightly, as it had done most of the trip. It is rather a dirty town, built originally to care for the needs of the plantation workers. We were able to catch a plane for our trip back to San Jose and were back in about 45 minutes. It was, of course, a much easier trip going home but how much we would have missed had we not taken that train ride! Brother Milton Drake told us after we got home that he had read in the local paper that the train had de-railed 300 times last year. We were glad we had been spared that experience! The trip to Puntarenas was quite a different trip. We drove in the Drake’s car through rolling hills and were there in about 2 hours. This is a sea town more like resort areas we might see in the States. Houses line the street at the edge of the sand and this town becomes very busy during holidays.
Streets are very narrow through most of Costa Rica. Consequently, most people use the buses since they are convenient and cheap. Not everyone is able to afford to own cars there but most can manage bus fares, and they run quite often to most areas. We have heard SO often of what a terrible experience the California freeways are to visitors. Everyone should try the local streets of Costa Rica! This may be perhaps the only place Costa Ricans ever hurry! The people throughout the country are very friendly. You cannot board a bus carrying a child without several people insisting that you take their seat. All the people seem especially fond of children and go out of their way to help them or to talk to them.
Costa Rica is no different than most of the world in regard to economic standards. The range is from extreme poverty to wealth. The standard of living is much lower there and our missionaries are considered quite well off by local people. We can take a lesson from them since most of them left the majority of their material things behind and find they are getting along nicely. Food is plentiful and inexpensive as long as one uses what is produced locally. In the surrounding hills many of the same vegetables and fruits that we are familiar with are grown, such as—corn, tomatoes, squash, beans, eggplant, potatoes, etc. Bananas, of course, are very plentiful as well as watermelon and papayas that are the size of the watermelons. Mangoes, plantanos and yucca are a few of the other foods grown locally. Any imported foods (or other goods) I are way out of reason to buy for most people. There are shortages of many things from time to time, but the whole world is having the same problem. One problem in particular that is difficult to get used to is that of so many people begging. We all know our possessions are really not ours and we have been commanded to give to those in need. People of all ages are constantly begging, some very small children and some very elderly people. They stop you on the street as well as come to your door frequently. Most of the people are very hard working and keep their homes and themselves very clean.
Our brethren and sisters live in average neighborhoods where homes are fairly well kept but just a couple of blocks away are homes built close to a banana plantation that are very small wooden buildings with no windows or doors and only dirt floors. Needless to say, the sanitation conditions are poor at the very best.
Our brethren and sisters who have moved to this area to work are happy in their work and thankful to our Father that they have been allowed to work in this capacity. It is true that they are not living as they did at “home” but all feel they are truly serving the Lord. It must be encouraging to have 8 to 15 visitors out to a Bible class or lecture on a night when it is pouring rain and all have had to walk to get there! It is also encouraging to bring the word of Truth to those who really want to hear of a better way than they presently know. All our missionaries feel strongly that God is working very closely with them. Their problems of jobs etc. have been taken care of in such a way that they can only feel that God has provided. With these assurances from day to day, they are strengthened in the work. As we write this, we have word of several immersions in El Salvador and 2 more in Costa Rica. Whatever adjustments or hardships that might have been endured, our brethren feel are minimal when all consider what Christ has done for us. One concern all have is how they can build up and encourage these new converts. The ideal missionary work is to establish an ecclesia and teach people so that they are able to keep their lightstand strong and growing after missionaries move on to other fields. This is a responsibility that all feel and our prayers for them should be with this in mind. Let us pray that our Father will build up these new ones in the faith so that they may continue the good work that has been started in them.
As the days are growing shorter for all of us to work, we too, can share in these efforts throughout the world. First, by our prayers, for through combined prayers we all become closer in that wonderful bond we share. Second, by communicating with brethren in the Mission work wherever they may be. They all look forward with much anticipation to mail. Let us take the time to let them know we want to share their experiences. Lastly, we can share with our financial support. This is sorely needed, and after all, what better use is there than to use the Lord’s gifts to us for His work?
The country and the language were indeed strange to us, however one cannot feel strange when they are greeted so warmly and lovingly as we were. It was a reminder of that time when we will all share, God willing, that wonderful life in God’s kingdom. We truly are a blessed people that have been allowed these foretastes of that which is to come.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One