Dedicated to my super-legit friends and family all over the American continent!

So I went to the beach this weekend! I really love the beaches here — something about black sand (which is still stuck in all my hair) and five-foot waves and fresh guanabana juice and good friends totally balances out my 12-hour-of-class Thursdays. It is such a wonderful part of this country that I can run away from the city on the weekends to the Pacific, to the rainforest, to wherever for outrageously little money and effort. And everything in CR, like always, is beautiful.

Sorry if I am being too saccharine here — I actually had a pretty rough day, and I feel like to be honest, I should tell you about that too. On the way home from the beach I was robbed (as well as another girl in my group, with whom I was walking, through the neighborhood, at 6:30) and lost most of the more valuable things I have with me. So future pictures will be borrowed from friends. The irony, you might note, is in my last blog:

"About had a nervous breakdown I was going to get mugged (Where did that come from? I always feel safe in Sabanilla and today was not any different)"

May I just say, though, that Costa Rica has been totally redeemed for me in the past day. I have been loved on so much by my friends and family here (as well as significant amounts from my friends and family in the states). The infinite goodness of humanity in comparison to the tiny abouts of lack of goodness always impresses me. This, in turn, has made it easy to love on other people in my life, which in turn keeps me feeling good, which really is just makes everything worth it in the first place.

To seal off the cheese factor, I am going to post an inspirational bible passage! I hope that those of you who are Jesus lovers can appreciate it for the strength that has given me, and those who are not can respect that although life rarely feels as simple as "It's OK! Jesus loves you!", the message just being happy with where you are is a good one.


Phillipians 4:10-13: "I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

Dig it, right? Keep me in your thoughts this week as I rebuild my life without a lot of things I am used to having.