Sisters in Christ

 June 18th, 2010.

      This has been a very bittersweet day. Tomorrow we are going to Cocoa Beach, and we will Zipline through the jungle! All of us girls are laying in our bunks right now talking about how we feel about leaving. I know nothing can ever compare to this place and it's memories. Costa Rica is 100% unforgettable.
     I had a wonderful, wonderful time at the soccer tournament last night. I saw my little friend Alisa again, she gave me a huge hug and kiss on the cheek. She stayed by my side the entire night, she is an absolute sweetheart! Soon, all the little girls were hugging and hanging on me, speaking a mile a minute in spanish. I had the most fun painting their nails ( just imagine those precious little faces lighting up as they chose the color! ). Then they demanded that they should paint my nails... which uh..turned out.."bonita"? Now my nails have about ten coats of mismatched colors and sparkles. Ha-ha! They're so cute.

      When I told them my name is Kaitlin in english and Catalina in Spanish they thought that was the coolest thing ever. Apparently, Catalina is the name of their favorite, popular, sitcom tv show. I think getting to know the little girls, playing and interacting with them this week has been my favorite thing so far. I can tell they really love me. Everytime they see me, they bring me the sweetest gifts.

     When Matiyata, one of the little girls, heard that I was leaving in a couple days, she took off running down the street and returned carrying a bag of fresh limes for me. Although I didn't understand a word she said when I took the limes from her, I knew this was her way of saying she loved me. She gave me a huge hug after that. Matiyata became very attatched towards the end of the night, dreading our departure. She and I both knew that we would most likely never see each other again, and that's such a hard thing to realize, especially for a young child like her.

     Other little girls brought me more gifts, whatever they could offer, for they're all very poor... Maria gave me several home-made cards, writing in Spanish of course, but I did pick out 'Te amo, Catalina" many times. One girl gave me an old Hello Kitty valentines day card. I know they don't have much to offer- but those simple little gifts meant the world to me. It showed me that God was using me to touch the children's hearts there!

      Over the week, I've become very close to Dale'. If I were to even begin to describe this unique bond of friendship we share, some would call me crazy. Neither of us speak the same language, she knows as much English as I know Spanish; which is about ten phrases. It was as if the moment we met, there was this connection between us...it's not often you meet someone that you feel you share an immediate connection with, especially not someone who lives on another continent and speaks another language!

     Dale' and I always had the best time though, I think our laughter and love for the Lord is what connected us. We were able to communicate through something stronger than words, the Holy Spirit. Even my team and others around us noticed that we were very close by the end of the week. I think is it so amazing how the Holy Spirit can bring two friends together, in the most unlikely of ways!

      Dale' made me a bracelet tonight, and painted me a picture. I've already decided that I will keep this bracelet on until it breaks, to always remind me of the amazing times God blessed me with in Costa Rica, and the people that He allowed me to bless as well. It was so difficult to say goodbye, her little sister Alisa began crying so hard when it came time. Dale' and I both stood there hugging for a long time, and with the help of Carlos, she reminded me that we would meet again in heaven, for we are sisters in Christ.