Multicultural Day

Jim, Samuel, Hae Su



Friday was a relaxing holiday from class at the Instituto Lengua de Español (the Spanish Language Institute).  We spent the day seeing sites around San Jose with our new Korean friends, Samuel and Hae Su.  Let us introduce you to these gentlemen.  Samuel is originally from Korea, and he has been a missionary in Argentina for the past 13 years.  He doesn't speak any English.  Hae Su is a 23 year-old young man from Korea, and he has been in Costa Rica for about 2 months.  He speaks a tiny bit of English and he knows only a few words in Spanish. 

Cafe Brit Coffee Tour

Samuel and Jim have struck up a friendship because of the bond between their pastor hearts. They have enjoyed getting to know one another by communicating in Spanish. Although neither is quite fluent in Spanish, they manage to talk and share with each other.

Hae Su is living with his uncle here in Costa Rica while he studies Spanish for his future international job in Korea. He is one of my classes where the teacher mothers him and is always calling him, "Little Chiquito."

Hae Su, Mel, Jim, Samuel

Picutre this - two Korean gringos accompanied by two U.S. gringos sightseeing in a Latin American country with a bit of Spanish, Korean, and English being spoken throughout the day.  We caught ourselves laughing at the conversations that were a mix of Spanish (Jim-Samuel), Korean (Samuel-Hae Su), and English (Jim-Melanie). 

Bouganvilla at Cafe Brit (it's so beautiful in person)

However, as the day came to a close we were touched by the kindness, love, and frienship we experienced.  The love we share through the bond of Christ is overwhelming and amazing no matter where we are or what language we speak.  We are so thankful that God has allowed us to have many brothers and sisters in Christ.  As we begin this journey to work in Latin America, we are reminded that no matter where we or how far apart we may be, we are united with bonds of love that are strong and deep.