Workshop Day 1

It was with a certain amount of fear and trepidation that I finished breakfast today and headed for the building where the workshop was to take place. Four teams and an observer (or three teams and two observers, depending on how you count them—seven in all), all but one observer having come a considerable distance, were depending on me to make this week worth their time. Also, having become accustomed to being somewhat of a theological minority, I figured I needed to watch my step if we ever wandered into certain areas.

Did you know that the sweat you sweat when you’re nervous is different from the sweat you sweat when you exercise? I read that a few months back, and I would believe it after today – even after a shower I could hardly stand to be near me.

Anyway, imagine my surprise then when Timothy Jones opened the workshop by reading Micah 4:1–7:

In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths."

The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

"In that day," declares the LORD, "I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.”

After I told Timothy that this vision had inspired me for decades—and was the reason I’ve been to Costa Rica twice—but because of various discouragements I’d all but forgotten it, he prayed for me, I prayed for our Nigerian brethren who are being so terribly persecuted by Boko Haram jihadists, and we were off.

Genuine action shot (Photo credit: Ruth Jones)

The PowerPoint I was afraid I’d be through in fifteen minutes and teach them nothing new took three hours because of all the questions. Then we devoted the rest of the day to phonetics, and I can definitely say that the first 20% of the workshop has been a great success.

After the afternoon session I took a walk up the hill. The first person I met was a man even older than I am, who greeted me first in Cabecar, then in Spanish, and finally got through to me in English. We parted with smiles, but I thought he was shaking his head as he left. (Timothy tells me that so many of his visitors are involved with the Cabecars that the locals expect every gringo to speak Cabecar.)

Then I met a mother and her two children, who greeted me in Cabecar, which went nowhere, so we limped along in Spanish, since they don’t speak English. After a few minutes I promised I’d be back up again tomorrow and speak Cabecar (“How are you?” “Well.”), so they’ll probably do everything they can to finish their work early and be home by then.

Dinner was catch-as-catch can, with more lively conversation. I’ve really enjoyed hearing the others’ stories of how they have become who they are today. One man found Christ in a Marine Corps brig, others here grew up as missionary kids. I didn’t realize until today that Timothy (who has lived in Indian territory in Costa Rica practically all his life) didn’t learn Spanish until he had married his Costa Rican wife, who learned English as an exchange student in Parkersburg, West Virginia! Ya never know.

Timothy and Keiry (pronounced like Katie) Jones

God has been so gracious to me on this trip. I hope my absence from there has blessed you as much as my presence here has blessed me!