Note: Joining an EMI project trip to Costa Rica within 48-hours of the green-light was an exciting privilege, but not something to make a habit. Though I prefer coaching, leading a team again was fun — and I found space to attend my camera.
Eliazar’s boy was like a little mirror — gumboots, cap, smile, and without fear. Neither was he too small to open the gate — just like a man would do — nor was he too big to ride on papa’s shoulders.
For Kevin, surveying the 94-acre Arból de Vida site was a walk in the park compared to his experiences in Haiti surviving the 2010 earthquake. God helped men like him to respond and care for the broken and dying nonstop for weeks back then. The painful memories are still fresh.
Truly, life is at once fragile and beautiful.
Following his parent’s in mission as a 15-year-old, trust is the only way. He told us, “Sometimes I struggle to understand my purpose here. My mom tells me it is to learn and to help. So I try to do that as best I can to the glory of God.” Holding back tears, I managed to reply, “I hope my boys become like you.”
The Rio Blanco runs along the edge of the property, over 150 feet below the bank. Eliazar used his machete and jungle craft to create a way down. I have done many things on EMI project trips. Climbing a steep embankment with aid of a thick, living vine was new.
Cacti swarm their host tree, like prickly worms.
As a new EMI Nicaragua staff already in Costa Rica with his family for Spanish study, Rob probably would have led the team — if I hadn’t come down from Colorado. And I know he would have been brilliant. But he may not have been able to relax, or smile like he’s doing here — and this brings me great satisfaction.
The person who most appreciated the EMI team selected by the original Canadian project leader might have been this 12-year-old girl. Her face became brighter and brighter as she spent time with the five women professionals who were helping her parents.
EMI Canada intern architect Catherine takes notes. Lead architect Christi is from Florida with family roots in Nicaragua. Originally from UK, Rob was moving his family from San José to Managua the following week to join the EMI team. Pastor Johnny from Costa Rica is a friend of Arból de Vida.
Just as we finished our site walkabout, we turned to see this rainbow cast in the clouds beneath the volcano. If our broken world is so beautiful, how will we endure paradise? God will make us able.
The region’s namesake Guanacaste tree is protected and rightfully so. With a ministry named Arból de Vida, we should naturally like to celebrate one particular tree in the architectural idea. This is it.
Civil Engineers Liz and Angie are veteran EMI volunteers. This showed as they absorbed new information and navigated design changes during our week in Costa Rica.
Meanwhile, at the architectural table, Christi and Catherine consult with masterplan architect Fred. My role was to ensure their table was positioned with best possible lighting for hand drawing.
There is no sense denying the team’s accommodation included a small pool, or that we obeyed the landlord’s stern directive to use it (pura vida, Costa Rica). Only her poolside geese, however, made my cut.
As I followed this iguana, I had to run away when smaller lizards began raining down around me. Afterward, he kept his eye on me to see if I would dare climb his tree.
With intern Sabrina working from EMI in Cape Town and Angie in Idaho — and the 10-hour timezone difference between them, perhaps this is Angie’s reaction to the prospect of 1AM Zoom calls?
Surveying is simply an excellent profession, and I wish my boys could have spent time with Roy and Kevin. You have gear & radios, you have snake-gaiters, you have drones, you make maps, and you spend time outside discovering things others do not.. I can imagine Bill Waterson’s Calvin grown up as a surveyor, with Hobbes flying the drone.
The Pacific Ocean and evening sunglow at Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
