Finally HERE!!!!

Well, I am here in Puerto Limon, in Limon Costa Rica. What an amazing three days it has been so far. I will start from the beginning and tell you everything I can remember. So my plane left Greensboro at 12:50pm and arrived in Dallas around 3:30pm. This was my first flight ever, and it was definitely a new experience. God was watching out for me though because there was this amazing lady, named Margaret, who had the seat next to me and once we started talking I told her my story of where I was going and what I would be doing as well as the fact that it was my first flight. So through the duration of the whole flight she would often check on me and make sure I was doing alright and whenever we would hit turbulence she would tell me that it was normal and that there was nothing to worry about. When we first started talking I had told her how some of my family had taken me to breakfast and that I did not eat much because I was so apprehensive about the flight. So midway through the flight she insisted that I eat half of her Turkey Ranch and Swiss after we had some soda from the beverage cart. I definitely saw thank God for putting a person next to me who has flown before and was so nice and pleasant to talk to. If you’re reading this Margaret I enjoyed your company. Once I arrived in Dallas I called my family to tell them that we had landed and about the experience I had. Then I did a little shopping because the Dallas airport is like a huge mall. I went to the Starbucks and bought a couple books because there are no English books in Limon. I bought the forth Jason Borne book and Icy Dairies which is about a captain of a submarine and his crew and what they went though in the cold war. Then I had dinner at Cousins BBQ and then proceeded to wait on my plane, then wait some more and then some more. My plane was two hours late and by that time I was no longer anxious as I was impatient. But we finally boarded and got seated and took off. They showed an In-flight movie called "21" which is about counting cards in black jack. Good movie. There was also an in-flight meal which was not that great and it was really a snack and not a meal but it was ok. Finally my last destination for Wednesday night was San Jose Costa Rica. Brother Leo Pixley was not waiting on me like I hoped so as soon as I went through Immigration and Customs I went outside and was waiting on him to come and pick me up. As soon as I walked out the front doors I know there were 10 people in the matter of 1 minute to ask me if I needed a taxi. I would politely say "No, Gracias". As I stood to wait on Pixley some of the drivers would ask me "who’s coming to pick you up?" I would say "Brother Pixley but I don't know what he looks like" then they would ask "Do you have their phone number?" so I said "No, I don't have their phone number because I went swimming in the Ocean with my cell phone, so I don't have anyone’s number, But I know he is coming" then they would ask me what is my destination for the night?" I would say "I have no clue. I know I'm staying in a church but I don't know where or the name of the church" Needless to say I should have been better prepared but in the end I had been standing outside for about twenty minutes when Brother Pixley came with my name written on a sign and so finally I knew I was going to be ok. Then he dropped me off at the church and I fell right asleep. On Thursday morning Pixley came to pick me up and then we went to pick Morgan up from the bus terminal. She bused in to San Jose so that I would not have to ride the bus to Limon alone. So we walked around San Jose for a while and then went to eat at the McDonalds. Probably the nicest McDonalds I have ever been in. it was two stories with nice tile floors and flat panel TVs mounted on the walls. Not to mention it had a desert parlor where they would cut slices of cake and pie off the fresh baked items. Then Morgan and I caught a bus to Puerto Limon, which took about three hours with a five minute break at a midway station which we could get a Coke (sorry Ryan) and some fried plantain chips. They are like a sweat potato chip, very good. Once we were in Puerto Limon we took a taxi from the Bus terminal to Sara’s house. I dropped off my luggage and then went to the school to teach my first adult class. We only had five students that night because usually the classes or on Wednesdays and Fridays but since their Mothers Day in on August 15th, No one would really do anything. In fact a lot of the stores and shops closed so they could be with their families. The adult class went well the students already know quit a bit of music theory thanks to Morgan. After the class we went to the Baptist church in town to sing some gospel music. They were doing a festival where they had a group come down from Harlem, New York to teach gospel music. It was great but in a true Gospel choir there is no bass part so I was having to sing high (it stayed around Eb’s and G’s). Friday was my day to get acclimated with the City and directions and just figure out where I live, where I work, and where I play, and how to get between them all. Morgan showed me the Beaches and where I could get internet access, as well as had a great lunch at the Park Hotel which is one of the only English speaking establishments nearby besides MarabuCaribe, which is another hotel/restaurant. Saturday we taught class all day (10:00am-5:00pm) which takes place at a fellowship hall (building with some chairs) that has some musical instruments. I took the teenagers and Morgan took the younger students. I taught basic music theory which requires to be able to legibly write on the staff which some of them have some issues with, which we will definitely be working on. Yesterday was great. Morgan and I went to faith Moravian church to which we were in charge of the music for the Mothers day Service. So I played “Away from the Roll of the Sea” as Morgan played the melody on her violin. Then I played Shubert’s “Ave Maria” and Morgan sang. I also played or attempted to play all the Hymns for the service. It is hard for me to get asked at the last minute to play things but I can definitely say that my sight reading is improving. Then we went to perform with the Gospel Choir. I really felt the spirit moving in this church. If you can picture this; Morgan and I are two of the three white people out of 250, people getting out of there seats jumping up and down, a constant stream of alleluias and amens coming from the congregation and choir, a african american story teller preaching the gospel...the overall experience is something I may not have experienced in the states because of the color of my skin. I remember singing in the gospel choir at WCU and people looking at me like I was out of place. So now I feel like it is ok and that those people need to realize that I sing for God and not for them. But the service was great. If I can get the video to post I have a video after the concert was over but still people were dancing around and singing. It was a blessing from God to have something to sing the first night I was here. Today we had to go to the school to teach a lesson. After that we went out shopping to get me a real Spanish English dictionary because apparently the one I brought is for Spain and not Costa Rica (Thanks though Mark). Then we went to get some more dry erase markers so that when I’m teaching the students will have something to work on the white board with. Then we caught a cab so that I can see the Beautiful Ocean for the first time, along with getting to use the internet and post this blog from MarabuCaribe. I’m not sure how often I can post but I’m hoping that at least once maybe even twice a week. So you all be on the lookout for new and exciting post. I am missing all my Friends, Family and church family. Hope to here from you all by either posting comments or e-mail me directly bradymusic@gmail.com If God loves all.....so do I. I Love you all. ttys.