Johnny's Journeys : COSTA RICA 2004

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JOHNNY’S JOURNEYS : COSTA RICA 2004


JULY 9, 2004 (Friday)

Lots of chores to finish today: mow the lawn, purchase stamps at the post office, get some $money$

from the bank, pay the school tuition, finish packing. Driving Bethany to the pet store, we were entertained

by the song Butterfly Kisses. I thought of how my daughter had grown since my first dental missionary trip,

seven years ago. Janet helps me put the finishing touches on the packing process. As we drive east on I-10,

we saw a beautiful rainbow. Maybe a sign for things to come. Arriving in Pensacola, we stop for supper at

Smokey’s B-B-Q. Then we’re on our way to the Hampton Inn-Airport Hotel. Take a going away picture

with Bethany. Said our good-byes. Check into the hotel and deposit my luggage in the room. Five minutes

later, we start our 8:00 team meeting. Many familiar faces in the group and about half were first-timers. My

room mate for the night is Bob Simpson, from Maryland. This is his 29th missionary trip with the Gerald

Freeman crew. Wow. Bob and I were roomies in Turrialba in 1999.

We began with introductions . Shared some stories from previous trips. Started to focus on the purpose

of the trip: to be a “servant of Christ”.


JULY 10, 2004 (Saturday)

Wake-up call at 3 a.m. That’s mighty early, folks. Arrive at the airport by 4:30 a.m. Check-in was a

breeze. Flight departs around 6:30 and soon we are landing in Atlanta. As we settle in at the waiting area,

dozens of people awaiting the San Jose flight are wearing colorful, matching tee-shirts. There are three

separate groups of people heading to Costa Rica on their missionary trips. Two people from New Jersey

are sitting behind me: a grandmother and her granddaughter, Emily. The young girl will 10 years old

next month, as will Bethany.

Three hour plane trip and we’re landing at 1:17 Central Daylight Time. Picked up tons of luggage for

19 of our crew. Then customs and immigration. Headed out to the bus an hour later at 1:17 Central

Standard Time. The Costa Ricans (Ticos) don’t observe daylight savings time.

Went to the Central Methodist Seminary at Alejuela and picked up the rest of our team: 35 in all! Three

hours to drive through the NARROW, winding mountain roads to La Fortuna. Check into our cabins at

the Arenal-Paraiso Resort. 35 acres of lush-green tropical plants, trees, flora, shrubbery , bushes and

flowers. And across the road, less than 10 miles away is Arenal Volcano, one of the most active

volcanoes in Central America. All cabins have a front-porch and a back-porch. Leather rocking chairs

are very comfy. Trek on down to the large open-air restaurant (no windows). Choose the country-style

sea-bass with tomato glaze and honey. Bananas Flambe finished off a delicious dinner ( $17).

Make reservations for tomorrow for a Canopy Tour at 8 a.m. Then change into the swimming suit

and head for the three swimming pools. Two of the hot pools are warmed by underground thermal

activity. Very relaxing after a long day. Back to our air-conditioned cabin by 10:00. Sit on the back

porch for a few minutes in the rocking chair. Listen to the noises of the night: lots of frogs. In bed

at 10:30.


JULY 11, 2004 (Sunday)

Happy 17th wedding anniversary Janet! Te amo!! Up at 6:20 and head through the rain for breakfast.

Fresh fruit, sliced meat, pancakes, cheese, omelets, potatoes with a flavorful sauce and fresh orange

juice. No windows, I like this open air seating. Saw my first hummingbird, flittering around. Little

sucker was too fast for my camera.

Grabbed my rain poncho and went to the registration desk. Four of us (Teddy, Karly and Tammy)

had signed up for the CANOPY TOUR. It is located here on the grounds of the 35-acre Arenal-Paraiso

Resort. There are 12 platforms; cable spans run from 500 up to 1000 feet long, and the highest point is

250 feet above ground level. Cancelled…. Too much rain…. Oh no. Oh well.

Back to my cabin and take pictures of the banana plants, vincas, bird-of-paradise plants, bamboo,

and bromeliads up in the trees. Sink into the wooden rocking chair on the back porch. I finally spot

two TOUCANS in the wild. At the top of a tree about 40 feet from my cabin. And finally get the

camcorder to record, before they fly away! Beautiful birds: mostly black, with a patch of red at the tail

region. Yellow ring at the neck, with a long beak: yellow, green and orange color.

I’m in the shower when Bob knocks loudly on the door. I can join the 10:30 Canopy Tour, if I’m

down at the desk in 5 minutes. Could I make it? OH YES! First time I remember hair-spraying a wet head.

Get my safety helmet and some harness gear strapped on. Walk with Pilo, my guide, about 8 minutes

up the hill. There are 9 tourists and 4 guides. Receive our lesson on how to hold on, how to stop, even
how to pull ourselves to the platform, if we don’t quite make it all the way. Then climb many steps

to Platform 1.

A gentle nudge and I’m on my wayeeeeeeeh !!!! All I see is green, dark green, tropical green,

lush green as I zip through the tree-top canopy at 25 m.p.h. What a thrill. Land on Platform 2 and

in a few minutes, I’m gliding through the misty tree-tops again. And again. And again. By one of

the platforms was a small waterfall. Saw many varieties of birds plus the prettiest blue butterfly.

Our next to the last cable ride was the longest, over 1000 feet. This one passed over the Arenal

River. At that point, we were less than 10 feet above the river. (Keep those feet up.) When the 12th

and final platform was reached , we arrived at ground level. From start to finish, we dropped about

600 feet. Such an awesome adventure!!!

A tractor pulled the small trailer up a rugged mountain road. Near the top, we stopped and snapped

a few pictures of 8 howler monkeys. Saw one baby and his parents, and many of its relatives. Wow.

Had about 5 minutes to change out of a wet shirt, while the bus waited for me. In LaFortuna, about

20 of us ate lunch at a restaurant It had a large cone-shaped thatched roof with no windows. Enjoyed

the cool summer breezes. A few doors down, I bought some post cards and a few tee-shirts.

Our bus left about 3:00. We drove through the winding mountain roads again. Our leader, Gerald

Freeman, had some announcements for us. Included in them was that it was my 17th wedding anniversary.

We had a pit-stop in Sarapiqui at a neat place called Selva Verde Lodge. It is a 500-acre privately owned

rain forest retreat. Would like to come back one day for a real visit. Many walking trails, a butterfly

garden, canoe rides, boat rides, bird-watching, horse back riding, even swimming in the Sarapiqui River.

Back in the bus and we’re on our way again. After a little while, Gerald’s young daughter, Joy, comes

back to my row and climbs into my lap. She is playing with a Game-boy. I talk to her about Bethany and

show her pictures of my little girl.

We arrive in Pocora about 6 p.m. Check into the Rio Palmas Hotel. Two beds, a fan, hot and cold water.

Hey, this will be the place to call ‘home’ for the next five nights.

Sea bass for supper ($8) then walk around the thick, almost overgrown, courtyard, past the two pools

to our room. My, those frogs are loud! Lights out by 10 p.m.


JULY 12, 2004 (Monday)

Up about 6 a.m. Devotion at 7 a.m. then breakfast at 7:15. We have numerous 31-gallon tote boxes

to load and transport to the work site. We set up shop at the Social Security Building/ Health Clinic.

I’ve been asked by Dr. Charles Smith to be his assistant. I’ve worked with him my previous trips.

Guess he likes my quality of work. Also at our work station is Terry, assisting as flashlight holder

and Emily. She is a senior dental school student from Scotland. Very cramped working space, but

we try to make the best of it.

Lunch break is at 1:30. Huge tuna salad sandwiches with fresh tomatoes, chips, fresh pineapple

and watermelon, oreos and chocolate chip cookies.

At 4:00 on our first day we have a problem. Two local dentists complain that we are seeing and

treating “their” patients for free. So they’re losing money. Anyway, our group is asked to leave the

government-clinic complex. This is NOT what we planned on. Got to be flexible, though. Everything

is taken down and boxed up. Then we walk about 4 blocks away to the elementary school. There are

many rooms to spread out the workload. Equipment is all set up. Left about 5:40 and walked through

the town and back to the hotel at 6p.m. A few minutes later, the soaking rains come. Supper tonight was

arroza con pollo (chicken with rice) topped off with tres leche cake (three milk cake). Yum! I’ll

work on a few post cards and lights out at 9:30.


JULY 13, 2444 (Tuesday)

Morning devotional at 7 a.m. Today’s topic was about compassion. Breakfast around 7:20. Black

beans and rice, of course. Then on to the work site by 8:00.

Equipment and tools had been set up yesterday. So we thought things would go smoothly. Didn’t

seem to have enough electricity available at the school to run our compressors. Did the best we could.

Since we could not use the drills for fillings, the dentists concentrated on extractions for about 4 hours.

At one stretch we treated 2 girls, each age 7, and then a 5 year old girl. All 3 were screamers. Wow.

Very glad to see an adult, after that.

Lunch break at 12:30. Two large tuna fish sandwiches with freshly sliced tomatoes, chips and salsa,

refried beans, watermelon, 2 types of cookies and coca-cola. Most of us were in need of a siesta.

Took a cute picture of a father and daughter. They were at the water-sinks brushing their teeth.

Had just completed their oral hygiene training. Side by side, each with a face full of toothpaste foam.

Very smooth work load this afternoon. I’m gaining more confidence in my dental assistant skills.

I’m loading lidocaine cartridges into the syringes, screwing on the needle, scooping up a little anesthetic

jelly with cotton swabs, fastening burrs to the two drills, mixing the amalgam (for fillings) and

scooping it up into a carrier, passing the instruments to Dr. Smith when needed: mirror, ball burnisher,

explorer, carver, and plastic strips. Then there’s mixing a small quantity of stuff from each of the two

tubes of Nu-cap, mixing them (for bonding purposes) and many times, I had to operate the blue

laser light gun to “cure” the setting. Then it is time to clean the equipment with alcohol, take the

used tools to the “cleaning” area and prepare for the next patient. Like I said, I’m anticipating what

comes next and sorta getting the knack for this.

The van picked us up at 5:00. Back to the room, I chilled out for about 20 minutes. Was going

to go swimming, but the pool had been drained today. Looks like it needed a good cleaning.

Walked the ‘short’ trail to the butterfly garden. A tented area, larger than our house, it was a

lush green tropical garden. Butterflies everywhere! The ones with the largest wings had a huge blue

dot like an eye. These are called the ’owl’ butterfly. Now for the exciting part: I saw 4 tiny red and

blue frogs. They’re about the size of a quarter. Entire back legs are dark blue, head and body are bright

red, and the two front feet are blue. These little ones are Blue Jeans Dart Frogs. Then I saw a couple

of fluorescent green frogs with the black spots. These are the poisonous dart frogs.

Went back to the room to retrieve the camcorder. On this visit to the butterfly garden, I saw the

classic light green frog with large red eyes! And just a few feet away, I hear the creek gushing by.

Called home tonight! Finally got to talk to Janet and Bethany. I think I’m missed back at

the homestead AND vice versa. Three more nights.

Had a plate of rice and Carribean camerones (shrimp) tonight for supper. And a jumbo sized

aqua grande: 1.75 liter bottled water. Wrote 3 or 4 post cards and then my daily travel journal.

Go to bed at 9:45.




JULY 14, 2004 (Wednesday)


Lots of rain before dawn. Tropical depression is still affecting our weather. Cross my fingers

and hop into the shower. Cold water! AGAIN!!! Devotional time at 7:00. Emphasis today was on

servant hood. For breakfast: scrambled eggs & toast, slice of meat, papaya, pineapple and banana,

Plus freshly squeezed o.j.

Short bus ride to the school / work site. Arrived about 8:15. Then worked straight through until

12:30. The third Scottish dental student worked with Dr. Charles Smith’s group today. Emily on

Monday, Louise on Tuesday, and Caroline was with us today. Such a charming Scottish accent:

“a wee bit more air, please, a wee bit more air”.

Ham salad sandwiches were on the menu today. Finished around 4:15 today. Found a seat on

the bus at 4:20 then decided to walk home instead. Just wanted to do some walking in the town

today. Literally hundreds of Ticos in the streets: playing, walking, riding their bikes, and visiting

their neighbors.

I walked to a dead end street to take a picture of the train tresell. Passed a group of 20 - 25

teenage boys, all of whom were enthralled with a game of marbles. One of the guys looked up and

saw a gringo with a camera (me) and wanted his picture taken. Before you could count to 5, they

ALL lined up for a group photo and yelled ’whiskey’.

I walk a few blocks and step into a store, looking for souvenir tee-shirts. None in sight. But I do

see some music CD’s. For 1000 colonies ($2.25) I purchased Vol. 1 of Costa Rica Cantata which

contains 20 different songs. It will be an adventure to listen to these songs.

Freshen up at the room and at 5:45 the bus drives us about 20 miles down the road to Guapiles.

A special treat for supper. We have a choice of chicken or pizza. I went with a ½ of a rotisserie

chicken (pollo). This also included 3 corn tortillas, refried beans, plantain patties and a pitcher of

pineapple juice. Couldn’t quite finish it all off. Before getting on the bus, just had to go next door

to Pop’s. Bought a vanilla ice cream cone, dipped in chocolate and topped with nuts. Thought of the

1999 trip to Turrialba when a group would go to Pop’s every night for ice cream treats.

Back at the hotel, we scheduled a quick meeting to discuss the next days activities. Actually there

was a cake and love offering presented to the Freeman’s. It was to commemorate Gerald’s 50th

missionary trip to Costa Rica.

Prepare for bed and write in my travel journal. A late night this evening. It has been a very

full, but rewarding day. Lights out at 10:00 p.m.


JULY 15, 2004 (Thursday)

5:40 alarm clock this morning. YESSS !!! Hot water for the shower today. Devotion at 7 a.m.

More black beans and rice, with fresh fruit for breakfast. We walked to work today, about 10 blocks.

LOTS of Ticos awaited our arrival. The morning flowed smoothly and we took our lunch break after

12:00. Chicken salad sandwiches were new to the menu today. Plus all the usual favorites. Gerald

Freeman’s wife, Karen, passed out party hats. Then we ate cake and sang ’Happy Birthday’ to their

daughter. Joy is 8 years old today. She was beaming while opening several presents. She has spent

half of half life down here. Joy is probably the most loved little girl in Costa Rica.

Got back to our work room at 1:17 (that was the magic minute when Bethany was born, in 1994).

Our group zipped through the last of the patient work-load. Took about an hour to disassemble

everything and box it up; then load these totes on the bus.

Started walking through town with a few friends and stopped at the super-market. Bought a bottle

of vanilla extract. Greeted many children with “hola” as we walked through the neighborhoods. Made

it back to the hotel and walking across the gravel driveway, I spotted a line of leaf-cutter ants. They

seem very focused on their one task in life.

Walked on the Nature Trail at the back of our Rio Palmas Hotel. In less than a minute, I was totally

engulfed in the forest. Passed by two of the largest strands of bamboo. Very thick and tall. The trail

wound down around the river. Kept walking until I viewed the small 2-foot waterfall. It was getting

dark fast.

Breaded sea bass for supper with a bottle of fruit flavored tea. When all of us were finished eating,

we held our special time for ’sharing’. Gerald spoke for awhile about “staying on fire” and continue

to do good works. Our group was then served communion. Afterward, many of us reflected on the week.

“Where did you see Jesus this week?” So many of us had been touched by the Spirit. And as usual, many

of us were quite emotional.

Dr. Charles Smith spoke and thanked his team. Among other things, he said that “Johnny knows

what I’m thinking and passes the instrument before I tell him what I need.” And that he hoped I

would come back again.

When I had a few minutes to speak, I mentioned that I have enjoyed my 24 years as a pharmacist.

But when I’m down in Central America, I find my extra energy level, an exuberance, just an

excitement to assist any way I can. At the end of each of my three mission trips to Costa Rica, this

is always a mountain-top experience. I concluded with a song that we all sing on this trip.

“Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go

Lord, where you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart”.

A few minutes later, we formed a circle, held hands and sang three songs. It was quite a night.

Late night for bed, 10:50, cause we wanted all suit-cases packed. Have the alarm set for 5:30.


JULY 16, 2004 (Friday)

Hot water in the shower again. It’s going to be a good day. After a tasty breakfast, we have a

bus and van to load: everything leaves here today. Take another narrow, winding mountain road

through the scenic country side. I notice more coffee fields today. And many Chiquita trucks loading

bananas. Almost in the capital city of San Jose when we spot a small twister.

Check-in at the airport about 12 noon. Almost two hours before the plane leaves. Time for a

Papa Johns pizza and do some souvenir shopping. I liked those chocolate covered guava and

passion fruit candies. Could have left the chocolate covered coffee beans at the shop. They did NOT

receive a warm reception in Mobile. The most bumpy airline trip I’ve ever experienced, flying back

on one of the large Delta planes. Even had to detour over to Jacksonville, FL to avoid severe thunder-

storms over central GA.

Make it into Atlanta and catch up on some television in the waiting areas. The Newark, NJ to Atlanta

flight has been delayed, due to bad weather, so we hang around another hour. Finally make it to

Pensacola, FL about 11:30 p.m. Pick up our totes and luggage and head toward the families who are

awaiting us. Bethany has brought a home-made sign: WELCOME BACK DADDY Life is good!!!

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