wealth.

You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. -- psalms.

-----

Throughout my first two weeks in Quepos, I have been blessed to meet a number of very kind people.

Although many here don't speak English, locals are very patient about language, and they have tried very hard to accomodate me and make me feel welcome.

One of the first families I met was a mother and her 3 children. The kids attend the school my friend Anna started, and so come by often to say hello and see Anna and play. Their mom - a small, bright-eyed Costa Rican who is quick to laugh - is a big help with all things involving the school.

Yesterday we were able to drive this family home from town and had the privilege of visiting their new house.

Getting to the house involved a long drive up one of Quepos' many mountains, over a number of one-lane roads and narrow drives, a hike down a very steep and muddy slope, and another climb back up an equally steep and muddy hill.

Their house is in such a precarious location because a month ago this family was forced to move by the Costa Rican government from their old house on the coast to this new one on the hill - with no warning and no assistance.

The house was small and constructed with pieces of wood and cardboard - the mattresses had no sheets and the entire place consisted of one room and a bathroom - to the standards of where we come from, in the eyes of the world, that little house was nothing.

This family had been forced to start again from scratch, and they had done what they could - shelter. roof. bathroom. bed.

-----

And as I stepped through the little doorway of their home - this home built up on the side of a mountain with whatever materials could be found - I was struck.

Struck as I watched those three kids jumping on the couch that was their parents bed, making forts with the mattresses that made up their own, and laughing and playing and smiling and SHINING -

Struck as I listened to their mother tell stories of her new home and her husband and her children -

Struck by their family pictures and their flowered curtains and their freshly folded laundry and their laid-out snacks -

-----

And as I took in all of this family's light, all of this family's joy -

God once again reminded me.

-----

He reminded me

that wealth is not something tangible

that you hold in your hand;

that there is something greater out there -

Something of much more permanence and value.

And that something is full.

of light.

of truth.

of joy.

-----

1 Timothy 6. Malachi 3. Psalm 4. Psalm 63. Psalm 119. Proverbs 3. Isaiah 45. Isaiah 55. Romans 11. Ephesians 1. Ephesians 2. Ephesians 3. Philippians 4. Colossians 1. Revelation 5.

-----

Blessed are You, Oh Lord our God, who pours forth light and truth - who anoints us with the oil of joy.