Last year our family had plans to visit Europe and take our kids to experience my mission in beautiful Slovenia. BUT…then COVID hit. This year we hoped to get a do over with Europe, but with every country having different regulations and restrictions and requiring COVID tests it still didn’t seem feasible.
However, one thing I’ve learned over the course of my life is that something always fills the space of whatever drops out, and often new and beautiful unexpected experiences occur instead! And boy did they ever!
Instead of Europe, Costa Rica filled its place being a country welcoming travelers and not requiring COVID tests! And although our first few days were a little crazy (we had to pay $230 in extra baggage feas, then had 3 bags get flagged in security, then had our car rental company try to charge us $600 more than advertised price, then got lost trying to find our Airbnb, then couldn’t get into Airbnb because we’d been given the wrong door code requiring us to drive around looking for free WiFi, and then discover we’d left our debit cards home and couldn’t withdraw money which ended up requiring us trying 5 different banks to do a credit card cash advance with no luck) we decided to just move forward in faith and have fun anyway! 
We spent our first night in San Jose and then promptly moved to our new location in La Fortuna. It was there we once again felt Gods hand abundantly in our life watching out for us, when we overheard a young Mom and her two girls speaking English just after arriving. I started chatting with them and came to find out the following:
1) They were from Utah,
2) They were there on Sabbatical, (same as us),
3) Our husbands work together at Adobe and play volleyball together.
4) Several of our kids were similar ages.
5) We both belong to the same church.
6) I went to HS with their cousin and was in the same ward with one of their friends.
Needless to say we made quick friends and this sweet family became our saving Angels helping us withdraw cash everyday for 4 days straight so we’d have enough money to get us through the rest of our trip. Then we just Venmo’ed them back the money they pulled out for us! But seriously, what are the chances? It was so easy to see and feel Gods love for us in how he brought this awesome family into our lives at just the right time. I’m crying tears of gratitude just typing up the story! 🥰
But we’ve had an amazing time seeing beautiful waterfalls, swimming in natural hot springs, zip lining, rappelling 150 foot cliffs, hiking to hanging bridges, and eating amazing food! We love you Costa Rica! ❤️
