Cartago and the Orosi Valley

On a recent Saturday, we traveled with some missionary friends through the town of Cartago to the Orosi valley for lunch at a unique restaurant. Cartago, about 30 mintues from San Jose, was Costa Rica's first city.
There are two prominent attractions in the city. In the heart of the city, a public park winds through the ruins of a large church destroyed by an earthquake in 1910 before it was completed. Construction was abandoned after the quake because the workers could never quite align the roof again. Today a beautiful park with neatly manicured gardens and plenty of benches surrounds the ruins.

The most famous building in Cartago is the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles which stands on the east side of town. Inside is housed a shrine with the tiny figure of La Negrita, the black Virgin. Legend says that La Negrita first revealed herself in 1635 to a peasant girl and has over the years granted cures for illness and other difficulties. The walls of the shrine are covered with a plethora of tiny silver models of body parts, guns, planes, trucks, sports trophies, etc. given as thanks for the virgin's miracle granting powers. Of course, outside the church vendors sell these items as well as little candle replicas of La Negrita. (Remind you of any stories in the Bible?) August 2 (the day of this post) is the day of dedication to La Negrita. This week tens of thousands have walked to Cartago from San Jose and from all over the country in devotion to the powerful statue. Today there will be much "celebration." Last night some of our missionaries gathered with a local church to distribute tracts to those pilgrims who would accept them. Pray that the gospel message given in spoken word and written word would continue to sound the truth in their hearts and minds and that many will receive Christ, the only One who can forgive, cleanse and heal their disease of sin.

High on the mountain is the restaurant Sanchiri which overlooks the Orosi Valley considered one of the most beautiful valleys in Costa Rica. The Reventazón River meanders through the valley until it collects in the lake formed by the Cachí Dam. From the open air restaurant we overlooked the town of Orosi at the head of the valley. Looking across the moutain we viewed the coffe plantations on the side of the mountains.
Afterwards, we traveled into the town of Orosi where stands another colonial church, built in 1743. A small musuem displays religious artifacts. Here people gather to view the artifacts, hear the traditions, observe the feasts, pray the prayers - but do they know the One who alone can forgive and heal their lives of sin, bring peace, and provide assurance of heaven? That's the reason why everyday we struggle to learn the language so we can share the One who alone provides Forgiveness, Hope and Assurance. Remember to pray for us to learn and be able to speak this message effectively in the heart langauge. Do you personally know Jesus?