We arrived safely in San Jose, Costa Rica, and for the most part things are going fine. There are some things we will have to adjust to like the noise of living in the city, not having a vehicle, and shopping for groceries (getting to the store and the exchange rate). However, for the most part, it seems as though our one year of life here will be fine as we attempt to learn Spanish.
Because we are from the U.S.A. we immediately stand out as people who have money (if only they knew the truth). We learned of a big shopping center here called Hiper Mas (eeper mas), which means “More Hiper”. FYI, it is actually owned by Wal-Mart. Because we needed some things to set up house we decided this would be the best place to go. Being too far away to walk we flagged down a taxi close to our house. This is a common
practice; there are taxi’s everywhere. We piled in the back seat of the bright red taxi with a child on each of our laps and one in between. I told the driver “Hiper Mas por favor” and off we went. I noticed a plastic Jesus fish stuck on the right side of his rear view mirror which I thought was pretty cool. Was this guy a Christian? What might we be able to try to talk about on the way? I asked him his name and since I don’t know much more than survival Spanish we were only able to discuss the weather. Upon arrival I learned what the fare was 1775.00 Colones; about $3.50 U.S. I gave him the equivalent of four dollars expecting change. He replied “Es perfecto” (It’s perfect). I thought that maybe a tip was customary.
Later that night when relaying the days activities to a friend of ours who has been here for about seven months he told me that the taxi drivers were not supposed to do that, and that he was probably taking advantage of the fact that we were American and new to the country. Granted, it was only .50 cents that we were out, but I guess it is just the being taken advantage of part that I don’t like. Dr. Sammy Simpson, the founder of Global Outreach international (our missionary organization) says that when life lessons cost you money consider it as tuition.
My second Jesus fish experience was with a man that rang our doorbell one afternoon. I opened the gate door to find a Costa Rican man, probably in his mid 60’s, standing with a smile. He looked typical: dark colored pants, short sleeve button up shirt that was somewhat stained, and he was wearing a hat with a Jesus fish on it. He was speaking Spanish so I waited for him to finish and, with my best Spanish, asked him if he spoke English. He said he only spoke a little, and he then continued on in Spanish. He showed me his warn out shoes and asked me to go inside and bring him out a pair like mine (I was wearing my New Balance tennis shoes). I told him I didn’t have another pair. He then asked me for food, saying that he was hungry. I didn't mind getting him food but I was a little suspicious. I asked if he had a job so that he could buy his own food. From what I could understand, he said he had a garden or maybe that he was a gardener. Not sure? He then tried to convince me that since I was young and he was old I should help him. I later agreed to his request for some rice and beans. After coming back out and presenting them to him he then requested water and also some American coins. After seeing the security guard for our block rounding the corner (security guards are normal here) he then left. I later learned to expect visits like this every so often.
From my understanding, the Jesus fish originated in the first century as a symbol used by the persecuted Christians as a way to identify one another. In those days if you were a Christian who happened to strike up a conversation with a stranger it would have been a bad move to just come out and ask if he was a Christian as well. So, with your walking stick, or foot, you would casually make an arc in the dirt (the top arc of the fish). If your new companion drew the bottom arc and thus completed the fish, you were assured with this code that he was a fellow Christian.
In a time when being found out meant death, Christians of the first century created ways of continuing fellowship. However, in the 21st century, using the Jesus fish to gain the trust of those you hope to take advantage of is proof positive that you don’t know the Jesus you are promoting. There is a real Jesus Christ. He is the whole reason we are here learning Spanish so that we may help train men to know Him better as they proclaim Him from the pulpit.
Because we are from the U.S.A. we immediately stand out as people who have money (if only they knew the truth). We learned of a big shopping center here called Hiper Mas (eeper mas), which means “More Hiper”. FYI, it is actually owned by Wal-Mart. Because we needed some things to set up house we decided this would be the best place to go. Being too far away to walk we flagged down a taxi close to our house. This is a common
practice; there are taxi’s everywhere. We piled in the back seat of the bright red taxi with a child on each of our laps and one in between. I told the driver “Hiper Mas por favor” and off we went. I noticed a plastic Jesus fish stuck on the right side of his rear view mirror which I thought was pretty cool. Was this guy a Christian? What might we be able to try to talk about on the way? I asked him his name and since I don’t know much more than survival Spanish we were only able to discuss the weather. Upon arrival I learned what the fare was 1775.00 Colones; about $3.50 U.S. I gave him the equivalent of four dollars expecting change. He replied “Es perfecto” (It’s perfect). I thought that maybe a tip was customary.Later that night when relaying the days activities to a friend of ours who has been here for about seven months he told me that the taxi drivers were not supposed to do that, and that he was probably taking advantage of the fact that we were American and new to the country. Granted, it was only .50 cents that we were out, but I guess it is just the being taken advantage of part that I don’t like. Dr. Sammy Simpson, the founder of Global Outreach international (our missionary organization) says that when life lessons cost you money consider it as tuition.
My second Jesus fish experience was with a man that rang our doorbell one afternoon. I opened the gate door to find a Costa Rican man, probably in his mid 60’s, standing with a smile. He looked typical: dark colored pants, short sleeve button up shirt that was somewhat stained, and he was wearing a hat with a Jesus fish on it. He was speaking Spanish so I waited for him to finish and, with my best Spanish, asked him if he spoke English. He said he only spoke a little, and he then continued on in Spanish. He showed me his warn out shoes and asked me to go inside and bring him out a pair like mine (I was wearing my New Balance tennis shoes). I told him I didn’t have another pair. He then asked me for food, saying that he was hungry. I didn't mind getting him food but I was a little suspicious. I asked if he had a job so that he could buy his own food. From what I could understand, he said he had a garden or maybe that he was a gardener. Not sure? He then tried to convince me that since I was young and he was old I should help him. I later agreed to his request for some rice and beans. After coming back out and presenting them to him he then requested water and also some American coins. After seeing the security guard for our block rounding the corner (security guards are normal here) he then left. I later learned to expect visits like this every so often.
From my understanding, the Jesus fish originated in the first century as a symbol used by the persecuted Christians as a way to identify one another. In those days if you were a Christian who happened to strike up a conversation with a stranger it would have been a bad move to just come out and ask if he was a Christian as well. So, with your walking stick, or foot, you would casually make an arc in the dirt (the top arc of the fish). If your new companion drew the bottom arc and thus completed the fish, you were assured with this code that he was a fellow Christian.
In a time when being found out meant death, Christians of the first century created ways of continuing fellowship. However, in the 21st century, using the Jesus fish to gain the trust of those you hope to take advantage of is proof positive that you don’t know the Jesus you are promoting. There is a real Jesus Christ. He is the whole reason we are here learning Spanish so that we may help train men to know Him better as they proclaim Him from the pulpit.
Jesus can take care of His reputation though men use Him as a source of dishonest gain. We are simply commanded to proclaim His good news to everyone, teaching them to observe all things that He has commanded us (Matthew 28:18-19).
