The two faces of Costa Rica

The article that follows was written by our teammate Nathan Babcock and illuminates the two faces of Costa Rica: it's incomparable beauty and its dark underside.

The Republic of Costa Rica (Spanish: República de Costa Rica [re'puβlika ðe 'kosta 'rika]) is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south-southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Costa Rica was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army. Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a strong constitution. It is seen as one of the most stable countries in Latin America. Costa Rica has avoided the violence that has plagued Central America; it is seen as an example of political stability in the region, and is referred to as the "Switzerland of the Americas".

In 2005, Costa Rica had an estimated population of 4,016,173 persons. The majority of people in Costa Rica are mestizo (mixed European and Amerindian) to various degrees, though the Spanish element often predominates and most simply consider themselves white. There is also a large unmixed European minority (primarily Spanish). Together, mestizos and whites account for a combined 94% of the population. Some 3% of the population is of African descent, and are mostly English-speaking descendants of 19th-century Jamaican immigrant workers. Another 1% is composed of ethnic Chinese. The indigenous population today numbers less than 1%, or around 29,000 individuals. In Guanacaste Province, a significant portion of the population descends from a mix of local Amerindians, Africans and Spaniards. There is also a small expat community of American and Canadian retirees.

The locals refer to themselves as "tico." Tico comes from the locally popular usage of "tico" diminutive suffixes (eg. 'momentico' instead of 'momentito'). The tico ideal is that of a very friendly, helpful, laid back, unhurried, educated and environmentally aware people, with little worry for deadlines or the "normal" stresses of United States life. Visitors from the United States are often referred to as gringos, which is virtually always congenial in nature. The phrase "Pura Vida" (literally pure life) is a motto ubiquitous in Costa Rica. It encapsulates the pervading ideology of living in peace in a calm, unflustered manner, appreciating a life surrounded by nature and family and friends.

Costa Rican traditions and culture tend to retain a strong degree of Spanish influence. Their spoken accent is rather closer to certain areas of Colombia than its Central American counterparts. Costa Rica boasts a varied history. Costa Rica was the point where the Mesoamerican and South American native cultures met. More than the 90% of the Costa Ricans are Catholic (and Catholicism is the official state religion as mandated by the Constitution of 1949), but almost no one gets riled about his or her religion and faith, as religious freedom is granted by the constitution and upheld by the tolerant nature of the Ticos. Holy Week (the week before Easter) is a national holiday, and its supposed to be a time of prayers and good behavior, but people in almost every place of Costa Rica take it as an excuse for vacations and secular binge. Here the passing of the parish priest inspires no reverential gestures. And almost all Costa Ricans respond to the sound of the church’s bells only on special events, like baptism, marriage, and maybe the Easter morning or during mourning masses.

The Catholic clergy has fiercely defended its turf against Protestant missionaries, and the Protestant evangelism so prevalent in other parts of Central America has yet to make a dent in Costa Rica. Many kinds of sects also can be found in many places of Costa Rica but they never tend to be any kind of majority, although they are certainly on the rise and quite uproarious compared to the traditional religions.The first reaction when we tell people that we're missionaries in Costa Rica is usually, "Why do they need missionaries in paradise?" or "That's a tough assignment [wink, wink]!" Of course, Costa Rica is a paradise and one of the most popular tourist destinations for surfers, mountain bikers, water sports enthusiasts, nature lovers, beach bums, sun worshipers, white water rafters, and just about anyone with a passport and a sense of adventure. However, there is another side to Costa Rica. For one, there is great spiritual need in Costa Rica (as I alluded to above in regards to the dichotomy of Catholicism and secularism). I'd like to share with you the "other Costa Rica," its real and critical needs.

The "other Costa Rica" - the one that doesn't appear in most travel guides - includes a growing cocaine and heroin trade from South America, increasing domestic drug consumption (particularly crack cocaine), the highest alcohol dependency in all of Latin America, legalized prostitution, and one of the biggest and fastest growing child sex trades in the world.The government-run healthcare system is woefully inefficient and inadequate for most Ticos. A trip to a public hospital or doctor involves waiting for hours - if not days - for care. Often times critical medical procedures must be scheduled a year or more in advance (as if you can schedule when you will need a critical medical procedure!).

Private healthcare is too expensive for average Ticos. Poverty is a major problem when you venture out of the resort beaches and posh San Jose hot spots. Over a million Nicaraguan and Cuban refugees live in "precarios" (squatter villages) like this one near Tres Rios called "Cristo Rey" (Christ King). Costa Rica is a wonderful place, and a great place to consider when you're planning that next vacation. But it's also a place of need. Thousands of people need medicine, drinkable water, and adequate shelter. Thousands and thousands more thirst to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, his grace, love, and the strength He gives in times of hardship.