Our trip to PriceSmart

PriceSmart [Costa Rica's Sam´s Club]

Our Journey to PriceSmart and why it was so memorable!

The Obando´s home and church is located a little past Turrialba up in the mountains, 2 hours away from San Jose. Therefore the closest store to them is Maxi Pali which is like a smaller version of HEB but also overpriced and never really has all of the things Jessica or Marlon want. So.. they discovered a place called PriceSmart that is located in San Jose and decided they want to become members there so twice a year they can make the long trip to this giant store they have heard so much about. Well, yesterday they decided we should make a trip down to San Jose so they can become members and go shopping for themselves and to get a lot of the things needed for the high school trip in two weeks! So we arrive and this is where the fun begins:
We walk into PriceSmart and it was like the Obando´s entered a whole new world! Obviously because I live in Texas this store was completely normal for me. Just another Sam´s Club is what it felt like. However, Jessica was ecstatic over finding fresh mozzarella and brownie mix, while Marlon was jumping for joy when he found some cans of clam chowder! It was so funny walking through the store with them and seeing their eyes glow every time they found something they hadn´t seen since they lived in Texas. We kept joking because Jessica would say "okay everyone stay focused... oh look pizza pans!" Then Marlon would make fun of her and be like "okay now seriously everyone stay focused... look giant bags of coffee!" This went on throughout our whole shopping trip! While it was very funny and we all kept laughing about it, this trip also made me realize how fortunate I am and how I take so much for granted living in the U.S. I pass cans of clam chowder and pizza pans every time I go to Walmart and don´t think twice about it.. while here finding those items is like winning the lottery. The Obando´s live a very simple lifestyle and are happy with what they have and don´t need all the materialistic things that so many of us get caught up in and are surrounded with daily. Living here and having the Obando´s as an influence has already changed me so much. They keep God in the center of all they do and trust in him to supply for them all that they need, which is how we all should be living! Originally I thought this trip to PriceSmart would be what changed the Obando´s life, when ultimately it changed mine. I am so grateful to be here and hope that these stories and experiences affect not only me, but you too.