Then it was one let down after another.
The helicopters that were supposed to come and save us, didn't arrive. When hours later, the helicopters did arrive they were only taking paying customers ($1,500 per person). Then we were told that we would have to hike out. Then minutes later, we were told that we might need to stay another night. While all of these changes in our plans went on, Henrietta and Penelope were not improving. In a rush of excitement, some of the girls from our group rushed onto the bus, grabbing their things, telling us to run down towards the helicopter. One of the guys in our group carried Henrietta and we walked through the throng of people. I had never seen a helicopter up close before.
There was chaos, people everywhere demanding to be put onto a helicopter to safety. Our professor yelled to me that I was to go with Penelope if possible. People in charge were yelling and there was so much confusion. They were going to allow Penelope to be flown out and at first I was going to go with her, then I wasn't allowed to go with her. We rushed her out to the helicopter, wrapped up in the damp blanket with only her water bottle and inhaler in hand. My mind was racing. In moments she was gone. Would she be ok? She had no identification with her and we didn't even know where she was being flown out to. Then Henrietta was flown out on a different helicopter, several flights later and this time we made sure she had her backpack. Henrietta was taken to the capital, San Jose and we were able to use a cell phone and call to have a car be ready to pick her up when she landed and take her to the hospital. We also learned that Penelope had been flown to a town just past all the landslides and that medical care would be available there. Our professor was able to use someone's phone and call our college. Once the college realized the situation, they took off the limit on the credit card and told our professor to do what he needed to do to get us out, and to pay for the helicopter rides. I'm not going to lie, we were all pretty ecstatic at the thought of getting to ride in a helicopter, as none of us had done that before! So our professor went to sign up on the list of flights but at that point the helicopters had already made a significant amount of money and didn't really feel the need to take on any more flights. Therefore, in the end we ended up hiking 8 kilometers (roughly 2 hrs) with a special guide to get past the landslides.
I am so thankful that the other two girls were able to fly out because there was no way that they would have had enough strength to walk out with us, and we didn't have much strength to carry them. We started the hike at about noon, using up what little energy we still possessed. Our beloved guide, Ricky and our bus driver as well as several other people hiked with us. If not for the circumstances, the hike would have been quite enjoyable. Thankfully, we had a fair share of water, walkings sticks, and stamina. Costa Rican's gave us water as we passed their farms. Others on 4-wheelers gave rides part of the way for some of us. When we arrived at the end of our hike, after walking through our fair share of cow patties, ducking under barbed wire fences, and muddy hills we were greeted by the Red Cross, U.S. Marines, bread, and police. 
There was a small tour bus waiting for our group from the same tour company we had been with since the beginning of this crazy adventure. Our professor was able to call and make sure that Henrietta and Penelope were okay. Both were back with their Costa Rican families, safe and sound. The Ramada had set up lunch for us (and others who had been trapped from the earthquake). It was such a nice hotel and there we were our muddied, disheveled selves leaving dirt everywhere we stepped. We were able to e-mail and call home. I felt so out of place in my dirty clothes at such a nice place. Their generosity and kindness was too much for me. When I went to call home, I couldn't remember my phone number. I had to write it out first after a several minutes. When I heard my mom on the other end I felt so many emotions. As I tried to recount what had happened I just lost all control. I made no sense as my conversation went something like this, "...earthquake...and helicopters...and someone had asthma attacks...I was so scared, but we are okay, but the terremoto...and the ground...and the people...but we are fine...I am ok...it was so crazy...". The Ramada served us lunch which tasted like the best meal I had ever had. I almost cried when I saw the bathroom and there was a toilet and toilet paper. We then went back to our school just outside of San Jose and it was good to see the other two girls looking so much better and healthy! When I arrived back at my Costa Rican home, I recieved a great homecoming and the mother tried to think of all the "american" dishes she could cook for me. Never did the shower seem so lovely and never did my bed seem so beautiful as that night.
While my story has a happy ending, many Costa Ricans did not. The earthquake took the lives of many and destroyed entire villages. Our group was very blessed. While I give thanks to God for my safety and how He brought us through that time, we must remember to lift up those who have lost everything. Now is the time to be a light for those who are living in darkness and share with them the hope that Christ has given.
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