In the wake of Tropical Storm Nate's unrelenting downpour in October 2017, Monteverde, Costa Rica, stood as a testament to human resilience. What could have been a chapter defined by disaster instead became a story of unwavering community spirit.

While the storm brought immense rainfall within a span of 48 hours, Monteverde had already weathered a series of heavy rainy season storms. The saturated ground set the stage for landslides, cutting off the community from neighboring areas. While heavy rains aren't uncommon during this season, the extent of the landslides and flooding was unusual. 

The actual village of Monteverde found itself cut off from the outside world on one side by an overflowing stream which turned into a large river, severely damaging several homes and leaving one neighbor without one. On the other side, a landslide obstructed passage to San Luis, which was itself cutoff on the other side due to substantial landslides, including the burial of a two-story house. Nate was a weather event of significant magnitude, etching itself into the community's collective memory.

The day after the heaviest rains, neighbors gathered at the San Luis Community Center to account for everyone. With urgency and unity, volunteers gathered around a whiteboard where each barrio and subsequent unaccounted neighbor was listed. They paired off and left to brave the still falling rain, crisscrossing the village on motorcycles to ensure every resident was safe. Anyone else needing shelter was offered space in any number of houses that opened up as refuges, or in the community center itself.

Meanwhile up in Monteverde, a makeshift zipline was set up for those wishing to reach Santa Elena, which remained largely unaffected, although many chose to stay. In the absence of electricity, a system for water collection emerged, along with a well-organized system of volunteers to distribute food. A camp for children provided a safe haven for play and creativity. The sense of community and mutual care that unfurled was nothing short of extraordinary.

Miraculously, no one was harmed. Volunteers banded together to carry a pregnant woman and an elderly resident with a reliance on an electric-powered oxygen machine over the landslide to awaiting medical assistance. The strength and resilience of the community shone through, leaving us all a bit stronger, closer, and even more grateful for this corner of natural splendor with its unwavering sense of community and care.

In the face of adversity, our community spirit prevailed. Today, we extend an open invitation to families seeking this unique sense of community, a place where caring for one another is second nature, and where our small-town life is valued and intertwines with our connection to nature, and to each other.