Playa Tamarindo

I just returned for a short vacation to the beach!! Kari and I left Wed afternoon for Playa Tamarindo (on the northwestern border). After a 6 to 6 1/2 hour bus ride (we had great seats in the front of the bus), we finally made it. We couldn't find the hostel we made reservations at, so we stayed a different hostel for the first night. We shared a room with 2 girls from California. Our first night, the only thing we did was sleep... Since this hostel was a little out of the budget we set for ourselves, we decided to look for a different on the next day.

(Pictures from the bus trip to the beach)

After securing a room for us in the next hostel (only $10 a night), we went in search of an ATM...you wouldn't think that would be very hard in a very tourist town, but it took 3 different machines before we found one that actually worked... Then we got our things and moved into our new room before heading off to the beach! We swam a little, there really weren't any big waves like at Playa Jaco (read La Playa), but it was nice for swimming! After a while we went walking down the beach. The coral reef has kind of washed ashore so there are a lot around on the beach. One part in particular was covered in the reef, so we walked around on it. It was pretty cool. There were some fish and some crabs and some other water creature that I don't know the name that we found. Finally we found some nice sand, sat down, and read our books for a while.

Eventually we headed back in search of some water (it was very warm!!). We also decided to head back to our hostel to shower and have some time out of the sun. We watched a movie that was on in the hostel before we decided to head out for dinner. We had some very good food at a nice restaurant. We split a salad and fish. Both of which were EXCELLENT!! Then we just meandered around for while. We were able to sign up for a snorkling/kayaking tour for the next day which we were VERY excited about! (When we walked up to the counter, a huge grasshopper looking think almost attacked me - it was about 4-5 inches long!) Then we just hung out at the hostel for the rest of the night.

(This is what the grasshopper thing looked liked - it's 4-5 inches long and flies - that's how it almost attacked me...the guy who was working the front desk told me to watch out because they were dangerous, but don't worry, he was only joking!)

Our second day pretty much started with our snorkling/kayaking tour. It was just the 2 of us and our tour guide. We kayaked out to an island (my first real kayake experience), walked around, found some shells and a whole village of hermit crabs. Then we went snorkling. We saw some really cool looking fish there were very colorful. We even saw a blue starfish (I've never seen a real starfish before). It was really cool and I wish I would have had an underwater camera! Our kayaking back in was much more choppy, so it was more work.

(Yes we saw monkeys in the trees!! There were at least 8, if not more. It was hard getting a good picture since they were up in trees and on the smaller side, plus there was the whole sun thing...)

The rest of the day was spent laying on the beach. It was cloudy, but it was still beautiful and so nice being able to listen to the ocean! We had a pretty quiet evening since our bus was leaving for San Jose at 5:45am the next morning!

Overall, it was a very nice trip on a very beautiful beach!!

(I thought I would share a little of the ocean with you, I hope it works!!)

My Home

Now that I will soon be moving out of my house, I thought I'd post some pictures of where I live now, as well as give you a better idea of where I am in CR and the city structure.

The first picture is of the outside of my house, none of the windows lead to my room. The room I'm staying in is actually where the maid would live, that is why I have my own bathroom. This room is also in the back of the house and I actually have to walk outside of the house to get to my room. I like it!!

Now, the way Costa Rica is set up, as was explained to me by my tutor (so this is also assuming I understood everything correctly):

Costa Rica is 1 country (paiz) that has 7 providences (provincias). The providence I live in is San Jose. Within each providence there are cantones. San Jose has 11 cantones and the one I live in is Canton Central de San Jose. Within the cantones, there are distritos (I don't know how many there are in Canton Central de San Jose). The distrito I live in is called San Francisco de Dos Rio. Finally, the distritos are broken down into barrios (again, I don't know how many are in San Francisco). The barrio I currently live in Barrio Sauses. In January, I will be moving to a new barrio, but I'm not sure what it is called, it might be Barrio Bosque, but I'm not certain.

I hope this helps you to understand a little more, it helped me to get a better understanding of where I am and how the country and the cities are broken down!

Feliz Navidad

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope you all had a WONDERFUL time with family and friends!

Things were a little different here. I cannot say it felt a whole lot like Christmas. For one, there's no snow...we did get a lot of rain this morning, so I guess that counts for something right?!? Secondly, there's not Christmas music being played EVERYWHERE. The stores and shops don't constantly play Christmas music and since I'm not frequently in cars, I don't listen to the radio to hear Christmas music (I don't even know if they play much). Finally, I'm not surrounded by my family and all the planning that goes into Christmas get togethers.

This is my first Christmas away from home, but it was still a great Christmas. I was able to sleep in (or at least stay in bed) all morning, a Christmas first!! Then we had lunch at my house a little after 12pm with Rosy, Rosy's daughter and baby, Rosy's son, Stick (one of the boarders), Kari, and I. It was a fun time (although I didn't understand all of the table talk happening...)

Then for supper, Kari and I went over to Chuck and Robbi's for a Christmas dinner with them and their daughter Melanie. It reminded me of home! We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, sweet potatoes and much more! It was so good! We just had a quiet evening with the 5 of us!

I was also able to talk with Harlan and Josie in the morning and the Lloyd family in the afternoon. That definitely made Christmas even more special!

Tomorrow afternoon, Kari and I are headed to the beach for a few days of relaxation (since we can't have snow, we might as well get some sun)!

The Circus

Well this last weekend (Saturday and Sunday) were SO MUCH FUN!! There was a Christmas party for the young people of the church on Saturday that Kari and I went to since the small group that we go to fits into this group. We had a fun time, but we were both glad we were there together because we were the oldest ones there (other than those leading everything) since everyone else was in junior or senior high, we were the only gringas (white people), and we were the only ones didn't always understand what was happening...We started out by playing a couple games to help everyone get to know each other. First we had to write our first and last names on a piece of paper, but we had to scramble the letters. Then we put these pieces of paper in a bag and got a different scrambled name. We had to unscramble the name, then introduce ourselves to that person. Kari and I were not too excited about this game because we really didn't know anyone at the party and we're not real good with Tico names. Luckily for us Pastor Manuel (the husband of our tutor) was there and helped us unscramble names, then point out who that person was. The boy who got my name asked in the microphone who I was (he got Jessica unscrambled, but couldn't figure out my last name).

The next game we played we got another piece of paper and had to draw a clock on it. Then put lines for each of the 12 hours. Once the clock was made, we had to find 12 people to meet with at that "hour" to get to know. I got 8 hours filled, but not all 12. When the annoucer said 1 o'clock, we had to talk with our 1:00 appointment (or date, whatever you want to call it). This got a little frustrating because it was loud so I couldn't hear what was being said, or I couldn't understand, and since each appointment was only about 30 seconds it's hard to communicate...There was one hour that everyone was supposed to talk in English, Kari and I liked this one, it gave them all a chance to see how we felt...

We had a little devotional that I really don't know what was said (its very hard to understand when a mircophone is being used). Then we made cards for God, to remind us that Christmas is about God and not about gifts.

Our last game was a variation of 4 on a Couch. It was more like 6 on a Bench, and instead of being broken down by gender, there were 3 colors - purple, blue, brown - that we had to wear. I was blue and was able to start on the bench. We wrote our names on cards again and then drew out a new name. I eventually got Kari's name (since that was one of the only names I knew and I had an open seat beside me to call for). I sat on the bench the entire time, up to the end. One of the boys finally figured out a strategy for the game (unfortunately he was purple) and got me off the bench. But unfortunately for him, then name he gave me was Karim, so the guy called that name since he was confused and put me back on the bench to win the game (we didn't fill the bench with all one color because there were about 50 people and it was taking a really long time so it was the next color to get on the bench would win, I was the next on the bench so blue won!!

Then we had dinner (chicken, salad, and rice). Kari and I took off after we ate because we wanted to get back to say goodbye to the family whose house we are living in (they're at home for the next 6 months).

Then on Sunday morning, there was a party for the children. Kari, Sandra, Lisa, and I did face painting. It was a lot of fun. None of us are particularly good painters, but it was fun and most of the girls wanted mariposas (butterflies) and most of the boys wanted leones (lions), so it wasn't too difficult. My last boy wanted Spiderman, I told him I didn't know how to do Spiderman. I think he thought I didn't know who Spiderman was because he's like a spider that is a man, so I told him I knew who Spiderman was, but I couldn't draw him, so I gave him a lion instead. There was also balloon tying, games and food for the kids (I had my first Tico hot dog - they're cold).

Here are a few pictures!

(The themes for these 2 events was the Circus!)

Christmas Party

Tonight Kari and I went to a Christmas party for the workers for El Comedor.  I actually only accompanied Kari since I just started and haven't really done anything there yet.  The party didn't start until 9pm (or it was supposed to start at 9, but it was more like 9:30 or 9:45), and since I haven't slept much since I got here, it was very late for me.  At first I wasn't overly excited about being there, mostly because I was so tired, but also I sort of wanted a break from Spanish since my last couple days have quite a bit more Spanish that the previous week and a half (then when you mix the tiredness, it makes it even harder to understand).

Despite feeling this way, I am SO glad I went.  I was able to meet new people and build some friendships (or at least begin these friendships).  We ate grilled chicken and pork (the absolute BEST pork I have ever eaten!) with a salad (mostly cabbage mixed with tomatoes and lime juice).  The food was so good (minus the tomatoes!).  After dinner (which was around 10pm or later), we had 2 pinatas.  Besides Kari and I there were 3 other American missionaries, 2 of whom were very fun men (who acted like kids most of the time)!  The men had way too much fun, but they kept the rest of us entertained!  Then when the women's pinata broke, it was so funny to watch grown (and one older) women rush to the ground and lay on their candy so no one else could get their candy.  When the pinatas were finished they had a gift exchange (a Secret Santa).  It was a little sad because not everyone was there, so not everyone got presents (I didn't because I wasn't there for the names, but I think I got a pretty good gift in the new friendships and fun).

We didn't finish until midnight and didn't get home until 12:30am.  I am now tired, yet awake, so I will finish and get to bed!!

Oh, one more thing, my prayer request from earlier about a home for January has been answered!  I will be living with a lady from the Alliance church I attend with her daughter and sister.  Thank you to all who have been praying for me, it is much appreciated!!

Life in Costa Rica, Part 2

I thought I would now tell you about another aspect of life in Costa Rica... Transportation!

At home, every family (and in many cases, every person in the family that can drive) has a car.  Then on top of that, most people like to drive themselves and not car pool, so there are lots of cars everywhere.  Well, here in Costa Rica, there are many cars.  Quite a few families have a family car.  When you look at the main roads here, you will find plenty of cars, and at times plenty of traffic.  Sometimes I miss having a car, but for the most part they have a very good public transportation system.  

There are many buses that go pretty much anywhere you want.  The buses range from converted school buses to converted charter buses.  Overall, I think the system works fairly well.  There are also obvious flaws like you never know what time you are going to arrive anywhere, if it's very crowded you have to stand or sit with people you don't know, you have to walk to and from the bus stop, and you have to make sure you get on the right bus or who knows where you will end up.

Also, if you have to get someplace that takes a while on the bus or just doesn't make sense to take the bus, you can take a taxi.  Taxis are pretty much everywhere, and instead of them being yellow like they are at home for the most part, they are mostly red in CR.  It usually doesn't cost too much to take taxis places, but you first have to find a taxi to take you where you need to go.  Sometimes, I have discovered, taxi drivers just don't want to give you a ride, so you have to wait and wait and wait.  I don't completely understand this, but I'm sure there is some logical explanation.

Then there are the roads.  Everywhere you go there are going to be bad roads, that is just life.  However, here in CR, every road is bad.  You have to dodge pot holes everywhere you go.  The ride is definitely not a smooth one!  Last night Kari and I were talking with Chuck (our director) and he mentioned how the roads in Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala are better than the roads in Costa Rica...

Since I'm not one who is super crazy about driving, I'm ok with the public transportation system.  This also gives me a chance to sit back and relax and just watch the world around me!!  I also don't have to worry about getting into a car accident with all the crazy drivers who sometimes watch out for signs, sometimes not.  Drivers who pass on the wrong side of the road whenever they want (oh the center line is a double yellow, not a dotted line).

I'm sure there is more I could tell you about driving in CR, but I think I'll stop there!  So please enjoy your nice smooth roads in the US!!

Life in Costa Rica

I realized that I have been telling you about what I’ve been doing here in Costa Rica, which is of course a good thing, however, some of you maybe interested in knowing about some norms here. I’ll try to let you know about some of these things from time to time. Today I’ll tell you about one of the negatives…BUGS, there are many bugs around.

I have little ants in room that crawl everywhere (although hopefully this problem is now taken care of since Kari gave me a poison!). The on Sunday when I was taking a nap after being up since 4am, I woke up at one point to have a whole bunch of ants crawling on my pillow (YUCK!!). Normally I would have 1 or 2 (which I can handle), but there were a couple dozen (which I just cannot handle). Sunday night I kept dreaming there were many ants crawling on my pillow making it hard to sleep at times…

The other insect that causes me to start is the cockroach. My first night in CR there was a cockroach in the kitchen I had to kill because Kari wasn’t wearing shoes and I was. That definitely wasn’t as bad as a couple days later when, during my shower, I turned around and found I had company. That was probably the grossest thing. Let’s just say that was a very quick shower (and now I check every time before getting into the shower to make sure I will be alone).

Then of course there are spiders, but that’s not really all that different from home. The same day I had a cockroach in my shower, I had a spider on my towel. I was definitely thinking, “why do I have to have both in one day, couldn’t I just have the cockroach one day and a spider the next??” I can’t say I felt too clean after that shower…

Feeding the Homeless

On Sunday I had the great pleasure of being able to help make and pass out food to some of San Jose’s homeless. I got up about 4am to help make breakfast. Rosy, maid and lady who sort of runs the house I live in, made guyo pintos (a common bean and rice breakfast meal) on Saturday night (early Saturday morning Rosy and some friends put together bags of fruit to hand out as well). On Sunday morning, we made a lot of scrambled eggs, then in small plastic bowls, we put the pintos, scrambled eggs, and 2 tortillas for a good breakfast! Around 5:30 -6am we prayed and left to hand out food.

First we went to a park and served about a dozen or so people, then packed up to go another place. The second place was near a small bus depot. Some of the people didn’t want to wake up for breakfast, but some others were so excited to get warm food and a warm drink (coffee or agua dulce – which literally means sweet water, but I don’t know what it is exactly). We served about 5 people there, then moved to a street that had many homeless. At the next place we probably served at least 50 people – we had enough for about 100 people and gave everything away.

One of the men in our group was telling everyone that there is hope in God, it was really cool. I can’t even begin to tell you what it’s like to see people who are so excited for a “small” gift of food. There is such a joy in giving something so simple.

This was my first experience with homelessness face to face. I didn’t really know what to expect, but the smiles and happiness we were able to see on the faces of these men and women was probably the best gift a person could receive, knowing this simple act of kindness made the day, week, and Christmas holiday very special to someone in need is very satisfying. I challenge each of you to think of ways to make someone’s Christmas the best day of the year without expecting anything in return!

There were about 3 men our group was able to pray with. One of the men, from what I understand, was having problems with his father. I don’t know what kind of problems or for how long there was something wrong, but one of the men in our group called his father and then gave the phone to the son and they were able to talk. I wish I knew more of what was happening, but God is in control, so if you think about, please continue to pray for this man and his father.

Prayer Request

Sorry I haven't written in a while, we haven't had internet in my house for the last couple days.  I'll be posting a couple things when I'm back at the house and have internet.  Right now Kari and I are house sitting for a missionary family who has relatives visiting for Christmas and went to the beach.  It's nice, we have a lot of space to ourselves!

I have a prayer request for you all, in January I am switching houses.  Kari and I looked at 2 possible houses yesterday.  I was hoping I wouldn't like one of them, but unfortunately (or fortunately) I liked them both.  Obviously there are pros and cons to each, but I could see myself living in either place.  Today Kari and I are having lunch with Chuck, Robbi, and their daughter and we will be discussing what I should do.  However, ultimately the decision will come down to me.  Please pray that I will make the right choice and that things come together for me in whichever I choose!!

Thanks so much!!

Address

Thank you all so much for your prayers over the last week, it has been great. In the upcoming weeks I will probably be needing your prayers in huge ways as it will be Christmas around the time that homesickness really starts to sink in. So far I haven't really been homesick, mostly because I have been on other trips that I have been away from home for about 2 weeks. I think once I get to the 3 or 4 week period and I'm not going home, I will really start to miss being home, so your prayers and encouragement will be WONDERFUL!! If you ever have the desire to send me something, I will give you my address, letters are always welcome!!

Thanks again for your support and encouragement!

Jessica Lloyd
c/o Chuck Fanberg
Apartado 569-1260
Plaza Colonial Escazu
Costa Rica

Fotos de La Playa

These are just a few pictures from our time at la playa yesterday!

La Playa

Today marks my 1 week point. I left home 1 week ago, that's kind of hard to believe. In some ways I feel like it hasn't been that long, but then when I look back over the last week and what all I've done, I feel as though I've been here for a month! So far I have enjoyed everything - to different degrees - and most things are still fairly new therefore making them exciting. I know soon things will become everyday life and not so exciting (luckily things will slow down until January, so when things start to get boring, things I've done over this past week will pick up once more to make things new and exciting again for a while). Once I get to this point, I think homesickness will start to creep in, so please keep this in your prayers in the following weeks.

Well, today Kari, Chad, and Clay took me to the beach. Since the guys are going home (Ohio) for Christmas and Chad isn't returning, this was kind of like a time for goodbyes I guess.

The beach was on the Pacific side of the country and it was nice, but I guess it's not the nicest beach here, but the closest. We had to take a 20 minute taxi ride to get to the bus depot to take us on a +/- 2 1/2 hour bus ride. It was so beautiful going over the mountains!

At the beach we swam for a while, but the waves were so strong, it wasn't a ton of fun (not like our calm MN lakes!!). My eyes started hurting from all the salt so I went up to our towels to sit a while. I think I have enough salt in my system to last a while! At the towels, I had a little contact problems, but those eventually got fixed, thank you Jesus!!

After we had been lying around a while, we decided to build a sand castle (which later turned into a small "village"). Yes us 22+ year olds were building sand castles - and we didn't even have anything to use other than our hands, feet, and a frisbee. It was a ton of fun!

I wanted to ride horses on the beach, but didn't want to pay for it, so I didn't.

We had lunch at KFC/Quiznos, then walked through the very touristy shops before getting back on the bus to head home (over 3 hour trip).

Unfortunately, my sunscreen didn't do as good of a job as I had hoped, so I'm a bit of a lobster...even my legs which never get burned (or tanned). So please pray for healing!!

(The blog doesn't want to put the pictures on right now, so I'll add them later...)

Girls Gone Wild In Costa Rica

Well my last couple days have been pretty exciting! Since I was told I write a lot, I'll try not to write too much, but if you want more details, e-mail me and I'll let you know more!

Sunday Kari and I helped out at El Comedor (the Dining Room) which a lady from the Alliance church close to where I live started which feeds children from poorer families. Sunday was their last day before Christmas so they had a pretty fun party with lots of food, games, and gifts! There were a couple hundred kids that came, so it was a bit on the crazy side. We fed them lunch and dinner. A group came that played games with them, and there was a pinata! It was a pretty relaxed way to get to know some of the kids, since after Christmas I will be going there weekly with Kari.

This took up most of the day and by the time we went home, we were really tired, so we just rested.

Then Monday I had my first tutoring session with Ligia, the Pastor's wife of the local Alliance church. She is a very nice lady who is very patient. Ligia did most of the talking while I listened, trying to understand. I think I did a pretty good job understanding... Later on Monday, after lunch, Kari and I took a trip to the big shopping center in San Jose and their "Central Ave" to find a book for the English class on Tuesday. We didn't find a book, but we had a fun time.

Monday night Kari, Vicki (the daughter of the missionary who owns the house I live in), and I started Christmas decorating and Christmas cookie making (this is were the title of this entry comes in...). After locating the tree and pulling it out of its storage spot, we had to assemble and wash - it was VERY dusty. Then we started making sugar cookies. Our music selection started out with good Christmas music (Go Fish with the Grinch), but eventually moved to country. So this was offically my first Christmas decorating listening to country music... The night ended with a dance party in the kitchen. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

As you can see we had no fun whatsoever on our Monday night Christmas decorating party!!

Tuesday Kari and I, along with 2 guys from Ohio went to the Rainforest in Sarapique where they are teaching English. It was a long bus ride, and for some reason I got a little car sick which is unusual for me, but God got me through it! When we got to the Pastor's house/church (they're attached), I thought it was the most beautiful place I've been to so far in Costa Rica. It was so green and lush. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera so I can't show you any pictures, at least not yet. I had fun, I only really observed since it was my first time. Kari taught 4/5 people (the pastor's son started with us, but eventually left, he's only about 8 years old). Normally, it's about 1 1/2hours of teaching with a break in the middle, but since this is our last time until January, we had a small Christmas celebration incorporating both CR and Ameican traditions. They provided tomales (which is a Tico Christmas tradition) and we brought out sugar cookies to decorate. I think it fun was had by all!

For dinner one of the missionary families who is studying Spanish here (the one I babysat for on Friday) had Kari and I over for dinner. It was a lot of fun! (I'll add pictures of this family another time.)

Then it was back home for more Christmas decorating! We decorated the left over sugar cookies then moved on to the tree. Again we listened to country music (which is actually a fun tradition). We not only decorated the tree and other parts of the house, but we decorated ourselves as well as the 2 dogs and 1 of the 2 cats that live at the house!! Again, I'll let the pictures do the talking!

Second Day

WARNING: Do not get too used to having messages posted everyday because soon it will not happen anymore...Everything is just so new and exciting and I have a little time. I will stay as up to date as possible though!

This morning I was able to see the Costa Rican sunrise because around 10:30 last night Kari and I go a call saying the group we meet with for small groups wouldn't be meeting Saturday night because they were going to be going to a benefit concert/telethon thing for Latino Hospitals. So Kari and I were up around 3am and at the church a little before 4am! AAHHHH!!!!! We ended up having to wait outside the building for about an hour because a famous Latin group from Argentina was coming so everyone wanted to see them.

This was a fun part for the most part. I was able to meet some of the high school age kids from the church, but it was frustrating because I can't communicate as well as I want. I know in time this will come but it's not quite there yet.

That was about the most exciting and noteworthy part of my day. After dinner I will meet some Americans from Ohio, so that should be exciting.

Thanks for your support!!

First Day!!

Hello Family and Friends!!  I made it to Costa Rica.  I had to take 3 planes to here, but all went well and I sat next to really nice people!  The longest flight was from Atlanta to San Jose, which was about 4 hours - not bad at all!!

The only problem came when I landed in CR.  My luggage didn't land with me.  Fortunately for me, I wasn't the only one, there were quite a few people whose luggage didn't accompany them either, so I had to wait a while in line to talk with the person who takes care of that kind of thing.  I was a little nervous when the lady couldn't even tell me where my luggage was...I knew I would get it, but I didn't know if it would be 1 or 2 days or longer since they didn't know where it was currently located.  So today I had to wear the same close again.  However, the good news is that the luggage came today around 3:45-4pm!!  Now I can wear fresh clothes!!

Today I spent a lot of time meeting new people.  I went with Kari, whom you will hear a lot about because she is also doing the OnMission program and has been here since Sept, to her Spanish tutoring lesson.  I was able to meet the lady who will be tutoring me 3 to 4 times per week for 2 hours.  She is the associate/youth pastor's wife and is very nice!  I am excited - yet a little nervous - about starting.

Kari and I walked back home after her 2 hour session was over.  Walking through the streets reminds me of Quito, Ecuador.  Just the way the neighborhoods look.

Kari and I had lunch at the house we are staying at.  The house is owned by a missionary couple who rents rooms out to people who are staying in CR.  I have my own room in the back, but next week I will be moving to a different room because one of the girls is leaving.  I hear the food is amazing, and so far the leftovers I had for lunch make that sound true!

After lunch, Chuck and Robbi, along with a missionary named John and 2 of his kids, picked Kari and I up and took us to PriceSmart (a Sam's Club type store).  We walked around while Robbi and John did some shopping.  One of the girls took to me right away, and both are very outgoing.  I was excited, since, as many of you know, I love kids.  So this definitely made me feel at home!

We came home again and had about 1 to 1 1/2 hours before we had or next thing to do (which is when my luggage came!).  Then it was time to babysit.  There are 2 missionary families whom we will babysit every Friday night (switching families every week).  One family has 4 kids (2 girls - the 2 girls I mentioned before - and 2 boys), the other has 3 girls.  I know God has this in mind when I came on a Thursday night so that Friday would be babysitting night, making me feel at home!!

Everyone has been GREAT!  I can't tell you everyone's names because I have met so many people, but everyone has been so much fun and done a great job welcoming to Costa Rica, to their homes, and to their families!

Please keep praying everything continues to go well in this exciting new adventure!!  

P.S. Pictures will be coming!

Goodbye

Well, it's the early morning hours of the day I leave and I am so full of mixed emotions... I am very excited that I have this opportunity, but there are so many unknowns. I honestly never really thought this day would come, the day I leave for the missions field for more than 14 days and the day I leave to travel alone (physically since obviously God will be with me). It has been great talking with people who understand, at least to some degree, what I am going through and what I will be going through.

In a few hours I will be walking through my house for the last time in quite a few months, I will be thinking about all the things I didn't get done and wondering if I packed enough or pack too much. I will be saying goodbye to the people who I am closest to on this earth and who mean the most to me...not that those I have already said goodbye to aren't close to me, because there are so many people I have said goodbye to in the last few days...but I don't think any goodbye will be as hard as that to my parents and sister (well except maybe Harlan, but he won't be there to get all emotional with ;) )

All that sounds so down, so on the cheery side, tomorrow my adventure officially begins, tomorrow the steps to my future begins. Tomorrow the most exciting part of my life so far starts. I know God will do amazing things over the next year and I am excited to take that next step in the process. I am excited to meet new people, learn a new culture and language. I am excited to find out what God has put me on this earth to do.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been a part of this adventure. I have been so blessed by everyone in more ways than I could even begin to describe. God has put so many wonderful people in my life, some for my whole life so far, some for most, and some only very recently, but each has played an important role in getting me to this point, so thank you! May you be blessed beyond your wildest dreams!

Side and completely random note: I know many of you (at least those in MN) are not very excited about the snow, so I must apologize because I think that God gave me the snow before I left as an early Christmas gift because He knows how beautiful I think it is. For those of you who enjoy the snow as well, I'm glad we can share in this joy together!!

Departure

Well, for those of you who have not yet heard, I have my plane tickets. I will be leaving on Thursday, December 6. Knowing my departure date has created mixed feelings. I am excited about going and seeing what all God has in store for the year and I am excited to know when this adventure will officially start, but having a date also makes this real and the feelings I have about leaving home are slowly coming to the surface.

Now that I know when I am leaving, the good byes have started. Before, leaving was a day in the future that I could, in a sense, forget about and pretend it may not happen, but now that I have that date, I start to think about all the people I need and want to say goodbye to. Goodbyes are never easy, but knowing (or not knowing) what the future holds for the next year makes saying goodbye even harder in many ways. There are so many people I want to say goodbye to and there are some that I won't be able to, at least not in person.

My first goodbye happened while I was in Washington visiting Harlan and Josie. Mom, Dad, and I flew out to visit Harlan and Josie to see where they are living, where they are working, and meet some of the people they have come to know. It was so much fun to be able to see them again. Not only did we get to do the things I mentioned above, but we were able to do some "touristy" things like go the beach (although it was cold and the seagulls wanted to eat our food), walk through the Olympic Rainforest (which was incredibly beautiful), go to the Future of Flight (the Boeing factory where they make the Boeing 700 serie planes), and just spend time with Harlan and Josie. Overall, we had a great week and when it was time to go, it was hard saying goodbye even though we all know that what we are doing is what God wants us to be doing.

Time's Getting Closer

I am so thankful to everyone who has supported me financially, I am almost there!! I can hardly believe in a little over a month I will be leaving, it just doesn't seem possible.

As I was thinking, I realized that if I were to stay in the US, specifically MN, for the next year, I have some idea of what my life would look like. I obviously don't know what it would specifically look like, but I have the general idea. However, over the next year, my life in Costa Rica will be so different, I can't even begin to imagine what it will look like. And to be completely honest, that scares me a little, but it does make me realize that I have a God that does know what my life will look like and will watch over me as I step into the unknown, guiding my steps!!

Please pray for these unknowns and that I will trust God with them.


I am also very excited because tomorrow my parents and I are heading out to Washington to visit Harlan and Josie. This will be a great time of seeing where they have settled and starting the next step in their lives, however, this will be the beginning of my goodbyes, so that is always a bit difficult.

Preparation

I can hardly believe that in 2 months I could be in Costa Rica...this is SO hard to believe. So I am still in my "this isn't really happening" phase, but I know as time gets closer, when the plane tickets are purchased and the luggage starts to get packed, I will move into the somewhat "anxious" phase. I will definitely treasure the time I have with family and friends as I will be visiting them over the next couple weeks.

I am so thankful for the people God has brought into my life to encourage me and pray for me throughout my "planning" phase. I am also grateful for the people who have supported me through their financial giving. I am almost at my financial goal, so I am very encouraged as the time gets closer for my leaving! So thank you everyone!!