Visitors!!

Sorry I haven't written in a while. Costa Rica decided to add a number to our phones, so the internet was a little off for a while. I'll try to do a quick recap about what I've been up to!

As my last entry said, my friend Kerri came to visit for a week. We had a great time together and it was SO good to have a friend from home here and wee what I've been doing. One day, Kerri, Kari, and wanted to see Poas, which is one of the active volcanoes in CR. I had mentioned that to one of the men who help out at the Comedor. He had plans to visit a pastor that lived near there, so he volunteered to take us. Well, that day it decided to rain and was COLD (see your breath cold) and rainy at the top of the volcano, so we didn't want to say and freeze to death. Therefore, we accompanied Keith. After getting lost a few times, we finally made it to where we needed to go. We stayed for 30-45 mins, then Keith decided we needed to visit Arenal (another active volcano). That may not sound like a big deal, but normally, you don't see 2 volcanoes in 1 day. When we got to Arenal, it was cloudy there as well so we didn't get to see anything cool (Arenal usually spits a few things every night, but since there were clouds, we didn't see anything - how sad). Then we returned home. That day, we spent about 12 hours in the car...but we got to see a lot of CR!!

We also spent 1 day at the beach, which was a lot of fun. Kerri got a little fried, I got a little red, but not too bad. Then on Tuesday, I had to take her to the airport, sad day. It was so great to have her here and spend a week with her!!

Another exciting thing here is that Alicia and the Crown soccer teams are in Costa Rica for a missions trip. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to see them, but, praise to God, I was able to spend last night and today with them!! It was so good to see Alicia and the teams. It really made me miss home even more after spending time with them. We went to a zipline, my first! It was way better than I had imagined!! Then we ate lunch at a restaurant in my town, so I was glad they could see a little of where I lived. I'm so glad they were able to come to CR and see a little of what I get to see and experience every day (although obviously it's a little different).

If anyone else wants to come for a visit, I'd love to have you!!

Kerri's Coming!!

In a few hours I will be heading to the airport to pick up my friend Kerri who was a roommate during half my time in college.  I'm super excited to have a face from home!!  I can hardly believe that she's coming.  I joked with her right after I applied that if I was accepted she should come visit me.  I didn't think it would actually happen, but in a couple hours I will see her!!

In typical Tica style, I don't really know what we're going to do because during Samana Santa (Holy Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday) everyone heads to the beach.  So we'll hang around San Jose where it should be quieter for us, then get out to the beach one day.  Plus, we only have 1 ministry thing to do because all the others aren't happening this week (we'll be going to Sarapiqui to teach English on Tuesday).  However, I know that I will really enjoy having Kerri here!

School's Out

Today I "graduated" from ILE (Instituto de Lengua Espanola).  So for those of you who may think that over the last month I was just goofying off, I have a certificate that proves I had 60 hours of Spanish training (I will post some pictures later).

I can hardly believe that the month is already over.  The first day I didn't think the end would ever come, but now that it's here, that's hard to believe.  I'm excited to be done and focusing on the ministries again, but at the same time, I met some really great people, some of whom I may never see again this side of heaven, and that is a little sad.  

Then some added news is that Kari will be heading back to the States for a month for personal reasons.  Therefore, I will end up being here and doing our ministries alone.  Obviously God will be with me during this time, but it will definitely be different.  I know that during this time I will grow and learn to depend on God even more.  But please continue to pray for me.  I will have a lot more responsibility.  I will be teaching 2 (maybe 3) English classes, teaching at the Comedor, and translating for a missions team that is coming end of March beginning of April.  The translating is what is the scariest at this time.  Please pray for these ministries and that God will use me in ways I can't even imagine and will speak through me, even with my limited Spanish. 

I will definitely continue to keep you all informed as the days and weeks progress!!

Crazy Weekend

This last weekend I have had a lot of Spanish to speak and added responsibility...

Friday we had to give a 10-15 minute speech in my conversation class. I hate giving speeches in English, let alone Spanish, however, luckily for me, we got to choose our own topic. I bet no one can guess what I talked about...that's right, PERU!! I figured that's a topic that I could talk about FOREVER and never get bored! (Plus, since it's a place I have to talk in Spanish, it's not all that difficult for me to be able to think of a speech in Spanish.) Since there were 3 of us giving presentations on Friday, I ended up being the last one and time ran out, so I didn't say everything I had planned, but that's ok, I got through the majority.

Then on Saturday, I had to teach a Bible story at the Comedor in Spanish. Since Kari was gone and so was another Tica who usually teaches, I was the next option to teach the little kids. This was definitely less stressful. Plus, Rosy, a Tica friend, came with so she was able to expound on the story (Adam and Eve's disobedience in the garden), so that was a HUGE plus (plus she could understand what the kids said, since all of you know how hard it is to understand kids in English, Spanish is that much harder). The lesson ended up going well, it was the before and after that didn't go too smoothly. The older kids fought a lot and since I haven't been there that long, they don't listen to me when I try to get them to stop. It is so hard to watch these kids act that way. I know it has to be because their home situation isn't easy. Rosy talked with one of the boys for a while and found out that, at age 11, his mom makes him stay at home with his younger siblings and also tells him that he's stupid. This is hard to hear. I hope that the love I am able to show them 1 day a week (and the love of the other workers) is enough for them to have a glimpse of God's love for them. So please continue to pray for these children.

Then on Sunday I taught Sunday School, once again, in Spanish. Kari and I take turns helping out in Ligia's (our tutor) classroom. Yesterday, Ligia had to help in the kitchen with something, so she asked if I would be willing to teach. She told me I just had to teach the lesson I was going to teach at the Comedor, so that made it easier. It was also easier because the kids were a little older and there were less of them (4 of them spoke English as well). One of the CMA missionary students was in the classroom with me so that was fun!

Now that these 3 things have passed, I have a little more confidence that I am growing in my Spanish language study and that I am actually accomplishing something. I still have a long way to go before I can honestly say I'm fluent, but I am getting closer! Also, teaching at the Comedor and in Sunday School, I feel that I am getting closer to being able to share more about God and Jesus and the relationship that is necessary for us to have with Him. I am glad that I am able to take a part in this!

Being "Alone"

I'll be writing more soon about this last week/weekend in the following days, but I wanted to write something real quick! Plus I only have a little bit of time to write, so it can't be long.

This last week has been almost like a trial run for Aug/Sept when Kari returns home to the US and I'll remain in CR. Kari was in Sarapiqui helping a missions team and I was at home studying at the institute. It was definitely different not having Kari close by to hang out with and talk to every day. But the good news is that tonight, very soon, we will be together again!! I am super excited!!

It has definitely been good to have time apart, for me at least, I think because now I know that I can live here by myself. I can handle being on my own and still can get the things done that need to be done. That is definitely a good feeling! However, given the choice, I do prefer that to have Kari around!

Pray for Ecuador

For those who don't know or may not remember, I was in Ecuador a couple years ago for a missions trip. This was a great experience for me. Our group helped out with a house for boys who used to live on the streets, but at this house they have a place to live, food to eat, clean clothes, a school to go to, love, and, most importantly, they learn about God. I have continued to get e-mail updates about what's happening. Here is an excerpt from the last e-mail:

"Ecuador has been declared a national disaster due to record breaking rainfall causing serious flooding on the coast. Phil and Tully returned last night after several days helping with relief efforts on the coast. As I write this note to you the rain continues to fall ruining crops, homes, and villages. Pray for healing, wisdom, and unity of churches and others working to help distribute the food items and aide. There may be opportunities for Phil to return to serve with some of the Casa G boys."

(Phil is currently in charge of the house and I'm not sure who Tully is, but he probably helps out with the boys. Casa G is short for Casa Gabriel, the name of the house/group that cares for the boys.)

Please be praying for Ecuador and the people.

Love??? Revision

I realize that my last entry was a little unclear in my meaning, so I will apologize and try to clear things up a little.

Since I'm the only one who understands what goes on inside my head (and then only sometimes), I sometimes forget that I need to explain things a little better. My last entry was really just a joke about how Latin men, in general (not all, this is just a general observation from my experiences), have a tendancy to make comments to women, such as "I love you", "Precious", "A god", "Beautiful", etc even though they don't know the girl. At home, normally perfect strangers (men) don't normally say these things to girls as they walk down the street.

I don't mean to say that I don't/won't feel loved when I go home, it's just that I won't have strangers whom I have never met telling me they love me. I know I have a WONDERFUL family who loves me and tells me, I have great friends who I know love me as well. I am so thankful to these people and the love they share!