This is a blog I've been meaning to write for a while, but just haven't gotten around to it. The "soup kitchen" that I help with had a break over the Christmas holiday (like everything else). When we met again after the New Year, I cam to learn that we had been "kicked out" of our normal meeting place. We had been meeting in a community center and the people in charge of the center decided that Cecilia, the lady in charge of the Comedor, was trying to take over the community center (she used it every day to serve lunch to the kids and then Sat to help host the Bible study). So we had a surprise when we showed up our first Saturday back and couldn't meet in our regular place, but in a garage...very small (about 1/4 of our regular size). We weren't really sure what God's purpose was in this. Why would be kicked out of a large meeting place and be forced into a small hole in the wall that didn't fit everyone. We trusted that God had a purpose. It turned out that purpose was to get us into our own space much faster.
Last year they were able to buy a plot of land, but the land had nothing...grass and dirt. Last week, Keith, the mission working closely with Cecilia, got a temporary structure built so last Saturday we were able to meet together in our very own place!! When we thought about it, we knew that if we continued to be able to use the Community Center, we would be in no hurry to get the property built up. We had a great place to meet, so there wouldn't have been any hurry in getting something new done. Yet, by being kicked out and forced into tiny quarter, has made it necessary to get our place built. There is still a lot that needs to be done, but at least we are now where no one can kick us out! The kids have a place to call their own. God's love and Word can be spread to them all!! Praise God!
Please continue to pray for the Comedor ministry. There are many kids with rough backgrounds and not a strong Christian influence daily. Pray that we can be effective in our 1 hour a week Bible Study. Pray that the construction would get done so we have an effective/efficient place to work and study and more children and parents can come to know the love of Jesus Christ and accept His perfect Gift!!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Alicia is Here
Last week Alicia came to study at the Language Institute for a 6 week intensive course. She started Monday, so before classes started, we have just hanging out and getting her used to hearing/"speaking" Spanish as well as what life is like here. We have been doing other random things with friends...such as rollerskating and going to the movies. It has been good sharing a little of my experience with her! Now that classes have started, it limits our time doing things, but hopefully, we'll still get to do/see many things!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Earthquake Update
In case you haven't heard in the news about what are the current numbers and events of the earthquake here in Costa Rica, I'll share what I know. The numbers may not be accurate as they are changing as new things happen everyday. But the last number I heard for the death toll is 14 people, but that is expected to raise as there were a lot of landslides and people were buried. Then there are about 40 people missing. Due to damages on the road, there are people stranded in the mountains.
Also, some of the roads have been so destroyed, they can't rebuild them, they have to just build new roads. Being here in Costa Rica, who knows how long that could take and how good the road will be once it is build (Costa Rica has some of the worst roads in Latin America even though it is one of the richest).
There are many people who are without homes. They don't have much. With some minor earthquakes, more like rumbles, many have been sleeping outside in the openness. It is safer to be outside than inside, but they don't have anywhere to live either. This can be dangerous because they are in the mountains and at night it gets fairly cold.
Please continue to be in prayer for the people affected: those with family members who died or are missing, those who don't have homes, and for the repairs that must be done. Thank you!
Also, some of the roads have been so destroyed, they can't rebuild them, they have to just build new roads. Being here in Costa Rica, who knows how long that could take and how good the road will be once it is build (Costa Rica has some of the worst roads in Latin America even though it is one of the richest).
There are many people who are without homes. They don't have much. With some minor earthquakes, more like rumbles, many have been sleeping outside in the openness. It is safer to be outside than inside, but they don't have anywhere to live either. This can be dangerous because they are in the mountains and at night it gets fairly cold.
Please continue to be in prayer for the people affected: those with family members who died or are missing, those who don't have homes, and for the repairs that must be done. Thank you!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Life in Costa Rica - Earthquakes
The last couple days we have had some earthquakes. Being from MN, it isn't something I'm used to. This morning we had a 6.2 earthquake. It was the strongest earthquake I have experienced so far. I think it was good, at least for me, to have a couple the last couple of days to "prepare" myself for a larger one. Then after the strong earthquake, we had a couple more trembles. The epicenter wasn't near where I live, thank goodness, but it destroyed many homes where it was the strongest, there were also 3 deaths.
Please be praying for the families affected by this earthquake.
Please be praying for the families affected by this earthquake.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Campamento de Jovenes
Last night I returned from a 4 day youth camp with my church. I went as a helper. I helped lead different activities, set up and tear down. There were 4 women and 6 men who were helpers and as such, we were the last to sleep (usually around 11:30-12) and were the first to get up (usually 5:30, and one morning I had to get up at 2:30am to wake up 1 girl from every cabin then I had to get up again at 4:45am to wake up everyone). So it was definitely an exhausting week!
There were activities all day with a little free time. I enjoyed meeting some new people and building on friendships I had before.
Please be in prayer for the youth who attended the camp (there were about 75 youth, ages 12-26ish) as they get back to "real life". Pray that they continue to seek after God and set an example to family and friends of what it means to be a Christian.
There were activities all day with a little free time. I enjoyed meeting some new people and building on friendships I had before.
Please be in prayer for the youth who attended the camp (there were about 75 youth, ages 12-26ish) as they get back to "real life". Pray that they continue to seek after God and set an example to family and friends of what it means to be a Christian.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Fun with Friends
Through teaching English I have had the opportunity to meet a couple guys who have invited Doug and I to hang out with them as they do different activities. Here are some pictures. The are from different events: playing pool/fooseball, going rollerskating, New Years Eve, and going to a carnival close to our home (Zapote).
Happy New Year!
This year was a new New Years celebration as well. At my church, they have a New Year's Eve service. 8pm starts the praise and worship time, 9pm starts the preaching, 10:30-ish starts the testimony time (of what God has done in the last year), 11:30-ish starts Communion, then between 12 and 12:15 it's greet the people around you, wish them a Feliz Ano Nuevo, and bless them. Finally when that is all done, it's time for food! It was a fun time.
I went to the service with Shirley, Krish, and Doug, then while there, spent some time with some new friends.
As we greeted everyone after the new year, one of the pastors here, who is the dad of my somewhat adopted family here, told me that I didn't have to feel alone because I was with family there. And that is a true statement. If I couldn't be with my parents, siblings, and extended family members, I knew I was in family with my brothers and sisters in Christ in Costa Rica. Having made many new friends over the last couple weeks, it was a fun celebration.
I hope you all had a great 2008 and have an even better 2009! We never know what the year will bring, but keep searching God's face and no matter what you face, it will be a good year!
Side note...for the next couple days (Jan 1-4) I will be helping with a youth camp for my church, please be in prayer for this as I only know a handful of people going, my Spanish is far from perfect so as I explain games and answer questions I hope I understand, and camp here is a little different than the camps I went to back home, so I really don't know what will be happening. There are about 90 people going to camp (this is a camp through my church, so there are 90 people from my church with only a few from outside). About 20 of the people are leaders and the other 70 or so are 12-25 year olds who are participating in the camp. Thanks for your prayers!
I went to the service with Shirley, Krish, and Doug, then while there, spent some time with some new friends.
As we greeted everyone after the new year, one of the pastors here, who is the dad of my somewhat adopted family here, told me that I didn't have to feel alone because I was with family there. And that is a true statement. If I couldn't be with my parents, siblings, and extended family members, I knew I was in family with my brothers and sisters in Christ in Costa Rica. Having made many new friends over the last couple weeks, it was a fun celebration.
I hope you all had a great 2008 and have an even better 2009! We never know what the year will bring, but keep searching God's face and no matter what you face, it will be a good year!
Side note...for the next couple days (Jan 1-4) I will be helping with a youth camp for my church, please be in prayer for this as I only know a handful of people going, my Spanish is far from perfect so as I explain games and answer questions I hope I understand, and camp here is a little different than the camps I went to back home, so I really don't know what will be happening. There are about 90 people going to camp (this is a camp through my church, so there are 90 people from my church with only a few from outside). About 20 of the people are leaders and the other 70 or so are 12-25 year olds who are participating in the camp. Thanks for your prayers!
Christmas
I know I'm a little late writing a blog about Christmas, but such is life...
Here in Costa Rica, the tradition for local families is to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve (so Dec 24 is Christmas). So this year, I stayed with my host family on Dec 24 to celebrate with them. The other part of the holiday tradition is that families don't get together until 7, 8, or 9 pm, then eat between 10:30 and midnight. It was a bit different to be eating a full meal at 11:30pm, but it was fun celebrating with family.
For dinner we had turkey. It was the first turkey that the family had ever cooked, so I was asked if it looked alright and if I would carve it...I eat turkey, I have never cooked nor cut it...So it was an interesting experience for me. The turkey ended up tasting really good! It had a more sweeter taste than what I've ever had at home, with a sweeter stuffing and a sweeter gravy (it sounds like a really sweet meal, but it wasn't, just sweeter than what we eat at home). It was different ending the meal with a coconut flan and a crepe type thing...not the usual pie and such that we are used to, but still good.
After eating, the presents we opened. It was complete maddness...everyone opened whatever they got as soon as they got it, no order, nothing. It was a bit difficult to watch because I never knew where to look. Around 1am people started heading home, so by 2 am I was able to go to bed! It was a fun, but different Christmas.
Then on our Christmas (Dec 25), we got together as OnMission and celebrated Christmas a little more "American tradition." We had turkey, but more to how we eat it and all the holiday trimmings! It was great having this time together and being a family while so far away from our blood families. After dinner we played Phase 10 (lots of fun even though I didn't win ;) ) and then when dinner had settled (a little), we had dessert and exchanged gifts - a little more orderly than the night before.
Even though I was far from home and wasn't able to spend Christmas with my family for the second year, I can say that I enjoyed Christmas. I actually think it was better this year than last. Although the weeks and days leading up to Christmas were much more difficult. I hesitate to write this, knowing that Mom and Dad will read it, but, it was definitely much harder being away this year. I was more homesick knowing that my family would be celebrating together and I would not be able to join them. This has just made me all the more determined to be home next year!
Here in Costa Rica, the tradition for local families is to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve (so Dec 24 is Christmas). So this year, I stayed with my host family on Dec 24 to celebrate with them. The other part of the holiday tradition is that families don't get together until 7, 8, or 9 pm, then eat between 10:30 and midnight. It was a bit different to be eating a full meal at 11:30pm, but it was fun celebrating with family.
For dinner we had turkey. It was the first turkey that the family had ever cooked, so I was asked if it looked alright and if I would carve it...I eat turkey, I have never cooked nor cut it...So it was an interesting experience for me. The turkey ended up tasting really good! It had a more sweeter taste than what I've ever had at home, with a sweeter stuffing and a sweeter gravy (it sounds like a really sweet meal, but it wasn't, just sweeter than what we eat at home). It was different ending the meal with a coconut flan and a crepe type thing...not the usual pie and such that we are used to, but still good.
After eating, the presents we opened. It was complete maddness...everyone opened whatever they got as soon as they got it, no order, nothing. It was a bit difficult to watch because I never knew where to look. Around 1am people started heading home, so by 2 am I was able to go to bed! It was a fun, but different Christmas.
Then on our Christmas (Dec 25), we got together as OnMission and celebrated Christmas a little more "American tradition." We had turkey, but more to how we eat it and all the holiday trimmings! It was great having this time together and being a family while so far away from our blood families. After dinner we played Phase 10 (lots of fun even though I didn't win ;) ) and then when dinner had settled (a little), we had dessert and exchanged gifts - a little more orderly than the night before.
Even though I was far from home and wasn't able to spend Christmas with my family for the second year, I can say that I enjoyed Christmas. I actually think it was better this year than last. Although the weeks and days leading up to Christmas were much more difficult. I hesitate to write this, knowing that Mom and Dad will read it, but, it was definitely much harder being away this year. I was more homesick knowing that my family would be celebrating together and I would not be able to join them. This has just made me all the more determined to be home next year!
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