El Instituto

I have started my intensive spanish course. The good news - I'm still alive to talk about! But, no, in all seriousness, my first 2 days went fairly well.

Monday, I had to be at the institute at 8:30am to take an "entrance" exam. The conversation part was taken when we had to introduce ourselves, then our grammar was a written test. The introducing part wasn't my favorite because I don't like speaking in front of groups in english, let alone spanish. So I ended up talking really fast and praying I wouldn't be asked any questions (which I think I was only asked 1 and I don't even remember what it was...). The written exam wasn't too bad. I had learned everything on the test, it was just a matter of remember it all.

The schedule for classes is grammar for the first hour (and a half) and conversation for the second hour (and a half). I must not have done too terribly bad on my "entrance" exam because I was place in the highest class for both grammar and conversation. This was very surprising to me. I thought maybe the second highest, but not the highest. I know this will be a great challenge for me, which is what I want. (I have quite a few people to help me when I get lost or confused or frustrated.) My grammar class consists of 4 students (including me) and my conversation class has 5 students (including me). I think this is a great size class because it is small enough that it's almost 1 on 1 attention, but large enough that I'm not called on for everything!!

I am one of the younger ones at the institute. This was surprise to me because I thought there would be more younger people. In my grammar class, there are 2 adults (with kids about my age), me, and 1 guy whose a couple years younger than me. In my grammar class, I am the youngest, all the other students have kids about my age. It is different being in a class with adults, I'm much more used to college age kids. It is just a different dynamic in the class, with conversations (in my conversation class) that are different than what I would normally talk about with people my age. Again, not bad, just different.

I would just ask that you keep me in your prayers. That God would help me to remember what I've learned and that I'll be able to absorb new information.

(Also, a correction, I'm not keeping up with all the ministries I was involved with during my time at the institute. I am not teaching english during this time, but I will be keeping, for the most part, my weekend ministries, mostly for my insanity, but also because I enjoy doing them!! So please be praying for this as well!!)

Pray for the Comedor

I would like to ask you all to be praying for the Comedor - this is the place I go every Saturday morning where children from poor families can come for a meal (this is offered every day except Sunday) and a Bible lesson. They have beeen meeting in the community center, but I guess the association now wants to start charging for its use. This is definitely a strain for Cecila (the woman in charge) because she is already paying to provide most of the food, with small donation coming from other people. This is also frustrating because since the Comedor uses the community center, groups have come and improved the building (had it not been for the Comedor, there would not be a bathroom, 2 extra rooms and new paint on the walls). Yet, even with this, the association wants to charge Cecila for the use of the community center. They are looking into purchasing some property where they can build their own building, but that will take time and money.

So please be praying that:
* we will still be able to use the community center free of charge
* money will still come in to purchase food to feed the children
* land will be available to purchase and that the funds will come in

Thank you!!

God is AWESOME!!

If you ever decide to come to Costa Rica, I know of a MUST SEE. La Paz Waterfall Gardens was the most beautiful place I have ever been (that's not necessarily saying a lot, since I haven't traveled the world, but trust me, it's great).

Kari, Clay, and I spent all day Wednesday admiring waterfalls, birds, snakes, butterflies, and God's awesome handiwork. I think Wednesday was my favorite day in Costa Rica. I was able to spend time with friends, which was great, but even better I was able to see proof that there is a God, and that He is AWESOME. I can't even describe what the day was like, so you'll just have to look at the pictures for a small sampling. (Remember that the camera cannot catch the extreme beauty and you can't hear the rushing water.)

Some car problems, Clay fixed with a hair tie

Can anyone say coffee??

Cute La Paz bathrooms! (I did have problems turning on the water however...)

Seems kind of like a fairyland...

Templo, waterfall #1

Magia Blanca, waterfall #2

Encantada, waterfall #3

Escondida, waterfall #4 (the small one in back)

La Paz, waterfall #5 (the small white dot behind the waterfall is me)

Herding cows along a road

Life...

Sorry I haven't written in a while. Life has been pretty much the norm this last week - other than me being sick, but that really hasn't stopped me from doing anything.

I think the highlight of my week was Friday night. I babysat one of the missionary families (the Sappias) during the afternoon (starting at 2:30), then I was going to be there past supper. The other missionary family (the Kleiwers) that are here with the CMA invited Chuck & Robbi, Kari and I to have dinner with them. I told Kari to tell them I couldn't come since I was babysitting. Kari, however, decided she would come over and take over babysitting so I could go over to have dinner with everyone else.

Kari is such a sweetheart! I enjoyed being with the Kleiwers and the Fanbergs. This was the first time I really had a chance to hang out with the Kleiwers and get to know them even better. The food was AMAZING (homemade Italian!), the fellowship was great, and there was definitely plenty of fun to be had (although I don't know that Robbi would fully agree with me - we had some uninvited guests join us).

Then I ended the night by going back to the Sappias to play games and watch movies with Kari, Clay, and Lisa. Overall the day was a lot of fun.


Also exciting - maybe - is the fact that Kari and I were video taped this morning for the CMA video magazine (I think that's what it is). The Sappia family was picked to be interviewed and highlighted in the magazine as the new missionaries, but they decided to also a little blurb on the OnMission program, so they joined us at the Comedor (and from what I understand they'll join us on Tuesday for teaching English). All the kids love getting their picture taken, so it was fun for them. Kari and I weren't really sure what to do, but we made it...So that's the exciting thing of the week...

Feeling Better!

Thank you for those who have been praying while I've been a bit under the weather. I went to Sarapiqui to teach English on Tuesday. The ride up wasn't too fun, I got a little sick. But afterwards, I felt a better. The rest of the day went pretty well (other than being really humid in Saraqiqui). Last night I was able to sleep much better because I was able to breath!!

I'm still a little plugged, but it is definitely much better than the last couple days! So thanks so much for your prayers!

I hope you all have a GREAT day and week!!!


(From Cindy, my host cousin, 10yrs old: jessica is crazy. atte:jessica)

I'm sick...

Yesterday and today (and I'm guessing at least tomorrow) I have been sick. I really don't know why or how, but I have a super stuffed nose and it's making things a bit difficult for me. I've been really tired and am having trouble breathing (duh). So if you could please pray that I start to feel better, that would be WONDERFUL. Tomorrow (Tuesday) I am teaching English (with a 1 1/2 hour bus ride - 1 way) and if I'm feeling the same, it could make things a bit interesting (and difficult).

I am so thankful for my host family. They have been so great. My host "mom's" dad bought me some medicine on Sunday and then my host "aunt" gave me some other medicine today. They have just been super great. Especially since this is the 2nd time in 3 weeks or so that I've felt like this - which I really don't understand because I don't get sick super easy. So please pray that is would also be the last time I feel this way - at least for a while.

Thank you SO much!!

El Comedor

For those who don't remember, every Saturday Kari and I go to El Comedor. This is like a soup kitchen for kids with a Bible study and songs thrown in (plus the food is better than watered down soup). I brought my camera last Saturday - a BIG hit with the kids. I brought my camera so I could share some of the kids' faces with you all, but also so I can, hopefully, remember more names next week.


This last Saturday I was also able to help with the teaching. I didn't do much, I just read a story, Kari did all the hard stuff. We were in charge of the younger kids so that was a little less intimidating for me! So from now until I'm speaking better Spanish, I'll probably read the story while Kari teaches. (So you can be in prayer about my learning Spanish and about the lessons that Kari and I teach.)


When we were done with the singing, the lesson, and lunch, Kari and I played some soccer with some of the kids. It was a lot of fun. Even though I didn't (and still don't) know any of the older kids' names, soccer is something where that isn't important. I was still able to play (sort of, I had an attachment, a little girl) and it was fun!



I am definitely beinging to look forward to Saturdays and not feeling a little dread...