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!

Love???

I was reminded of something the other day while Kari and I were taking a walk around town. I don't know if I should write about it because Mom and Dad might decide to make me come home... ;)

I don't know if I'm going to feel quite as loved once I go home. Not all the time, but there are definitely times that as I walk through the streets there's usually at least one person who tells me he loves me, or that I'm precious or beautiful. Now, as I walk through the streets at home not tells me they love or that I'm precious or beautiful...maybe I should just stay here to I can receive those compliments fairly often...

No, but seriously, that has been one of the things that has taken a while to get used to. As I walk down streets, I perfer to remain just another person barely recognized. It has taken a while to "get used" to people saying things and not giving a reaction. (As is not being able to smile and say hi to people on the street without worrying about people getting the totally wrong idea.)

Driving with Cell Phones

As I was walking home from my tutoring this morning, I was reminded of a "Life in Costa Rica" that I've been meaning to write.

People talk about how bad it is to drive while talking on cell phones, and laws have been passed limited who can talk on the phone while driving. Well, if you think that is bad, don't come to Costa Rica. Here people talk on their cell phones while driving and the driving is definitely more crazy here than in the States. I'm scared to drive here, let alone drive and talk on the cell phone, you NEVER know what the guy next to you is going to do!

Now, to what I saw this morning. Not only do people talk on their cell phones while driving cars, but they talk on cell phones while on their motorcycle, which is even worse! I honestly don't know how they do it. I can't image trying to talk on a cell phone while trying to control a motorcycle (granted a lot of the bikes here aren't as big as the bikes back home, some are hardly more than dirt bikes, but still!).

It's amazing to me that there aren't more accidents - whether from crazying driving or because of crazy driving while on the phone, but I guess if this is what you're used to, you don't know anything different...

(Oh, side note talking on the cell phone also includes texting - in both the car and motorcycle situations...)