Rain Rain Go Away
Come Again Another Day
(or not)!!
Well, every afternoon (except Thursday) we've had rain. We're supposed to have another month before rainy season starts (not that it ever REALLY stopped raining...). I don't know that I'm ready for this weather (good thing about 1/2 the season I'll be in Peru!!). I still have hope that it will clear up a little in a couple weeks while the CMA missionaries here go to Jaco beach for a retreat (and Kari and I go to do a VBS for the kids)...that would be WONDERFUL!!
That's all for now. Hope life is going well for you all!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Reflection on "Back to Real Life"
Everytime I get done with a mission trip and return to "real life" it's always hard. I get back to the US, get back to my regular routine, and the trip, though very important, seems to fade and feel like a dream (when you only spend 1-2 weeks in a place, you don't really get to know what daily life is like, etc).
The strange thing is, that after my trip to Saraqiqui with the WA group, I feel the same way, yet I'm still in CR and technically, still on a mission trip. The time there was great and I'm so thankful for, and for all the people I met, but, after only 4 days of being home, it feels as though it was all just a happy (sometimes frustrating) dream.
It was strange waking up Sunday morning in my own room and going about my normal Sunday routine. It was strange not having 16 other people with me. And it was strange that I was the only one I had to translate for (although I did have to translated a little in Sunday School for 2 of the MKs here).
After working with this group, I am much more excited to be working with more teams in Peru. I don't know if every team will be as much fun, as encouraging, and as patient, but I do look forward to meeting more teams and learning from them!
The strange thing is, that after my trip to Saraqiqui with the WA group, I feel the same way, yet I'm still in CR and technically, still on a mission trip. The time there was great and I'm so thankful for, and for all the people I met, but, after only 4 days of being home, it feels as though it was all just a happy (sometimes frustrating) dream.
It was strange waking up Sunday morning in my own room and going about my normal Sunday routine. It was strange not having 16 other people with me. And it was strange that I was the only one I had to translate for (although I did have to translated a little in Sunday School for 2 of the MKs here).
After working with this group, I am much more excited to be working with more teams in Peru. I don't know if every team will be as much fun, as encouraging, and as patient, but I do look forward to meeting more teams and learning from them!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Something, Something, Something...
Here's a picture slide show from my time in Sarapiqui with the group from Washington.
We had a great time together, minus a couple hospital visits (nothing super serious), and a few language blunders on my part. I already miss the group a lot, but looking at pictures definitely helps to remember them, the people we met, and the great time together in Sarapiqui!
We had a great time together, minus a couple hospital visits (nothing super serious), and a few language blunders on my part. I already miss the group a lot, but looking at pictures definitely helps to remember them, the people we met, and the great time together in Sarapiqui!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Cows around town
Around San Jose, you'll see random painted cows, they're everywhere. I really don't know why they chose cows, I'm sure there's a reason, but there are fun to look at! So I thought I'd share them with you.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
First Missions Team
I haven't written in a while because I have been in Sarapiqui translating for a missions team from Washington. I'll write more later when I have more time and am a little more awake, but I thought I'd write a little tonight.
I didn't know what to think about translating for a team, especially after I found out Kari wasn't going to be around and I was going to do it on my own (obviously God was with me, but you know what I mean). But God was good. I could not have asked for a better, more understanding group of people to work with. There were 16 men and women from Everett, WA that have become family. Each person made me feel as through I had known them for years instead of days. They all had such great hearts to serve the Lord and just be with the people around them.
I was definitely stretched during this time. Having to translate for 16 people (since they didn't speak Spanish, at least not a ton, although they tried and I love them for it), was difficult, but do-able. Trying to understand what all needed to be done and what all needed to be said, was again difficult, but do-able. Jumping into a group where I knew nobody, was at first intimidating, but after getting to know the group was fantastic. I had plenty of moments where I had no idea what was going on or I didn't understand various problems, but the group, and the locals, were extremely patient with me, and that is more that I could have ever asked for.
I now have another family in Washington (other than Harlan and Josie, who of course are extremely important!). I will definitely miss seeing them every day and facing challenges. I will miss spending time with my new Tico friends in Sarapiqui. I am SO thankful for this group. Now, all the groups who I will work with in Peru have a lot to live up to!
Thank you to my friends, my family, from MVCC!!
I didn't know what to think about translating for a team, especially after I found out Kari wasn't going to be around and I was going to do it on my own (obviously God was with me, but you know what I mean). But God was good. I could not have asked for a better, more understanding group of people to work with. There were 16 men and women from Everett, WA that have become family. Each person made me feel as through I had known them for years instead of days. They all had such great hearts to serve the Lord and just be with the people around them.
I was definitely stretched during this time. Having to translate for 16 people (since they didn't speak Spanish, at least not a ton, although they tried and I love them for it), was difficult, but do-able. Trying to understand what all needed to be done and what all needed to be said, was again difficult, but do-able. Jumping into a group where I knew nobody, was at first intimidating, but after getting to know the group was fantastic. I had plenty of moments where I had no idea what was going on or I didn't understand various problems, but the group, and the locals, were extremely patient with me, and that is more that I could have ever asked for.
I now have another family in Washington (other than Harlan and Josie, who of course are extremely important!). I will definitely miss seeing them every day and facing challenges. I will miss spending time with my new Tico friends in Sarapiqui. I am SO thankful for this group. Now, all the groups who I will work with in Peru have a lot to live up to!
Thank you to my friends, my family, from MVCC!!
Friday, March 28, 2008
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!!
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!!
Monday, March 17, 2008
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!
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