El Salvador, Part 2

My weekend in El Salvador was great. I stayed with one of the pastor's and his family. Mario and his wife Mimi and their 2 sons, Mario (or Marito) - 13 yrs, and Joel - 10 yrs. They were a great family. It was a little different and a bit scary living with a family I don't know, but by the end, Marito told me he wanted to hide my passport so I couldn't leave! They're a crazy group of boys, but boys one just has to love.

Friday consisted us of traveling and eating dinner with Pastor Francisco and his wife and daughter. We went to an typical meat restaurant. I wasn't overly hungry, so I only ate a little, but what everyone else ate looked good. Saturday, there was a CMA National Church meeting. The meeting wasn't overly exciting. It would not have been overly exciting if it was in English, let alone in Spanish. But it did give me a better understanding of what life as a missionary is like. Then Sunday we went to a one of the churches for the service, then had a relaxing afternoon. The service was good. It is a small church full of young people, but I really enjoyed it. We also went to a couple malls just to see what they were like and have a couple meals. One of the malls especially, was BEAUTIFUL (I never thought I would say that about a mall, but it was) - they definitely beat any malls I've been to in the States (granted I'm not much of a shopper, but I think I'd enjoy it more at the malls in El Salvador).

If we could get rid of the humidity, or at least lessen it a bit, I think I would thoroughly enjoy El Salvador much more than Costa Rica.

Please enjoy some pictures!

El Salvador

I'm in El Salvador! I'm so excited to finally be in another country and see what other beautiful Central America has to offer.

It is definitely much prettier than I was thinking before, but much more humid and hot. It is much more what you picture when you think of Central America than Costa Rica. There are "stores" (open markets) on the streets. I'll add pictures and write more about this trip when I return to Costa Rica.

Upcoming Activities/Prayer Requests

Monday I was talking with one of my directors about what was all happening in the near future and it made me realize how fast things are coming up.

A month from last Monday I'll be going to Peru for about 3 months. I can hardly believe it's already time! I'm so excited to return to my heart's country. I wonder what things will be like this year. I'll be able to communicate much better and this will help me build better/stronger relationships. I will be able to get to know our sister church MUCH better and hopefully continue to bridge any gaps between our churches. Plus during all of this, I will still be translating for other groups, therefore, I will not be focusing on my church's relationship as much (kind of throws in another dynamic). It will also be different being in Peru without a team from my church, without my family and friends. However, I am SO excited to see how these relationships grow! Please be in prayer for Kari and my preparation before, as well as our traveling and time there.

This Friday through Monday I will be accompanying my directors to El Salvador to renew my visa. I don't really know what all we'll be doing, but I'm excited to see how the church and culture is in El Salvador. (I am told this church resembles a lot of the church in Chepen, so that makes me even more excited!) Please pray that our travels go smoothly.

A week from last Tuesday, Kari returns!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!! I'm so excited to have her return and be doing ministries with her! I am also very glad that everything went well back home. Praise to God that things went well and pray that she returns safely.

The week after Kari gets back, all the CMA missionaries will be spending 4 days at the beach. The adults will be having a conference of sorts and relaxation between trimesters at the language institute while Kari and I will be doing a VBS for the kids. We are all looking forward to the ocean, a pool, sun, relaxation, and fellowship! Please pray for safety traveling and during our time together. Please also pray that Kari and I will get everything planned for the VBS.

Then that leads us up to about 2 weeks to Peru. This next month is going to FLY!

Thanks for your continued prayer!

Hi from Krish & Cindy

Ok, I hear this isn't working, I'm working on getting it fixed because I'd like you to watch it. Sorry...

Krish, my host sister, and Cindy, my host cousin, wanted to make a video for my family and friends to say to you all. Since they learned they could make videos with my camera, they have loved to make them! I hope you enjoy!

El Dia National de Gallo Pinto

Interesting, or possibly strange, fact about Costa Rica. Today was El Dia National de Gallo Pinto (National Gallo Pinto Day). Now this probably doesn't mean a whole lot to you, at least not until you know what gallo pinto is...Gallo pinto is a rice and bean meal that is a popular food for breakfast in Costa Rica. Today, if you went to downtown San Jose, you could get a plate of gallo pinto for free. (I didn't go, I honestly forgot about it this afternoon, I was too busy spending time with one of the CMA missionary families here.) I haven't quite decided how I feel about a national holiday for food...I don't even really know why it's a holiday nor how it got started...but...

There you go, another strange/interesting thing about life in Costa Rica!

Rain, Rain, Rain

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!!