Quotes

My time here in NC is flying by, but I'm loving it. I've gotten to run away to the beach for two nights with college friends, see family, eat lots of good food, play games, shop, sleep, read, get frustrated with angry birds thanks to Amy and my brother, and just relax. Cassie got "snowed-in" here yesterday, well, we convinced her she was snowed in, so its been fun to have extra time with her. And we watched the good 'ole PC Blue Hose lose mightily to NC State Women's basketball team yesterday. "On on PC..."

Last week I want to church in English for the first time in a long time and it was wonderful. I wanted to share two quotes that really struck me and stuck with me. Love them.

"All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful" - Flanery O'Conner

"God is more ready to forgive you than you are ready to offend Him." - Spurgeon

Surprise!

I’m in NC :)  I’ve been planning for about 6 weeks to come home and surprise my friends and family.  I’m so glad it finally got here!  I have some videos that will hopefully work to post to show my family’s reactions.  After surprising about 6 people, I just lost energy.

Its overwhelming to be here.  There is just so much that I’m not used to anymore.  Its strange that it only takes 6 months to discover a new life norm.

So, the best things about being home…
1. Seeing friends and family
2. Chickfila
3. Driving
4. Eating all kinds of familiar foods
5. Playing canasta
6. Giving and receiving so many hugs!
7. Knowing that I am very blessed by the Lord to be so loved

Hardest things…
1. It is so cold :)
2. I have no idea how to spend my time.  I want to sit down one-on-one with every person I have ever been friends with.  I want to know every detail of everyone’s life.  Its not possible and its stressful.  It kind of makes me want to sit on my couch and not leave. (plus then I wouldn’t have to face the cold!)  Just making decisions is hard.

Please pray for the Lord to give me great peace to just enjoy my time here and the people that I do get to see, although it won’t be everyone.  Pray for understanding for the people I don’t get to hang out with, and just great joy and expanded time when I get to sit and talk about life.  I am so very blessed.

Here are some videos of the fun surprise.  Clearly this is not professional videography!

Simeon

This morning in church, the pastor called up one of the oldest men in the congregation, he is 84.  When he got to the stage she put a baby doll in his arms and read this…

Luke 2:25-32
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
You may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, 
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 
and the glory of your people Israel.”

Can you even imagine?  He has been literally waiting for the Lord’s Messiah.  And when they put this baby in his arms, he knew, this was the One.  And at the moment He was ready to go home to be with the Lord knowing that His eyes had seen the One who would be the redemption of the world.  Wow.  What a moment.

I love that at this moment, far before Paul took the Gospel to the Gentiles, far before the Gospel went any further than the Israelites, Simeon knew.  And He said it about this little baby.  He would be the light of revelation for all people. 

Imagine looking into the sweet face of a baby, or maybe the crying, drooling, hiccupping face of a baby… but knowing beyond a doubt that this baby IS redemption for the people of God.

What a wonder.  What a great day.  And what a great reminder for this Christmas season.

Thanksgiving take 2

I know, I just blogged about Thanksgiving take 1, and now here we are again!

Saturday was my first time ever to cook Thanksgiving dinner without my mom and grandma.  My host family wanted to eat Thanksgiving dinner with Turkey and all the fixin’s, so Melissa came over and we went all out!

Thankfully Maggie had just come so we could get stuff from the states that is super expensive or not available here.  And my mom’s awesome Bible study sent most of it as a gift, so that I could afford to cook Thanksgiving dinner… so MANY thanks to them for yams and onion topping and cranberry sauce and so much more!

The adventure began with the Turkey… 
My host mom’s oven is in Celsius and apparently doesn’t have even heating since the top burned after 30 minutes. (P.S. they really only cook on the stovetop here, I’ve seen her use the oven about 1 time)  But we regrouped and readjusted and it was delicious!

Melissa and I made all kinds of delicious side dishes… Josefa got the stuffing out of the bird. Ariel carved the Turkey… its really not easy to do by the way, especially if you want it to be pretty! Isabella was just being cute and admiring her Uncle Jonas (yes, she calls him Jonas as well as any other handsome guy who reminds her of the Jonas brothers!)

Then we had the people!  My host family and two sets of neighbors… 14 people total. All in all, it seemed to be a hit.  Everyone enjoyed the food and it was fun to cook. My sister informs me that now that I know how to make Thanksgiving dinner, she is never going to learn.  She expects Ali and I to be the Thanksgiving hosts of the future.  Thanks for that… :)

Concert

Last night was so fun!  A group of us from school went a concert for some Christian singers (all in Spanish) who are pretty popular here in Costa Rica – Jesus Adrian Romero and Marcela Gandara.  There were TONS of people there!

Here’s a video of them singing together, one of my favorite songs…

And here are some pictures of our fun group hanging out!  We got so excited because they sold food there :) 

This is our pastor and his wife

YAY for cotton candy!

Some of our teachers came.  Sadly, only Rita’s arm made the picture!

Thanksgiving

Holidays.  It’s hard to start new traditions when you know that your family is at home doing the same things with the same people and that things are moving forward while you’re gone.  But in the midst of that, the Lord is so good!  He is constant amidst all the change and has given me blessing after blessing during my time here and Thanksgiving was no exception.

I really didn’t have time to be anything but excited as Maggie came to visit and we got ready to have Thanksgiving dinner with friends here.  We went all out and had everyone’s favorite traditional foods!

Maggie and I joined the Lee Family, Messick family, Chad and Nikki, Rebecca, Adam, and Ben for a big dinner at the Lee’s house.  Many thanks to Tricia and Hannah for doing most of the food, especially the pie :)

Here are some of my favorite boys, who are not only cute, but they also help make a great macaroni and cheese!

And of course, little Taylah

cuteness

I’m stealing kid stories from my friends’ kids, but this was too cute not to tell.

One of the cutest 6 year olds that I know lost some teeth this week.  After night one he was beside himself excited that the tooth fairy had left him a personal note and knew HIS name!

So, he decided to write back to her and the finished product was something like this…

Dear Tooth Fairy,
What shape is your body? Is it like a person?
Love, Jonah

I love the way kids think :)

Maggie

I’ve been hanging out with Maggie :)

She got back to the States on Tuesday after a little adventure with the airline on Monday.  An adventure that involved her not having a flight for 24 hours.  Honestly though, we loved the extra time together!

Here are some fun pictures from our time.

We went to the beach…

Pretending to drink from coconuts at a little table that reminded us of the scene of the battle of wits from The Princess Bride.

We read, a lot!  And hung out avoiding the rain :)

We rode a public bus and lots of taxis…

Hung out with friends…

Drank awesome fruit drinks!

Ate at the only nearby restaurant that was open, about 5 times!  Good thing it was good…

And then drank coconut milk for real back in my neighborhood.

We also got to go to the market, see Harry Potter, and just enjoy seeing each other.  It had been far too long!

Love you Maggie!  Thanks for coming to visit.  And many thanks to Maggie’s family for sharing her for Thanksgiving!

Abba

Oh, I love this!!!

“ ‘Abba’ was the word that was used familiarly by children talking to their fathers… A child does not always address his father as ‘father;’ he uses terms such as ‘Papa,’ ‘Dad.’ That is the kind of meaning represented by this word ‘Abba.’ It was a… word lisped by a little child… But let us notice the word ‘cry’… we cry ‘Abba, Father.’ It is a very strong word, and clearly the Apostle has used it quite deliberately. It means a loud cry… it expresses deep emotion… What then does it imply? Obviously… real knowledge of God. God is no longer to us a distant God. He is not merely a God in whom we believe intellectually, theologically, theoretically, doctrinally only. All this is possible to one who is not a child of God at all… [Our] worship and praying are spontaneous; it is the spontaneity of the child who sees the father… and not only spontaneity, but confidence. A little child has confidence.  He does not analyze it… he knows that ‘Abba’ is his father. Grown-ups may be standing back at a distance and being very formal [with some great personage]; but the little child comes running in, rushes right in, and holds on to his father's legs. He has a right that no-one else has… It is instinctive… we cry ‘Abba, Father.’”
– D.M. Lloyd-Jones, Romans 8:5-17

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everyone :)

This morning I want to say that there are an abundance of things that I am thankful for…

First and foremost is that I have been loved abundantly by the Lord.  And in my time in Costa Rica, He has continued to show me that He is pursuing me and filling me.  It brings to mind one of my favorite lines from a hymn…
“Love so amazing, so diving, demands my soul, my life, my all!”

Secondly, I’m so thankful for friends and family.  I could go on and on about this.  But I will suffice it to say that I am loved and prayed for and supported and encouraged.  And I’m so thankful.

Because I could go on and on, I will stop with this…

Today I’m thankful for Maggie and that she is here to celebrate Thanksgiving with me.  What a joy to get to see her and hug her neck and show her my life here.  We’ve had a great time together and its been so fun to have her here.  So, thanks to Maggie for coming all the way to Costa Rica and giving up Thanksgiving with her family to be with me!

I wish I had a picture

This blog post would be so much better with a picture.  But in the midst of the excitement I decided to just enjoy myself rather than rushing back to find my camera.

Today I got to see friends from home, and oh what a joy it was to my heart!  Cary Christian School’s senior class was here in Costa Rica doing a mission trip and today I intentionally ran into them downtown at the market.  I didn’t know exactly when they would be there or if I would get to see them at all, so I went to hang out with Ericka and just waited ‘till the masses arrived.

When the market started swarming with teenagers I went in search and found Nikki and William and Elliot!  There was lots of hugging, maybe a little screaming, and just a lot of joy.  It was so good for my heart to hug Nikki and hear about her trip and help her buy souvenirs at the market from people who I can honestly say are my friends.  And I got to help Elliot buy stuff for his sisters while he helped me pick out good brother presents for Christmas.

I was so encouraged about my Spanish because last time I saw Nikki she was teaching me and this time I was translating for her. 

There wasn’t time to catch up on life or have a heart-to-heart… but I loved it none the less.  What a blessed taste of home!

All that to say… I wish I had a picture…

Christmas is Coming

I decorated for Christmas…

    

 

 

 

So did my host mom…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She wins. :)

Blunder

Tonight I was reminded of a blunder that I forgot to blog.  Not that the world needs to know all of my Spanish mishaps, but I thought this was a funny one.

Last weekend I was explaining the game “ticket to ride” all in Spanish.  And as we were playing, one of the choices is to draw a face down card.  Well, not knowing how to say face down in Spanish, I decided to call it a surprise card.  So I said…

“¿Quiere una saprissa?” blank stares…oh right, that’s the soccer team…

“¿Quiere una sorpresa?” Another word I’ll never forget.

the Gospel

“If there’s anything in life that we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others. I mean passionate about thinking about it, dwelling on it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world. Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be.” C. J. Mahaney

News flash.  Missionaries sometimes don’t believe the Gospel for themselves.  Its true, although I’ll admit, hard to say it out loud.  Here you have a group of people who have given their lives to the calling that they believe the Lord has placed on their life.  We believe that the message of God’s grace and redemption is vitally important, so much so that we leave a lot of things that we love behind to go and share this message with the world.  And yet, there are days that I don’t believe this message for myself.  There are days that I don’t let it affect me on a heart level.  There are days that I don’t want to be changed and transformed by this good news. 

Some days its because I believe that I’m too bad and so far gone.  I’ve seen so much of my own heart and my own sin that I just can’t see how the Lord could possibly forgive and turn it around.  And some days I’m just so prideful that I look at my life and see all the things I’m doing well and I just forget that I need the Lord at all because clearly I’m doing alright all by myself.  And some days I believe that I need the Lord’s grace and that it is enough for me on an intellectual level, but it doesn’t bring any transformation to my life.

Tim Keller writes… “A Christian is not just someone who knows about Jesus, but one who has “seen” him on the cross. Our hearts are moved when we see not just that he died in general, but that he had to die for us. When that knowledge becomes affecting and life-changing, we are Christians.  We see the meaning of his work for us.”

I am praying that the Lord continues to remind me every day that I need His goodness and grace.  And I am praying that as I rest in His promises for me that my life will be transformed and changed as the Gospel is applied to every area of my life.

Oh, to believe is the Gospel.  It brings humility and love for others.  It causes me to step back and consider someone else’s point of view because I’m not so busy trying to make myself look better than them.  It allows me to receive love and grace, first from the Lord and then from other people because I know that to receive these things is a gift.  It gives me peace and comfort because I can stop striving to make my good deeds outweigh my bad.  I am allowed to rest in the joy of loving Jesus and living for Him without worrying about how my checklist of goodness is playing out.  And it frees me from living for the approval of other people, and oh what a freedom that is.  To know my identity in Christ alone and be free from my own self.  I’ll take it.

The Quilting Adventure

Today I started teaching my host mom how to make a quilt.  Its going to be fun and I’m going to learn LOTS of new vocabulary.  Today we started cutting out the pieces together.  This is a great way for me to spend time with Josefa and I’m really excited about it :)

Also excited that tonight is a game night with friends! 

The language of my heart

I have a terrible memory.  I mean that.  Ask anyone who has been friends with me for any amount of time.  I tell people the same stories over and over again.  I tell people stories that they are a part of b/c I have forgotten that they were there.  I can’t remember actors or actresses.  I can read the same books, and watch the same movies and be surprised every time.  I often get 30 minutes into a movie and think, oh, I’ve seen this before.  But I still can’t remember how it ends. 

All that to say, there is one thing that sticks with me, and its music.  I know the lyrics to more songs than I can possibly start to name.  We had a hymn sing at MTW’s area conference and I knew most of the words to the most of the songs even though we don’t sing strictly hymns in the church where I grew up.  Music just gets in my mind and my heart and stays with me.  And I love that.

Well, I’m finally reaching that heart language with trying to learn language.  Listening to music in Spanish is something that I need to do a lot more.  I have said before that if they wrote the whole Spanish language into a song, I could know it by next week.  But, there is an awful lot already written into songs, so I just need to start learning it.

Today in my grammer class we listened to a song in past tense.  She had written out the lyrics for us with blanks where the verbs should be.  We had to listen and fill in the blanks with the verbs in the right form.  It was hard!  But so good and so fun!  On top of which, I learned a new song because we listened to it over and over again :)

So, here’s a great Christian artist to listen to.  She has a beautiful voice!  And it turns out that I’m going to see her in concert in December, what fun!

Headlamp to the Rescue

Today the power was out for no apparent reason.  Our house is dark anyway, but when you take away the lights, its ridiculous.  So, I was sitting outside doing my homework and squinting at the paper as the sun went down.  Eventually I gave that up and started playing word games on my itouch.  Then Josefa brought me a candle… back to homework.  Okay, nevermind, that’s impossible.  Finally when Josefa asked if I had batteries, I was fishing through my room and spotted it…

My headlamp!

It was the hit of the household.  I looked ridiculous, but at least I could see.  Josefa wanted to know where I got it. :) 

In the midst of the darkness, I was cold and needed to put on pants, so my grey sweatpants won the prize b/c they are the ones I could find in the dark.  They went great with my grey tshirt I was wearing.  In college when I would do this Krissie called me the grey monster and it’s a habit I outgrew when I left college.  Well, until today.  So please picture the grey monster with a headlamp.  Ridiculous.  Fine, the lights were off.  Well, of course Ariel brings a friend over and the lights come back on catching me in the midst of my crazy look.  She probably thinks I dress like this all the time.  But I swear it isn’t true!

Christmas

I have a new favorite Christmas carol…

Hacia Belén (Rin Rin)

It is so fun to sing!  We sang it at school this morning.  You have to sing it at about 1/8 speed to get all the words in, but by the end, we could sing almost full speed and it’s so fun!! :)

Weekend

This past weekend we our last long weekend of the semester.  Its hard to believe that we only have 4 weeks left!  Its crazy really.  But at the same time I’m ready for the break.  Tonight I’m watching Spiderman in Spanish because its on TV.  I don’t understand everything by any means, but SO much more than before.  It gives me great hope for the future!

Here are some random things from the weekend.

1. I got to play with this sweet little boy… sadly he didn’t feel good:(  But we still had fun!

 

 

 

2. I got to hang out with Abby and Abbey, Ligia, Rodrigo, and Melissa
3. I explained and played Ticket to Ride in Spanish… if you don’t know this game, its great!
4. I got to cook, which I love
5. And lastly, Abbey and watched these great videos that are put out by a ministry in her town.  Here’s the website…http://www.cityonahillproductions.com/  The ones we watched are the H2O videos. Sadly, they aren’t available to watch online.  But they are a really great series that walk through thirsting for the Lord and being satisfied by Him as the living water.  They would be really good conversation starters because they deal with issues that we can all relate to.  Loneliness, anger, doubt, insecurity, searching, not feeling fulfilled… One thing I loved is that they talked about how some people really do feel fulfilled in their life without the Lord.  But could it be possible that, although content, you have settled for contentment in one thing when something far greater exists?  He talked about taking his daughter to the beach, but since the pool was the first thing she saw, she never wanted to go to the ocean.  But as soon as she saw the ocean, she never wanted to go back.  Could it be that sometimes that is us?  We are, as CS Lewis says, “content to build mud pies in the slums instead of having a holiday by the sea… we are far too easily pleased.”

Anyway, even though we had some sickness, church on the couch, and less sleep than we would have chosen, I know that I for one had a fabulous weekend! 

Galatians again

Galatians 3:1-5
”You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain?  So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?”

I was so convicted when I read this in my Bible study for this week.  This is far too often not just a Galatians problem, but a personal problem in my life.  Not that I mean to, not that I believe intellectually that I can do anything to save myself… But functionally I start acting like my hope for salvation depends on me.  I have a mental checklist for all the “things I need to do” and I feel guilty if they don’t get done.  I start thinking that God expects me to do something for Him, as if I can earn more of His approval.  I’m so thankful that this is not the case and that the Lord’s love for me depends on His faithfulness to me and not my faithfulness or perfect obedience.

“A conscience which is not fully enlightened both to the seriousness of its condition before God, and to the grandeur of God’s merciful provision of redemption, will inevitably fall prey to anxiety, pride, sensuality and all the other expressions of that unconscious despair which Kierkegaard called “the sickness unto death.” [So] we start
each day with our personal security resting not on…the sacrifice of Christ but on our present feelings or recent achievements… Since these arguments will not quiet the human conscience, we are inevitably moved either to discouragement and apathy or to a self-righteousness which falsifies the record to achieve a sense of peace.” – Tim Keller

One thing that I have been encouraged by is reading Genesis 15 where God makes a covenant with Abraham.  In this type of covenant, both parties should have had to make a promise with the consequence of breaking the promise being death.  And yet the Lord, knowing that Abraham was unable to keep his side of the deal, caused him to fall asleep while the Lord sealed the covenant Himself… knowing that to keep His promise would mean the sacrifice of His Son.  We get the reward of the promise without the cost.  That is grace.

Jesus is Enough

Today I’m just struck with this thought.  Its nothing new, but today I really am believing it.  And I started making a list.

If I have no friends, if my ministry fails, if I never get married or have kids of my own, if my Spanish isn’t good, if I say the wrong thing, if I live far away, if the internet crashes, if I lose people that I love, if I’m lonely, if I’m sad, if I have culture shock, if I feel out of place, if I’m misunderstood… JESUS IS ENOUGH!

The list goes on and on and if I wrote it out you would see my heart and all my fears and all the things that I try to control myself.  But the truth is so clear, it doesn’t matter what I do or what I don’t do, Jesus is enough.

Also, I have so many thoughts on my Galatians study that I’m doing, but I can’t put it as well as Tim Keller.  If you’re interested, this is a great article! (“The Centrality of the Gospel” here… its not quite the same one from my study, but has similar ideas)

Pad See Ew

Last week in my conversation class we had to give a presentation about a type of food that we like and then explain a recipe for one food in particular.  I talked about Thai food, because I LOVE it!  And then I looked up a recipe for my favorite dish, Pad See Ew, thinking it would be really difficult.  Well… great news… it’s not!  And the recipe came complete with youtube video.  So I was inspired.

Last week I bought the stuff and last night I took over Melissa’s kitchen to adventure with this new recipe.  As I was cooking the dinner crew kept growing until I was feeding Melissa, Anita, David, Joaquin, and me.  I kept telling them it might taste terrible, so not to get their hopes up.  But thankfully, it was delicious!

YUM!!!  Of course it was not quite the same as my favorite Thai restaurant at home.  I had the wrong noodles and didn’t use a variety of soy sauces like it calls for.  But we didn’t really mind.  I loved eating every bite :)

If you decide you want to make it yourself, check out this website…

http://www.shesimmers.com/2010/06/pad-see-ew-recipe-how-to-make-pad-see.html

Surprise

Okay, I know it.  Three blog posts in a row is too much.  I understand.  And I would be sorry, but I have to share.

Today I went white water rafting.  Super fun!  And also, because its low tourist season, much cheaper than normal.  It has rained all week and the river is full, so it was fast and fun :)

I get home… tired, sore, and ready for food and bed to find out that we are having a party at my house!  I debated going out to join the party fun, that I was sure would turn to karaoke at some point.  And we haven’t done karaoke in awhile, so I would have been sad to miss it.  Plus, I correctly assumed that if I wanted dinner, I would have to go join the fun.  So I showered, got dressed, and headed outside.

I was surprised to see people I haven’t met before and find out we are celebrating someone’s birthday.  Awesome.  So, when the birthday girl gets up to go to the bathroom everyone goes crazy.  Oh yeah, her boyfriend was proposing!  She comes back from the bathroom and he is on his knee with a ring.  It was precious.  And yet another Costa Rican first.  Actually, I’ve never been at anyone’s proposal, so it wasn’t just a Costa Rican first!  And then I got invited to the wedding :)

It was really fun, very sweet people, and of course, birthday cake and karaoke!

Friday Feria Fiesta

The Messicks are a precious family here in Costa Rica who are kind enough to let me be a part of their family.  It is so fun to sit around a dinner table with a family and read books to kids and hold a baby.  I’m so thankful the Lord put them in my life!

In the ever changing life of a missionary, you have to have some consistency… what better way than to have Friday Fiestas?  So last night I joined the Messicks for Friday Fiesta, fair themed.  How can you have a fair in your house in Costa Rica… well, I’ll show you…

First you have face painting... And you even let a two-year-old paint your hand. Then you play games... With prizes of course! Pause for a family photo… Eat food that is not good for you… And then try to settle everyone down for bed.  Good luck :) And fun was had by all… even Taylah :)

Muttering

I will really arrive in Spanish speaking when I mutter to myself in Spanish.  Yesterday I got corrected by a bi-lingual friend when I was talking to myself.  Really?  I’m talking to myself and I understand English :)

Better late than never... Newsletter October 2010

October 2010

oh, I can identify

I read this blog this morning and I can totally identify.  I would steal it and post it as my own if that was legal at all :)  You should read it.

http://ohandtheworldspinsmadlyon.blogspot.com/2010/11/calling.html

And then we had a party

Today just seemed to be “one of those days” for a lot people around here.  I’m not sure why… maybe because of the rain, maybe because we’re tired, who knows?!?  I stopped by Kristy’s house on my way home and found a handful of kids and a group of people desperately in need of a party.  So… what else can you do?

Impromptu party!

I only wish I’d had a camera :)  Elijah went with Louisa and I to get pizza.  Micah and Jonah blew up balloons.  Taylah slept (that’s about the most helpful thing a three month old can do!)  And Matt came and rescued us on our rainy walk home.  Together with Kathy and Jeff and guacamole, it was a great party and so good for the heart!

One of my favorite parts was singing the blessing with the Messick kids.  We sang the “amen” song and then when you pointed, everything had to say something they were thankful for!  We were thankful for family, pizza, God, grandkids, rain, friends… and I think we can all agree we were thankful for our party:)

The Lord answers prayer.  That’s all I can say.  Before this trimester I prayed for the Lord to give me families as friends.  And tonight I felt again that prayer being answered.  I was telling a friend about this the other day and she gave me this verse.

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." Psalm 68:5-6

What an amazing promise!  God knows exactly what we need, and He WILL provide for us.  I cling to that.  Tonight I’m thankful for a God who knows me and loves me and gives me family wherever I go!

I think they call this settling

Maggie is coming to see me for Thanksgiving and I cannot wait!

Tonight I was looking through my stuff here at the house because my mom has offered to go on a shopping spree and send things that I need with Maggie when she comes.  What an opportunity!  And yet, for the first time since I’ve been here, I looked through what I have and thought through what I can get here, and I couldn’t come up with much.

There are things of course: hair mousse, sunscreen, etc.  They are just crazy expensive here.  But for the most part, I think I can say, I’m settling.  I still talk about foods that I miss, but the truth is, I can get a lot of stuff here that I like.  I talk about missing my car, but public transportation is pretty amazing.

Don’t get me wrong, there are PEOPLE that I miss.  And I still have my moments with things.  I think I always will.  It seems like culture shock is a cycle that comes back and bites you in the butt at the most inconvenient of times. 

But for the most part, I can say, I’m settling.  I think I’ve been whining about foods I miss and not having my car… not because I really miss them, but just because life is new here and different, and its not a vacation, this is my new life.  And that’s overwhelming and scary and hard and uncomfortable.  So I crave things that are familiar, even if I don’t love them all that much.  Otherwise, why are lucky charms my new favorite cereal?  But, when I’m honest, I’m not unhappy here at all.  Its different, and I’m adjusting.  And it is hard and it takes time. 

But, the Lord has given me new insight here that I didn’t get to have at home.  This is the real life understanding that we serve a God who transcends culture and my comfort zone.  He really does go with us where He calls us to go, He makes good on His promises.  He provides exactly what we need where we are, even if its not in the timing or way that we may have asked for it… its better.  The God who I serve is full of grace and faithfulness for His faithless servant – me.  I have had my moments of asking why, of wanting to yell out in my room, “I’m lonely, I’m uncomfortable, this is hard.”  And yet the Lord of Hosts gently reminds me that He hasn’t gone anywhere, and that HE is walking before me where He calls me to go.

“He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.” –Colossians 1:17

Krissie reminded me of this verse this past spring when I was having to learn to trust the Lord with a baby boy whom I loved with all my heart.  I had to trust Wesley to the Lord and trust that He was holding all things together for that little one.  And I saw Him answer prayer in an incredible way.

And now He asks me not to trust this promise for someone else, but to trust it for my own life.  He is before all things.  And He is holding all things together.  That includes my life, my future, my ministry… He holds them all in His very capable hands.  And when I believe that, it doesn’t matter where I am – NC, Costa Rica, Honduras… no importa!  I can settle in that place.

Pleasure

Today I was studying about finding pleasure in the LORD.  Its interesting because twice in the last 2 days I’ve been reminded of John Piper’s thoughts on Christian Hedonism.  Basically its the concept that we were created to find our GREATEST joy in the Lord.  So, when we are seeking the Lord and abiding in Him, we are actually seeking our own greatest pleasure.  I love this.

Saint Cyprian (200-258) 127 wrote:
”It is a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy that is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians - and I am one of them.”

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalms 16:11)

Bananagrams

Last night I went to volleyball… except I didn’t.  When I got up there it was cancelled, go figure.  But I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know.  So, the other couple who was up there asked if I wanted to come hang out with them.

Barb: “Do you play games?”
Me: “Yes, I love them”
Barb: “Do you know Carcassonne?”
Me: “Yes.  Random.  Usually other people don’t know that game.”

So I went to their house and played 5 rounds of Carcassonne, yeah, that’s a lot.  And I didn’t win, not even once.  A blow to my competitive nature :)

And then we moved on to Bananagrams (just like take two with Scrabble pieces if you’ve ever played that.  Only, we decided we needed the challenge, so we played it in Spanish!  It was great!  But took us forever… and the letter distribution wasn’t quite right.  Who would think you would ever need more Qs and Us?  When I got home I located it on amazon in Spanish… yay!  Guess what I’m asking for at Christmas? :)

Stats

Bad news. 

I just found out that I can check the stats of how many people read my blog and where they are located.  Honestly, I had no idea that I cared until I could check it.  And now I’m just curious.  Who reads my blog who lives in South Korea or Denmark or the Philippines?

I’m not sure this is a good find.  I’ve been writing because its good for me, its good processing and I want people to be able to share in my life here.  I don’t want to start worrying about how many people read it or if I’m being funny enough or clever enough or have enough excited things to share.  I don’t want to always be checking it and wondering why people read it but don’t leave comments (except that blogspot does not make it easy to do that!)  So I think I’m going to try to forget that I know that information exists and go back to writing in complete ignorance :)

I will say this though.  I was talking to a friend the other day and we decided that the non-bloggers of the world need a little reminder.  It’s possible that when you read our blogs and hear about our lives that you feel connected to us, which is great!  Maybe it even makes you think, oh I miss them!  Well… just throwing it out there that just because you know about our lives doesn’t mean that we get to know about yours.  And we’d LOVE to :)  So shoot an email every once in awhile just to let us know how you are.  And when you have those moments of “oh, I miss them”, let us know that too.  Sometimes we feel like life is moving in warp speed at home without us there and we’re getting lost in the shuffle.  We know its not true in our heads, but some days it gets the better of us.

Thank you for reading this blog, for caring about my life and what I’m doing.  The Lord has called me on a crazy journey of obedience.  Some days its mundane and normal and not adventuresome at all and I don’t know why you would want to read about it.  Some days I just can’t believe that this is my life and I’m blown away by the adventure and newness and confusion and overwhelming nature of it all.  But on all those days the Lord goes before me and is leading me every step of the way.

School Supplies

School in Honduras is a different ballgame than school in the States.  Compulsory education only goes up through 6th grade and only about a third of the population receives education beyond that.  Kids are pulled out of school by their parents all the time because of money issues.  We’re not even talking tuition, we’re talking the bus fare to get to school, money for paper, pencils, notebooks, etc.  If the family cannot pay to provide these necessities, their children cannot go to school.

So, for that reason, my team is collecting school supplies to make it possible for some of the children in Armenia Bonito and other areas to go to school this year.  Last year they were able to provide school supplies for over 400 kids!  That’s great :)  If you want to know more about it, my team leader put together this video from their school supply drive last year…

If you are interested in being part of this specific ministry, you can gather up school supplies and send them to this address by December 31st!!!  The school year starts in February (I think!), so they need this time to organize and distribute stuff.  Also, you can send a note to the McCanns to say congrats b/c their new baby Anna was born yesterday :)  HOORAY!  I can’t wait to meet her.

Sean & Lindsey McCann
P.O. Box 171
La Ceiba, Atlantida
Honduras
Central America

If you would rather send money and have the team make purchases in Honduras, let me know and I’ll give you info on how to do that.

Costa Rica

Today I was in Hipermas (the Costa Rican Walmart equivalent).  I went with 2 friends and ended up running into 4 other people that I know, one of whom we recruited to share our cab on the ride home.  After shopping we grabbed McDonalds ice cream and burgers and were processing Costa Rican life together, when I said, you know, I would never buy McDonalds ice cream on a Walmart run in the states.  I think I like it here.

And its true.  For all of the things that are different here and for as much as I was frustrated by my newly acquired pet peeves (squishy flip-flops that squeak and wet pant legs from puddles and splashes that are just about dry by the time you’re ready to go back outside again) later in the day while walking to the Lee’s… I really do like it here!

Here are some things that I love.
1. Believe it or not, I love not having a cell phone.  It makes my life more peaceful
2. I love that places like Hipermas have a food court and I can sit and eat ice cream after I shop
3. I love that I’m not paying for car insurance or gas
4. I love that things are close by and its easy to travel to places that are beautiful for a weekend get-away
5. Although I complain at times, I really enjoy walking a lot and I know its good for me
6. I love volleyball on Tuesday nights
7. I love my Wednesday night Bible study in Spanish
8. I love that people are friendly and want to chat.  I could stop and have a conversation with about 4 people that I’ve met in their workplaces, just on the 3 block walk to school.
9. I LOVE living in this kind of community where I can walk to everyone’s house, I see people that I know all over the neighborhood when I’m out walking or running errands, I love that people help each other (housesitting, watching kids, asking what you need at the store), and that we’re all in the same place learning and living life together with a common goal
10. I love meeting all these people who love Jesus and have the same heart to reach the nations for His kingdom

To sum up… the Lord has given me the opposite of culture shock today… we shall call it “culture enjoyment” and I’m thankful for it! :)

Broken Cisterns

"Men are in a restless pursuit after satisfaction in earthly things. They will exhaust themselves in the deceitful delights of sin, and, finding them all to be vanity and emptiness, they will become very perplexed and disappointed. But they will still continue their fruitless search.

Though wearied, they still stagger forward under the influence of spiritual madness, and though there is no result to be reached except that of everlasting disappointment, yet they press forward. They have no forethought for their eternal state; the present hour absorbs them. They turn to another and another of earth's broken cisterns, hoping to find water where not a drop was ever discovered yet." Charles Spurgeon

Cannibalism

So there is a difference in Spanish between saying “comer – to eat” and “comerse – to eat something in particular”.  So today a classmate of mine was talking and said something like this… “¿Cuando la familia se come la hija se enfirme?”Which actually means… When the family ate the daughter, did they get sick?  Instead of… When the family ate, did the daughter get sick? We laughed.  A lot.

Martyrs and Thieves

I was listening to Jennifer Knapp this morning and this song came on… it is probably one of my all-time favorite songs.

Martyrs and Thieves – Jennifer Knapp
There's a place in the darkness that I used to cling to
It presses harsh hope against time
In the absence of martyrs there's a presence of thieves
Who only want to rob you blind
They steal away any sense of peace
Though I'm a king I'm a king on my knees
And I know they are wrong when they say I am strong
As the darkness covers me

Chorus-
So turn on the light and reveal all the glory
I am not afraid
To bare all my weakness knowing in meekness
I have a kingdom to gain
Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light
Oh I am not afraid
To let Your light shine bright in my life, in my life
Oh I... am, I...

There are ghosts from my past who've owned more of my soul
Than I thought I had given away
They linger in closets and under my bed
And in pictures less proudly displayed
A great fool in my life I have been
Have squandered till pallid and thin
Hung my head in shame and refused to take blame
For the darkness I know I've let win

Can you hear me? (repeat 6x)

Well I've never been much for the baring of soul
In the presence of any man
I'd rather keep to myself all safe and secure
In the arms of a sinner I am
Could it be that my worth should depend
By the crimson stained grace on a hand
And like a lamp on a hill Lord I pray in Your will
To reveal all of You that I can

There's a place in the darkness that I used to cling to
It presses harsh hope against time...

Parrot

This morning I was so confused.  I woke up to a voice outside my window that just kept screeching different mostly indiscernible words.  Oh tireless person, PLEASE go back to sleep and let me go back to sleep. Well Bethany informs that she thinks it is a parrot, which makes A LOT more sense.  I just haven’t really heard one before.

So, as I sit and write I keep hearing two things… RA-CHEL, A-VENA (oatmeal)

I don’t know what he is really saying, but that’s what it sounds like to me.  And I couldn’t figure out why Rachel just couldn’t eat her oatmeal and let me sleep.

Puppy Chow

Laura is awesome and brought me a huge container of peanut butter.  Then some people staying at my host family’s house had extra chocolate chips.  So… what else would I do, but make puppy chow?  For those of you who know this by a different name, puppy chow is chex cereal with peanut butter/chocolate/powder sugar goodness on top.  So delicious!

Except they don’t have chex here, so I made mine with cheerios.  Looks and tastes a little different, but still SO good! :) I introduced it to my host family and their neighbors and they loved it.  I think I’ll be sharing this recipe…

Also, I’m housesitting so last night we had chili… yum!!! I don’t grocery shop often around here.  So I haven’t learned the kilo equivalent of pounds.  So I went in the grocery store and asked for ground beef, this much please.  And I held out my hands to show about one large handful.  He laughed and did it.  Surprisingly, it was about a pound when I got home and figured it out!  Awesome!

Whoops

Don’t you love a post that starts with the word whoops.  Its sure to show a new Spanish blunder in the life of Shannon.  Correct. Tonight we were hanging out with our friend Ligia and speaking all in Spanish, which is great practice and so fun to get to know her!  We were talking about traveling thanksgiving weekend and I said…

“Tengo un amigo” (I have a friend) “Él organiza viejos” (He organizes old people)

Umm… what?!? “oh, él organiza viajes” (He organizes trips)

Yep, those things are not the same.

Galatians

If you are a reader of this blog, first of all, thanks!  Second of all, get ready to learn about Galatians.  I just started Tim Keller’s study on Galatians with some girls here.  I’ve done it before, but I am loving doing it again!  I am just continually struck by the truth of the Gospel.  We need Jesus, nothing else.  And I’m so thankful for that. 

Don’t worry I’ll still be sharing antidotes of my daily life and Spanish learning here in Costa Rica.  But this is a lot of what is on my heart these days.

Here’s a quote from the beginning of the study, just to give you a little taste…

“The gospel is the way that anything is renewed and transformed by Christ — whether a heart, a relationship, a church, or a community. All our problems come from a lack of orientation to the gospel. Put positively, the gospel transforms our hearts, our thinking and our approach to absolutely everything.

The gospel of justifying faith means that while Christians are, in themselves still sinful and sinning, yet in Christ, in God’s sight, they are accepted and righteous.  So we can say that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope — at the very same time. This creates a radical new dynamic for personal growth. It means that the more you see your own flaws and sins, the more precious, electrifying, and amazing God’s grace appears to you. But on the other hand, the more aware you are of God’s grace and acceptance in Christ, the more able you are to drop your denials and self-defenses and admit the true dimensions and character of your sin.”

Let me explain, no there is too much, let me sum up

Please tell me you know the movie reference…

Yesterday I got back from area conference with MTW missionaries all over Latin America.  I loved every second of it!  There really is too much to tell you about how amazingly blessed I felt and how renewed and restored I feel coming back to Costa Rica.  So, let me sum up.

Every morning and evening I was reminded of the good news of the Gospel and that the Lord’s message is for me.  Fear, anger, temptation, doubt, and insecurities reign in my heart far too often and the Lord offers freedom.  The good news of the Gospel is that I don’t have to have my life together in a pretty little package to bring it before the Lord.  He takes my mess, all of it.  And He gives me the freedom to be humble, to not always have to be right, to confess sin, to live honestly in community, to apologize, to walk away, to serve, and to love.  And somehow He uses a broken vessel like me in His plan to bring the Gospel to bear and expand His kingdom around the world.  What is He thinking?

I was so blessed and challenged by the teaching from the Word, the music, the seminars, and the testimony of other missionaries.  I was convicted that I complain too much and don’t pray enough.  I am excited again to be part of this global family that is working for the Lord around Latin America.

And what about the rest of the time when we weren’t in meetings?  Well, I got to see old friends and make new friends.  I enjoyed spending time with my team and FINALLY meeting all of them face to face.  (I want to move to Honduras tomorrow!)  I was humbled by the kids whose Spanish puts me to shame and motivated to study more.  I ate well and far too much.  I didn’t see a drop of rain :)  I enjoyed being in the sun.  I read books in English just for fun.  I did some line dancing and watched a youth talent show. 

All in all.  It was great and I was a little sad that it had to end – perhaps because I knew that missed homework assignments waited for me here in San Jose :)  But I’ll get caught up and I’m excited to be where God has me for now.

Here’s team Honduras… (missing a few!)
left to right: Clows, Pettengills, Shannon, McCanns
By way of an update, Bethany and Leo are here with me in language school for one-two months and both headed to La Ceiba as interns.  Mike and Ashley are raising support and Lord-willing will come to Costa Rica in January.  Kate is raising support and should hit Costa Rica next August.  Please pray for our ever expanding team!

Area Conference

Tomorrow is going to be a great day!

Every four years MTW has a conference for all of the missionaries in Latin America, and it is happening this week!  I am really excited to be able to go and spend time with other missionaries.  But mainly I’m excited to see my team!

There are three other families on my team who are already in Honduras… The Pettengills, The McCanns, and the Clows.  I have gotten to spend 4 days with the Pettengills and McCanns, but I have never met the Clows.  Well tomorrow is the day and we get to spend the whole week together!

As an added bonus, I get to room with Abby, my friend and roommate from my pre-field training in Belgium.  And spend time with Laura.  Laura and I have been friends ever since I was 6 years old and she hid a rock from my rock collection as buried treasure… never to be found again :)  She and her husband are coming to do the children’s programs.

I’ll be MIA from the blog and internet for awhile.  So, more to come when I get back :)

Los Guizaros

A couple weeks ago at church I met someone from La Ceiba, Honduras!  Isn't it amazing how the Lord works?  It really is a small world.

After meeting David, he invited us to join a ministry that he is involved with in a neighborhood called Los Guizaros.  So, last Saturday Abby, Melissa, and I piled in a car with him and headed up the road for a new adventure.  And we loved it.

Every Saturday they play games with the kids and then teach them from Scripture.  They go through books of the Bible and study some hard topics.  Right now they are going through the book of Ester.  So we had a competition to see which team could answer all the trivia questions first.  My job was to listen to their answers and see if they were right.  Imagine excited kids talking all at once in rapid fire Spanish :)  But we made it work and it was fun to be able to communicate a little bit.

My team got finished first, which of course I was excited about and very proud of them.  There are some really bright kids in this group and I loved getting to hang out with them.  It will take going back awhile to learn all of their names, but they were patient to tell me more than once and to speak slowly so that I could talk to them.

After the Bible time they feed the kids lunch so we just got to hang out for a little while.  This little girl is precious and very loving.  She just sat and chatted away to me.  Her vocabulary is probably more on par with mine :)

It was a unanimous decision among us.  We would love to go back and spend more time with these kids and be a part of what the Lord is doing in their lives.  The people that work with them have a great vision to teach them about the Lord while also providing them with lot of other opportunities.  (Wow… the word oportunidades actually came to mind before the English)  So please keep these kids in your prayers!

Newsletter - September 2010

September 2010

Becoming Tica

I think I’m starting to fit in here.  Its 70 degrees outside and I find myself agreeing with host mom.  Hace mucho frio!  Its very cold.  I may even put real shoes on to go to school tomorrow instead of flip flops!  One because its cold, two because I’m tired of being wet all the time.

I’ve been sick.  Boo.  I hate having fevers because I get super wimpy, a little teary for no particular reason, and I can never seem to get comfortable or sleep well.  And then there’s the sore throat.  I haven’t had a real sore throat in maybe 10 years, I don’t like not being able to swallow.  And I hate that applesauce is the only thing that sounded good to me and they don’t sell it here.  I definitely lacked the energy to make my own, so I hate oatmeal and mashed potatoes instead.  But enough complaining, today is better.  My fever is gone and I can swallow enough to eat an egg for breakfast :)  (Which my host mom translated to 2 eggs and 2 pieces of toast, which is a little much when you’ve been eating nothing but oatmeal and potatoes for 3 days, but whatever)  I stayed home from school today to try avoid sending this home with all the families with kids – you’re welcome.  But I do think I’ll go tomorrow.

In the midst of my being sick I found a movie on TV last night that I love.  “I Am Sam”  I cannot even explain why I love this movie so much.  But it catches my heart every time.  Yes, I was crying in my room by myself and I can’t even blame it on the fever.  I just love the way that He loves his little girl as much he possibly can and she loves him too.  I love the scenes where she is walking to his house at night in the dark and he keeps bringing her home.  Finally her foster family brings her over to stay with him.  I love it.  If you haven’t watched this movie, you should.  The end :)

Lengua

You may think I’m going to write about my ability to converse in my new tongue fluently, but surprisingly, I’m going to introduce you to a literal “tongue”.

As I was at Hipermas today with my host family, we made our way to the meat section.  “Umm… gross” was my first reaction to seeing something that looked exactly like this cow tongue in the meat case.  Whoops, spoke too soon, that’s exactly what we’re there to buy.  “Really???”  So, clearly, I’ve already made my reaction to this known and then I find out its what we’re having for supper.  Great.  I am repeatedly reassured that I’m going to love it, it really is delicious, and I’m going to have to taste it.  Well, I guess my host mom didn’t really know if I’d love it b/c she brought me a sandwich at 5:00 :)

However, I’m brave.  And it did actually smell really good!  So when it was ready, I went out to have some while they looked on waiting to see my reaction.  To be completely honest, it was delicious.  She cooked it up with tomato sauce, spices, onion, and peppers and then served it with delicious mashed potatoes. Bon appétit!

“A Day”

Imagine if you will the creepiest scratchy, deep ,latino-accented voice saying “I like American women…” as you walk pass the bus stop.

This was the unfortunate jolt back to reality that Melissa and I had i the midst of pretending we were back in the suburbs of the US.

Turns out we both just had “a day” today.  To be honest, it was the kind of day where I gladly would have jumped on a plane and headed back to NC in a second.  Nothing in particular happened… frustrating classes, not getting the stuff done that I wanted to in an afternoon, loud street noise, not having a car… the kind of stuff that happens everyday, but today every part of it bothered me.

Our solution…
Step 1: Dinner at an awesome restaurant in Curridabat called Trio.  It was loud, but playing American radio type music, so I was okay with it.  And I ate buffalo wings and mozzarella.  That’s right, that was my whole dinner.  It was almost the same as home… different tastes and I’ve never had wings served with tarter sauce before, but it was close enough :)
Step 2: TCBY.  Enough said.
Step 3: Walked by the creepy guy and were reminded that we were in Costa Rica.
Step 4: Auto Marcado.  I’m obsessed.  Not really, just tonight b/c I wanted to buy everything with a US brand name.  Its just a supermarket, but they have lots of American products that I haven’t seen here yet.  So it felt familiar.  I almost left with easy mac, not because I love easy mac, just b/c everything on the box was written in English.

It was just that kind of day.  But really my first day I’ve really had like that here.  Which is feel like is acceptable given its been almost 4 months.  I will allow myself an American splurge :)

Chickfila, oh how I love you

Ranking the things that I miss from the states, I think they would go in this order…

1. People… friends and family.
2. Food… specifically chick-fil-a, cheese at almost every meal, pad see ew (thai food), butter chicken (indian food), NC BBQ, my mom’s hamburgers, outback steakhouse, and toaster strudels.  There’s more, but I’ll settle for those :)
3. My car and the freedom that comes with being able to take yourself where you want to go at exactly the time you want to go there

So, why even bring it up?  Well today my dear friend Cassie sent me an email.  If I didn’t know we were best friends before, I do now!  Chickfila is premiering spicy chicken nuggets in Augusta and she had exhausted her email addresses for getting free coupons and needed me to sign up to get her more free food :)  Understanding the life of being a poor student and also doing ministry, I was happy to oblige.  However, it did remind me how much I miss Chickfila…

peach milkshakes, chicken biscuits, the new spicy chicken sandwich, good service, the best cups b/c they’re styrofoam and not paper, waffle fries, Chickfila sauce, free food for a year, the cow calendar… need I go on?

If you are near a Chickfila, PLEASE take this opportunity to consider yourself fortunate and go eat some on my behalf.

(and now I’m hungry…)

Estudio Biblico

Task for this evening…
Convey the content of an adult Bible study about the glory of God and the greatness of his name using a four year old’s vocabulary.

This, my friends, is quite a challenge.  But I can say that tonight I led my first Bible study in Spanish to a room full of Spanish language students and a Tico family who didn’t look at me like I was an idiot while I was talking.  And by led, I mean read the Bible study that I wrote :)  But either way, I consider that a success.  Thanks to my very limited and simple vocabulary, one of the new students even told me that she understood what I was saying!  YAY!  I pray that the Lord really was glorified.  I’m thankful that the Word of God speaks for itself… we read a lot of verses :)

It was really good for me to do this and to realize that I am learning a lot and the Lord is giving me the vocabulary that I need to be able to talk about Him.  Its so encouraging for me to remember the purpose for which I am learning Spanish.  Its not just to be able to use pronouns correctly, although sometimes that takes all my concentration.  But I am learning exactly for the purpose that we talked about tonight in Bible study…

“Por Amor de Su Nombre” – For the Love of HIS name!

family

Sometimes you are born into family and sometimes extra family is given by the Lord’s great goodness.  I have both.  And I could not be more thankful.

This weekend I was in Panama with my Uncle Joe and his family.  He has been a part of my family for as long as I can remember.  I taught him how to change my brothers’ diapers when I was just a kid and he brought me a hammock from Panama, tickled me mercilessly, and spent a lot of time just investing his life into us.  This weekend I got a chance to be part of his family and spend time with his kids.  I love how the Lord does that.  What a blessing!

At one point Ana Raquel, seven years old, asked me “Is my dad part of your family?”.  “Of course he is, Ana Raquel, and so are you.”  I loved sitting at the table with she and her mom at dinner on Sunday night.  Ana Raquel was sad that I was leaving and her mom just kept explaining that we will see each other again, it may be years, but we’re family and we will see each other.  And even when we don’t see each other, we still love each other, because we are family.  I’m not sure Ana Raquel quite understood, but I love the picture that painted of the merging of two different families… we’ve adopted each other.  And what a picture of how the Lord adopts us into his family and calls us His own children… allowing us to be brothers and sisters.

I have a lot of aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, cousins, second moms and dads… some blood related and some not… and the family is constantly growing.  I have friends who have joined our family, people get married, and its impossible to keep up with everyone.  But it doesn’t matter because the Lord has done a miracle in the hearts and lives of these people to love one another, to sacrifice for each other, to provide for each other, to take care of each other, even when we don’t see each other often.  And when someone has a need, there is always someone to help: to bring food, to lend a car, to let you stay at their house in Panama… This is a picture of the body of Christ and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.

I’m so thankful for this legacy of family that my parents have passed on to me.  Truthfully I think its a miracle that the Lord has done and is doing whenever he brings people together to love selflessly.  Its very much against our natural selfish inclinations to love people for what we can get from them.  And not that we ever love perfectly this side of heaven.  But allowing the Lord to extend your family, living with arms wide open, welcoming people into your life, is so worth it.

Día de la Independencia

How do you know its Independence day in Costa Rica?

1. You sing this song so many times that you can’t get it out of your head… well… maybe its just me, but I have gone to sleep and woken up with this song this week!
“Los hijos del pueblo levanten la frente al sol refulgente de la libertad. Sepamos ser libres no siervos menguados, derechos sagrados la Patria nos da.”

2. You don’t have class… hooray!

3. You see lots of red, white, and blue… sound familiar?

4. You go to a parade

5. You make it feel like a holiday with your family in the US by getting together with friends and playing wildlife adventure and dutch blitz :)

Today was really fun.  The festivities started yesterday with a school-wide convocation to sing the national hymns, learn a little bit about history and culture, and proudly sport the national colors.  Then last night there was a lantern parade for the school kids.  They made their own lanterns, had a competition, and paraded around the block.  This is typical for all the schools here.  Then today we took a big group to the parade in San Pedro!  I’m feeling very “tica” after all the celebrating.

Here are some fun pictures from today.  Our group is the Hollidays (another MTW family), Chad and Nikki (also moving to Honduras), Melissa, Abby, Kate, Katie, and Michelle.

 

  

This last one wins best picture of the day :)  I love it!

Christmas is coming…

the geese are getting fat.  Please put a penny in the old man’s hat.  If you haven’t got a penny, a hay penny will do.  If you haven’t got a hay penny, then God bless you!

Thanks nan for teaching me that song.

But no, really, I was at the mall tonight and Christmas has exploded here in Costa Rica.  Christmas trees and decorations are taking over Universal (a store) and they were playing American Christmas music.

Tomorrow is their big independence day holiday (more to come on that soon), but I guess it still gets outshined by Christmas.  Ridiculous.

Food Favorites

Tonight I’m housesitting and I just went the feria and grocery store and bought stuff for poppyseed chicken casserole (minus the poppyseeds and you make your own creamy soup from a powder mix:) ), mozzarella tomato salad, and guacamole.  And I am SO excited about it!!!

Peru to China

Sorry I’m in the habit of updating my blog two posts at a time, but sometimes things need their own post b/c the topics are super different.  I’m the writer so I can do what I want… right?  I vote yes :)

Anyway, back to the story.  So, Ide is a friend who I always visit at the market (p.s. I don’t actually know how to spell her name, whoops!).  I love Ide for so many reasons: she is super friendly, she is really patient with my terrible Spanish, she always thinks my name is Sonya, and she laughs all the time.  I think we finally cleared up the name thing, and just to clarify, generally she is laughing at me.  She also doesn’t forget anything and reminds me of my past Spanish blunders everytime we talk.  They get funnier everytime because she just keeps cracking up out them. 

For instance, one time I told her I was going to move to Honduras using the verb mover.  Apparently you don’t use that for people, who knew?  Clearly not me.  So she laughed lots, corrected me, and now everytime she sees me she says… you’re going to move (mover) to Honduras right?  And then laughs some more.

Yesterday I went to visit Ide and found out through conversation that she is from Peru.  Cool.  Here is the rest of the conversation as I heard it…
Me: I really love Peruvian food and I hadn’t had it until I came to Costa Rica
Ide: What do you like?
Me: I don’t remember the name, but I ate at the restaurant Macho Pichu
Ide: That restaurant is not Peruvian, its Chinese
Me: ¿Qué?
Ide: It used to be Peruvian, now its Chinese
Me: When?  This week?  Because I just ate there and I know it was not Chinese food.
Ide: hahahahahahahaha…

Turns out the OWNER used to be Peruvian and now is Chinese, so the food isn’t as good.  Seems I missed a crucial word.  Sometimes you just have to laugh. :)

Spanish, Spanish, Spanish

Tonight my brain is on overload!  Abby and Melissa introduced me tonight to some of their Tico friends.  We ended up joining them for a Bible study in San Pedro with university students.  We met a bunch of people and spoke a bunch of Spanish.  Thank goodness for Melissa who can help me translate when I get in a pinch.  But the girl who led the study spoke slowly for us and I actually understood most of it.  They were all SO patient and so kind to have us there.  I was just really blessed by how welcoming they were to have new people in their group.  And we were not the only new ones.  I got the impression they have new people every week.  And they really went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.  I would love to go back and to just hang out with them at other times, I think it will happen!

Then I got home and talked with the neighbor about her itouch and other technology… lots of words I do not know in Spanish.  But I was excited that I could actually participate in conversation without having to have them repeat every word.

So, two things tonight.  1. I’m learning, hooray! 2.My brain hurts :)

Ministry

This morning the Lord woke me up early before my alarm clock and thoughts and prayers of ministry were filling me head.  I really enjoy these mornings of getting to just be and process with the Lord before ever getting out of bed.  This morning I was praying about ministry… here in Costa Rica and soon in Honduras. 

Ministry doesn’t scare me necessarily, but it is overwhelming, especially thinking towards Honduras.  There are so many things to be done, so many options that I have to choose from for where to get involved.  So many people who I want to tell about the Lord… where do I start?  Where do I feel gifted and called?

I was praying for a church plant at home as they launch their church this weekend and realizing the Lord has really grown my love for church planting as well.  I’m excited to get to be a part of something like that.  But it has to start with the Lord changing hearts and lives one person at a time.

So I read Isaiah 43:12 which says “You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, that I am God”.  The word witness stuck out to me today for what it means.  I have witnessed the goodness of God, His grace, His mercy, His power.  I have witnessed that He is God.  And that’s ministry… to tell people what I have witnessed of the Lord and to point back to who He is.  Today I am encouraged by that and praying for opportunities to do it.