A Brief Update

Lots of wonderful things have happened since December. I've moved into an apartment, started a new job working part-time a Chick-fil-a, taken a class and have passed a big exam!  To say the least I'm very thankful for all of God's help during this past month and a half.

Many of you may know but I am excited to announce that I plan on returning to Costa Rica to serve as a long term missionary with ABWE. The next step is to attuned training in March. At the moment my plan is to continue to work part-time and begin Partnership Ministry Development.

I am excited for this next season of life and to see how the Lord provides in helping me to return to Costa Rica. I would love to meet with you, hear about your heart for ministry and to share mine.

A nice warm Christmas

Liz, my precious roommate

Celebrating my birthday this month too :)

Praises:
Made it through a crazy month
New apartment
New job
New partners

Prayer:
More partners
Diligence in what the Lord has asked me to do
Focus

Home Sweet Home

It's hard to believe I have been home for just over a week and a half. I have had time to rest and recover from all the wonderful adventures, now it's time to jump into our busy holiday season. For that reason I will keep this post short.

My heart is overwhelmed with thankfulness to everyone who has participated with me in this journey. Whether you have prayed, given financially or read the blog. Thank you. I hope we can meet soon and catch up soon.

It has been a joy to see so many beautiful faces!

The airport greeting committee

 And a heartbreak to leave so many behind.

Praises:
Made it home safely
Seeing friends and family
Christmas is almost here!!! 🎄

Prayer:
Guidance and clarity

1 Week!

Seven more days until I fly home, this is bitter sweet. It's hard to believe three months have flown by so quickly.  I have been and am trying to pack as much as I can in these last few days.

We went to the beach on our off day.

Monkeys tried to take our lunch. Little stinkers came in a packs!

Oh you know just totally normal, eating candy canes in November on our way to the beach, where it was 80 degrees.

My sweet friend and I spent a lovely morning walking around San Fransisco.

Starting tomorrow, I'll have a very full last week with teaching Bible Study, getting last minute gifts, Thanksgiving and saying goodbyes.

Praises:
Productive last few weeks - completed memorizing Proverbs 31 with our small group, finished reading an assigned book, etc.
Being brave - I now enjoy walking to local stores, rather than dreading it.
Spanish - I went to a bread store and bought bread without any problem.

Prayer:
Transitioning back to the States - this are always really hard for me.
Flights - I fly back on one of the busiest days of the year, yikes! Please pray that I make my layover on time.
Teaching on Tuesday - I'll wrap up our study on Ruth this Tuesday in our small group.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!

ESL & Friendships

On Saturday we went back to Frailes for our last ESL class. Things have gone really well; we had a good number of people attend and express intrest in learning. These few classes were simply a test run, the plan is to continue with regular classes in January. I'm thankful to have been a part and look forward to how the Lord uses this in the future.

Playing Tic Tac Toe and practicing pronunciation

Playing the Name Game

Caleb and Jociel 

Jon teaching the Bible lesson

On Thursday I had a wonderful time with my sister in Christ, Brittany, and on Friday I spent the evening with another sister, Kimia. Both of these women have been such a blessing. They encourage me to be more like Christ and to stand boldly in the face of adversity. 

Brittany and I at the mall

Dinner with Kimia, Chicken and vegetables

Praises:

Friendships

A good response to ESL

A productive week

Went to a local restaurant by myself and tried to order a coffee but left with two milkshakes. Haha. The praise is that I went by myself and tried to speak Spanish (& ended up with 2 milkshakes) :-)

Prayer:

Sleep

Preparation for heading home

Where to invest my time for the short amount I have left

4 More Weeks

My new friend Kimia, she is a student at the language school

Before I know it, this last month will fly by and I'll be on my way home. I am happy to see family and friends and to return to the comforts of home. Yet I wish for more time in Costa Rica to learn and rise to the challenges of living in another culture. I feel like I have finally gotten into a routine, am making friends, and slowly figuring out how life works here.

I am filled with mixed emotions and am not quite sure what to do with all of them. The time I have left is short and I want to make the most of it. Yet, I also need to prepare for the return home and for the steps that follow, whatever those may be.

Thank you for praying for the ESL ministry this past Saturday, it went really well! We are working with both children and their parents. Everyone splits into three groups, young children, older children and parents. On Saturday, our goal was to figure out what level everyone was on, for the most part everyone but the older children are beginners. We will teach at least two more times before I leave; this coming Saturday being one of those.

Praises:
ESL went really well
I was able to speak in Spanish and understand my ESL group
Spent time with a new friend, Kima, she is such an encouragement

Prayer:
For me to use these last few weeks wisely
That the Lord will let me know of anything that I need to learn or know before leaving
ESL next Saturday

A Quick Review

A lovely husband and wife, Rich and Cherry Smith, came down for a survey trip to Costa Rica. They are looking to join our team and spent several days with us. Please pray for the Smiths as they look to God for guidance.

Jon and Joni started hosting a Spanish Bible study in their home on Monday nights. We are currently studying the different roles of men and women. Since the Bible study is entirely in Spanish this is excellent language practice for me.

Our last Krav Maga class

Fernando and I pretending to be the bad guys riding a moto.

Last week I started to study for an ESL (English as a Second Language) class I will teach out in the country. Pastor Edgardo would like to start ESL classes for children (and their parents) as a ministry outreach in his community. I'll teach on Saturday for about two hours; since it is a large amount of time I plan to play lots of games. This is an exciting opportunity!

We went to the beach last Monday; it was a beautiful day

In additional to ESL, I have been studying Ruth and 1 & 2 Peter for different Bible studies. In 1 & 2 Peter, Peter talks a lot about suffering, in 1 Peter 2:21 he says "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." Thus, as Christians we can expect suffering and count it an honor when we do. Then in Ruth, we learn that she left her father, mother and homeland to live with a people she did not know. Ruth left everything she knew following her mother-in-law to a culture where she would be among the poorest. During some of my loneliest and hardest moments, I find encouragement in Ruth's life and strength in the words of Apostle Peter. I am very thankful for all that God is teaching me.

We stopped at Rio Tarcoles, a bridge known for crocodiles. We saw about 20! It was scary and super cool!

Praises:

Studying Ruth, 1 & 2 Peter
The Spanish Bible study on Monday
ESL opportunity
Making new friends (on Saturday and Sunday I met two sweet young ladies around my age. Hopefully I'll be able to spend more time with them soon).

Prayer:
ESL - that I will be able to reach the children where they are while still being able to challenge them in English, that I will have enough material for two hours and that they will be receptive to hearing God's word
For grace to love and encourage others when things are hard
For me to love and grow in God's word

Mountains

Do you ever feel like you've reached the end of yourself? Like you have nothing left to give anyone or anything? Like the mountains in front of you are too big to face?

When our nightmares haunt us in the day and the mountains in front of us reach the sky, we are not alone. In fact, in our own strength we could never overcome those mountains or face our nightmares. John 15:4-5 reminds us that without remaining in the True Vine we can do nothing. Apart from Christ we are helpless. He is our strength, our source of power to face living the nightmares and climb the heights of mountains.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Christ tells us "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I don't know about you but it blows my mind how in our weaknesses His power is made perfect! Verses nine and ten go on to talk about boasting in weaknesses so that Christ power may rest on us. Not only boasting but delighting "in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

When I focus on Christ, remaining in the Vine, the nightmares do not seem so dark nor the mountains so tall. When we've reached the end of ourselves and have nothing left to give, let us remember Who is the source of our strength then give a little more and climb a little higher.

This week my Spanish teacher taught me about commands and the proper verbs and pronouns to use for them. As part of my homework she asked me to write a recipe; I wrote a recipe for making coffee. It may seem small but to me it felt like a huge accomplishment.

Praises:
Strength in Christ
All the rain
Spanish - I can see progression!
Bonding time with my small group

Prayer:
Energy to get things done
Sleep / rest - I have not been sleeping well
Continued guidance and direction
Time management