I miss everyone very much and have been beyond blessed to continually receive packages, letters, emails and etc! It never ceases to humble and amaze me. I grew up reading about and studying the life of missionaries and missions. I have it so easy in comparison. What trials I face are nothing and especially compared to the heartbreaking things I encounter on a daily basis.
I will do my best to describe all that I have been up to as many have been asking me on here..."What are you doing?" "How can I pray" Do you like it there?" and so on! Please keep in mind I am not taking great care in my grammar as I type this today!
I live in San Jose, as I have mentioned before and I am convinced it IS the city that never sleeps. The sun rises here usually between 5:30am-6:00 am and sets around 6pm. It took awhile to adjust to that and so sometimes at 8:30pm I would feel as if it was time to go to bed! I live in a five bedroom apartment that occasionally hosts teams from the States. However, most of the time I have the apartment to myself. The weather is overcast with occasional sunshine and we are in the rainy season right now. Even in the rainy season it is still so nice and warm. Today I sat in the court yard of the National Museum and read, it was sunny and hot the whole time!
I am learning the city and culture more and more. I have something in common with a majority of people living here that I never would have thought, they are foreigners too! If you come to Costa Rica you will encounter much of Central and South America too. I have learned customs and dishes from so many countries. God knows how much I love to travel and learn of other nations. He certainly placed me in a spot where I could live in one country and yet touch so many.
I have an amazing host family who are missionaries to Costa Rica from Guatemala. The Garcias; Manuel, Claudia, Michelle, Paul and Jonny have taken me in and made me apart of their family. They have been my Spanish teachers and the biggest blessing. I usually spend several days in a row at there house and love every moment. I think my favorite times with them are when we are sitting around the table laughing and joking! They eat every meal at the table together as a family. Claudia is an amazing cook and has taught me a lot.
We travel several times a week to a city called Cartago. For me the trip is only 30mintues but for them an hour. There in Cartago we started a program teaching Jesus, English and for the older women and mothers; how to read and write. We rent space in a church building, which has personality and will need some fixing up! However, I love the challenge. The church is not far from the Project area and the children are able and willing to walk to us there. Having this location so close allows us to have even more children the we have had preciously.
Right now, I teach English to multiple ages of children which is very challenging and entertaining. The kids have all learned my name quickly and I am hooked! I love it here. There are times I get discouraged or lonely or tired and even sometimes overwhelmed. I know that is part of it, but I am blessed that those feelings never last long. God takes such sweet care of me and I am closer to Him than I have ever been.
I am being stretched in many ways and always mainly in my weaknesses. God uses circumstances to remind me that I am not capable of things but in Him I become capable. He uses the foolish things to shame the wise and I learn that firsthand in my own life. I was walking back from a coffee shop I found and have fallen in love with and the thought came to me that God did not call me here because I am qualified.....i.e...... being fluent in Spanish, having a good sense of direction or knowing how to do exactly what I am doing at all times. No that would have made too much sense to us the common man! God doesn't makes sense though according to my thoughts, He does all things well according to His thoughts and ways. He chose me. It is not about what I can and can't do, it is about what He can do when one prays, "Here I am Lord, send me!"
That is the only qualification He was looking for from me.
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