I want to thank you all so very much for all your continued prayers and encouragement while I am here in Costa Rica. It really means so much to me. I am so blessed to have the wonderful support and love of you all back home.
This past week here in Costa Rica was a good one. There were some challenges, but I'm learning how thankful I am even for the challenges in life because it causes me to depend more on Jesus.
I'm continuing to love our time with the children during the week. It is such a joy to spend time with them. I still would appreciate prayers that I would learn more Spanish, because I really wish that I could communicate with these children more. I'm so thankful though that I am able to still love them and have fun with them. On Thursday at Kid's Club I played soccer (they call it football here) with a couple of the boys, and I had so much fun with them!
There is one boy who comes to PFK, Gustavo, who has completely stolen my heart. I think he is 8 years old - he is so cute! He is such a troublemaker! It's almost as if he lives to antagonize the other children. This last week he went to use the utility sink outside, and I realized that there was a machete right next to him. I went and grabbed it and put it inside the office because Gustavo + machete = bad news. :) He is such a little rascal, but for some reason or another he always brightens my day and makes me so thankful to be here. Please be praying for him. Please pray that he would have an obedient heart and that he would know how much Jesus loves him.
Tuesday evening we had an earthquake here - I heard it was a 6.6 - it was freaky! Sydnie and I were doing dishes at the church when it happened. I actually heard the rumbling and thought it was just a big truck driving by or something. Then, all of a sudden, there was a lot of shaking and Tandrian said, "That's an earthquake!" The look on her face scared me, and I didn't know what to do. I went running outside, not knowing what the heck I'm even supposed to do or where I'm supposed to go during an earthquake. Thankfully it was very short lived. It is such a weird feeling to have the ground beneath you moving! It scares me, but I know that I will most likely experience more while I am here. I find myself thinking about earthquakes a lot during the day, and even at night, being super paranoid about one happening. When I was talking to Tandrian about earthquakes, I said something about me not minding earthquakes as long I knew the result of it beforehand. She reminded me that that wouldn't be living by faith, to which I replied "Sometimes I don't like faith." I was partly joking, but that is honestly how I feel at times. I know that isn't exactly the right attitude to have, but honestly sometimes faith is hard. I'm not talking just about in earthquakes, but even about in life in general. Sometimes it is really hard to trust Jesus in the midst of the trials and struggles of life, and sometimes I am just like the man who cried out to Jesus in Mark 9:24 - "I believe; help my unbelief!" I'm so thankful that Jesus is patient with me. Oh for grace to trust Him more!
On Wednesday Cory, Tandrian, Betty, Sydnie and I went to the beach really early to do devotions there. This will be something we do once a month. It was raining a lot, and so we ended up going into a restaurant and did devotions there. It was a really good time together... we read Psalm 145 and then each shared on a few verses.
On Wednesday Cory, Tandrian, Betty, Sydnie and I went to the beach really early to do devotions there. This will be something we do once a month. It was raining a lot, and so we ended up going into a restaurant and did devotions there. It was a really good time together... we read Psalm 145 and then each shared on a few verses.
Thursday morning Matt, Brooke, Ethan, Isabelle, and Audrey left to go back to the states. It was sad to see them leave, but I'm so thankful for the time we had with them here. Betty also left us on Thursday morning, and is now back in Montana for a bit before she goes back to Uganda. I'm learning more and more that life is full of goodbyes, especially when following Jesus. Goodbyes are hard, but there will one day be a day when all believers are together forever in Heaven and there will never again be anymore goodbyes. Also on Thursday morning I was able to talk to my Mom. I told her some of the struggles I have been having and she encouraged me. Later she texted me saying "Iron sharpens iron...say and do all things with love and a humble heart." I wrote this down and put it on our refrigerator door. I'm so thankful for her encouragement!
On Friday I once again did a lot of laundry. I had determined not to wash so many clothes at once, but much to my dismay, I found that almost all my clothes that I had washed the previous week smelled because they did not dry fast enough. Needless to say, I was very frustrated by this, but this is just one of the little challenges we face here. I'm looking forward to dry season because clothes will dry so much faster then. I know it will get incredibly hot, but I think I honestly would rather have heat over humidity. Cory, Tandrian, Sydnie, and I talked about possibly seeing if we can get a washing machine at a used appliance place. We could all chip in for it and hook it up on our porch. It would save much time, and also would wring out our clothes really well, which would help speed up the drying process. We will see though, on whether or not we will be able to find a cheap and reliable one.
On Friday I once again did a lot of laundry. I had determined not to wash so many clothes at once, but much to my dismay, I found that almost all my clothes that I had washed the previous week smelled because they did not dry fast enough. Needless to say, I was very frustrated by this, but this is just one of the little challenges we face here. I'm looking forward to dry season because clothes will dry so much faster then. I know it will get incredibly hot, but I think I honestly would rather have heat over humidity. Cory, Tandrian, Sydnie, and I talked about possibly seeing if we can get a washing machine at a used appliance place. We could all chip in for it and hook it up on our porch. It would save much time, and also would wring out our clothes really well, which would help speed up the drying process. We will see though, on whether or not we will be able to find a cheap and reliable one.
This week I've been struggling with feeling as though I can't really do anything besides cleaning. During our time at the church, Sydnie and Tandrian will practice singing and playing guitar, or sometimes translate sponsors' letters to the children, but since I'm not gifted musically and can't speak Spanish, I just clean and organize at the church. I know that that is serving the Lord as well, but sometimes it is hard and I struggle feeling as though I'm not really gifted. I talked to my Mom about this and she encouraged me that maybe I should start taking part in worship practice because even though I don't feel that that is my gift, it would help me learn songs in Spanish. Pastor Phil also said that he would like me to type up new music sheets on Thursday evenings during worship practice, and so it will be good to serve in that area as well. Don't get me wrong, I love cleaning, but sometimes I feel like that's all I'm capable of doing which discourages me, but I know that this is just a lie from the enemy. Jesus created me how I am and I can live knowing that He created me just as I am to be used for His glory.
I would also appreciate your prayers as I have been struggling lately feeling that my time in the Word is dry and I really want to feel the presence of the Lord in my life. I know that I need to keep seeking His face regardless of how I feel, and that I need to still trust in His promises even when it's hard.
I would also appreciate your prayers as I have been struggling lately feeling that my time in the Word is dry and I really want to feel the presence of the Lord in my life. I know that I need to keep seeking His face regardless of how I feel, and that I need to still trust in His promises even when it's hard.
This past week has been a crazy one for my family back at home. Please be praying for them. A week ago this last Friday my Grandpa was hospitalized because he had a really bad lung infection. I think it was Thursday that he was able to come home, and is getting better, praise the Lord. I was able to talk to my parents yesterday (I can call them for free using an app on my phone) and found out that my Mom went to the hospital on Friday. She kept fainting, and my Dad said she was unresponsive and he called an ambulance. They think she was just really dehydrated since once they started giving her fluids she started getting better. Dehydration and stress probably made her sick - because like I said my Grandpa was in the hospital and so that had added a lot of stress to her. Please be praying for complete healing for my Mom as well as for my Grandpa.
Thank you all again so much for all your prayers and encouragement. I love you all and you are all such a blessing to me.
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