Week One

Needless to say I love this place.  I can't give a good explanation as to why, but it's crazy to think that when I arrive in this country, or get close to Uvita I suddenly feel like I'm coming home.  It's the same feeling I get when I reach exit 154 at home.  But here's the low down for the week. 

Internet Cafe is up and running.  It's a really cool place for the kids and members of the community to come get on the internet, play xbox, and now we are watching nonstop soccer.  God is really using the common place int he Balina community to reach people.  Just so you know, I can really see myself living above this cafe one day!! I have some many God sent ideas, but honestly I don't want to embark on this adventure on my own.  I want to share it with someone which is crazy for me.  You all know I am a very independent, fly by my seat kind of person, but for some reason I feel as though I want someone to share my living above the cafe life.  If you know what I mean?

The mountain is the mountain.  God's special place.  It is holy ground and all who come leave stronger, more powerful, and deeper in love with Christ.  I have had the pleasure to watch the Lord work in my friend Erin's life and see the revelation of the simplicity of Christ's love for us.  I have also enjoyed spending my day's in the kitchen with two other wonderful women cooking, cleaning, and providing the needs for all on the mountain. 

The bugs are still here.  How could they not?  I believe the fact that here there is no use of pesticides and most all stuff grown is grown without chemicals, the bugs stick around.  Which is good.  Don't you ever wonder where all the bugs are in the states?  I think we've killed them.  Which means we need more chemicals for pollination, and I don believe all these chemicals are contributing to the massive amount of cancer we face in the states.

I've rejoined some of my old friends while I've been here.  Fannie, Diego, and Emily (my Costa Family) all live and work on the mountain.  As well, as the Fullers, and other people who have passed by in the summers past.  The same girl that works at Don Israel (the supermarket) still works at that supermarket and Diego's Dad is still the only person I know that is 70 years old and still works like a 20 year old man!  But this summer has been different.  I have met some new people.  For example... Esteven.  Not Steven.. but Esteven.  He is Diego's nephew who helps at the cafe.  He is great.  He is so nice and he loves learning English! 
Another new person is the Cafe' Intern J. Wax.  He is a Louisiana boy.  I have never met anyone in my life who I have so much in common with.  He boy is a teacher, coach, raised on a farm, and knows the same country songs.  We get along really good!  I told him it's nice to have someone down here that sounds like me (tribute to Jay Key.. all you NWMS folks).  We have had such a similar background and upraising that it is crazy!!  I think you will here more about him in the future!... maybe.

If I haven't said it before I'll say it now.  Every summer in Costa is a different experience.  Every summer in Costa God reveals new exciting things about me, about his love, and about the next part of the road he has for me.  It's fun.  It's exciting, and I can't wait to share with you the adventure he is going to unfold. 

Oh.. Pics to come soon... it's hard to upload here!

In Costa

I made it!.. again.  I really do love this place, the people, the climate.  I love it all.  It is going to be a good summer once we start cranking.  There is currently no electricity on the mountain because the generator isn't working correctly.. but that will be fixed soon.  I have already met many new people but have also connected with a lot of familiar faces.

We are about to get full swing into the teams coming up on the mountain which is exciting yet at the same time a little stressful.  Making sure we have enough food for the people and not blow up the mountain with all the propane appliances!

I will say it has been the biggest blessing to watch God move in Erin in the small amount of time I have been here.  She has been stretched and stretched outside of her comfort zone and I am so proud of her!  We have a full summer ahead so be ready for more posts in the future.

As for now... We met with Sarah and got the low down for the summer planning.  We also got the jist of all our duties.  It is going to be fun. It's going to be hard.  It's going to be AMAZING.  I think this summer is going to fly by and all be writing my final post of where has it gone!

Here we Go!

It starts.  Away in the jungle again for 7 weeks.  I feel different this time around. For a gut reason I believe this will be my last summer in Costa.  Me Encanto Costa Rica but this year is different.   The mission is different. We will be hosting teams of missionaries.  It is going to be work but fun.  All the new people.  All the new lives changed.  All the new testimonies that will arise from the time spent on the mountain! The vision over the mountain was stick figures arriving and stronger figures leaving.  Which is amazing to watch.  Not only personally but in the lives of all who experience the presence of God on this holy ground!  So folks, please pray for safety, good health, and openness to the revelation of plans the Lord has while I am there and when I leave!  So.. here we go!

Just SMILE!

I think we all need a day to be silly and well... not care if we pick our nose!

teaching extras

Being a teacher is more than just knowing the information to teach kids; it also includes seeing the potential and empowering each kid.  And it's crazy, but this intense training kind of flows over in other areas of my life.  I meet new people, get to know them and see the potential they could have to change their world if they just let it happen.  Or I believe in someones ability to do something when they don't believe in themselves.  For example in a student I can pick out the leaders, the athletes, the ones that will eventually get into trouble, or the ones that are just trying to survive the home they are in.  With people I see folks that have been battered, feel stuck, or just wasting their life on things that won't matter in the long run.
So maybe this teacher instinct/training isn't a learned thing but a gift from God.  He has gifted me with the ability to see the good in people, pray for them, and use me to in someway to influence them (for the good :p).  I have met a lot of interesting people in the past few months and I feel God has placed each of them in my life for this reason.  I can't change people.  I can't fix people.  I can't even make them listen to how great I think they are but wasting their time on things of no value.  But I can PRAY.  And prayer is what changes people.  God changes people so I ask you to pray for me so I know how to pray for others!

year end ties

So the end of the school year is near.  3.5 days to be exact.  Unreal how quickly the time goes looking back but never noticed while living through it!  So as this season comes to an end a new season begins again.  It almost feels as though I should set some kind of new year resolution but I don't really know what that would be.  But my prayer is for complete guidance in all I do.  I know I mess up.  I know I'm not perfect but the power I have in prayer is unstoppable.  Big decisions are on the horizon and I ask you help me pray for guidance and strength to carry out God's will in them all!  Sometimes my flesh gets in the way of what I know God is asking me to do.  But my spirit is strong in the Lord!