Homework, Homework...

School has been going great. I am really learning alot and taking in alot information. Usually, after school I eat lunch and then go take a nap because my mind and body are tired. I still am having trouble sleeping at night but I am learning little things that help me sleep better. For example, having my iPod playing mellow music and having a light on. I am trying to learn to sleep without the light but it is taking some getting use to. At home there is a street light that comes in through my window so I am use to having some light when I go to bed.

Then after my nap I study for a while and then at night I study some more. Right now, I am trying to conjugate and memorize over 80 verbs both regular and irregular for a test on Friday. I only have about 20 more verbs to go and then I will ready. Conjugating is not that bad but remembering which verbs are regular and irregular is tough. Although, I really enjoy my classes and studying because I am excited about learning Spanish and being able to communicate and minister to people.

The ministry I help with had a meeting the other day in Spanish, which was good practice because I had to try to pick up on the words that I know. We talked about changing the structure of the ministry and getting people more involved in the ministry so as time goes on I will be taking on some more responsibilities. Which I am excited about. I know I can't communicate that well right now but I can help and communicate a little bit. Like last week, I didn't need words to see that a young boy was being shy and having trouble coloring so I sat besides him and picked out colors for him and I to use together. Knowing my colors and "may I use the bathroom" really helped. He stayed by my side the rest of the day. Crying is also universal among children just sitting by a child and putting your arm around them when he or she is crying can help them calm down. Then before you know it you have a bunch of little friends. There is middle school boy named Brandon and he is so funny. I see alot of leadership potential in that kid. He is so helpful and kind to the younger kids. He is really a good kid.

Yesterday, I went and played volleyball with some students from the school and I am starting to make some new friends. I having been trying to get involved in activities at school (such as being the first trimester representative, the cashier for student council, playing volleyball, and taking a zumba workout class) so that I can get to know new people and the "older" students. It is easy to get into the habit of talking to only the people in your class but there are so many interesting people here that are going out into the world to serve so I am trying to get to know as many of them as I can. I also I know I can learn alot from them too.

I am loving my time here and I am trying to make the most of every opportunity.

Let's take a Walk

 This is my house...you are going to to walk with me to school today.

 This is the street I live on. It is a good neighborhood.

 Once we get to the end of street we turn left and this is the road we walk on for about 1 minute.

Then we turn left and we walk for quite a while down this hilly road. At the bottom of this road there is usually a guard who helps protect the neighborhood.

This is parque el cope where many of the students study and bring their kids. It is one of nicer parks in the area. We cross through the basketball court on my way to school.

Once we cross a busy intersection we arrive at the bottom gate and follow the rest of the gringos into school.

Once we enter through the gate we have to walk through Sojourn Academy, which is the school for the missionary and teacher's kids. This walkway is covered because of the rain and on the left you can see the gym, where I play volleyball on Tuesday nights with other students.

This is one hallway of classrooms, which is really a small building of classrooms. If you cross the covered walkway you would find a similar building with classrooms and an office.

Well this is my first class of the day, Phonetics. This is my teacher Gabriela, she is fabulous. I really enjoy this class. We alternate every day who gets to sit in the hot seat, which is the desk directly in front of her desk.

Well thank you for walking with me to school today. Adios.

Lending a Hand in Valle del Sol

This past Saturday will be hard for me to put into words but just hang with me as I try. I have a love for children and God's people that is deep in my heart. This is why it is so hard for me to describe my feelings and thoughts from this past Saturday.

Well, let me start by telling you where I went. On Tuesday, Steve a organizer and director of various ministries came and spoke at chapel about different ministries that needed volunteers. One of the ministries really touched my heart. He talked about having an opportunity to work with kids from a poor area in San Jose. Then he described the children and they really touched my heart because they reminded me of my Junior Quest kids. I immediately signed up that day to help and on Saturday I was working with the kids, but the Lord touched my heart in ways I didn't plan.

I have seen poverty before but I am not sure why I didn't expect it to affect me so much again. Seeing pain and suffering is never easy and my heart immediately broke for those who are suffering in Valle del Sol. When we first pulled up I expected the area to be rough from the things people had warned me about but I didn't expect everything to be so evident. 

The houses in the area are not like where I live. The houses there where made with whatever they could find some scrap wood for siding and a few pieces of tin for a roof. Waste flowed down the sides of the road and if you looked inside one of the one room houses you could find as many as 10 people living inside.

I walked around with Horacion's wife going door to door inviting the children to come to the church, which is also one room about the size of an average American living room with a small patio attached. Behind the patio there is a small patch of land but it is covered in garbage and animal waste.

But beyond all of those things what I saw was hurting people. I saw families who immigrated from other countries and who have nothing. I saw mothers and fathers struggling to provide for their children. I saw children longing to play and have fun. I saw God in those little faces as they sang worship songs and listened to their Bible lessons. They were longing for something more. They are longing for love, a love that I know can only come from our Heavenly Father.

We had so much fun playing games and coloring. The ministry doesn't have much maybe a few books, some candy, a cd player, a worship cd, some papers that the director wrote the lyrics on, and some chairs and a few benches. But the kids don't care they just want to learn and play. Here education is important so the children just soak up everything they are taught. That is why it is so important that they are taught the right things.

I was there for only one day but I fell in love. These kids are so precious and I just want to reach out to them with God's wisdom and guidance leading the way. The kids range from 2 to 13 and there are about 50 of them, but there are so many more in the community. There are so many families that want help and that are trying to better their lives the best way they know how.

I have seen some things there that I have never seen in my life up close and it scared me. It scared me not for my safety but for the safety of the children and their lives. I am just really struck with compassion and love for these children. There is a need there and I know God can use me in some way to help that is why I am planning on going back every Saturday. Today, the director/organizer asked me if I would get more involved by helping out with some more things and going to some meetings, and there is nothing else that I would love to do more. I can't wait for next Saturday to come.

This one goes out to my Mom...

I have alot to say but I am going to dedicate this post to the most amazing woman I know, my mom.

Mom,
I love you! I have so much to be thankful for in life but the one thing I am most thankful for is for having you as my mother. Whether I am up or I am down you always have the right words to say. Although, they may not always be the words I want to hear but that is why I love you.

You are always encouraging me to be the woman of God that you know I can be. Thank you for quoting scripture to me and for singing to me when I needed it most. Thank you so much for teaching me to serve others. You are one of my greatest examples of a servant's heart. You always give your all to those in need. Some of the memories that I treasure most are staying up all night with you. Whether we were mailing letters, taking food to a shelter, delivering food to families in need, grocery shopping, or just talking til late in the night. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

You are my best friend. You know me better than anyone and your love for me is evident. Thank you for dedicating your life to me. The Lord knows I would be lost without you. You have helped me so much over the years. Thank you! You are my number one supporter and encourager. You are also the best Key Club mom I know ;-) I love you!

Know that no matter where I am in life, whether I am near or far your words of wisdom are always with me. You are always in my heart. I love you so much! Happy Mother's Day!

Obedience

"I cannot claim to be living by faith unless I'm living in obedience." (Love has a price tag,  pg 55). This word obedience makes some people turn their heads because for some being obedient is not something they like to do. Some people say, "I just want live my life" or "I live by faith knowing that everything will work itself out".

Well, sorry to burst your bubble but not everything is going to work itself out. Your bills won't some day come alive and pay themselves. Your kids won't some day wake up and say, "I am going to listen to everything my parents say". Sorry that dream won't come true by itself.

If we claim to live by faith then we need to be living in obedience. This means you are going to have to make an effort. "Even the miracles Jesus performed were contingent on somebody's obedience, on somebody's doing some little thing such as filling up a water pots, stretching out a hand, giving up a lunch" (pg 55). You see we do need to make an effort and work, but the work we do needs to be transformed. We need to be obedient to God by putting our worldly desires behind us. We can't expect God to do everything for us.

The truth is He doesn't even need us, but He wants us because He loves us. Wasn't dying on the cross enough for us? God's grace is enough so lets live out our faith by being obedient.

I firmly believe that people turn away from God and the church, not only because of their sin, but because of our sin. Because many of us are still living in disobedience. We can't claim to be living by faith unless we are living in obedience to God.

New Student Fiesta!

Today we had a fiesta!
Here are some pictures of what we did...

To begin the fiesta we played a trivia game. Who knows Costa Rica's day of independence?

Then we were serenaded by our teachers. They were great!

We also had door prizes...my friend Sarah won one!

To surprise the students we had a piñata! Alli was the first one to try =D

Pam went up and gave it all she got. Although, the guy controlling the height of the piñata kept moving it.

Of course, it was the guys who broke it! In Costa Rica they fill the piñatas with candy and peanuts.

Then as Gabby said, "Fetch!" Candy and peanuts went everywhere! It was fun!

This my friend Sarah, another student at ILE, and me

  Now we are offially ready for the weekend!

Bring on the Rain...

The rainy season has begun! Today it has consistently rained on and off, but mostly on. I love ran even though the temperature has dropped. The rain echoes off the tin roofs and the sound is great. Imagine sitting in your car and hearing the rain hitting the roof that is almost exactly what it sounds like.

School has been going good. I have been studying alot today. I have alot of verbos to learn. I do at least 3 hours of homework a night because I really want to do well in my classes. It is such a blessing to be here and I feel so motivated to learn because of God, all of my supporters, and the children and families I hope to work with in the future. This Saturday I am going to begin working with a children's ministry that is very much like the one I worked with in college. I am so excited to begin working with children =D