Llueve todo los dias en Costa Rica

My title loosely translates to , "Rain every day in Costa Rica". I am finding out the more I learn about Spanish the harder it is to translate. I definitely have a new found respect for translaters. Not everything translates word for word.

Yesterday, I got the chance to introduce to mi meastra, my teacher, the idea of a bad hair day. She had a lot of fun with that one. Here if we were to say someone is having a bad hair day or if someone looks really tired, we would say añejo or añeja depending on if you are talking about a boy or girl. The "j" in Spanish comes out as an "h" sound when you say the word. Grammar class is alot of fun, our teacher is great.

Today, has been a good day. I broke down in class yesterday and started crying but I think that is just what I needed to move forward. I just needed a moment to cry. I have learned that I need to be more proactive about speaking even though 90% of what comes out of my mouth might be wrong.  Ticos are not shy about correcting you so that is a good thing.

As I said earlier it rains every day right now it has been raining for about 3 hours. The rainy season has definitely started. I don't mind the rain though except for when I am tired because it puts me to sleep when I am trying my hardest to stay awake. Not even my strong cup of coffee is enough to keep me awake anymore. Learning a new language can really make you tired because your brain is working over time. I have to think not just about the words I am try saying but also if I conjugating them right, pronouncing them right, and forming my mouth right. There is alot that goes into trying to form one word and that is not even trying to form a whole a sentence, which is what I am learning how to do now. Each day though it gets a little easier. As mamí says, "little by little".

Within the next two weeks, I will start having a tutor that will help me practice my Spanish. I am looking forward to that. Also, I am looking forward to chapel tomorrow where we, as a student body, get to take communion together. I really love going to chapel.

Well, I should get back to doing my homework. Buenos Noches.

Rainy with a chance of more rain

For the past couple of days the weather here has been rainy. You can walk out your door in the morning with the sunshining and by 2pm have a full out thunderstorm. The weather constantly changes from hour to hour. That is why it is always better to be prepared and take your umbrella with you. Papí won't let me leave the house with out it.

Today, at school I got to learn some new words. Right now, I am learning the names of the objects in the livingroom along with some other nouns. In grammar class, I had a quiz over regular and irregular verbs. I am sure I did well on the quiz but I really need to study hard for the test.

Student Council, a.k.a. STUCO, has been going well. I am not sure if I said this already but I am now also the cashier for the group. We had a game night last Friday which was alot of fun. We played Phase 10 and Cranium.

Also, every week at school we have chapel two days a week. In this way, ILE kind of reminds of LCU. On Tuesdays, we sing worhsip songs then listen to a sermon given by one of the students. On Thursdays, we sing worship songs then listen to a testimony from one of the students. Thursdays are usually my favorite day for chapel. However, this week they are switching it up by dedicating all of Tuesday's chapel to singing worship songs and then on Thursday we will all share in communion together. I am really looking forward to chapel this week.

Tomorrow, is also my workout day so I get to go to Zumba class for an hour and play volleyball for two hours. Both of which are alot of fun. I have really been loving Zumba. I just love to dance even though I am not very good, but I like to learn and improve from watching others.

Last week, as some of you probably know was a hard week emotionally for me but it is getting better as time goes on. God is really opening my eyes and teaching me some new lessons, and even some old ones that I just need to put into practice. Even though it has only been a month I have already been learning and growing alot. I can't imagine what God is going to do with seven more months, but I am excited to find out.

Sunday

With each sunrise I praise your name
At the end of each day I give you thanks
Each day I strive to bring you glory

May my life be pleasing to you
And when I work may it be for you
When I speak may they hear you

Have not my will be done but yours and yours alone, amen.

My Day in a Nutshell

1. Slept in til 7:30am.
2. At 9:00 went to the Feria, an open fresh market, which is super cheap and all the fruits and vegetables are delicious. My new favorite place in San Jose.
3. At 10:15am I met my friend, Sarah, and we went downtown town to the artisan market, shopped and ate ice cream.
4. At 1:00pm I ate lunch at home and then left to go to Valle del Sol to work with the kids.
5. At Valle del Sol we played games, sang songs, and taught a lesson. The kids also got their photos back and decorated a picture frame. The kids loved it! I also was able to lead prayer in English with the kids and help in the classroom. Steve would like me to work more with the younger kids and really help lead the classroom in the future. The kids are so much fun and they really love coming back every week. I look forward to seeing them every week.
6. Once I got back home at 5:00 I ate dinner and then studied my verbs for while before watching a movie with Kelly.

Even though my day started out not being very good, once I got out of bed it got better. All in all today was a great day.

Some more thoughts...

"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling" Exodus 15:11-13.

God is awesome, holy, majestic, mighty, and strong. His love is unfailing. He is our redeemer and our guide. He always has our best interest at heart and He will never leave you. He is always present, you just have to acknowledge Him and allow Him to work in you and through you. This may be hard because we are not always sure what He is doing but we have to trust in Him.

For those of us who have ever been betrayed or have felt unloved or unworthy know that this is a hard thing to do. But our Heavenly Father can not be compared to any human being, because He is perfect. He is always faithful and He is always loving. Nothing you can do will ever turn away His love. He longs to be with you, you just have to accept His love, and be honest with Him about your failures and sin. Ask for forgiveness with an open heart and He will forgive. Our God is the best god there is, and the only true God.

"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?"

Today was not my favorite...

Today was not a good day for me but here is what God was telling me and teaching me. Today after I got back from a time of solitude I started reading about Moses again.

I think it is so awesome that God says in Exodus 13:17, "If they face war, the might change their minds and return to Egypt". God knows the heart of His children. He knew what the Israelites could and could not handle. The same is true with us He knows what we can and cannot handle. Remember when He said, " I will not give you anything beyond what you can bear".

On their way to cross the sea in Exodus 13 and 14, the Israelites still thought they were going to die. They complained to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us out here to die in the desert?". The Israelites could still not see that God was in control so they complained. We are good at that aren't we, complaining? When we can't see what is coming next and are faced with hardships what is our first response? It is to complain. Why God have you allowed this? Where are you God? We can lose sight that God is directing our path.

The goal is to not forget who is in control. He is the one who was, and is and is to come. He directs our paths and leads us on solid groud. Just like when He dried up the sea to lead the Israelites to safety. God is always reaching out to us, we just need to trust in Him and be still. "The Lord will fight for you; you just need to be still" Exodus 14:14. God also says in scripture, "Be still and know that I am Lord". "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11.

Why am I studying at ILE?

I had to answer this question today for an assignment and here is what I wrote. Also, in case you don't know ILE stands for Instituto de Lengua Español. 

I am studying at ILE because I have a desire to learn Spanish. In the future, I hope to work with Hispanic children in ministry. Learning Spanish is key in my future ministry work.

I came to ILE because of a mission trip that I went on in Spain. In Spain, I met some former ILE students, who had only great things to say about the school. Then after I returned from Spain, I met some more former students, who strongly encouraged me to come to ILE.

It is a blessing and an honor to be studying at ILE. God has opened the way for me to study here and I am very grateful to be here.