Prayer Request

I am writing from the International Airport in San Jose, because I am having to travel back home to the states. My Grandpa passed away Friday night and I going home to be with my family during this time and have the incredible honor of preaching his funeral. I would ask for your prayer for my safety as I travel to the states and then back to Costa Rica at the end of the week. Also, please pray that the gospel of Christ will be heard by those who need and that the relationship my grandpa had with Jesus Christ would serve as a catalyst for those who do not know Him as he did. The viewing is on Tuesday and the Funeral Service is Wednesday morning. Thank you for all your prayers. 

This week's Spanish Lesson

Each Friday I will post a little spanish lesson of words or phrases that I have found necessary or interesting. First, is the word Tico. Tico is the word for a native of Costa Rican. You would not call someone a Costa Rican, but a Tico (for men) and Tica (for women). I am told that this comes from the early days of coffee plantations, but I am not sure the exact syntax of the word. However, when referring to someone here, they are a Tico. Second, is a phrase that I have found myself saying over and over and OVER. ¿Cómo se dice...en Español? It is "How do you say...in spanish?" One who is learning the language this is your greatest tool in acquiring a vocabulary of words. My wonderful Tico family are so patient in explaining and pronouncing words over and over to me until I am able to say it back really well. For them Iam so thankful, they are my best teachers, I pray that one day soon my spanish will be good enough to repay them with the kindness of Christ in words. Until then, I will stumble through saying ¿Cómo se dice...en Español? making it through with the help of wonderful Ticos. 

Where The Streets Have No Name

One thing I have learned and am adapting to is that there are no names for the streets here. To find your way around you use landmarks and descriptions of what the street is like. The part of San Jose that I am living in, San Francisco de dos Rios, has two main roads. A North/South Road and a East/West Road, they are called the Major Roads. The house where I live, as you can see in the picture, is right off of the East/West major road. It is absolutely beautiful every direction you look, you can see from the photo of the road in front of my house heading south, that mountains surround the city. I embarked on a walk today, to familiarize my self with the major roads, my walk to school and the parks. While out I made my first purchase with Colones, Costa Rican currency, an umbrella because it rains a lot here and a sprite, I was thirsty. God has placed such a peace in my heart that this is where I need to be. Already I can see Him using me in peoples lives, you know its all God when you can't even speak the Language. 

I Have Arrived in Costa Rica!!!!

Just wanted to send a quick update that I have arrived safely with all my things to San Jose, Costa Rica. I keep pinching myself only to realize its all real. The couple I am living with are very nice and have already helped me with a lot of spanish. Well I am now off to go to church for the first time here, thanks for all your prayers.

Packing

Just finished packing and I leave in just a few hours. I never unpacked from Florida, so I have been living out of a suitcase for two weeks. When it came time to pack, things exploded!! However,  it all came together. All weighting in under 50 lbs. a bag.  My bus leaves for Chicago at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and I arrive there at 5:15 p.m. Central. Then I go to O'Hare at 12:00 am for my 3:15 am flight to Guatemala City, Guatemala. Arriving there at 6:30 am I have a 2 hour lay over until my flight to San Jose, Costa Rica where I arrive at 9:35 am Central/no Daylight savings. It will be a long two days of traveling, but its worth it all for Him. Excited to share more with you along the way. Hope you have a great weekend and Lord's Day. 

A Full Summer

I just finished 2 and a half months of ministry in SW Florida at Corral Ridge Baptist Church.  It was an amazing opportunity to step aside from school an dive deep into ministry for a short time. It was at the same church that I fulfilled my internship for Moody and was mentored by Pastor Barry Crohn. The internship experience was remarkable and when face with what to do with the time before leaving for Costa Rica the Holy Spirit pressed on my heart to pray about Corral Ridge. To make a long story short it was from there that it all worked out for me to go to Cape Coral, FL and help out in the church. The time was full with teaching and preaching opportunities in all areas of the Church. I began the summer with helping the missions team prepare for their trip to Nicaragua. God used experience from previous missions trips and my time as a camp counselor to help in training the team for their trip. While they were gone I held down the camp and preached from Exodus. Then two exciting studies exuded from then on. First, was an exciting study of Lamentations on Wednesday nights for the Adults and the Second was a church wide study of Galatians on Sundays. The Galatians study was invigorating!! Pastor and I team preached on Sunday morning and evening, then combined with the sunday school classes the entire book was covered verse by verse. This study took 6 weeks as the whole church divide head first into Galatians. Needless to say, all who were involved learned and grew so much. Corral Ridge went above and beyond to include me into their family and shower me with love. Overall, this was a great experience of ministry, friends and growing in the LORD.