Attack of La Cucaracha

A funny thing happened last night right as I was finishing some studying and getting ready for bed. My books and flashcards where on the end of my bed as I lay there going over verbs. In about 3 seconds this cockroach about 2 and half inches long runs down the wall, across the floor and jumps 2 feet up off the ground onto my bed in front of me in the middle of my flashcards. It completely startles me so I jump up and start throwing all my books at the cockroach until it dies, all the while yelling. Hearing this my Tico family runs in the room and starts talking really fast in spanish asking what happened, so understanding what they were asking I explaining the whole thing, but I was traumatized so it was really fast in english. A few seconds later I realized what I was doing and relayed the whole thing spanish, using some vocabulary I don't get to use that often. Through it all, I figured out that I have more spanish in me than I thought, at least when its scared out of me.

I took this picture this morning and no its no the sun reflecting off of the camera lens. This is an actual 360 degree rainbow around the sun. They happen all over the world, but are not that frequent. It happens when the sun reflects off of the ice molecules in the upper troposphere. Just thought it was cool looking.

"Poco a Poco"

Do you ever find yourself in the middle of some project, you turn to pick something up and then when its in your hand you think to yourself, "Now, what was I going to do with this?" You completely blank on what it was that you were doing. I think that is a universal event for anyone, regardless if its truly a senior moment or not. Today I received a jolt back to reality in regards to my current project. Over the past two weeks my mind has become more and more numb, probably because its trying to think and communicate in a language it doesn't know. However, I am here to be able to do just those things and this past week was very difficult. The basics are over and now we are diving deep into the stickiness of Spanish. Being taught spanish, in spanish, can be overwhelming at times and at moments you just shut down. That is what I did this week, I stopped attempting to learn the language for a few days and merely went through the motions. Then God sent an amazing message to remind me why I am studying spanish, a jolt back to reality you might say. I heard from someone I had a conversation with several years ago, in the midst of that conversation I was able to share the gospel. Today I found out that this person had received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior a few months ago. This news was amazing, exciting and put a smile on face from ear to ear. A sense of complete awe that God used a simple conversation as a part of a long series of events to bring someone to a saving knowledge of Himself, with no real action on my part. This was truly an act of God. The reason I am learning spanish is because I am from the 2nd largest spanish speaking country in the world and rather converting them to speak my language, I want to talk to them in the language God created them speaking and tell them about a relationship with Jesus Christ as their saviour. This jolt has encouraged me to not only step up my study of spanish, but more importantly it has opened my eyes to areas of growth in my own relationship with Jesus Christ. My spanish lesson for you this week is a phrase I here dozens of times every day, "Poco a Poco." "Little by little," that is how I am learning spanish, little by little. On the other hand, that is also exactly how God is working on me, "Poco a Poco." Thats how He works on all of us, Phillipians 1 tells us that He is still working on us everyday. Now to step from blogging to a bit of preaching, (sorry I can't help it) I must ask you to think about this for yourself. What's God using in your life to help you do His will more effectively and to grow you along the way? Mine is spanish classes in a foreign country, but it could be anything for anyone. Are you letting Him work? Are patient enough for Him to work in His timing, "Poco a Poco?" Thanks for reading what God has laid on my heart and I pray that this will be an encouragement to you.

~Eddie

This Weeks Spanish Lesson

I would like to teach you another phrase that is common and unique to Costa Rica. "Pura Vida," meaning Pure life, this phrase is used for greetings, explaining how you are doing and even farewells. There are many phrases or words, that are particular to specific countries. The same goes for english speaking countries with a plethora of differences between the US and Great Britain. Further showing how culture and language are inseparable. I have been spending time in thought and study of scripture over the topic of language study, and I look forward to writing to you on the subject soon. But in the mean time, when all is good and you are happy to be alive, its PURA VIDA in Costa Rica. So I pray that you have PURA VIDA. Thanks for reading and for all the prayers, God is most defiantly at work.

Pictures from the Day of Fun

A picture of me with my Costa Rica Jersey and then the facepaint the guy ran up and painted on my face. I will try to get more pictures up, but the blogspot server is giving me trouble.

Day of Fun

I arrived back to Costa Rica on Thursday night, with a hard day of catching up with classes on Friday. So on Saturday I decided to have a bit of fun. First, I joined about 30 of my fellow students and went downtown San Jose for taste of History, Crafts and Coffee!!! It was a great time to meet new people and makes some friends. I love to find out what ministries and countries people will be working with after language school. God is amazing in how He takes people of all ages and occupation to fulfill the most unique works for His kingdom. We were able to go to the National Museum of Costa Rica and brush up on our history. I hope to have some pictures up soon. We went to a market place, where I got my Tico Pride on and bought a Costa Rican National Fútbol jersey. While walking through the streets with it on, a man ran up and painted my face with Blue, White and Red stripes in spirit for that nights game against Mexico, I did not ask for it, but it was fun!! We went to the central market where there is fish, fresh made peanut butter and of course COFFEE!!!!!!! I enjoyed the most amazing cup of Joe I have every had with some new friends and then it was time to come home. After spending some time catching up on homework, it was time for the big game. Unfortunately, Costa Rica lost really bad and then we sat around the table discussing how bad they lost and possible reasons why. All together a great day for learning, new experiences and FUN!!!

Much More Than Words

I was asked a lot, why Costa Rica? Why not courses at a community college or Rosetta Stone? My choice to go to Costa Rica was from the wise council of many who told me that immersion is the best way to learn. I have begun to see why that is true. One of the most exciting and sometimes difficult parts of learning another language is also learning the culture. Language is tied to the culture that it supports, so to know the culture is to know the language. Ticos are vibrant people who are very expressive with a welcoming spirit and peaceful attitude. This is one of the many reasons why Costa Rica is great to learn spanish. Spending time out in the country and surrounded by the people is very helpful in the process. A difficult obstacle that I am trying to overcome, is the difference in thought pattern. Substituting Spanish for english words is wrong, but learning to form sentences the way a native speaker would. Thus, this weeks spanish lesson. "De hoy en ocho" is the phrase used for "in 1 week." Here in latin america you count the current day and then include the days to come when communicating the days to come. If you know me at all I am easily fascinated by the littlest of things, these nuances of culture and language FASCINATE me. Next time I will try and be a bit more prompt with the week's spanish lessons on Fridays. Thanks for reading and all your prayers, they help so much!!