Crazy Busy Times!

Sorry that it has been so long since I have posted! I just realized that it has been over a month. Here is a short overview of some of the things that have been going on.

At the end of March, I had to leave the country to renew my visa. So we went to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. It was a nice little beach town. Everyone had fun and it was a relaxing time.

The beach in Nicaragua was beautiful!

The church that I attend "Calvary Chapel San Pedro" had a youth gathering after school. They invited all of the students in middle school and high school in the area to come to the skating rink after school. We gave out snacks and the kids had fun skating. One of the teenagers shared his testimony, the pastor shared the Gospel and they showed a scene from Facing the Giants in Spanish.

Lisamarie and I

Today, we had a going away party at the Saturday Ministry with the kids. Chelsea, who has been studying since last April and has worked with the ministry the whole time, will be leaving in a week and a half. We had 65 children. We sang songs and played games and ate cake and donuts and orange soda. Talk about sugar hyper children.

Pile of children all around Chelsea!

The older kids had a cake fight. The only problem is that the colored icing stains

Chelsea with two of our regular kids!

The first few weeks that this little girl came, we couldn't get her  look at us, let alone get
 her to participate or  smile. Look at how far we have come!

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!

 Last week I had my first birthday out of the country. I had a wonderful 26th birthday weekend!

On Friday night friends from school and I had dinner downtown at an Italian restaurant. On Saturday, I visited the Feria with Lisamarie. On Saturday, Emy and Carlos, my Tica parents, threw me a birthday party. We had pizza and cake and icecream. 

Cafe Mundo in downtown San Jose.

Sara, Chelsea, Lisamarie and I

Friends from language school: Suni, Edward, Laura and Mark.

On Saturday, I went to the Feria with Lisamarie.
I bought cucumbers and onions for Emy, my  Tica Mom.

Paying for the onions.

Now I have my onions and the best fresh squeezed orange juice! (in the cup)

Chelsea and Lisamarie at the party.

Hello Kitty Birthday Cake!

Emy, Marreala, and Karla: My Tica mom and sisters.

Blessing In Disguise

I was thinking the other day about being here in Costa Rica, and thinking about what a fulfillment of a dream this is. But then I stopped. Really MY dream was completely different than this.

 I was reminded of the country song that talks about thanking God for unanswered prayers. Now I believe that God always answers my prayers. The answer might be "no" or completely different from what I thought it should be, but God answers my prayers. However, the premise of the song is that what the guy prayed for would not have been the best thing for him. He thanks God for what did happen because he realizes that God knows best.

How true this is in my life. When I was seven I knew that I was going to be a missionary. My dream was that I would get married and move with my husband and kids to Africa. I knew that I wanted to study education in college so that I could home-school my children.

I know that if God had called me to Africa and to home-school my kids, I would enjoy that as well. However, I would not trade what I am doing for anything. I love speaking Spanish (although it is a lot of work), I love the school that I will be teaching at in Ecuador.

Even after I knew that I was going to Ecuador to teach school (and that I was not married with kids), there were plans and dreams that I had that were not in the plans of God. I was dead set against going to Costa Rica to learn Spanish. I wanted to go straight to Ecuador and learn Spanish for a semester in the capital. I can't imagine not being in Costa Rica right now. This time has been such a blessing and I would not change it for the world.

 This reminded me to check my current hopes and dreams. Am I holding on too tight to something that is not in His perfect will for my life. I am fighting something that could be just what I need. I thank God that He knows what is best for me, even when MY dream is something completely different.