In and Out

We officially moved into our new apartment in Desamparados! Jeff Dixon was a huge help in getting all our stuff moved over and picking up our new appliances. They have also graciously invited us to share many meals at their house over these last few weeks. We are slowly beginning to set up our permanent home. We have an oven with no racks, a refrig that isn't cold, and no couch. But we do have an amazing view, a beautiful kitchen table, and super comfortable beds. We still have a ton to do, but all in all, it's been a good week.
Tomorrow we leave for the SI base in Guatemala. SI is having their first ever Women's Outreach. Guatemala shares many of the characteristic we would like to build in SI Costa Rica, such as home stays and many of their ministry sites. This is a great opportunity for the women of SI Costa Rica to learn from a more mature base. Please be praying for our time there. Amidst everything that has been going on, I don't feel completely prepared to go, but I know that God has a lot planned. Please pray that my heart and my eyes would be open to where He is moving and what He wants to show me. Also pray for the women from the States who will be joining us, for some of them, this is their first mission trip. As well as for the people of Magdelena where we will be staying and serving. I will be working alongside my friend Rachel at the school where she teaches English and helps oversee several of the other programs. I am excited to see everything she does there and encourage her in the work she is doing with the children of the community. If you want to hear more about the school, you can check out her blog http://kellysinguatemala.blogspot.com/

I look forward to sharing more with you when we get back in a week. Thank you for all your prayers, and I love getting to hear from you.

Beach Pictures

Many of you have asked how we've been enjoying the beach. Well, we don't exactly live near the beach, and it can actually be quite cold here in the San Jose area. This last weekend we finally made the 4 hour public bus ride to Manuel Antonio. Cailah and I were joined by Aiyla (our new SI intern) and Pam (a missionary to Mexico studying at our language school). We found a great hostel/apartment complete with monkeys outside our window every morning.

We spent one day at the national park, where I experienced my first benefit of applying for residency: $3 admission, versus $10. Yeah! The park is beautiful and there is all kinds of wildlife as you hike around or sit on the beach.


This guy was a little to close for my comfort.


I'm really happy about my P n J on the beach!


Our special sunset dinner at the airplane restaurant.


Hiking down to the beach the hostel lady told us about. She said it only took her 30 minutes walking with kids to get there, but we think Costa Ricans are bad at estimating time. It took us almost an hour to get there.


Great sunset on our last night


We are so thankful to have had this time to go and relax at the beach. As we were riding the bus out there, I was reminded of why I love Costa Rica so much. The countryside is so beautiful! We only get tiny glimpses in the city, and it's easy to just focus on the dirty big city feeling. It was nice to get away from urban development for a few days, breath in the fresh air, and appreciate God's creation.

Where is my worth?

This past weekend, Cailah and I were blessed to spend our first weekend at the beach. I’ll write more about our time later, but first I want to share with you what God has been teaching me. One of the hardest things for me during these past few month in Costa Rica, has been the lack a clear role or job description. I knew there would be period of transition when I first arrived. I also knew we are starting up a new base, so we don’t have clearly defined positions of responsibilities. Coming into it, I thought I was totally prepared for this; it was going to be an adventure. Well, the adventure has turned out to be a little slower paced than I expected. I thought by now I would have kids who I am working with on a daily basis, friends in the community, a sense of purpose. I have found myself frequently frustrated and even sometimes questioning why God has called me here. But this weekend, God really showed me my heart, and how it wasn’t at all lining up with His. I am a “doer”, I like to have an impact, I want to see a job well done. This is all fine and good, until I start viewing my actions and my accomplishments as what define me, instead of allowing my relationship with Christ to be the most important defining aspect of my life. I want people to see the good things I am doing because it makes me feel valuable. If I don’t have anything tangible in terms of good works, to show for the several months I’ve been here, how am I to be validated? But I am looking to the wrong place for validation. Christ alone is the one who can determine my worth and affirm me, no matter what the circumstances are. I began reading a small book this weekend, Out of Solitude, by Henri Nouwen. He relates to our lives the passage in Mark 1:32-39, where Jesus gets up early, and goes to a lonely place to pray. He discussed the necessity for us to get away from all of the things we “need to do for Jesus”, in order to spend time with Him, and allow Him to affirm us. I know this is not a new concept. It is something I have struggled with these last few months, as I’ve been stripped of all the things that have previously defined me: family, friends, students, culture, and community.

"In solitude we become aware that our worth is not the same as our usefulness.... In solitude we can grow freely without being preoccupied with our usefulness and we can offer a service which we had not planned on. To the degree that we have lost our dependencies on this world, whatever world means-- father, mother, children, career, success or rewards-- we can form a community of faith in which there is little to defend but much to share" ~ Henri Nouwen

I know this weekend, was not a quick fix. I know I will continue to struggle as we keep praying about where it is God wants us to be. In those moments though, I hope I will quickly remember that I am child of God. He defines me, not my good deeds or usefulness.

Ministry Update

Please continue to be praying with us, that God would make it clear where He wants us to be serving. We have built relationships with several people who’s needs and vision match with Students International. We are in a bit of a unique situation in that we, as individuals, will be doing full-time ministry day in and day out, but we will also have groups of students and adults who will be joining us throughout the year. Therefore, the ministry needs to be viable and meaningful in both aspects. Also, we have discovered that many people here have been badly hurt by missionaries in the past. We want to be cautious in making commitments, in order to be sure they are commitments God has intended for us and that we can follow through on them. Please pray for wisdom, discernment, and patience as we meet with different people and wait on the Lord.