Driving

Yesterday I officially drove for my first time, in Costa Rica. And let me tell you it was no small drive around the block. It was the 30 minute drive to the airport, through 3 rotundas, and to the complete opposite side of the valley. Granted it was Sunday, so there was less traffic, but still it was a great feat. Now that it's behind me, I really want to have my own mode of transportation. I realized, while driving, how much easier many facets of my life would be if we had a car. Going to the grocery store and not having to take buses and taxis. Being able to run more than one errand a day. Not having to spend almost 2 hours on the bus, for an hour long Spanish class. Being free to leave my own house after 6pm. I think this is the biggest factor, feeling free to live my life a little more like how I would if I were at home in the States. While a car certainly is not a necessity for life here, it would simplify a lot of daily task, especially once we have teams coming.

It just so happens, that one of my teammates, has a friend who is selling an old car for $1,000. Split between Cailah and I, that's not too bad. We're hoping to check it out this week. Used cars always make me a little nervous since I don't really know the first things about cars. But you can't beat the price, and my teammates know a few things about automobiles. I'm praying if it's not a good car for us, that it will be gone by the time we are able to check it out.

Our First Group

This last week Cailah, Aiyla and I hosted our first group here in Costa Rica! We led 22 college students from James Madison University on a week long outreach in the jungle region of Talamanca, Costa Rica. We were working alongside the full-time missionaries down there, Curtis and Kathy Sharp. This is the same town and ministry that I have been a part of over the last several summers, so it was quite a treat for me to get to go back there. Also, the group of students we had were amazing! Each one came down with a heart to serve, looking for God to work in and through them during the week. It was a joy to watch them serve the community, the Sharps, and each other as serving unto the Lord (Ephesians 6:5-7)


A few of the highlights:

Watching the students love on the community. Even though we weren't doing a VBS after the days' manuel labor, the students still really wanted to hangout with the kids from the community. They would tirelessly play with them till we had to call them back for dinner.





Great times of worship and sharing. We all blessed by how amazing God is and the work he is doing in each one of us.


Being able to bless the Sharps and the community through the many projects we were able to complete




Seeing friendship developed and strengthened among the team members and knowing that each one is going home with a great support system.

Guatemala!!!

This last week I had the pleasure of being part of a 35+ Women's Outreach at the Student's International (SI) base in Guatemala. We were women from all over the globe, but we came together to learn from each other and be apart of the work God is doing in Guatemala.

The SI Costa Rica Ladies


We spent the first part of the week living with host family in the community where we were working. This is our host family.
They were amazing!!! The dad, Anecleto, probably told us over a dozen times that we weren't guest, we were family. They were so kind and truly opened up their home and their hearts to us.


I was blessed to be able to work alongside my good friend, Rachel, at her school. She teaches English classes there for all the grades. But since I am a Spanish-speaker we decided my help could best be used in the overcrowded kindergarten class. I loved getting to hangout with those kids all day. I have really miss working with kids on a regular basis, so this week was such a treat for me.





On Mardi Gras, all the schools celebrate with a carnival. The kids come dressed in costumes and much of the day is dedicated to getting as much Pica Pica into your classmates hair! (Pica Pica, is a painted eggshell that has been stuffed with confetti) It was absolutely hilarious!



Even Debbie and I got our share of Pica Pica!


But after it was all over, all the kids helped clean up the school.


Outside of the time at the school, I really enjoyed getting to spend time with old friends, as well as make new ones, especially among the Guatemala staff. It was so great to be able to share with each other and encourage one another as many of us are going through the challenging time of transition.


Over 13 years ago, on outreach with SI in Guatemala, I felt called to God's work in Latin America. It was so exciting to be there again and now that I am now fulling that call. There is so much more I could share. If you want to hear more, email. You also can check out the rest of the pictures from the trip below

Guatemala