This week was a really exciting week. God has seriously been rocking my life. For all those haters out there that think God doesn't care about even the small things in our life...I just want to say that God is so good. There have been many ways that God has provided for me this week. Conversations that came at the perfect time, encouragment from unlikely sources, God whispering to me through the works of His hands...I love seeing the Spirit move. At our church we've been learning about King Hezekiah, and how God took care of Hezekiah because Hezekiah did 6 things. We've only talked about 3, but each week as I focus on a different one...God challenges me to put into practice each one and then blelsses my efforts. 1. Hezekiah did right in the eyes of the Lord (even if it's hard). That means following what the Spirit asks me to do. 2. Hezekiah destroyed all foreign gods and idolatry. That means getting rid of anything you put in front of Christ. 3. Hezekiah put his trust in God. That means anxiously waiting upon the Lord to fulfill what He has promised. I love it. More to come later on that. I just wanted to share what God has been working on me about.
Last week, I wrote about a guy who was practicing his English on me at the pool. We had a quick conversation that day about our "religions" that day. Yesterday we went to the pool again and he came over with a Christian book. He said he had really been thinking about Christianity. He had been searching for years and has tried Catholicism, Jehovah's Witness, Mormonism, etc. yet he never felt like any of them were for him. He asked why Christianity was different and I said because it wasn't a religion, it was a relationship. After he tried convincing me he was a good person, I just told him that we are separated from God and that we can't bridge that gap without the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We talked about that for a while and I explained everything and then he told me he wanted Christ in his life. I was SO excited. I invited him to our church today and he came, even though he had to work the night shift last night. I am just thankful that God provided that opportunity. It was such an encouragment...and if that guy truly asked Christ into his life...then we have another brother in Christ. :) Thanks to all who are still reading my blog...to the faithful...here is another funny language story for you.
We were buying groceries yesterday and Kate and I were talking while we were getting checked out. We were complaining about how much money we were spending and how expensive life is. The toilet paper was slightly pricey and I told Kate that we were no longer allowed to buy toilet paper and that she would need to start wiping with leaves...thinking no one else could hear us...until the cashier started giggling. lol I asked him if he understood. He said that he didn't understand "everything" lol which means most everything :) oops.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
FUNNY day at the pool!
This weekend was rather momentous for me for a lot of different reasons. I foresee the stories in this blog as being among the best I have written :).
It all started Saturday morning. It is super sunny season right now in CR, so it is so hot here. We went to the market first and got a bunch of fruits and vegetables which always gets me pretty worked up because everyone is offering food and saying crazy stuff and calling us queens and things like that. Given, sometimes I think the constant cat calls from slimy men are repulsive... but hey, who minds being called a queen once in a while?? :) Anyway, so then we go over to the pool. There are a series of happenings that I will try to portray as honestly as possible. First time we leave the grass to go get in the pool. Almost immediately and young guy comes over...sits very close, starts asking me all these questions. Then his friend joins. They don't stop talking. I finally ask them how old they are...12 and 14. Great, I love getting hit on by boys that are half my age and still speak in high pitched voices, but that wasn't the best part...their names were Elvis and Wolfgang. I honestly thought they were lying which is why I died with laughter when they told me. When they didn't laugh... I realized I should stop...that was honestly their names. lol I finally leave the conversation and go back to the towel. Time #2 to the pool. Elvis and Wolfgang strike again... Kate saves me, I leave. Back on my towel, I see two Ticos playing football. The one is terrible, the other not so bad. I ask if I can play because I love playing. The terrible one quits because he obviously hates football. So me and this one are playing. He's like super cool, trying to be all awesome. However, he is standing really close to this girl laying there with a really slinky bathing suit (I'm sure he didn't plan that). Anyway, I almost hit her like 5 times...but I think he enjoyed seeing her jump up every time. Well, I decide to throw it more to the left to avoid slinky bathing suit. It was a misjudge because there was a large telephone and several large metal wires coming down from it. Unfortunately this guy didn't see it and honestly plowed into the metal bars. Even funnier was the fact that there was a little bit of spring in them so he hit them going 20 miles and hour and then was catapulted back the other direction after bouncing off...and then proceeds to almost kill slinky bathing suit girl. It honestly drew blood on him. I was dying...I did not recover. It was the funniest thing I ever saw. Again I realized that he wasn't laughing...so I tried to stop. This proved impossible. This crusty old man behind me thought it was hilarious as well. We stop playing. Time #3 in the pool: old crusty man comes up to me and in English says that I should be in the NFL. I died laughing. I asked him if he liked the NFL. He said, "no, but this is my son." What?!?!?! Then I noticed his awkward, bright red son (about my age) standing next to him. LOL. "Well hello" I say. He says hi and quickly jumps in the pool. I never speak again to crusty or son of crusty. I go back a lay down. Time #4 in the pool. Two guys come over...they don't know each other. They sit unusually close to me. One tries practicing English...other speaks no English. No English guy doesn't mess around...asks all necessary questions you need to ask to get to know someone, then asks if he can rub my back. lol. I say no. English practicer is actually really nice and we have a good conversation. HOWEVER, he says, "how do you call the swimming?" I say..."swimming is the word." No its a special kind of thing in the pool. I'm really confused. He says, "you know, like poopy in the pool." What?!?! I start dying laughing. "When someone goes poopy in the pool?" I ask. He's confused now. Tries repeating. "What do you do with poopy in the pool?" I am beside myself laughing. Back rubber that doesn't speak English looks lost. I say in spanish, "why are you talking about poop in the pool?" They both get really red and embaressed. I realize they aren't talking about poo at all. He tries again..."you know, poopy." No I don't know...why are we discussing poopy. Why doesn't he just tell me in Spanish? Finally...he say in spanish...you know like swimming like a puppy dog in the pool. OHHHH. Like a dog paddle? Yesss. So we're not talking about fecal matter. Now remember this whole conversation is taking place in Spanglish...so back rubber who only speaks spanish is sitting over there SO confused because all he is hearing are an assortment of words used to describe a bowel movement. 10 minutes later, I wonder...why did we ever start talking about poopy and puppies in the pool. Elvis and Wolfgang strike again...this time with water guns. I go back to my towel and vow never to enter the pool again. English practicer then comes over. Gives me his number and tells me he couldn't avoid the question in his heart about asking me out :). He was genuinely nice though. Kate is just sitting over there cracking up. We finally get up to leave. Elvis and Wolfgang say good bye...then run over to tell their mothers that they made new friends. Awkward. Then back rubber comes over and takes advantage of the customary tico kiss on the cheek...it's a fake cheek touch buddy, no an opportunity to lay one on someone. And then we say goodbye to our practicing friend. Telephone pole man is nowhere to be found. We walk out absolutely dying laughing. I will never recover or forget that image of running into the telephone pole. Priceless.
It all started Saturday morning. It is super sunny season right now in CR, so it is so hot here. We went to the market first and got a bunch of fruits and vegetables which always gets me pretty worked up because everyone is offering food and saying crazy stuff and calling us queens and things like that. Given, sometimes I think the constant cat calls from slimy men are repulsive... but hey, who minds being called a queen once in a while?? :) Anyway, so then we go over to the pool. There are a series of happenings that I will try to portray as honestly as possible. First time we leave the grass to go get in the pool. Almost immediately and young guy comes over...sits very close, starts asking me all these questions. Then his friend joins. They don't stop talking. I finally ask them how old they are...12 and 14. Great, I love getting hit on by boys that are half my age and still speak in high pitched voices, but that wasn't the best part...their names were Elvis and Wolfgang. I honestly thought they were lying which is why I died with laughter when they told me. When they didn't laugh... I realized I should stop...that was honestly their names. lol I finally leave the conversation and go back to the towel. Time #2 to the pool. Elvis and Wolfgang strike again... Kate saves me, I leave. Back on my towel, I see two Ticos playing football. The one is terrible, the other not so bad. I ask if I can play because I love playing. The terrible one quits because he obviously hates football. So me and this one are playing. He's like super cool, trying to be all awesome. However, he is standing really close to this girl laying there with a really slinky bathing suit (I'm sure he didn't plan that). Anyway, I almost hit her like 5 times...but I think he enjoyed seeing her jump up every time. Well, I decide to throw it more to the left to avoid slinky bathing suit. It was a misjudge because there was a large telephone and several large metal wires coming down from it. Unfortunately this guy didn't see it and honestly plowed into the metal bars. Even funnier was the fact that there was a little bit of spring in them so he hit them going 20 miles and hour and then was catapulted back the other direction after bouncing off...and then proceeds to almost kill slinky bathing suit girl. It honestly drew blood on him. I was dying...I did not recover. It was the funniest thing I ever saw. Again I realized that he wasn't laughing...so I tried to stop. This proved impossible. This crusty old man behind me thought it was hilarious as well. We stop playing. Time #3 in the pool: old crusty man comes up to me and in English says that I should be in the NFL. I died laughing. I asked him if he liked the NFL. He said, "no, but this is my son." What?!?!?! Then I noticed his awkward, bright red son (about my age) standing next to him. LOL. "Well hello" I say. He says hi and quickly jumps in the pool. I never speak again to crusty or son of crusty. I go back a lay down. Time #4 in the pool. Two guys come over...they don't know each other. They sit unusually close to me. One tries practicing English...other speaks no English. No English guy doesn't mess around...asks all necessary questions you need to ask to get to know someone, then asks if he can rub my back. lol. I say no. English practicer is actually really nice and we have a good conversation. HOWEVER, he says, "how do you call the swimming?" I say..."swimming is the word." No its a special kind of thing in the pool. I'm really confused. He says, "you know, like poopy in the pool." What?!?! I start dying laughing. "When someone goes poopy in the pool?" I ask. He's confused now. Tries repeating. "What do you do with poopy in the pool?" I am beside myself laughing. Back rubber that doesn't speak English looks lost. I say in spanish, "why are you talking about poop in the pool?" They both get really red and embaressed. I realize they aren't talking about poo at all. He tries again..."you know, poopy." No I don't know...why are we discussing poopy. Why doesn't he just tell me in Spanish? Finally...he say in spanish...you know like swimming like a puppy dog in the pool. OHHHH. Like a dog paddle? Yesss. So we're not talking about fecal matter. Now remember this whole conversation is taking place in Spanglish...so back rubber who only speaks spanish is sitting over there SO confused because all he is hearing are an assortment of words used to describe a bowel movement. 10 minutes later, I wonder...why did we ever start talking about poopy and puppies in the pool. Elvis and Wolfgang strike again...this time with water guns. I go back to my towel and vow never to enter the pool again. English practicer then comes over. Gives me his number and tells me he couldn't avoid the question in his heart about asking me out :). He was genuinely nice though. Kate is just sitting over there cracking up. We finally get up to leave. Elvis and Wolfgang say good bye...then run over to tell their mothers that they made new friends. Awkward. Then back rubber comes over and takes advantage of the customary tico kiss on the cheek...it's a fake cheek touch buddy, no an opportunity to lay one on someone. And then we say goodbye to our practicing friend. Telephone pole man is nowhere to be found. We walk out absolutely dying laughing. I will never recover or forget that image of running into the telephone pole. Priceless.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Kate's birthday
This past week has been great. God has been helping me out a lot. The best thing this week was that God provided another student for me that will keep challenging me. My autistic students left and I was really praying that God would bring another family like this. I didn't think it was going to happen because I had already seen the list. Then, a new family showed up during orientation and he hasn't stopped challenging me since. It's been pretty interesting...but I'm so excited. I just love figuring kids out. This week we also celebrated Kate's birthday. It was fun because we tried to make it a creative party. Eddie and I made different kinds of pasta and different kinds of sauce and then had a bunch of dessert choices and stuff and everyone could "create" what they ate. We did a bunch of other fun stuff...such as have a painting competition in which Kate had to judge. Really random, but we had fun. Nothing else extremely exciting has happened...besides getting internet! Hooray...now we can communicate with everyone. Nothing too funny to relate either. Sorry! More to come :)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Back in CR
Hey all! So we made it back to Costa Rica! I was able to go to Chicago to visit one of my best friends and then I met Kate to fly out the next morning. All went well...minus Kate and I frantically trying to get everything into suitcases. Somehow, even though we weren't allowed...we ended up checking two huge bags and 3 big back packs for free...plus carry-ons. Amazing! Now we are stocked up on everything we could possibly need. Since then, we've just been doing orientation and getting everything moved in. We went to the pool on Saturday, ate guacamole and banana smoothies...everything we had missed in the States :). It is so much warmer here...thank God! God has been providing me with some serious provision, so I am thankful! Thanks for your prayers...here are some Pics of our apartment.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas break
People have been giving me a hard time about not blogging...so I thought I would send a quick shoutout. I didn't blog for so long because Kate and I moved to a new apartment. We were too cheap to buy internet for just 1 month and then have to pay while we were home on Christmas... so we didn't get it and we only used it sparingly at school. A lot of good things happened though. Our new apartment is great and we have loved living there so far. We are going to have to improve our eating habits and break down and spend the money we need on meat once in a while...although it is nice to pay only $5 for all the fruits and vegetables you need for the week. I also was able to return to New York for 4 days for one of my best friend's wedding. It was so incredibly fun. I loved being with Melissa and her family. 
The wedding was absolutely beautiful and I was even able to eat Thanksgiving there! It was wonderful...I mean except for the old turkey server man at the church dinner that called me big :). When I got back...it was pretty difficult but after two weeks of school and lots of Christmas parties, I was able to come home. It's freezing and there has been snow but I love it. It's been wonderful to see everyone and eat some great food. God has also been showing Himself in some wonderful ways. We've had a family living with us here. It's a long story...but their daughter fell really ill 2 months ago. They live near Dayton, but they were tranferred to a hospital here. Kiera is 22 and was first thought to have the flu...then the swine flu...then meningitis...the psychotic problems because her body started attacking itself. Anyway, they found out she had these awful and rare tumors on her ovaries that were making her lose her mind and kidneys shut down and all this other stuff. Well she had surgery today and she is doing well. They are hoping that taking the tumors out fixes everything. What was amazing was that Kiera was supposed to go to another hospital but her paperwork got screwed up and she was sent here...where a doctor was that is one of the only people that has ever diagnosed what Keira has and he did it almost immediately. Plus we have had the opportunity to share with Kiera's family about Christ and get to know them so well. On top of that...one night their transmission went out in their car and our friend Carl offered to put a new one for free labor...and our church came together and paid for the transmission. Just so many things have been wonderful and we're so thankful to see God's hand blessing this. Well more updates to come soon. Please pray for complete healing for Kiera. God bless and Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Melissa's wedding
It's been FOREVER since I blogged last! Things have been pretty hectic around here as we finish up the semester. Over the last few weeks we have been finishing up basketball, moving into a new apartment, having crazy things go on at school, and I went to New York for the wedding of my friend Melissa, my roommate from college and one of my best friends. Basketball ended well. We had a tournament here. We took third place...not bad huh? I was going to neglect to mention that there were only three teams, but I felt a little dishonest :). But all that matters in that we had fun and we looked good doing it :) lol. School has been good, but we are in a major time of transition and testing. Please pray for Sojourn Academy and that God would help us to overcome obstacles and that we would not allow discouragment to get in. We also moved into a new apartment. It is so great and super cheap. Thankfully Kate and I are living together again, which is so great! We got a great deal for an awesome place, so God has definitely blessed us in that. Finally, I went to the U.S. this past weekend for four days for the wedding. It was absolutely awesome. God provided the money for me to go and it was great. It was absolutely freezing...but really good. I had so much fun with Melissa and her family. I was also able to see Kim (the one whole lived in CR with me last year) and we were able to catch up a lot as well...so it was just really great. I even was able to eat Thanksgiving there! Now I'm back in CR and trying to wrap up things before I got home in two weeks! Crazy...but really exciting! Please pray that we finish strong! Thanks!
Monday, November 23, 2009
New apartment!
We've moved to a new apartment! All went well! Pictures to come :) We don't have internet at the apartment yet, so no blogs yet. Just real quick I wanted to say something so that my grandma doesn't think I died! I'm going to the States this week for Melissa's wedding in NY, so there will be pics of that to come as well!
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