My First Month

I'll try to write more again soon and put up more pictures. I've been here for almost a month. I'm learning a ton and growing so much. It's definitely not easy and I'm very grateful for your support, encouragement and prayers.

Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Christmas Eve!

Though it's the day before Christmas, it doesn't quite feel like it to me now. I'm currently sitting at a little internet café about fifty feet from the Caribbean. Up until last Friday or so I've been working a ton, doing everything from painting the house to working on getting organized and advertising for the spring break trips (which if you`re interested in learning more or maybe coming check out the facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=370727355220&index=1 ). Now I`ve had some time for the holidays, which is definitely needed as the past few weeks have been nonstop.

Last Wednesday, Tomas's sister (from Scotland) and mother (from Maine) came to join us. On Thursday, the Dozier family had to move out of their house as it was being rented and moved into my house with me. So my little house has had 8 people in it with mattresses on the floor everywhere. That has definitely been an interesting experience but good and a bonding experience. Over the weekend we did a lot: went to a couple's house for dinner, went to my first Costa Rican wedding, went to the local school's graduation (from Kindergarten and 6th grade only), went to church and had company over. Oh and we've played a lot of games like Boggle, Taboo and Apples to Apples).

Then Monday morning I left early to meet up with my roommate Kim (who had gone home to be with her family in San José for the holidays) and her family as they invited me to go on a little vacation with them. We drove a long time on some crazy roads. We stopped at a number of different stores along the way so that Kim's dad, Rolando, could sell the cutting boards that he makes, sells and distributes. Then we were on our way again. Somehow, he didn't get directions ahead of time and so we would just ask on the side of the road which way to go when we came to crossroads. Overall this tactic worked, except for a pretty important missed turn. We ended up going a couple hours on this crazy rocky/dirt road out in the middle of nowhere that led us to a river, which we found out was just about on the Nicaraguan border (on the Caribbean side), like far northeast in Costa Rica. It's actually a place where a lot of Nicaraguans cross the border illegally and is supposedly a not very safe place, though praise God we didn't have any problems at all. Once we figured all this out, we got back on track and found a place to spend the night).

The next morning we drove another long crazy road and ended up at the right location this time. We took a boat through channels with unbelievable nature and animals on all sides to Tortuguero. This place was beautiful and incredible and very chill. The people are all really friendly and relaxed. There are hammocks all over the place (which I slept in one for like an hour and woke up to a dog sleeping next to me as my guardian and friend). We took a canoe tour with a local guide where we got to see everything from toucans to lizards, turtles to crocodiles. God's creation so amazes me and I took tons of pictures that I`ll have to share with you later).

Yesterday we spent the day in Cahuita, an adorable beach town farther south on the Caribbean coast. The beach is definitely my kind of beach as there`s jungle right next to the sand and sea. I walked along the beach for hours. Right along the path I saw lizards, a sloth, and monkeys. (On a little side note- seeing and hearing all the monkeys really makes me want a pet monkey, but unfortunately it's illegal and I'm told they make very bad pets). This little town is also really cool as it's pretty small and chill right on the water. People here are nocturnal and it's almost like a different culture as they speak a different language and everything. I like it a lot and can definitely see why it's a more touristy area.).

Later today Kim and I are being picked up by the Dozier clan and heading to Panama to spend Christmas day there. Where we're going I hear is even more beautiful and amazing then where I've already been. I'm pretty excited, though it will be a very different Christmas than I have ever had. I'll definitely miss spending the day with my family, but it will be a new experience.).

Thanks for reading this long update. I figured I owe you one as I've been bad at updating this. I'll try and put up more pictures and things soon. I put a few on the facebook event mentioned above, so definitely check it out. I love you all and thanks for your thoughts and prayers!).

1 John 3:16-18

Rainbows

I have seen so many rainbows over the past two weeks, it really can only be God. (Here's a picture of one/two that was right outside my house the other day). I see the rainbows and am just totally reminded that God is here with us and His promises never fail. I would write more but have a lot of work to do! We're having a couple spring break trips that I'll put up more info about later. And once I get internet in my house (which will hopefully be soon), then I'll write a lot more!

I'm HERE!

I'm finally here! I don't yet have internet where I'm living, so right now I'm sitting at a cute little internet cafe not too far from my house. This is really the first time I've been able to just sit and yet I'm still having to get a lot of work done. There is so much to do. It makes sense though: starting a nonprofit is a ton of work! But it's so exciting and God is definitely working.

Here's what I've been up to over the past week (the first week of December):

  1. Arrived in Costa Rica

  2. Painted/helped build a chicken coup

      Drank coffee black with a bunch of Ticas (Costa Rican women)

      Began learning Spanish with the help of the Dozier kids

  3. Painted the center (a beautiful house that was donated to us to host groups, but needs a lot of work)

      Learned how to catch chickens...and let me tell you it's not easy

  4. Painted the house some more and sang Christmas carols in San Jose both in English and Spanish

  5. Painted the house some more (do you see a trend) and sat through a 3 hour conversation all in Spanish

  6. Went to the local community's church in Spanish

      Celebrated Jordan's 13th birthday

      Saw a monkey in my backyard, talked to it and named in George

  7. Woke up to a tarantula in my bathroom, which I caught at 6 in the morning

      Working a lot on organizing our spring break Spanish immersion trips (let me know if you may be interested!)

      Now probably off to paint the house some more...

Thanks so much for your awesome support and encouragement for me! You all are great :)