So a few posts ago I wrote a blog about roller coaster Christianity. As I have been reading Philippians more, I see the concept Paul is addressing here while he is talking about walking in freedom. He is addressing the religious, and telling them that it isn't about what they have accomplished. Paul is saying.....look, i've done a lot for the Lord, but I am not going to stop there...I am going to press on and not to settle for what i've attained already. I want more! I want it all!
I do think that this passage, as part of the living word has duality to it, and does definitely apply to our walks and the understanding that we cannot live in the past.
Here is the passage again:
Phil. 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained." My friends, embrace the truth that God loves you.
oh...So I am coming back to the States in four days. It's gonna be a huge change. I am ready, but there is now a deep love in my heart for this place.
Many blessings in Christ. May our Father receive the Honor always
Monday, August 2, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monkey Faith
Every morning I have a beautiful mountain to hike. Being in the midst of the jungle, and the surrounded by the intense beauty of God's creation is one of the greatest blessings about being in Costa Rica this summer. Not only do I physically feel great after walking the mountain road, I absolutely love to solace of walking in nature and being alone with the Lord.
I have been thinking a lot about faith in general, and this morning on my walk I was thinking about my own faith. There are so many verses in the Bible about exercising our faith, and how "if we ask anything in His name, it will be given to us." As I was walking, I stopped to catch my breath and thought "it would be really neat to see a monkey this morning." I have seen a few monkeys this summer, but it hasn't been very much, and they are usually far away and difficult to see. As this thought passed through my mind, I then asked the Lord, "Lord, I really do believe you when you say that if I ask anything in your name it will be given to me. So Papa, I ask that you send a monkey for me to see." I waited a minute or two, but no monkey. Even though nothing happened, I wasn't disappointed in the Lord, nor did I feel like He said no to my request. I decided to continue on my way though, and truthfully my thoughts began thinking about something completely different then the monkeys.
Probably five minutes later, as I was feeling really proud of myself for almost finishing my walk, I look over because I saw in the corner of my eye a rustling in the forest...and what did I see right next to the road? Low and behold, there was not only one monkey, there were 8, and they were the closest group of monkeys I have seen all summer. It was monkey family, and there were even two little baby monkeys. The reality of God's faithfulness in this moment was overwhelming, and I nearly fell down in reverence to the goodness of our God.
This is such a portrait of the Lord...He does hear our prayers, and He gives us exceedingly more then we could ever ask or imagine. I think the church is more apt to praying when there is a need, but not praying for the things that they desire. The Lord longs not only to help us when we are in trouble or need, but He also likes to give good gifts to His children...even monkeys. My heart cannot help but be thankful as I walk in the reality of the Lord's great love. This is all that the Lord desires too is a thankful heart...
Philippians chapter 4:5- Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I was reading in Revelation the other day...which is such an incredible picture of God's redemption of mankind, and I read a verse, (which I believe is in chapter in chapter 5) that says that our prayers are a held in a bowl and are incense to the Lord. Not only does God bless us through answering our prayers, but he stores them and they are like incense to Him! They bring Him pleasure!
May you walk in His peace that passes understanding as you pray and seek His face. He is faithful, and wants you to put your faith in Him. For without faith it is impossible to please God.
I have been thinking a lot about faith in general, and this morning on my walk I was thinking about my own faith. There are so many verses in the Bible about exercising our faith, and how "if we ask anything in His name, it will be given to us." As I was walking, I stopped to catch my breath and thought "it would be really neat to see a monkey this morning." I have seen a few monkeys this summer, but it hasn't been very much, and they are usually far away and difficult to see. As this thought passed through my mind, I then asked the Lord, "Lord, I really do believe you when you say that if I ask anything in your name it will be given to me. So Papa, I ask that you send a monkey for me to see." I waited a minute or two, but no monkey. Even though nothing happened, I wasn't disappointed in the Lord, nor did I feel like He said no to my request. I decided to continue on my way though, and truthfully my thoughts began thinking about something completely different then the monkeys.
Probably five minutes later, as I was feeling really proud of myself for almost finishing my walk, I look over because I saw in the corner of my eye a rustling in the forest...and what did I see right next to the road? Low and behold, there was not only one monkey, there were 8, and they were the closest group of monkeys I have seen all summer. It was monkey family, and there were even two little baby monkeys. The reality of God's faithfulness in this moment was overwhelming, and I nearly fell down in reverence to the goodness of our God.
This is such a portrait of the Lord...He does hear our prayers, and He gives us exceedingly more then we could ever ask or imagine. I think the church is more apt to praying when there is a need, but not praying for the things that they desire. The Lord longs not only to help us when we are in trouble or need, but He also likes to give good gifts to His children...even monkeys. My heart cannot help but be thankful as I walk in the reality of the Lord's great love. This is all that the Lord desires too is a thankful heart...
Philippians chapter 4:5- Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I was reading in Revelation the other day...which is such an incredible picture of God's redemption of mankind, and I read a verse, (which I believe is in chapter in chapter 5) that says that our prayers are a held in a bowl and are incense to the Lord. Not only does God bless us through answering our prayers, but he stores them and they are like incense to Him! They bring Him pleasure!
May you walk in His peace that passes understanding as you pray and seek His face. He is faithful, and wants you to put your faith in Him. For without faith it is impossible to please God.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
I have to blog about this!
When I think about all of the best days i've had here in Costa, today is definitely top of the list. Right now I am in sitting in a cute restaurant called Dona Maria. Off in the distance the mountains look magical, and a mystical haze is resting a top the trees of the rain forest.
I feel like I have moments all the time in my life where I experience a taste of Heaven. Today we drove through the jungle and the beauty surrounding us was unreal. All creation is yelling...no screaming, out the grandiose of the Lord! If I am this overwhelmed by nature...a creation of the Creator, how much more will it be when I stand before Him? I've been a lot of places in the world, and experienced some amazing views, but today there was something so deeply beautiful about my journey.
The girls, Fanny, Diego, Emily, Don Lalo and I all went to a gigantic waterfall. Apparently this waterfall is featured on the video Planet Earth, and I can certainly see why! This waterfall is so tall that you can hardly see the top from the bottom. It is as though the water comes straight from Heaven. We got to climb, play in the river, and ride on a four wheeler. This is my idea of a perfect day!
I love the simplicity of life here, and the ability to embrace the Lord's creation free from all of the material possessions and just, really stuff. If I am ever called to life in a place like this I will jump at the chance. I know my mission field for the next season is Wilmington, NC but who knows what the future will hold?
There is definitely a reason why the Lord has filled me with such an absolute love and hunger for adventure, exploration, and people.
My soul is satisfied by the goodness of our God, and His love alone : ) I cannot proclaim enough how great the love of the Father is for us!
May you only fall more and more in love with Jesus. There is nothing greater
I feel like I have moments all the time in my life where I experience a taste of Heaven. Today we drove through the jungle and the beauty surrounding us was unreal. All creation is yelling...no screaming, out the grandiose of the Lord! If I am this overwhelmed by nature...a creation of the Creator, how much more will it be when I stand before Him? I've been a lot of places in the world, and experienced some amazing views, but today there was something so deeply beautiful about my journey.
The girls, Fanny, Diego, Emily, Don Lalo and I all went to a gigantic waterfall. Apparently this waterfall is featured on the video Planet Earth, and I can certainly see why! This waterfall is so tall that you can hardly see the top from the bottom. It is as though the water comes straight from Heaven. We got to climb, play in the river, and ride on a four wheeler. This is my idea of a perfect day!
I love the simplicity of life here, and the ability to embrace the Lord's creation free from all of the material possessions and just, really stuff. If I am ever called to life in a place like this I will jump at the chance. I know my mission field for the next season is Wilmington, NC but who knows what the future will hold?
There is definitely a reason why the Lord has filled me with such an absolute love and hunger for adventure, exploration, and people.
My soul is satisfied by the goodness of our God, and His love alone : ) I cannot proclaim enough how great the love of the Father is for us!
May you only fall more and more in love with Jesus. There is nothing greater
Friday, July 23, 2010
What a beautiful gaze you have Jesus
This is exactly how I feel today. Being swooned by the lover of my soul is incredibly beautiful.
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Socialites in Dominical
It's an amazing feeling to sit and reflect over the day, and say that today was simply a great day, there is no other way to explain it. Erin and I are continuing our adventure days, and today we went to a little surf town called Dominical. Thank you Lord.
Let me express very clearly here how much I LOVE the beach. Last summer was when my heart really fell hard for the beach, and ever since I LONG for the sand, waves and sun! It's right up there with Jesus, coffee, and snowboarding.
Speaking of coffee, my day began with one of the best mornings ever... I awoke to a fresh pot of Costa Rican coffee on my porch thanks to Erin, (which just to share..has a view of the ocean through the rainforest covered mountains) ready for me to seek the Lord. What an incredible way to wake up. I grab my journal, bible, coffee, and the sweetness of the Lord's goodness overwhelms me. I finished reading through Hebrews this morning, and the truth about the soveriengty of Jesus, and the reality of living a life of faith has been igniting my spirit even more. God is closer then our very soul, and continously wanting to manifest the reality of His Presence to us...I love the verse:
22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
As a believer I am welcomed, and do not have to be afraid like Moses was of being killed by the Presence of the Most High. I already exist positionally in the heavenly Jerusalem! I can rejoice with the angels over the goodness of our Father! God is alive, and I am enrolled in heaven, and it's all because of Jesus. To know this reality rocks my world.
A book that I can recommend is The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer, he does an excellent job of explaining what is means to walk by the Spirit, and know the depths of God's heart.
SO after this awesome morning, I made the best breakfast. I made eggs with sauteed onions, tomatoe and a few thinly sliced potatoes. A dash of garlic, salt and pepper and it was perfect.
Sorry I cannot help but describe all of these little details... everything was so wonderful about today. Well to spare ya, once in town Erin and I seemed to meet and talk to so many people. We kept pointing out, oh there's our friend "John" there's our friend "Suzy." We took Dominical by storm haha. It was refreshing to feel a little bit like home, knowing that even in Costa Rica you can recognize other faces.
Ok gotta run, but I hope your day has been just as wonderful as mine has been : )
Let me express very clearly here how much I LOVE the beach. Last summer was when my heart really fell hard for the beach, and ever since I LONG for the sand, waves and sun! It's right up there with Jesus, coffee, and snowboarding.
Speaking of coffee, my day began with one of the best mornings ever... I awoke to a fresh pot of Costa Rican coffee on my porch thanks to Erin, (which just to share..has a view of the ocean through the rainforest covered mountains) ready for me to seek the Lord. What an incredible way to wake up. I grab my journal, bible, coffee, and the sweetness of the Lord's goodness overwhelms me. I finished reading through Hebrews this morning, and the truth about the soveriengty of Jesus, and the reality of living a life of faith has been igniting my spirit even more. God is closer then our very soul, and continously wanting to manifest the reality of His Presence to us...I love the verse:
22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
As a believer I am welcomed, and do not have to be afraid like Moses was of being killed by the Presence of the Most High. I already exist positionally in the heavenly Jerusalem! I can rejoice with the angels over the goodness of our Father! God is alive, and I am enrolled in heaven, and it's all because of Jesus. To know this reality rocks my world.
A book that I can recommend is The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer, he does an excellent job of explaining what is means to walk by the Spirit, and know the depths of God's heart.
SO after this awesome morning, I made the best breakfast. I made eggs with sauteed onions, tomatoe and a few thinly sliced potatoes. A dash of garlic, salt and pepper and it was perfect.
Sorry I cannot help but describe all of these little details... everything was so wonderful about today. Well to spare ya, once in town Erin and I seemed to meet and talk to so many people. We kept pointing out, oh there's our friend "John" there's our friend "Suzy." We took Dominical by storm haha. It was refreshing to feel a little bit like home, knowing that even in Costa Rica you can recognize other faces.
Ok gotta run, but I hope your day has been just as wonderful as mine has been : )
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Island
The day began at 4:45 today, and proceeded with french toast, photos and lots of goodbyes. This morning the group of 26 from Pensacola spent their last morning in Costa Rica, and are now traveling back to the states. It's been a blast getting to know everyone who came, and to spend the week with this group.
Even though I had only known these people for a week, I found it difficult to say goodbye this morning. I definitely tried to hide it, and while I feel like I am an expert at disguising my emotions...I unfortunately think people can read me easier then a picture book. Needless to say, I am seeing more and more in my life how much it grieves my spirit to say goodbye to people. It is amazing how the Lord didn't create us to have broken relationships or say goodbye to people, so when we do it hurts our hearts so badly. Praise the Lord that our relationship with the Father will never end. The intense pain of being separated from Him, I will never experience because He promises that He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me! What incredible news! Meeting group after group of great people this summer has been a fun adventure...yet, I can hardly convey just how blessed I am to have the community that I do in Wilmington to return to!
This past week I went with 6 others to a remote island of unreached Costa Ricans. Traveling down a croc infested river in a small motor boat made me feel like the missionaries, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot... I loved it! Our group was a dental group who came to offer free dental care to the poor. Although I am not qualified to do dental work, I felt like I was supposed to go with this group and pray for the sick. After roughly an hour boat ride, we came an extremely muddy coastline. The air was pungent with the smell of fish, and I could see a huge pile of old fishing nets piled along the shore. When I stepped out of the boat, my foot sunk about a half of a foot deep into the mud. I immediately laughed because earlier that morning I tried convincing Erin, one of the other interns to come with me to the island. Imagining the type of reaction she would have to the mud and scenery made me laugh, as well as praise the Lord that I was unsuccessful in convincing her to come with us! I think, no I know, the mud would have been over the limit for her! The island was primitive to say the least, and definitely an eye opener to a completely different way of life. All summer, I have been trying to discern what is going on in the spirit here in Costa. There seems to be a country wide spirit of purposelessness, and people in Costa seem to just be existing. Noone really has any major goals, and there isn't much of a drive to do hardly anything, at least in the area I am in. I think that this definitely plays into the fact that hardly anything here seems to be important. "Oh you need something from the store...we'll have it in a month or two." Dogs can just roam around the streets, we don't care.
The buildings on the island were made out of sticks, branches, old signs, and scrap pieces of wood. Soon upon our arrival we were greeted by one of the cutest grandmas I have ever seen in my life. This woman was probably in her mid-seventies, had leathery brown skin, twig legs, and the biggest smile on her face. She welcomed us with a kiss on our cheeks, and began speaking Spanish really fast. Not long after we were there, and had set up camp, the Grandma came over and asked if we wouldn't mind coming and praying for her daughter and son-in-law. Immediate confirmation in my spirit about coming to the island to pray for the sick! We walk over, and are welcomed into the woman's shack with Jason and Kristen, our leader and one of the members from Pensacola. We ask the sick woman in Spanish if we can lay hands on her, and when we do I notice that her body is burning up, and she is shaky which is probably because she has such a high fever. She tells us that she has had a fever for three days and she and her husband haven't eaten anything. As we pray, we simply invite the Holy Spirit to come and heal this woman, then we went and prayed for her husband. The next morning, as I walking back from the ocean I hear someone yelling, and I look over and see the woman we prayed for the day before. She looks completely different, and much healthier then then day before and calls out to me "Come over here, your prayers worked! You prayed to God and he took away my sickness! Both my husband and I are completely fine!" Thank you Lord, you are our healer, and a good good Father!
This next week, well 8 days, Erin, Heather and I are living likes queens here at Refugio Solte! There won't be a group here until Houston comes, which will be our last one for the summer. I look around and cannot believe how blessed I am to be living in such a huge, beautiful structure...wow Lord, you give good gifts.
Even though I had only known these people for a week, I found it difficult to say goodbye this morning. I definitely tried to hide it, and while I feel like I am an expert at disguising my emotions...I unfortunately think people can read me easier then a picture book. Needless to say, I am seeing more and more in my life how much it grieves my spirit to say goodbye to people. It is amazing how the Lord didn't create us to have broken relationships or say goodbye to people, so when we do it hurts our hearts so badly. Praise the Lord that our relationship with the Father will never end. The intense pain of being separated from Him, I will never experience because He promises that He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me! What incredible news! Meeting group after group of great people this summer has been a fun adventure...yet, I can hardly convey just how blessed I am to have the community that I do in Wilmington to return to!
This past week I went with 6 others to a remote island of unreached Costa Ricans. Traveling down a croc infested river in a small motor boat made me feel like the missionaries, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot... I loved it! Our group was a dental group who came to offer free dental care to the poor. Although I am not qualified to do dental work, I felt like I was supposed to go with this group and pray for the sick. After roughly an hour boat ride, we came an extremely muddy coastline. The air was pungent with the smell of fish, and I could see a huge pile of old fishing nets piled along the shore. When I stepped out of the boat, my foot sunk about a half of a foot deep into the mud. I immediately laughed because earlier that morning I tried convincing Erin, one of the other interns to come with me to the island. Imagining the type of reaction she would have to the mud and scenery made me laugh, as well as praise the Lord that I was unsuccessful in convincing her to come with us! I think, no I know, the mud would have been over the limit for her! The island was primitive to say the least, and definitely an eye opener to a completely different way of life. All summer, I have been trying to discern what is going on in the spirit here in Costa. There seems to be a country wide spirit of purposelessness, and people in Costa seem to just be existing. Noone really has any major goals, and there isn't much of a drive to do hardly anything, at least in the area I am in. I think that this definitely plays into the fact that hardly anything here seems to be important. "Oh you need something from the store...we'll have it in a month or two." Dogs can just roam around the streets, we don't care.
The buildings on the island were made out of sticks, branches, old signs, and scrap pieces of wood. Soon upon our arrival we were greeted by one of the cutest grandmas I have ever seen in my life. This woman was probably in her mid-seventies, had leathery brown skin, twig legs, and the biggest smile on her face. She welcomed us with a kiss on our cheeks, and began speaking Spanish really fast. Not long after we were there, and had set up camp, the Grandma came over and asked if we wouldn't mind coming and praying for her daughter and son-in-law. Immediate confirmation in my spirit about coming to the island to pray for the sick! We walk over, and are welcomed into the woman's shack with Jason and Kristen, our leader and one of the members from Pensacola. We ask the sick woman in Spanish if we can lay hands on her, and when we do I notice that her body is burning up, and she is shaky which is probably because she has such a high fever. She tells us that she has had a fever for three days and she and her husband haven't eaten anything. As we pray, we simply invite the Holy Spirit to come and heal this woman, then we went and prayed for her husband. The next morning, as I walking back from the ocean I hear someone yelling, and I look over and see the woman we prayed for the day before. She looks completely different, and much healthier then then day before and calls out to me "Come over here, your prayers worked! You prayed to God and he took away my sickness! Both my husband and I are completely fine!" Thank you Lord, you are our healer, and a good good Father!
This next week, well 8 days, Erin, Heather and I are living likes queens here at Refugio Solte! There won't be a group here until Houston comes, which will be our last one for the summer. I look around and cannot believe how blessed I am to be living in such a huge, beautiful structure...wow Lord, you give good gifts.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Things I love about Costa Rica
Here are a few of my favorite elements about Costa Rica:
*Driving on crazy jungle roads only seems to get more enjoyable
*Almost every restaurant and store is very open, and has very few walls...I love this
*Having whole conversations in Spanish
*Not blow drying my hair for the past two months
*Living in an incredible community of believers
*Soccer is loved and cherished here so much more then the States
*People are very friendly and care more about forming a relationship with you then getting your business
*Mango!
*There are an abundance of waterfalls
*My hair and skin feel the greatest they have ever felt in my entire life from the humidity
*Seeing people on missions trips get stretched and challenged in the Lord
*Getting to spend time with the missionaries down here
*Hearing the GOP testimonies, and the freedom and growth in identity that is being received here
*Having lunch dates with Dave Fuller
*Unbelievable coffee
*My great friend Fanny who lives on the mountain
*Being stretched myself, and seeing God's specific purpose and plan for me being here
*Having the opportunity to cook and serve people everyday
*Its cheaper to buy fresh organic foods then it is to buy processed goods
*I love not having a cell phone for two months
Things i'm not such a fan of in Costa:
*Peanut butter costs 8 dollars a jar
*The spiritual atmosphere is very apathetic
*There are tarantulas and I saw one the other day
*Stepping in ant hills is no bueno : (
*Driving on crazy jungle roads only seems to get more enjoyable
*Almost every restaurant and store is very open, and has very few walls...I love this
*Having whole conversations in Spanish
*Not blow drying my hair for the past two months
*Living in an incredible community of believers
*Soccer is loved and cherished here so much more then the States
*People are very friendly and care more about forming a relationship with you then getting your business
*Mango!
*There are an abundance of waterfalls
*My hair and skin feel the greatest they have ever felt in my entire life from the humidity
*Seeing people on missions trips get stretched and challenged in the Lord
*Getting to spend time with the missionaries down here
*Hearing the GOP testimonies, and the freedom and growth in identity that is being received here
*Having lunch dates with Dave Fuller
*Unbelievable coffee
*My great friend Fanny who lives on the mountain
*Being stretched myself, and seeing God's specific purpose and plan for me being here
*Having the opportunity to cook and serve people everyday
*Its cheaper to buy fresh organic foods then it is to buy processed goods
*I love not having a cell phone for two months
Things i'm not such a fan of in Costa:
*Peanut butter costs 8 dollars a jar
*The spiritual atmosphere is very apathetic
*There are tarantulas and I saw one the other day
*Stepping in ant hills is no bueno : (
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Betty Crocker
I was writing in my journal this past week, and as I began reading through what I had written, I noticed that my journal looked more like a recipe book then a journal! It's been fun, yet busy cooking up a storm the past few weeks here on the mountain. The more I cook, the greater love and appreciation I have for cooking. Just like Elizabeth in the book, Eat Pray Love, I have been learning how to really appreciate and savor meals more then ever before. Cooking to me isn't about the food, it's an opportunity to be creative, tweak recipes, and try to figure out the best mixture of ingredients for what I am preparing. The meals we serve require a lot of time and effort in the preparation. Everyday on the mountain we have to head into the city to buy our groceries because almost everything we use is fresh. We also don't have any electricity most of the day, which means no refridgerator or microwave. Oh, and we live on top of a mountain in the rainforest, so if we forget something from the store, it isn't super easy just run and get what we need. This week to fill you in, the highlight meal of the week was sweet and sour chicken, with homemade sauce. Haha, it turned out to be a huge hit!
I only have a few minutes here at the internet cafe. I have to run to the grocery store and get the groceries for a group that is leaving to go serve an indigenous people group tomorrow.
Please continue to keep the other interns and I in prayer as we need a new ounce of strength and energy daily. We are all so blessed to serve, it just can be a little draining from time to time when there are always things to be done on the mountain. I love you all and pray for your peace and rest as well. In the Lord is the fullness of joy and satisfaction!
Many blessings,
Steen
I only have a few minutes here at the internet cafe. I have to run to the grocery store and get the groceries for a group that is leaving to go serve an indigenous people group tomorrow.
Please continue to keep the other interns and I in prayer as we need a new ounce of strength and energy daily. We are all so blessed to serve, it just can be a little draining from time to time when there are always things to be done on the mountain. I love you all and pray for your peace and rest as well. In the Lord is the fullness of joy and satisfaction!
Many blessings,
Steen
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Rollercoaster Christianity
Every week here in Costa has brought a new understanding of freedom, and greater peace in my heart and mind. The more I grow closer to the Lord, the more I am blown away by the simplicity of the truth about the gospel, and the extravagance of God's love for me.
I was speaking with someone this past week, and our conversation regarded striving to earn favor with God, or having the mindset that one day God is pleased with me and another He is angry with me. As I sit and think about this conversation, I cannot help but wonder, "How many people are there in the world that live and operate this way in their lives?" I know that I have spent majority of my life thinking this way, until the past few years. My eyes have been opened to the reality of grace, and the understanding that God cannot be any more pleased with me then He already is. The times that I catch myself not walking in this understanding, I realize that I am not clinging to the truth and really believing that God is the greatest satisfaction of my heart, everything that I truly desire. He paid the full price for my sins, and is continually wooing me with the love and joy that He has for me. As I am in this process of growing in my understanding of grace, I see the chains and strongholds in my life naturally breakingoff. I cannot operate under guilt and condemnation, if I want to walk in the power of grace.
I love the truth that Paul speaks about walking in freedom. He says in Phil. 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained." My friends, embrace the truth that God loves you. Repent of your sins, and remember them no more. God loves you and has fully forgiven you. Just like in the garden, after Adam and Eve directly disobeyed God, He still sought after them, and provided for them, and loved them. You are dearly loved by God, and His love for you is constant and without waver. All we are called to do in life is believe this truth. Believe that because Jesus died for your sins, he took away all of your guilt and shame. You are a new creation that God wants to have constant fellowship with.
I was speaking with someone this past week, and our conversation regarded striving to earn favor with God, or having the mindset that one day God is pleased with me and another He is angry with me. As I sit and think about this conversation, I cannot help but wonder, "How many people are there in the world that live and operate this way in their lives?" I know that I have spent majority of my life thinking this way, until the past few years. My eyes have been opened to the reality of grace, and the understanding that God cannot be any more pleased with me then He already is. The times that I catch myself not walking in this understanding, I realize that I am not clinging to the truth and really believing that God is the greatest satisfaction of my heart, everything that I truly desire. He paid the full price for my sins, and is continually wooing me with the love and joy that He has for me. As I am in this process of growing in my understanding of grace, I see the chains and strongholds in my life naturally breakingoff. I cannot operate under guilt and condemnation, if I want to walk in the power of grace.
I love the truth that Paul speaks about walking in freedom. He says in Phil. 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained." My friends, embrace the truth that God loves you. Repent of your sins, and remember them no more. God loves you and has fully forgiven you. Just like in the garden, after Adam and Eve directly disobeyed God, He still sought after them, and provided for them, and loved them. You are dearly loved by God, and His love for you is constant and without waver. All we are called to do in life is believe this truth. Believe that because Jesus died for your sins, he took away all of your guilt and shame. You are a new creation that God wants to have constant fellowship with.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Blessed are the curious....for they shall have adventures!
Yesterday, I was walking back to my room and I realized that I went the entire day without wearing shoes. That is a sign of a good day! I think if I had to choose between shoes or barefeet, I would always go with barefeet. This reminds me of the guy, Tony I believe is his name, whom I never once saw with a pair or shoes at UNCW. I see where he is coming from.
It is nearing the end of three weeks here in Costa, and I am still falling in love with this beautiful land. There are daily treasures I am discovering about this place, and I feel like i'm a little kid learning the ways of life all over again. Sarah and Jason are two missionaries here in Costa Rica, and they have a little baby named Luka. It is so entertaining to watch Luka explore, question, and investigate the world around him. I connect with Luka in this way, because everything about life here fascinates me and I just want to absorb it all. The serenity on the mountain is incredible. I am continuously overwhelmed by the peace, and joy I experience just looking out at the beauty before me. The clouds make Refugio Solte feel like monestary, with their mystical essence. The trees are lush with thousands of varieties of leaves and designs. Vines hang from the trees, and the forest is so lush that even if it is raining you won't feel it because of the ceiling of branches that cover you.Thank you Jesus for the blessing of waking up everyday in a rain forest. Haha it's pretty funny, that is how I wake up. Typically, I am awakened by the sound of howling monkeys. This begins around 5:30...then the toucans will join in the chorus and together they are an alarm clock for me. Do not be fooled though, the monkeys do not have a cute monkey call; they carry a sound similar to what I would imagine a dinosaur to sound like.
This past week has been chocked full of adventures. The girls and I have been going to waterfalls, ziplining through the forest, swimming in rivers, swinging of ropes like Tarzan, making record timing in our rental car on the mountain, and treasure hunting. All of my girls are hardcore, and their heart for adventure and embracing life is wonderful. We had one of the happiest days the other day when we went and spent the afternoon at a waterfall. It cost 50 colones to enter the property, which equates to roughly one American dollar. I would have to say, this is the best dollar I have ever spent in my entire life. I am so proud of Hannah and Rachel who braved to jump the cliffs next to the waterfall with me. The other girls though were all very brave, and decided to go down the waterfall like a waterslide. It is amazing how perfectly smooth this waterfall is for a waterslide. This was the first time I have ever gone off of a waterfall, and I sit here proud to now cross be able to cross this off of my bucket list.
I am blessed to have spent the past three weeks with incredible girls. There are seven girls attending GOP, and they all have such a heart to know and love God. We've talked a ton about identity, the Kingdom of Heaven, spiritual warfare, and abiding in the Presence of the Lord. It's been beautiful to see the chains of religion breaking, and a greater understanding of truth awakened in the hearts of these precious daughters. I feel honored to know these girls, and am sad to see them leave in two days. The other staff and I prophesied over all of them last week, and I love how the Lord really touched their hearts and encouraged them through our time. Please keep the GOP girls in prayer as they head back to their familiar environments this weekend. Pray that they will be propelled even further into a life of freedom and deeper intimacy with the Father. Now, there are a group of guys here for GOP and I can see the Lord beginning to stir some things in the hearts of these young men. While I won't be closely connected to them the way that I was with the girls, pray that the Lord would accomplish everything He desires to fullfill in the lives of these guys.
A super random incident happened this week with my debit card. Apparently someone in California got a hold of my debit card number and began withdrawing a lot of money from my account. Praise the Lord I was able to get everything sorted, but believe me, trying to deal with bank issues is complicated enough in the States...but it is even more difficult trying to sort these issues out of the country. I think the whole situation is ironic and funny because of all accounts to try to steal from, mine would definitely not be a top choice.
I have been brainstorming and planning a lot for the school in the fall, and the Lord has been downloading some really great ideas. Planning, creating, and dreaming the ideas for this school is one of the most incredible ventures I have ever taken on. Please keep Laurie and I in your prayers as we continue to plan and prepare for the fall. Our school will be an incredible opportunity to raise up a generation of students who walk intimately with the Lord, and have a solid foundation of their value and worth in Him. The resources are all falling into place and it is quite amazing to see how the building, supplies, staff are all coming together. Prayer is definitely need though!
I pray that the Lord is overwhelming you with the goodness of His heart. You are so loved.
It is nearing the end of three weeks here in Costa, and I am still falling in love with this beautiful land. There are daily treasures I am discovering about this place, and I feel like i'm a little kid learning the ways of life all over again. Sarah and Jason are two missionaries here in Costa Rica, and they have a little baby named Luka. It is so entertaining to watch Luka explore, question, and investigate the world around him. I connect with Luka in this way, because everything about life here fascinates me and I just want to absorb it all. The serenity on the mountain is incredible. I am continuously overwhelmed by the peace, and joy I experience just looking out at the beauty before me. The clouds make Refugio Solte feel like monestary, with their mystical essence. The trees are lush with thousands of varieties of leaves and designs. Vines hang from the trees, and the forest is so lush that even if it is raining you won't feel it because of the ceiling of branches that cover you.Thank you Jesus for the blessing of waking up everyday in a rain forest. Haha it's pretty funny, that is how I wake up. Typically, I am awakened by the sound of howling monkeys. This begins around 5:30...then the toucans will join in the chorus and together they are an alarm clock for me. Do not be fooled though, the monkeys do not have a cute monkey call; they carry a sound similar to what I would imagine a dinosaur to sound like.
This past week has been chocked full of adventures. The girls and I have been going to waterfalls, ziplining through the forest, swimming in rivers, swinging of ropes like Tarzan, making record timing in our rental car on the mountain, and treasure hunting. All of my girls are hardcore, and their heart for adventure and embracing life is wonderful. We had one of the happiest days the other day when we went and spent the afternoon at a waterfall. It cost 50 colones to enter the property, which equates to roughly one American dollar. I would have to say, this is the best dollar I have ever spent in my entire life. I am so proud of Hannah and Rachel who braved to jump the cliffs next to the waterfall with me. The other girls though were all very brave, and decided to go down the waterfall like a waterslide. It is amazing how perfectly smooth this waterfall is for a waterslide. This was the first time I have ever gone off of a waterfall, and I sit here proud to now cross be able to cross this off of my bucket list.
I am blessed to have spent the past three weeks with incredible girls. There are seven girls attending GOP, and they all have such a heart to know and love God. We've talked a ton about identity, the Kingdom of Heaven, spiritual warfare, and abiding in the Presence of the Lord. It's been beautiful to see the chains of religion breaking, and a greater understanding of truth awakened in the hearts of these precious daughters. I feel honored to know these girls, and am sad to see them leave in two days. The other staff and I prophesied over all of them last week, and I love how the Lord really touched their hearts and encouraged them through our time. Please keep the GOP girls in prayer as they head back to their familiar environments this weekend. Pray that they will be propelled even further into a life of freedom and deeper intimacy with the Father. Now, there are a group of guys here for GOP and I can see the Lord beginning to stir some things in the hearts of these young men. While I won't be closely connected to them the way that I was with the girls, pray that the Lord would accomplish everything He desires to fullfill in the lives of these guys.
A super random incident happened this week with my debit card. Apparently someone in California got a hold of my debit card number and began withdrawing a lot of money from my account. Praise the Lord I was able to get everything sorted, but believe me, trying to deal with bank issues is complicated enough in the States...but it is even more difficult trying to sort these issues out of the country. I think the whole situation is ironic and funny because of all accounts to try to steal from, mine would definitely not be a top choice.
I have been brainstorming and planning a lot for the school in the fall, and the Lord has been downloading some really great ideas. Planning, creating, and dreaming the ideas for this school is one of the most incredible ventures I have ever taken on. Please keep Laurie and I in your prayers as we continue to plan and prepare for the fall. Our school will be an incredible opportunity to raise up a generation of students who walk intimately with the Lord, and have a solid foundation of their value and worth in Him. The resources are all falling into place and it is quite amazing to see how the building, supplies, staff are all coming together. Prayer is definitely need though!
I pray that the Lord is overwhelming you with the goodness of His heart. You are so loved.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Me enconto Costa
The week has flown bye! It's easy to do when your time is spent with the Lord in a beautiful rain forest. What a blessing it is just to enjoy life, and not be bound by grueling schedules. I am realizing quickly just how hectic I had been allowing my life to be back in the States. There is such a joy in rest, and I feel like the Lord is teaching me to really rest while I am here.
Yesterday was a fun day. The girls and I went to the beach in the morning because the weather was gorgeous. The beaches here are way different then Wrightsville Beach. The sand is black and the jungle basically come right up to the sand. It looks incredible to be in the ocean and have a lush tropical forest right behind the beach. We walked from the place where we were dropped off about thirty minutes to the Whales Tale. This is a famous landmark in Uvita where the land (a peninsula) jets out in the shape of a whale's tale. As we began walking out on the peninsula, a mass of red began moving across the sand. At first I couldn't tell what it was, but when I looked closely I could see that it was a herd of crabs scurrying across the sand. These crabs were beautiful, and the brightest red I have ever seen on a crab.
Hannah one of my GOP girls was stung by a jellyfish and has a huge rung around her thigh and down the back of her leg! Honestly, for anyone of us to get stung, Hannah is by far the toughest...so we praise Jesus for that. There is an abundance of wildlife here in Costa Rica, and everyday is full of surprises as the Lord blesses us with cool new animals. This morning I discovered a tree full of 5 toucans. They were stunning with bright yellow and black feathers. I just am praying against the discovery of snakes and tarantulas though. Every night I hear howling monkeys but I yet to see them.
I drove the car up the mountain the other day for the first time! If you could see this mountain then you would really appreciate my accomplishment. Driving in San Francisco was amazing practice though and definitely helped me yesterday. The mountain roads here are like driving the streets of San Fran...if they were muddy, covered in with huge rocks, and surrounded by deep jungle! My girls were great encouragers for me and I am thankful for their cheers and rejoicing as we made it up the steep hills. As I was driving through the forest it felt like I was in Jurassic Park...minus the T-rex : )
Everyday the weather's had this horrible habit of starting to rain around noon and continuing into the evening. This has been baffling us the past few days, and low and behold we found out this morning that we are in the midst of a tropical storm. This is great news because it means that it shouldn't be like this too much longer. Be praying, right now our water is out because the rainfall was so heavy it busted one of our pipes, and so we are currently out of running water. Diego is up on the mountain trying to find out where the pipe is broken, so proclaim safety and divine direction as he looks for the pipe.
Ok...there is much more to share, but I think this will be all for now. I pray for you my friends, that you find great rest and peace in the Lord today. He is such a wonderful God. All glory to the name of Jesus. Hasta luego!
-Christine-
Yesterday was a fun day. The girls and I went to the beach in the morning because the weather was gorgeous. The beaches here are way different then Wrightsville Beach. The sand is black and the jungle basically come right up to the sand. It looks incredible to be in the ocean and have a lush tropical forest right behind the beach. We walked from the place where we were dropped off about thirty minutes to the Whales Tale. This is a famous landmark in Uvita where the land (a peninsula) jets out in the shape of a whale's tale. As we began walking out on the peninsula, a mass of red began moving across the sand. At first I couldn't tell what it was, but when I looked closely I could see that it was a herd of crabs scurrying across the sand. These crabs were beautiful, and the brightest red I have ever seen on a crab.
Hannah one of my GOP girls was stung by a jellyfish and has a huge rung around her thigh and down the back of her leg! Honestly, for anyone of us to get stung, Hannah is by far the toughest...so we praise Jesus for that. There is an abundance of wildlife here in Costa Rica, and everyday is full of surprises as the Lord blesses us with cool new animals. This morning I discovered a tree full of 5 toucans. They were stunning with bright yellow and black feathers. I just am praying against the discovery of snakes and tarantulas though. Every night I hear howling monkeys but I yet to see them.
I drove the car up the mountain the other day for the first time! If you could see this mountain then you would really appreciate my accomplishment. Driving in San Francisco was amazing practice though and definitely helped me yesterday. The mountain roads here are like driving the streets of San Fran...if they were muddy, covered in with huge rocks, and surrounded by deep jungle! My girls were great encouragers for me and I am thankful for their cheers and rejoicing as we made it up the steep hills. As I was driving through the forest it felt like I was in Jurassic Park...minus the T-rex : )
Everyday the weather's had this horrible habit of starting to rain around noon and continuing into the evening. This has been baffling us the past few days, and low and behold we found out this morning that we are in the midst of a tropical storm. This is great news because it means that it shouldn't be like this too much longer. Be praying, right now our water is out because the rainfall was so heavy it busted one of our pipes, and so we are currently out of running water. Diego is up on the mountain trying to find out where the pipe is broken, so proclaim safety and divine direction as he looks for the pipe.
Ok...there is much more to share, but I think this will be all for now. I pray for you my friends, that you find great rest and peace in the Lord today. He is such a wonderful God. All glory to the name of Jesus. Hasta luego!
-Christine-
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
La Vida Bonita
Hola Amigos! Que tal??
Wow, am I a blessed woman! It is amazing to be in Costa Rica! Thank you Jesus
Right now I am sitting in a cute internet cafe here in Uvita, C.R. The weather is a little misty, but it feels amazing. My skin and hair are soaking in the moisture of this tropical climate. What an incredible adventure it has been already! My heart is overflowing with joy, and peace. I was told before I came to Refugio Solte that there was incredible peace here, but I never thought that it could be this wonderful. Everyday I wake up in a beautiful rust colored room, with hispanic tile floors, white linens, and a breeze blowing through the windows. The reality of the Lord's goodness is insane. Everything is open, and free, and relaxed here.
My journey to get here was quite interesting. I had a 12 hour layover in the Miami airport. As I mentioned earlier, I was able to have some great conversations with people. It was a gift from the Lord to be able to have that time to rest and prepare my heart as I transitioned from life in NC to life in Costa. When I got to Costa Rica the reality that I was alone in another country hit me. When I got through customs I immediately had to leave the airport. As soon as I walked outside, I was bombarded by Ticos asking me if they could help me with my luggage or if I needed a taxi. At first it was quite overwhelming, but then I just repeated the verse in my head, "the Lord has not given me a Spirit of fear," and immediately intense peace came on me. Then I found a nice seat in midst of all of the chaos, where I sat guarding my luggage and belongings while I waited for the others to arrive. I sat there and the Lord brought another girl who was coming to Costa Rica from Mayrland to do study abraod. She was an angel, and sat with me, and we both helped each other look for our parties amongst all of the people.
Then once we met up with everyone, we drove almost four hours from the airport in San Jose to Uvita. We ate at Subway (surprisingly) along the way, and it was so much fun ordering in Spanish. The Lord is graciously unlocking a wealth of vocabulary in my mind that I did not know was tucked away. There is a beautiful young woman named Fannie who lives on the mountain, and she and I have started to become really good friends. She helps me with my Spanish, and she loves having someone to talk to. We are able to communicate enough to have whole conversations in Spanish, which is awesome.
Our GOP group is amazing. Every girl is a ton of fun, and just so hungry to grow closer to the Lord. Its only been a few days and already there has been a lot of breakthrough. There is already a great sense of community and connectedness among the girls. Meals are wonderful too because we just sit and fellowship with one another. Life on the mountain is so simple, and so glorious. Please keep Joy and I in your prayers as we continually seek Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom on how to lead and teach these girls.
We built a trail yesterday that leads to a waterfall. The girls actually loved getting their hands dirty, and it brought such a sense of accomplishment to see the transformation of the trail after we worked on it. We plan on doing other projects around Refugio. This weekend we plan on going to the beach, and exploring the city a little bit.
I really love this land. The people are all so kind and the more I experience life here, the more I see how overly stressed out and overwhelmed most Americans are. I am thankful for the incredible rest I am receiving, and the exposure to a life that is all about community and taking the time to enjoy and embrace life. I know the Lord will really use this time to give me important tools and lifestyle habits that will impact the rest of my life.
I miss everyone at home! Know that you are incredibly loved, and passionately pursued by the creator of the universe. I am praying for you.
Many many blessings,
Christine
Wow, am I a blessed woman! It is amazing to be in Costa Rica! Thank you Jesus
Right now I am sitting in a cute internet cafe here in Uvita, C.R. The weather is a little misty, but it feels amazing. My skin and hair are soaking in the moisture of this tropical climate. What an incredible adventure it has been already! My heart is overflowing with joy, and peace. I was told before I came to Refugio Solte that there was incredible peace here, but I never thought that it could be this wonderful. Everyday I wake up in a beautiful rust colored room, with hispanic tile floors, white linens, and a breeze blowing through the windows. The reality of the Lord's goodness is insane. Everything is open, and free, and relaxed here.
My journey to get here was quite interesting. I had a 12 hour layover in the Miami airport. As I mentioned earlier, I was able to have some great conversations with people. It was a gift from the Lord to be able to have that time to rest and prepare my heart as I transitioned from life in NC to life in Costa. When I got to Costa Rica the reality that I was alone in another country hit me. When I got through customs I immediately had to leave the airport. As soon as I walked outside, I was bombarded by Ticos asking me if they could help me with my luggage or if I needed a taxi. At first it was quite overwhelming, but then I just repeated the verse in my head, "the Lord has not given me a Spirit of fear," and immediately intense peace came on me. Then I found a nice seat in midst of all of the chaos, where I sat guarding my luggage and belongings while I waited for the others to arrive. I sat there and the Lord brought another girl who was coming to Costa Rica from Mayrland to do study abraod. She was an angel, and sat with me, and we both helped each other look for our parties amongst all of the people.
Then once we met up with everyone, we drove almost four hours from the airport in San Jose to Uvita. We ate at Subway (surprisingly) along the way, and it was so much fun ordering in Spanish. The Lord is graciously unlocking a wealth of vocabulary in my mind that I did not know was tucked away. There is a beautiful young woman named Fannie who lives on the mountain, and she and I have started to become really good friends. She helps me with my Spanish, and she loves having someone to talk to. We are able to communicate enough to have whole conversations in Spanish, which is awesome.
Our GOP group is amazing. Every girl is a ton of fun, and just so hungry to grow closer to the Lord. Its only been a few days and already there has been a lot of breakthrough. There is already a great sense of community and connectedness among the girls. Meals are wonderful too because we just sit and fellowship with one another. Life on the mountain is so simple, and so glorious. Please keep Joy and I in your prayers as we continually seek Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom on how to lead and teach these girls.
We built a trail yesterday that leads to a waterfall. The girls actually loved getting their hands dirty, and it brought such a sense of accomplishment to see the transformation of the trail after we worked on it. We plan on doing other projects around Refugio. This weekend we plan on going to the beach, and exploring the city a little bit.
I really love this land. The people are all so kind and the more I experience life here, the more I see how overly stressed out and overwhelmed most Americans are. I am thankful for the incredible rest I am receiving, and the exposure to a life that is all about community and taking the time to enjoy and embrace life. I know the Lord will really use this time to give me important tools and lifestyle habits that will impact the rest of my life.
I miss everyone at home! Know that you are incredibly loved, and passionately pursued by the creator of the universe. I am praying for you.
Many many blessings,
Christine
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Haha
OK I just have to share how blown away I am right now because I am in the Miami airport...in America...and almost every person I have talked to doesn't speak English!!!! These are people who work here! Haha this just makes me smile. I have had some amazingly broken conversations and have met some awesome people from Peru and Brazil. While we may be speaking at the level of a two year old, I can feel the warmth and genuine kindness of the South Americans I have met.
Another funny note....latino women dress so sassy! I would have never guessed that women would wear high heel shoes to travel in, let alone at 3am. Every latino looks so put together and ready to go to a photo shoot.
Oh and I was sitting at my gate and started chit chatting with a guy who turns out to be a pretty famous professional surfer. I know Hunter and Dylan will be happy to hear this.
Needless to say, it's already been quite exciting and I haven't even left the US. Thank you Jesus
Another funny note....latino women dress so sassy! I would have never guessed that women would wear high heel shoes to travel in, let alone at 3am. Every latino looks so put together and ready to go to a photo shoot.
Oh and I was sitting at my gate and started chit chatting with a guy who turns out to be a pretty famous professional surfer. I know Hunter and Dylan will be happy to hear this.
Needless to say, it's already been quite exciting and I haven't even left the US. Thank you Jesus
Friday, May 28, 2010
I'm off!
I am sitting in the Miami airport and it's 12:13 in the morning. My journey to Costa Rica has begun, and I am already experiencing an incredible adventure. Here in Miami my eyes are opened yet again to what a huge world we live in. Sometimes I get so caught up with the goings on in my own little world, that I forget how truly HUGE the world actually is! SO many cultures, faces, stories.... Where are these people going? Do they know how loved they are?!? It will be fun experiencing another world for the next few months, and the incredible beauty that I have never even seen or ever had any exposure to.
I have never been to Miami.... and it's too bad I can't go explore right now. I'm sure one day I will come here again.
My heart is overflowing with excitement, anticipation and joy as I try to imagine what the Lord has in store for me this summer. I am interning with Answering the Call, which is a missions organization based out of Roanoke, VA. Refugio Solte is the missions base in Uvita, Costa Rica where I will be staying. It's a beautiful retreat center, located on top of a mountain. (Well this is what I gather from friends, and pics). I'll give a better discription once i'm there seeing it with my own blue eyes. The first month is a girl's discipleship program, which starts right away. We'll have 7 girls, most of whom are recent high school grads. Tomorrow i'll meet all of them at the airport in San Jose, and then we will travel three hours north to Uvita. My official title is the "Mountain Mama" and will help teach, lead, and love these girls for the next month. Then the end of the month my sweet friends Heather and Erin will join me as interns and will be with me for the rest of the summer. The second month is the guy's discipleship program, which will mostly consist of serving them through cooking and cleaning. Throughout the summer we will also have different missions groups that we will serve who come to Costa Rica with churches and various groups.
Holy Spirit is going to really use this time to shape and mold the lives of everyone on the mountain. Please keep all of us in your prayers. We are proclaiming and believing the Lord for safety and good health, freedom, intimacy, amazing fellowship, and the overwhelming joy that comes from the reality of God's grace. I was really encouraged by Romans 13:11 today where Paul says that it is time to awake from sleep. The Lord longs for us to experience life, and the depth of walking with Him... so much that we are commanded to awake from our sleep.I don't know about you, but I cringe at the thought of being asleep and missing out on the sweet and satisfying presence of my King. I can see how I am still waking up to the glory and reality of grace in my life. The more I do though, the more I feel like I am truly alive, completely satisfied, and overwhelmingly loved....Yes let us taste even more how truly good you are God. May the truth of your grace penetrate the core of our beings.
It's going to be a great summer : )
Many blessings your way
I have never been to Miami.... and it's too bad I can't go explore right now. I'm sure one day I will come here again.
My heart is overflowing with excitement, anticipation and joy as I try to imagine what the Lord has in store for me this summer. I am interning with Answering the Call, which is a missions organization based out of Roanoke, VA. Refugio Solte is the missions base in Uvita, Costa Rica where I will be staying. It's a beautiful retreat center, located on top of a mountain. (Well this is what I gather from friends, and pics). I'll give a better discription once i'm there seeing it with my own blue eyes. The first month is a girl's discipleship program, which starts right away. We'll have 7 girls, most of whom are recent high school grads. Tomorrow i'll meet all of them at the airport in San Jose, and then we will travel three hours north to Uvita. My official title is the "Mountain Mama" and will help teach, lead, and love these girls for the next month. Then the end of the month my sweet friends Heather and Erin will join me as interns and will be with me for the rest of the summer. The second month is the guy's discipleship program, which will mostly consist of serving them through cooking and cleaning. Throughout the summer we will also have different missions groups that we will serve who come to Costa Rica with churches and various groups.
Holy Spirit is going to really use this time to shape and mold the lives of everyone on the mountain. Please keep all of us in your prayers. We are proclaiming and believing the Lord for safety and good health, freedom, intimacy, amazing fellowship, and the overwhelming joy that comes from the reality of God's grace. I was really encouraged by Romans 13:11 today where Paul says that it is time to awake from sleep. The Lord longs for us to experience life, and the depth of walking with Him... so much that we are commanded to awake from our sleep.I don't know about you, but I cringe at the thought of being asleep and missing out on the sweet and satisfying presence of my King. I can see how I am still waking up to the glory and reality of grace in my life. The more I do though, the more I feel like I am truly alive, completely satisfied, and overwhelmingly loved....Yes let us taste even more how truly good you are God. May the truth of your grace penetrate the core of our beings.
It's going to be a great summer : )
Many blessings your way
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