tico treasures

"Tico" is the slang term for people that live in Costa Rica. Below are some treasures I have found while living in San Jose for the past week.

~mariposas. (read previous blog for a little story on how these creatures have touched my life...they have been showing up in many random places since then!)

          ~bus rides. I ride the bus every day to and from language school for a total of almost an hour each day. Thankful for the opportunity on the bus to observe different parts of the city along the route, listen to worship music and sermons on podcasts to direct my heart towards Christ and chat with my sweet fellow intern and new closest friend, Sydney.

~rain rain rain. It's rains every day here in San Jose. It's annoying at times, but also so beautiful. Especially since in Houston we have not seen rain in such a long time! I enjoy walking in my yellow rain jacket and wearing chakos each day to defeat the elements!

         ~spanish school. I go to spanish language school in downtown San Jose 5 days a week, 8-12 for 6 weeks. In my grammar class there are 6 others chicas each from different places: Denmark, Finland, France, Italy and California. I have enjoyed getting to know them and their cultures and learning spanish together. I also have a conversation class for an hour, one-on-one with a teacher. She has been very open with me and asked a lot of questions about my life and my faith. I'm so thankful for the opportunity I had to share my faith with her (she is not a Christian) and spend the next 5 weeks chatting with her every day!

~simple life. life here is just that: simple. no abundance of unnecessary things, just a people getting by with what they got with people they share life with. we all could learn a little something from this tico treasure.

        ~rice and beans. Almost every meal has rice and beans. It's cheap and easy. I'm thankful to be fed by my host parents each night, even if it is the same thing every day. I've been successfully avoiding eating rice and beans for breakfast and lunch thus far... thankful for fresh fruit to go for bfast each day! Pineapple here is amazing!

~my room. I sleep and live out of a very small room with no windows to the outside. However, I can hear everything that goes on outside and in the house...everything! I'm used to the noise now and I'm so thankful for this little room and all the noisy activity in and outside my casa. It's the only place I can call my own here that is completely comfortable to be.

       ~inclines. I live on the incline of a mountain and I break a sweat every day walking from the bus stop up to my casa. So thankful for the forced work out and the incredible view along the way.

view up the mountain in the morning from outside my house (sun rises at 5:30 a.m. here!)

view down the mountain to the bus stop

after school going back up as the rain clouds roll in

a treasure in downtown San Jose across the street from my language school (Josephine is my middle name for those that don't know, so I thought this place was fun because we share names!)

PURA VIDA

(the expression all ticos say for, well, everything)

Gracias a Dios for all the tico treasures in my life and the ones yet to come!

perros calientes

I have had quite an eventful weekend!

Saturday: We had our YL/WL leader retreat with the staff and volunteer adult leaders and the 8 student leaders (10-12th graders, 4 gals & 4 guys) who will help lead wyldlife (the middle school "club"). I felt like part of the group instantly. This group of 8 students blew me away with their leadership and desire to serve for the sake of their peers and middle school students knowing Christ. We dug into some scripture, played lots of games, planned club for the fall semester and ate lots of pizza and the most delicious crepes ever! My heart is full of thanks for this new community of people in my life that I get to journey with for the next 9 months.

Our team of student leaders!

Alex, Sydney and Sofi (fellow YL leaders)

Sunday: Went to La Vina church (associated with The Vineyard in US) and worshiped in Spanglish. Twas beauty in that place, seeing gringos and ticos whole-heartedly and humbling worshiping Jesus Christ. Afterwards, I went to Walmart (yes they have Walmart here!) and got groceries for the week and hung with my YL team amigas.
My host family has "movie night" on Sunday evenings where we all (madre Rosi, padre Carlos & other "tenants", Sonia, Luis and I) cram into the parents bedroom and watch a movie (american movie dubbed en espanol!), eat hotdogs and drink coke. I have to explain their version of hotdogs, aka "perros calientes"....it's a regular hotdog on a bun with butter, ketchup, mustard and mayo with cabbage and diced tomatoes on top. Quite a concoction! It wasn't that bad actually! I had such a blast laughing and hanging with my Costa Rican family tonight. Thankful for awkward food and situations that make life so much fun.

I also am so thankful for technology that allows me to see and talk to my family, boyfriend and friends while I'm here.

Gracias Papa.

mariposas

I have arrived in Costa Rica and survived my first few days venturing about the unique city of San Jose! I live in a small house on a mountain in Escazu (west of San Jose). My host parents are very sweet. Mi madre cooks me breakfast and dinner every day (rice and beans are in almost every meal!) and mi padre is from Lima, Peru (we have fun things to talk about, since I've been there). My Young Life International team in San Jose is AWESOME. 5 gals, including me. All unique, all so loving, authentic and friendly. I would not have survived my first few days here without them! Looking forward to being on a team and doing ministry together this school year!

As soon as I landed, we hit the ground running with getting to know each other and planning the semester for YL. Needless to say, there has been a lot to take in with new ministry, foreign language and unknown people and lands. Yesterday feeling very overwhelmed and doubting why I was here, I was reminded of my purpose and what keeps it steadfast. The HOPE in the saving grace of Jesus Christ is the only thing that sustains my purpose. This truth revealed to me was a breath of fresh air as I was being suffocated by fears.

Today Sydney, the other intern, and I completed "Mission San Jose". Our instruction was to take the bus to downtown San Jose and visit different landmarks in the city. We did not know what to expect, but discovered many treasures in the city, admist getting lost one too many times!

One place we went to was Museo National. We walked in and the first exibit was a Butterfly Museum! Butterflies (mariposas) fluttered about us and my heart flooded with thanks. I got giddy sensing the love of Christ in that moment. Butterflies have always been a symbol of God's love and presence to me ever since senior year of high school. After such a long, overwhelming past few days, these beautiful creatures reminded me of the beauty and richness of life when living for the Kingdom of God.

Butterflies are such special creatures because they embody transformation. The butterflies must ABIDE in their cacoons in order to be made into the wonderous creature they are. As you and I ABIDE in our Father, we are transformed into the reflection of God we were made to be and are free to flutter in the abundance of God's grace. Renewal and transformation always begin with abiding in Jesus Christ with a still heart.

Where ever you are today, may you remain in Jesus Christ, the only secure hope in life and the purpose for every moment. 

a desire fulfilled

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

For the past 4 years or so, I have had a desire to go to a Spanish-speaking country after I graduated college to learn Spanish and work for a non-profit or Christian ministry. As God led me to serve with Young Life in West Houston, my desire to do full-time ministry and learn Spanish grew. Our gracious Father has given me an opportunity to fulfill this desire through serving with Young Life International for 10 months in San Jose, Costa Rica. I leave tomorrow morning!


*I am going to try and document my time and thanks in Costa on this blog, so stay tuned!*

 I am now about to venture into a foreign land with a lot of "unknowns". As I've been preparing to go, it has been difficult to remain thankful amidst the obstacles, doubts and fears of leaving my home, family and friends. God continually has brought me back to the truth of His love, character and faithfulness.

.TRUST.

The biggest thing I learning this summer is how important trusting our God is. The love of God is so trustworthy and when we rest in that truth our hearts can be at peace with whatever circumstance. As we trust the Giver of all things good, we are led to a state of thankfulness.

Continuous trust=constant gratitude.

I am convinced I have the best people in my life. So thankful for the support, love and prayers from my brothers and sisters in Christ as I start this new chapter of life. Below are some pics from my last days in Houston.






Thanks. Abundant Thanks.