Mandatory Vaca!!

So today I am heading out to Nicaragua for my mandatory vacation courtesy of Costa Rica and the visa laws. I am actually going with my roommate this time; first time to not have to go alone! We should arrive by bus around 9pm tonight to begin 3 ½ days of laying out in the sun poolside and one day by a laguna. The laguna is actually a crater lake from one of the extinct volcanoes. (Or let’s hope that it’s extinct!)

I look forward to this time of renewal and relaxation. I’m excited to have some down days all together to get alone with God and learn how to be still in His presence and to listen to Him. I also will do some work; reviewing the lessons I have written and editing them. I also look forward to get to know my roommate better.

Please be in prayer for safety as we travel today and for our return trip home on Friday. Pray for everything to go smoothly at the border. Also please pray for me and my Restless Leg Syndrome. It makes traveling very painful and I will be on a bus for at least 7 hours if not longer. Thankfully God has heard your prayers every time I have made this trip and I have never had an issue (which is very uncommon.) Also pray for my time with God that I will listen and most importantly learn to be silent before Him.

I’ll be without internet until I get back so until the next weekend….

Also pray that my roommate finds her bus tickets fast and if not that the bus station will not make her buy another one since they already have all her info in the computer.

A Good Start

Over the past few months, things have been slow at work. I started out doing individuals and then my boss told me she wanted me to wait a week and then another week and then until January, now it’s until February. (Key word phase here: one must always be flexible, super flexible.) I did teach a few lessons to the girls on the real meaning of Christmas and salvation over the month of December. Along with teaching a few therapeutic workshops, I have been writing lesson after lesson to prepare for the new Formación Cristana program.

The second week of January ushered in the beginning of what will lead to incredible busyness. We began teaching the first few lessons of the program, I have three cabañas and Tiffany has one cabaña. We also received one new girl, so I have been getting to know her and conducted an interview and developed her treatment plan for the spiritual aspect of her process.

The exciting part to see is how excited the girls are to have Bible studies. They will come to me and say “we have Formación Cristiana with you today.” This is such an encouragement to me. In the cabaña of Rut (1st phase), I have been teaching on Jesus, His life and His ministry. In the cabaña of Ester (2nd phase), I have been teaching on what is the Bible, who God is and what is sin. In the cabaña of Débora (3rd phase), I have been teaching on who is Jesus, His forgiveness and mercy and who is the Holy Spirit.

Since I have not been able to do individuals, every day after lunch I have chatted with a girl for about 30 minutes. My girls are dealing with some hard things as to be expected yet they have tender hearts which I love. One feels so guilty over a sexual sin that she doesn’t feel like God has forgiven her even though she never wants to do it again and has asked for forgiveness over and over and so it’s making it hard to have a relationship with God. One who is having doubts if she really believes in God (which she does) because she can’t understand if she’s protected by God, then why He did not protect her from all the abuse and hurt in her life. One has a lot of fear because she use to play games of divination and use to go to a witch to have her cast spells and have things bad happen to an ex-boyfriend. Now she feels guilty and not forgiven. One worries of sinning because she doesn’t want to forgive her abusers. One, who is a believer, is very confused about the catholic teachings she grew up and because of this she has many fears. One, who is a believer, is so mad at God right now and doesn’t want to be but doesn’t know how not to be as the hurt of her past overwhelms her. One asked me why did God even make her. Why didn’t he just make her an animal because she’s such a bad person.

I’m thankful that the girls feel like they can share these intimate things with me and that God would even use me. I pray that the Lord continues to provide me with His words and His truth to speak into the lives of these girls. I pray for the Spirit to guide every conversation and to give me His wisdom that we’re promised to receive.

As this month comes to a close, I am thankful to have so much time to prepare the lessons and not tons of responsibilities that would take the time away. I look forward to February and the starting of individuals, as the girls continue to ask for them. I look forward to see how God continues to work in the lives of these girls and pulls on the hard work together.

Please pray for the lessons I still need to write, the revision and the teaching of them. Please pray for me as I also develop and write lessons for the special Bible studies I will begin doing soon. These will be once a week for Débora (3rd phase) and Támara (4th phase) and each month will be on a theme, which my boss will give me. Please pray for the times I spend with the girls that they will see and hear the light of Christ.

A Serious Conflict

Please be in prayer for the border conflict between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. As I mentioned in November, Nicaragua invaded our northern pacific border and even with the World Court telling Nicaragua to get out, they have not left.

They are drudging the river and have caused major damage to Costa Rica’s land that can’t be repaired. It continues on. They are calling it a serious conflict, in which if Costa Rica does not enforce the security of the border that this will only be the beginning of worse to come. However, they don’t have the money to enforce the border nor to even train the police. (We don’t have an army here.)

They are saying that there are talks with Canada and the US to send troops down as soon as we might need them. People are on edge here because it’s beginning to look like war could be something looming in the not too far future.

Please pray for a peaceful solution and a quick one. Pray that lives will not be lost in this conflict. Pray for the leadership of this country and those involved in how to proceed. There is a meeting in Mexico in the next several days to discuss more of this.

To read more about this and to stay up to date check out the English newspaper called Tico Times…. http://www.ticotimes.net/News/Top-Story/Tough-talk-as-Costa-Rica-Nicaragua-border-tightens-_Friday-January-14-2011

Let it Begin!

Over the past few months, things have been slow at work. I started out doing individuals and then my boss told me she wanted me to wait a week and then another week and then until January, now it’s until February. (Key word phase here: one must always be flexible, super flexible.) I did teach a few lessons to the girls on the real meaning of Christmas and salvation over the month of December. Along with teaching a few therapeutic workshops, I have been writing lesson after lesson to prepare for the new Formación Cristana program.

This week has ushered in the beginning of what will lead to incredible busyness. We began teaching the first lessons of the programs, I had two cabañas and Tiffany had one. We got a new girl yesterday so I will start teaching her next week; which that makes three cabañas I will be teaching next week. So far the lessons have gone well and the girls have been excited to get back into the Bible studies. This always makes me so excited to see them excited. I also have been helping a girl with her English studies.

Since I have not been able to do individuals, every day after lunch I have chatted with a girl for about 20 minutes. My girls are dealing with some hard things as to be expected yet they have tender hearts which I love. One feels so guilty over a sexual sin that she doesn’t feel like God has forgiven her even though she never wants to do it again and has asked for forgiveness over and over and so it’s making it hard to have a relationship with God. One who is having doubts if she really believes in God (which she does) because she can’t understand if she’s protected by God why then did He not protect her from all the abuse and hurt in her life. One has a lot of fear because she use to play games of divination and use to go to a witch to have her cast spells and have things bad happen to an ex-boyfriend. Now she feels guilty and not forgiven.

I’m thankful that the girls feel like they can share these intimate things with me and that God would even use me. I pray that the Lord continues to provide me with His words and His truth to speak into the lives of these girls. It’s been a good week.

Please pray for the lessons I still need to write (which are a lot) and the teaching of them. Please pray for me as I also develop and write lessons for the special Bible studies I will begin doing soon. These will be once a week for Débora (3rd phase) and Támara (4th phase) and each month will be on a theme, which my boss will give me. Please pray for the times I spend with the girls that they will see and hear the light of Christ.

Remembering and Expecting

I know it's been awhile since I have posted on here. I'm back into a routine and will get back on top of it. I promise.

Well it’s a new year, a time to look back and look forward. I can’t believe how time has flown by; it’s been almost two and a half years since I moved here. I started the new year of 2008 wondering when I would move to Costa Rica, how would I learn Spanish, what will my job look like, what will life be like? The questions went on and on.

I moved here with what I thought was survivor’s Spanish but found out quickly that I really didn’t speak any. Yes, I could ask a few essential questions but I didn’t understand the response. I could tell you a few basic things about me, but that was the extent. I came to this realization in my first hour in Costa Rica when I was dropped off at my Tico home and with a lady who spoke no English.

I remember that culture shock hit me that very day. It was the very hand of God that kept here during those first two days. I wanted nothing more than to return home to the States and return back to my life. I also remember during those days that the Lord gave me sweet reminders of His love for me. Even as I flew over Costa Rica for the very first time, I asked God if He was really sure about this and if I heard Him wrong. At that moment, I looked out my window and we were flying over a majestic rainbow. (God uses rainbows in my life as a kiss from Him. They always come when I need a gentle reminder of His love for me.)

I started a year of language school and made many friends who now live all over the Spanish speaking world. I actually learned Spanish! Praise God. Learning a new language is a whole blog of its own. You learn quickly to laugh at yourself, all the time. You think you are sounding pretty good at this Spanish thing, until in class you learn a new verb tense and that what you have been saying all along has been wrong and in reality you sound like a 5 year old speaking. Really, a 5 year old sounds better than you. Yet sadly I have found that I continue to have to laugh at myself.

In October of 2009, I started my work at Renacer. I thought I had an idea of what I’d be doing but it all changed over and over. The basics were there but they were different. I ended up observing groups for almost 3 months before I was able to begin some of my work. I also found out quickly that Spanish out in the real world and with teenagers was completely different. At first, I wondered if I even really understood Spanish.

The last year and three months have been anything but expected. It has been a crazy rollercoaster that I would love to get off. As I began ministry, the enemy really stepped up his attacks on me. I found myself without many friends, since all my friends from school had moved to their countries of ministry. I found myself alone, sad, confused, stressed and ready to pack up the bags and return to the States on many different occasions.

Thankfully God has kept me here and has grown me. I have grown in ways that I could never have imagined. Living life in ministry and in another country changes a person. It can change a person for the bad or for the good. I pray that the changes He has made in me are for the best. I have been confronted with challenges, some days it feels like one right after the other. But God has grown me in my view of Him, although that view is one that is still too small and needs continual growth.

I have been stretched in ways that I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it through without giving up. My friends have heard me say on many occasions “Why can’t God just leave me alone for a few and let me rest and recover?” Oh but thankfully He doesn’t. He knows what I need and can take.

I look back and see how God has been creating a beautiful garden from my ugly ashes. I am overwhelmed that He would use me to do His work and that I get to have front row seat to it all. How amazing. I am so undeserving.

I look forward now at the new year of 2011 wondering what God has in store for me. Could this be my last year here in Costa Rica? (Which is a whole mixed bag of feelings.) How will I even know? But thankfully that’s not even on the list to start thinking about yet.

I am excited that we will be beginning the Formación Cristana program next week. I’m excited to see how this structured environment for all phases will enrich the learning of who God is. I’m excited for the tender hearts of the girls that are here and are excited to start having Bible studies again. I’m excited that there will be new girls entering this campus to start new and transformed lives! Oh the beauty of it all.

I look forward to this year as the girls’ trade in their ashes for His beauty and continue the growth and fruitfulness of this garden, this forest that is growing from the heart of Renacer. What a treasure we have been given.

I can’t say I look forward to the battle that is raging around me for the lives of these girls and even in my own personal battles. But I do look forward to seeing more of the power of God and who God is as He reigns over these battles with His victory.

I look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead. I look forward to the transformation process in the lives of these precious young girls and even the transformation process in myself. I do not want to be the same. I also look forward to at least one friend coming down to visit me this year and the possibilities of others coming.

I enter this year with hope, excitement and a readiness for what God will bring. I enter with a heart full of aches and concerns but also with a heart that is growing more sensitive to God and His loving call of “Come and rest.” I enter this year with the desire that the person who enters the next year is a person who is constantly being transformed more and more into the likeness of our dear Savior. Oh this is my desire for the year.