Home

I was scheduled to leave for Nicaragua on the 27th but I received an email from my mother asking me if I would like to come home and watch the Colt's play. I took her up on the offer and I came home. I am about to leave to head back to my current home in Costa Rica. I am ready to get back there into the warm weather and work along side my friends. I feel like I have been super busy since I have been home. I am pretty much tired of shopping right now. I had fun finding things for a couple of the kids down there. It is more fun buying things for others than for myself. God has really blessed me with awesome friends here and in CR. Currently we are hoping to find some transportation so we can get back and forth to the sawmill. If anyone is interested in helping there is a motorcycle for sale. $1000.00 US. It is an important ministry tool that we really need.

This week has gone by really fast. My friends Laura and Kim Stilwell are holding a children's bible school that lasts two weeks. I helped out the other day as my friend Jimmy taught on David and Goliath. I played Goliath and a young kid played David. My role was short, but fun. I charged at the kid with a fake sword, yelled something in spanish, and he pretended like he hit me with a stone. I had fun participating. The center is going very well. We currently have 5 men in the program. One of our men, named Alejandro has one more month left in the program. He has expressed the desire to stick around and serve. He does an awesome job cooking for the house. From time to time he teaches me how to cook Tico style dishes. I have been cooking quite a bit as well. The other night I made fried coconut chicken, plaintains, and tomato slices which are a staple in most dishes down here. The fruits and veggies are so good. I go through about 30 bananas a week, dozen apples, a couple mangoes, 2-3 papayas, and an occasional pinapple.

On another note, being a follower of Jesus has been challenging in my relationships lately. My neighbor asked me to borrow 4 bucks about 3 days ago and he told me he would pay me the next day. Well, he never did, then when I saw him last night he gave me the runaround and said that he had to go to the bank and he would give it to me later on. Well, he never did. This is not the first time this has happened. Maybe, shame on me for doing it again. It is only 4 bucks, but more of the problem is the shuck and jive that I recognize all too well. Another "friend" on the beach that comes to church has wanted my watch for awhile. He had a watch on a couple weeks ago and wanted to trade. I would have just given him my watch, but he wanted to trade so I did. I felt like it was a nice way to bless someone. Well, I found out after wearing the watch for a week that it was fake. Beyond the fake watch I am trying to make a friend and I feel pretty used up. Maybe God is trying to teach me something. The challenging part is not doing something about it physically, just to be perfectly honest. Pride, anger, wrath, and all different sorts of emotions come up when I am wronged and feel manipulated. I know I have done my share in the past, so maybe this is how it feels. I try to practice the teaching's of Jesus, as far as give and it will be given to you...if someone wants to borrow let them borrow not expecting anything in return. The generous man will be prosperous......hopefully prosperity will come in heaven when I get there.

Jaco

I went to Jaco, Costa Rica the other day by bus. I had to go there in order to buy a bus ticket to go to Granada, Nicaragua. I have to leave here every 90 days for 3 days, then I can come back for another 90. I am looking forward to this trip. I will first go to San Jose and stay with my friend Jimmy´s sister and boyfriend. I love being around them and they want me to come and stay with them. I stayed with them over the summer and had a good time. Please pray for this trip as I will be traveling alone. I hear that food and shopping is about half of what it costs here! yay.

I have taught the past 3 weeks at church and I am ready for a break. It is fun and good to prepare to teach, but I am just ready for a break. Last week at church a lady who came for her first time came to Christ. She heard God´s word and something made sense to her. This was super encouraging to all of us. We have a nice location on the beach and one of our main objectives there is to befriend, encourage, teach, and hopefully train up some of the local surfers. We have been having quite a few more come lately, which is awesome. I like having them around.