mi celula...

Every Saturday my church has groups of youth that get together, called cell groups.
Before I was in one of younger kids, and that is because my tutor, Alejandra, was the leader. But now I think I am probably going to be in this cell group with people around my age.
They are very nice, and I like them a lot!
I just wanted to post a pic, mostly because it has a picture of my sisters in it.

This is a group shot I took for them.
It was their Christmas party outing at a "Typical Tica" restaurant.
It was really yummy!

The four in front are my family. Well the guy on the left is Elvin, and that is Karla's boyfriend...Karla is sitting next to him. Next to her is my other sister Mariela, and her boyfriend Juan next to her. I went to Juan's house for New Years.
Mariela and Juan are the leaders of the group.

Just a couple other group shots of the time.
We also celebrated my sister Mariela's birthday this day. They brought out the most disgusting cake!! haha, it was white cake, with sour cream drizzled over it, I had to pretend I thought it was yummy! Then later this day, they all came over to watch movies, and play games. We played "mafia", and it is so funny in Spanish!! But it is fun. My sisters are probably the best actresses I know!
Pictures of my new house and stuff will come.
That's all for now!

Panama City =

Pictures are worth a thousand words, and I wish I could write it all out to tell you about these pictures.... but, I'll keep it short! To put it simply, I LOVED Panama City. I don't know why exactly, but I just loved it!! I would recommend it to any travelers, for many reasons: the people are nice, the city is clean, the bus system is organized, the shopping is great!, it's cheap, there's a lot to do, a lot to see, it's safe, and traveler friendly, and the people like North Americans (for the most part). I could probably go on, but it was really really great.
We hit up the canal, which is amazing in itself. We got to see a few ships go through, and that was fun and stuff. After we went to a botanical zoo/garden, not much to see, except the sweet bamboo! The next day we walked through a place called Casco Viejo. It is where the president lives, and where the old city used to be. Ashley had an eye for the most amazing door there! So we took a pic with it. The city skyline is pretty impressive, and the city itself is right on the coast. Panama was HOT!! Super muggy, and sticky, but the hot weather sure was nice! No beaches to hit up to cool down, but we kept refreshed, and a room with A/C was a blessing! We also went to Panama Viejo, which WAS the old old city, until Pirates over took it, and burned it to ruins! True story,a nd really neat to see the ruins. They built a road right through them, which is really funny. And the last highlight is when Ash and I got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him our Christmas plans in Spanish! There were lots of Latin Santa's, but funny enough here Santa doesn't stop? Wierd.

So just a recap, Panama City is amazing, and I will go back if I get the chance!
One reason why it might have been super great is because it was a lot Americanized, more so than Costa Rica, and it was like a breath of fresh air I think. Felt a little like home, and it was very refreshing!

Bocas Del Toros

These are just some photos from Bocas. We caught the sunset a couple times, sunrises a couple times, and in between just walked the island. No beaches, much to our surprise, so we did attempt to go snorkeling one time, but the weather was not so great. That's the picture of our boat, and of the beach that we were brought to. Then the last few are pics of our hostel. We met some really interesting people, which was a really fun part. Life there is just pretty much chill, you do what you please, and have a drink while you're at it! haha. Although we didn't indulge so much in that scene, we did enjoy the 'feel' of being a backpacker and "roughin it"!
Bocas was nice, but we didn't see what all the hype about it was?
Then on we went from the Carribean coast to the Pacific, from the laid back life to the uptight life, haha.
We jumped a bus for 10 hours to hit up Panama City.

the arrival

The time came, and quickly at that, for me to renew my visa. Many of the students that I had met at the Institute were going home for Christmas, and those that were staying here had their families here. An answer to prayer was that I found a friend to travel with, that soon turned into a group of 6 to go to Panama for 6 days.

Crossing the border to Panama by foot, we are all anticipating the adventure ahead of us...
First on our agenda was to go to the islands off the Carribean coast of Panama in the North named Bocas Del Torros. We had heard that they were beautiful, and did our research and planned to spend a couple days there. After crossing the border by foor, getting a stamp, paying $5, we got in a taxi to the boat depot to be brought out to the main island.

This a snap shot of the main island. All of the buildings on the coast were on planks and in the water. Pretty neat.
We walked our way to the hostel we had picked out, and had been referred to by many. The name of the house was Mondu Taitu. Little did we know it was actually the "Party House" in the island and was known for it's great night life. We (4 guys: Matt, Steve, David and Salem (the last two being the Koreans on our team!)) and the two girls me and Ashley had planned on just bunking it in the dorm room, but thankfully we had our own rooms (one with two beds for the girls, and one with 4 beds for the guys). What a blessing!!!

a Christmas to remember.

This Christmas season I was very excited to do something different. Since last Christmas, I wanted to get away for a Christmas and experience a new culture and really just get away from the comercialism. It was really on my heart to serve this holiday season, and I was open to where God wanted me. I searched for opportunities, and prayed a lot about it. A lot about it.

So... I bet you, the blogging world, is dying to know where God had me serve this holiday season. Well... the truth is, I guess I would like to know where I served as well.

Let me explain.
I came to Costa Rica on a 3 month visa, and it was going to expire on January 3rd, so it was time to flee to another country for a few days, and acquire a new stamp. I found some friends who were in the same boat, and we packed our packs and set out to Panama for a big adventure!
We left on Monday, December 18th, and it was in the plans to make it back by December 24th, around 2am via bus. This was perfect for me, because the comedor that I have helped at in the past was having a huge festival with 400+ kids, and definately needed my help!
This festival was supposed to be the Saturday before (the 18th), but got switched to the 24th afternoon.
So on the bus ride down to Panama City, I was thinking about my desire to serve on Christmas, and I found myself PRAISING God for the change in date of the Comedor Christmas party, because that would mean that I actually would get to serve on Christmas!! It made me smile, and stand in awe yet again, of God's awesomeness!

The realization that I just came to was abruptly shaken when we arrived at the bus terminal and received the news that we would not get to take the bus that we thought we were going to, but instead one that left 12 hours later. I was, and still am, pretty choked, but I trust in the promise that,
"all things work out for the good of those who love him and have been called according to His purpse [Romans 8:28]"
We went on and had a wonderful time in Panama City (posts to come).
On the 20 hour bus ride, apart from trying to get a good nights sleep, I also did some good thinking.
Why would God not have me serve, when I was willing to go where He called? I was open to anything, ready to go? Did I not look hard enough? Did I miss His calling?
I seeked God more in this, his word, through prayer and reading of other books, and I came to this conclusion:
I FIRST NEED TO SERVE HIM.
The book I am reading named, "Experiencing God," was so timely in the chapter I had just read. It's last chapter was just about how when you don't know where God wants you, and where He's called you to minister, take that time to focus on your relationship with Him and fall more in love with Him. Be attentive to all the work that He is doing around you, and when He calls, join Him in His work.
I don't know if any of this makes any sense at all? But I learned a lot this past Christmas, a lot about being content and how to seek God in midst of confusion.
Christmas Eve is the day we got back, at 5 pm. I went for a dinner at my host mom's sister's house with the whole family. We chatted until 11pm or so, came back and I watched them exchage gifts. Christmas cheer was in the air. On Christmas day I enjoyed lunch with my family here, and went to my director's house for dinner with their family. All was wonderful, and lovely, and great.
Not too much to report, nothing super amazing, or super wierd happened, it is just a Christmas I will remember and cherish.
I did in fact get a break from all the American commercialism in a sense. But Costa Rica is very commercialized for sure. The abscense of family and close friends was the hardest, along with no snow.. :)
Along with fellowship and eating of good meals, I also was able to spend a lot of time reading the Christmas story, reflecting on the most perfect gift that was given. How wonderful, magnificent, and simply amazing it really is.

Merry Christmas to all out there, may your holidays be joyful and blessed by our Heavenly Father above!

panamanamana...

happy holidays from panama...
sorry i haven´t been updating, i have been busy.,... which is good
the last posts are updates, and pictures are to come.
i am in panama now, and we went to see the canal today, sweet pics are on their way once i get home.
please pray for continued safety and fun!

Festival of Lights

My friend Ashley and I decided it´d be fun to go into San José and see the Festival of lights. The parade route was forever long, and everyone--- not even kidding!--- came out to see the show. There were SO many people there, it was just NUTS! So the parade started at 6 pm, or so the signs said. But I once again was reminded of this very ´time insensitve´culture!! My friend Ashley and I found a spot on the route standing behind 3 rows of people. We were talking to eachother in Spanish to practice a little bit. Once we found our spot, this very nice man asked us if we were gringas... haha. We laughed pretty good, because we were even speaking Spanish and he still knew we weren´t from around here!! We talked to the man for about an hour or so, and definately got our practice in of Spanish. We waited and waited for the parade to start. I finally took a seat on the sidewalk cuz I knew it would be longer. Then the man that was talking to us, who had left, came back and invited us to come in the restaurant and sit with him and his friends. So we agreed, the restaurant was right behind us, and had a big open window to watch the parade. We talked with them for a little bit, and by this time, I have to admit, I was getting a little impatient. We didn´t see our first float of the parade until almost 9 PM!!! It was SO crazy! So we watched maybe 5 floats go by with the friends we had just made, but decided we wanted to get out and walk around a little bit. So we walked up the parade route, and decided we were hungry. We saw huge pieces of pizza for a dollar, so we were going to split one. We got our pizza, found a place on a curb to eat it, and boy was it satisfying!! The we walked back up a block to look at the parade, and to much of our surprise, the float that we had seen maybe 10 minutes earlier was just passing by, and we were only 3 blocks down from where we first saw it!! It was such a slow moving parade!! BUT... the floats were very impressive, and they even had a lot of marching bands which are always my favorite!! I got to see Latin American flag girls, very different, but so great!

All in all it was another cultural experience in so many ways!! Oh, and this is a picture of Ashley and me with confeti all over. You could by confeti for 100 colones ... like 20 cents... and everyone went around throwing it at everyone. We for sure got it in our mouths, and eyes. It was really fun cuz it reminded Ashley and me of snow!! The streets were all white!! So pretty!

the turkey of Costa Rica

One tradition that I had heard a lot about, but didn´t know too much about was the making of Tamali´s. They are super important here in Costa Rica... maybe in other parts of Latin America too, but I don´t know that... My host mom described it as important as having a turkey at our Thanksgiving meals. To them it wouldn´t be Christmas without Tamali´s.

LEFT: this is my host mom's sister and my host mom Emiliana (the one on the right)
To make the bready dough part of the tamoli you have to mix a lot of things together to get it just right. One ingredient is the juice from the meat that they cooked. In this process they don't wast anything!
After the dough part is made, you bring it to the table where all the ingredients are. You lay down two pieces of banana leaves, and put a big spoon full of the dough in the middle of the leaves (pictured RIGHT).

LEFT: this is what the tamoli looks like with all ingredients in it, the ingredients include a piece of meat (pork usually), a spoon full of rice, a red peper, a green olive, a prune, 3 peas and I think that's it. The olive makes it sour, and prune keeps it sweet.
Then you wrap them all up to the size of an envelope, ad about 3 inches thick. You plac two like that together, and tie them like the picture on the RIGHT. Then you boil them in a big pot, and then you indulge!!
We made close to 200 tamoli's!! it was so crazy!
Very cultural, and fun to experience.
The ending result is that they really don't taste good to me, but boy do they enjoy them!

Teatro National

In light of the holiday season, what´s the holidays without a good theater performance, right?

There is this beautiful National Theater in the middle of San José that I have passed quite a few times, and have dreamed of the chance I would get to see a performance there. But knowing that usually only operas and other really artsy things in Spanish are there, I doubted my opportunity. But was I wrong... The Nutcracker came in town, and a few other Gringas and I jumped on the opportunity to see it!! We had great seats, and the show was very impressive. It was great that it was a ballet, so I didn´t have to think too hard while watching! It was a wonderful performance, and a great night out on the busy town!

Jessi, Ashley and Me!
aka... the gringas!

sister bonding!

introducing my sister Karla. she is 20, and her birthday is one day after my real sister´s, which is really crazy! she has a super great voice, and always invites me places, and talks to me lots!

long overdue update!

hi guys!!! I'm still here I promise!! haha. Well, lots has been going on, hence the reason why I haven't posted in awhile.

Let's see where to start.... I started Leadership discipling class (I guess we can call them that?) with my director Chuck! Well, I've had one and it was great! I have homework, and that is to read this book called, "Experiencing God" and it's fabulous!! I'm learning so very much from it! Then after our meeting, Chuck, Robbi and I all went to look at a new house here in San Francisco. It was time for a change, and to get a new experience. The meeting of the new family went very well, and the house was nice... so I moved in on Monday!! haha. Very quick, but when my life fits into two bags and a carry-on it's easy to pack up and move!! The move went smooth, and I'm adjusting very well. I was sad to leave the Brenes', but they are so close, I've already popped in to say hello once! I'm looking forward to coffee visits. They were spectacular, and I'm so glad to have experienced my first two months of Costa Rica with them. Here are some pictures of the move...

Myself, Aida and Carlitos, a posed going away picture!!

Here is my room to the left in the midst of packing...two bags folks, that's it!! and then to the left is Edwin, Aida and me saying farewell... They are just so cute! And then this next pic is of Daniela sleeping 15 minutes into High School Musical!! I rented it to watch with her and Diana, but she fell asleep!! They all called her 'gato' because she looks like a cat!! And the last picture is with the crazy s themselves!! My mom sent me M&Ms, and i made cookes with the s. They couldn't keep their fingers out of the batter, and it just reminded me of when i was a kid, I was the exact same way!! Oh Fun times!

Well that's it. Things are going good. I'll get pics of my new family and house up sometime. I'm without internet for awhile, so it's off to the cafe i go!! Thanks for all your prayers. God is really using so many things to keep me trusting Him and seeking Him more. I am amazed and humbled by His faithfulness everyday.

Blessings to you all!!

Happy Holidays!

A Heart of Gratitude

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 100:4

So much to be thankful for.
As I take time to ponder over the last year let me list just a few:

~ I am thankful for my amazing family that loves me, and supports me in all things I pursue.
~ I am thankful for always having a warm place to sleep at night.
~ I am thankful that I have food to eat.
~ I am thankful for ALL of the safe travels I have had throughout the year.
~ I am thankful for such wonderful encouraging friends.
~ I am thankful to be a citizen of a free country with limitless options.
~ I am thankful for the priveledge, honor and ablitlity to learn and be a missionary.
~ I am thankful that difficult times arise, He is my Rock and my Strength.
~ I am thankful for the neverending blessings He pours out so generously, and many times go unthanked.
~ I am thankful I serve a loving, all knowing God who is so good, and is in control.

I hope that those who celebrated today were totally blessed.
So much to be thankful for.
Praise God.
Praise God.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

that's right folks, today up went the Christmas tree!!!!
Not only that, but the Christmas decorations made their way out of the boxes and onto the counters and walls!!! We have a wreath on our door, snowmen flooding the television stand (okay...only two), and endless Christmas tablecloths!! And I'm not even exaggerating when I say endless, for about the last 5 weeks or so, we've had a different Christmas table cloth on the table every week. I don't know where they come from, but they just show up! Aida and Carlos also put up the Christmas lights outside our house now. More and more houses are putting up lights, and it's really pretty. Christmas all over every store when I got here at the beginning of October!! haha, it was really quite a shock to see!! But now as it approaches the holiday season, it's so comforting! Okay, just thought I'd post a little something!

here's a picture with both Carlos and Aida, and one of just me and Carlitos.
Carlos and I are the kids in the family...haha

...like waves hitting the shore

That's right...I think I've actually hit it.
***CULTURE SHOCK***
Little by little it creeps up on you. The differences in Culture you notice, and simply exclaim inside, "well that's different..." come like waves hitting the shore. Of all of the changes I've undergone, and all the things I've notcied are just simply "different," I hit a point where I have concluded that it actually was affecting me in a way. The defining point was yesterday at breakfast, and it came in the form of Peanut Butter. A very minor incident, that makes me laugh now, but yesterday at breakfast I was kinda frustrated and very...well... shocked!
I'm learning the difference and importance of knowing that things are 'different' and not 'wierd.' What's not usual for us in North America, here it is common sense and very routine in many ways. And when I was telling Chuck about some of the things, he advised me that I will find that this is how they do things, and some thing I will find we have a better way of doing them in North America, and many other things I will notice that they actually have a better way of doing things here due to their culture. So as I deal with the waves that frequently come my way, I thank you for your thoughts and prayers!