La Belleza Para Las Cenizas Beauty For Ashes

NEW ADDRESS

2009-11-09T17:55:00.002-06:00

Hello all! I am in the stages of several new blogs coming to you. But I wanted to give you my new address if you so chose to send some snail mail (which I would love). Note that a letter does take an extra stamp or so; check with your post office.

Sunshine Loveland Cristo Para La Ciudad Internacional (or CPCI) Apartado 509-2350 San Francisco de Dos Rios Costa Rica America Central

Time to Start Teaching!

2009-10-27T21:57:00.003-05:00

Today I spoke with Cindy, who is second in command here at Renacer and she is tica, about how I was feeling about the program and the girls. I told her that I was really impressed with the quality and set up of the program and how the girls respond. She asked me with what phases of the program I would really like to work with. I told her I really didn’t have a preference and I believe I could do work well with all the phases.

We also discussed what my role would be, Formacion Cristiana (Christian formation) or Trabajadora social (social worker). I went out on a limb and asked if I would be able to split my time between the two since I would love to do both and feel that I’m qualified to do both.

The result was that I would start with tallers (workshops) from the social worker perspective with the highest two cottages (Deborah and Tamara) and I would do Formacion Cristiana with the first two phases (Rut and Ester). She asked me if I would start by doing 4 tallers next week, one on each of the 4 core things; respect, responsibility, honesty, and acceptance.

As you can imagine I was a bit overwhelmed by this task. So I asked if I could just do 2 and gradually work up to the 4 since it takes a lot more time to prepare in Spanish. She said yes and gave 2 tallers on respect and responsibility, which will be an hour and half each. She also wants me to come up with a sport type activity that combines the two, which also is an hour and half long. I have to have my write ups in on Monday.

Wow! This is really happening! I’m overwhelmed, but excited as well. I’m glad to start my actually work now. It’s time to start planning.

3 Ran Away and 1 Returned

2009-10-26T19:55:00.003-05:00

I planned on writing a very different blog today but I will wait until tomorrow. Instead I will tell you about what happened today at work.

First of all, you must know that I love it up there with the girls. I’m building rapport with the girls and staff members and tomorrow (Tuesday) we will be discussing what my exact responsibilities are going to be.

Second, let me introduce you to three girls that this blog is about. Wendy is about 15 years old and has been in our program for 1 ½ months. Last week she just moved into the second house and phase of the program. Wendy came straight from the streets and had spent a long time there. I was told that everything about her was of street manners and behaviors, but she has changed so much in just the short time she has been here. She and I have connected some and at times she will rush to be the girl who is sitting or standing by me. She has a sweet heart and a very hard exterior.

Shenara is also about 15 years old and she has been in the program for 4 months. She is in the second phase and I believe the second level of it. She is a sweet yet quiet girl. She interacts well with her peers and has come a long way from where she was at. Shenara has a family but I don’t know what her home life is like.

Carolina is 16 years old and has a birthday coming up. Today was her 1 week anniversary. She is a short and quiet girl. Her parents are not involved and she is part of a program called PANI which is what our foster care service program is in the states. She appeared to be making friends and starting to adjust to the program.

So back to today’s events. We had been at work for only about 10 minutes when we looked out the window of the cafeteria and saw Wendy walking up the road to the gate. We got worried that she was going to try to run. I thought it was going to be pretty hard since the place is surrounded by high gates with barbwire and barbwire gates as well. But she climbed right up that thing and struggled a little with the barbwire before she was gone. Staff went after her but she refused to come back and hid.

This sent many of the girls into a panic of anger and sadness. While the more advanced girls (in the program) tried to comfort those who were hurting. It was incredible to see the family life that they have created and how they do try to look out for each other.

After our devotional service, about an hour later, all the girls were doing their daily chores when all of a sudden Shenara was gone. She climbed a barbwire fence and went through a little forest area to the street where we saw her meet up with Wendy and they began walking away.

At that moment Carolina was getting mad at one of the social workers and out of her anger she ran up to the gate, with staff in pursuit. She was screaming and being irrational but couldn’t be talked out of it. She climbed up the gate, with much struggle, and got caught on the barbwire for a few but finally made it over. Staff went out the gate to try to get her in but she refused to and took off down the mountain, trailing close behind the other two.

Once again many of the girls were really upset. While the girls were in groups Wendy and Shenara came back but Shenara would not stay. Wendy reports that she was really scared once she was out there. She knows what the streets are like and didn’t want to go back. She apologized in the group and said she is happy that she is getting her third chance and is committed to change. She didn’t want to go back to that lifestyle and knows she has it well off here at Renacer.

So that was today. Please be praying for Shenara and Carolina as they are out there, who knows where. Pray for safety and that they will find help and not turn back to the lives they came from.

My First Day at Work

2009-10-06T19:24:00.000-05:00

Today was my first day at Renacer, a drug and alcohol rehab center for teen girls 12-18 years old, and it went very well besides a bump here and motion sickness. I can tell that this day was prayed over by so many of you, which I am so grateful for.

Jesus and I has some time last night preparing me for the day ahead. He and I worked through fear, anxiousness and releasing my rights of what I think should take place. Then He brought me to Psalm 96 which speaks of how great our God is and how His name and works are to be proclaimed everywhere and by everyone, even creation. It was an incredible date with Him as He encouraged me only as He can.

I went to bed and woke up without being nervous, which is nothing like me, so it was only a work of God! To God be all the glory! I got to the office at 7:15am where I was suppose to meet the van and others who go up, to the top of the mountain where Renacer is, but no one was there. I knew I was 15 minutes early and thought nothing of it. But when 7:30am came and went and it was approaching 8am I really got worried. (This part made me the most nervous – how do I tell my boss I didn’t come today because the van that takes everyone didn’t come, nor anyone else for that matter.)

A young lady came at 8am, named Pricilla, and I spoke with her. She took care of me, by letting me hang out with her for an hour and half for the van to come back down and get me. I guess there was a miscommunication issue and the driver wasn’t aware that I would be going and everyone was there so he left.

I got up there about 9:45am and met with the psychologist, Cindy – who is second in command, and got the introductory stuff of your first day on the job stuff, except of course in Spanish. I then got to hang out as the girls did dance aerobics, which next time I’ll join them. Raquel and Denna, a couple of the girls, got me out there to teach me some dance moves. Afterwards we had lunch, rice and beans.

Afterwards I was with the Mis responsibildades (My responsibilities) group which is the level 2 group. I sat in with them as they had Informacion Cristiana (Christian Information) or Bible study with a missionary from Cuba name Loida, who has been there for the past 3 years. She works on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Afterwards they had a group with the social worker, Ingrid, about social and personal esteem. Then it was 4pm and head back down, in which I got motion sick going down the winding and bumpy mountain road. Not sure what to do about that.

An answered prayer was that Spanish all day didn’t give me a headache. There was enough little breaks away from having to concentrate that it helped. Now of course this is going to increase my listening skills because if I zone out on another thought just for a moment I’m completely lost. They already talk 100 miles an hour, less alone that I’m not fluent in the language yet. But one day at a time.

It was a good day and I love watching how God provides. I know things are going to look and be different than I thought, but hey that’s okay. I’m just excited to start getting to know the girls and their hearts and allow God to use me however He pleases. I can’t believe it’s already here and I feel so inadequate for such but I do know that my God is more than adequate, in fact He’s everything so as long as I trust Him for the strength and power there’s nothing that He can’t do through me and for me.

YEAH JESUS!

Odd Things of the States

2009-08-28T16:45:00.002-05:00

Well I've been in the States for almost 2 weeks now, man how time flies! My trip here to Missouri end up being quite painful. It's very possible that I dislocated or something like that to my lower rib as I walked onto the first plane in Costa Rica. I wanted to scream and cry the entire day any time I had to move, yawn, or cough. (Thankfully the back is better now.) I ended the day with getting three of my fingers slammed in the car door; they didn't even bruise! Thankfully, so far, that's been the worse of the pain on this trip.

The first week here I stayed hidden at Dallas and Heather's house as I experianced reverse culture shock. I got easily overwhelmed, things were just strange and hearing English all around me and trying to turn off my Spanish.

So what are the things I now see differently in the states?

Wide open spaces and yards - the lack of walls and bars
Road kill everywhere
Learning to let my guard down - not having to assess if someone is a threat to me and not having to watch men over my shoulder when the walk pass - just in case they try to grab me
Feeling like I'm trapped inside due to the lack of public transportation and a car - Man I miss public transportation or just being able to walk to do my errands
The amount of choices we have for one type of product
How we, Americans, live in such excess and believe we have to have it to have a quality life
How wasteful we, Americans, are
Mall walkers - I was completely taken back today when I saw some in the mall today. Really the concept is funny; drive to a mall and then walk around it for how many minutes or hours. (my apologies if you are a mall walker :) )

The things that I have missed that I don't get in Costa Rica

Tooties rolls
Chicken Crispers from Chili's
Fountain Pepsi
Nutter Butters
Olive Garden
The Nature Center
Millie's Chocolate Heaven cake
and of course my friends and LifePoint Church.

A Small Health Concern

2009-08-13T22:22:00.004-05:00

I live in the Valley of San Jose, where 75% of Costa Rica's population lives. It sounds like it's a huge area, but in reality it's not all that huge, especially when the country is only about 500 miles in length and 200 miles in width. I'm surrounded by gorgeous mountains and am lucky to live just about 10 minutes from the base of the southern mountains of this valley.

However with any large city there are added health risks. Those risks are elevated when the area has little, to no, regulations on vehicles; multiple factories; and the burning of coffee fields. One of the risks are developing asthma.

Unfortunately, over the past several months I have begun noticing that it's harder to breath out, especially in the evenings when I start settling down. These times have increased and can occur from only sitting down reading a book to exercising. I have begun experiencing a heaviness in my lungs during these episodes.

Today has been the worse. We did a entire chapel of praise and worship and I was one of the leaders, and also had a solo, however I found it hard to even sing because of the breathing issues.

After school, I asked one of my doctor friends at school about it and he said it's very likely that it could be asthma. But there's no way to know for sure without getting a breathing test.

Please pray that this will not become serious. (I'm hoping that working up on the mountain 5 days a week will help decrease the symptoms, since the air is fresh up there.) Also pray that if I do need to seek medical attention that the Lord will provide the financial means and the right to doctor to go to. Thanks for your prayers.

Just A Few More Days

2009-08-12T17:46:00.003-05:00

It's finally that time, though I truly can't wrap my mind around it yet and probably won't for some time to come, but I'll be back in the states in less than 3 days - Saturday! I'm excited about seeing everyone.

I ask for grace as I adjust to American culture and English. Forgive me ahead of time if I try to kiss you on your cheek when I greet you; throw my toliet paper in the trashcan; start speaking in Spanlish; or just plain weird at times. :)

I'd love to see you so email me at sunshineloveland@gmail.com if you'd like together. Can't wait to be in Missouri very soon!

I Passed!

2009-08-04T19:56:00.002-05:00

It's official, I'm receiving a diploma from the Instituto de Lengua Espanola! With the favor of God, I was able to pass both of my tests!

A year ago my Spanish speaking ability was a Beginner Low; with much studying and the strength of God to go on I am now at an Advance Low. The teacher who gave me my oral exam said with a little more work on my grammar and completed sentences I will quickly and very soon become an Advance Medium! Praise God!

Then there is the big grammar test worth 300 points. I was told that many people do not pass this test (meaning you have to score a 70% or higher), but 75% of our class passed; which is the highest percentage ever! I didn't do as well as I would have liked but I did get a 78%. After talking to some people who are awesome in Spanish and they got low 80% I feel much better.

I'm just so thankful to God for His strength to survive and learn this language. I have really enjoyed learning Spanish with some amazing people. As classes end next week, I'm very sadden to say good-byes but I'm so excited to hear all about what God will be doing all around Latin America through friends that I have cherished so much. I just can't believe the time has come to graduate. Wow!

I Made It!

2009-07-31T21:35:00.002-05:00

I am officially done with my big tests and insane study schedule, but I feel like it paid off. The massive grammar test was easier than I expected. I, along with some others, had some issues with several parts of the test but I don't think it will be that bad.

I am thankful to be done with this part and be able to enjoy the next two weeks as I prepare for all the stuff I'll be doing while I'm back in the states. I'm also thankful that I get to finally rest and relax; and I'm doing it on Isla Tortuga for the day on Saturday.

Isla Tortuga is an island off the Pacific Coast, and some of my friends and I are going. The best part is that this is a gift from some friends who I watched their kids for several days. What a great way to just relax and finally get to breath some fresh, non-city air for the first time in 4 months. Isn't God so great? He knows what we need, exactly when we need it! Yea for God! Thanks for all your prayers!

It's Official

2009-07-30T22:14:00.003-05:00

If you have been following my bolg you know that I have been trying to decide between working at Renacer or La Carpio. It's been a hard decision and many things to think about and pray through.

This week has been a good one with Jesus as we discussed where, when, and what. Yesterday I felt like I had a clear answer after spending time with Him, but I wanted to sleep on it to make sure that in the morning I would have the peace that He provides when it's His will.

This morning I woke up having a great peace and I didn't even have a doubt about where I am to be working. This was the first time in a long time there was no doubt left.

I will be spending at least the next year at Renacer, working with the teen girls there. I'm so excited and have started that process now. They are excited to have me join them. I start 5 Oct. Thanks for praying!

One Down and One to Go

2009-07-30T22:05:00.003-05:00

Today I took my ECO, the oral exam. I wish I could say I did great and did really showed my ability to speak Spanish, however I feel very opposite of that. I know I'm much harder on myself than I should be and therefore my view of what I did is tainted some. However there were parts that I felt like I did well in.

I just wanted to be able to show my true ability. I felt like I got stuck on easy things that I knew but my nerves got a hold of me and I wanted to say things right so I thought too much about it and then that always causes problems. Oh well. I keep reminding myself that no matter what the paper says I'm able to speak Spanish and communicate with those around me. That is what is important, not if I have an advance low as my level.

Please pray for me that I will just focus on God and not focus on my self-serving and prideful side that can come out in times like this. Today I'm struggling with it. I put too much emphasis on a grade and that's not what is important here. So as I had asked God to do several days ago, to break down my pride, He's doing so.

Thank you for your prayers on my tests. One more to go. I'm going to try to give this one completely to the Lord and take my pridefulness out of it.

The Be All and End All Exams

2009-07-29T17:54:00.003-05:00

So the time has finally arrived in which I have not been looking forward to for the past year...the ECO and Gramatica tests. The ECO, which is tomorrow, is a 30 minute oral exam to test my oral proficiency level. Then there's the 3 hour Gramatica test on Friday which covers all of the Spanish grammar that I have learned over the past year! I'm a bit scared. :)

Please pray that I will trust God to help me recall all that I have studied and learned. Also pray that I won't allow my nerves to take over me. Well I'm off to studying some more.

11 Months!

2009-07-22T12:51:00.002-05:00

It seems like it was just a few months ago, yet an eternity ago as the same time, when I began my 4am trip to the Springfield Airport with Andrea and Heather. As we drove, I tried to hold back tears and tried not to think too much. Thankfully Andrea and Heather have a way to make me laugh as we joked about rain being in both countries.

I loaded up my three large suitcases that weighed .01 lb less than the max. weight of 50 lbs. Then I hugged the girls for what seemed like eternity. They told me that a year will go by so fast and Christmas will come even faster. I gave them a sarcastic laugh as I thought it will not go by fast. I hesitated to head to the line to enter the terminal but I had to finally go. (I sure felt bad for the workers when they saw my flood of tears streaming down my face.) I couldn’t quit looking back to Andrea and Heather for that last glimpse before I was gone for a very long time. (Wow I’m tearing up now just remembering this.)

Once I got to the terminal, God took over my thoughts and He and I hung out for the rest of the time. God placed a nice gentleman in the terminal, who sat behind me on the plane, to encourage me. His daughter and son-in-law were in the process of raising support to go overseas as missionaries.

I remember the first time I saw the beautiful shores of Costa Rica from up high. How incredible it was. How beautiful it was. I had to turn to God, as fear swept through me, but then He gave me a beautiful rainbow that hung over the vibrant greens of Costa Rica. Then I was on the ground and began my time here. That was 11 months yesterday!

It’s quite amazing how fast time has flown. I have only three weeks left of school and will begin saying good-byes to some incredible people. At least I have about 13 different countries I can go to now and always have a place to stay. I’m amazed at what God has done in these past 11 months and I look forward to the next 2 years to see what He continues to do. He never seems to stop amazing me. I’m so thankful that He has lead me here.

Reckless Abandon

2009-07-16T15:00:00.003-05:00

Today I spoke in chapel, for the second time. I some how have a way of starting these things off rough. If you read my post on Saca Tus Mascaras you know I lost my contacts and couldn’t read my notes. Today, thankfully it was in English, but I left my notes at home! Come on! But God is so amazing and spoke through me, from my heart.

It was such a God thing today, I truly believe. I shared through my blog from March 31st how terrified I was last time when I spoke (since that was the first time ever I did something like this.) Yet this time, I had only a tiny bit of nervousness before hand but within about 30 seconds I was comfortable (even without my notes) and I enjoyed it. Isn’t God just incredible! I sure love Him!

Over the past few months, I have been trying to work through some of the lies I believe and I really have wanted to run after Christ with total reckless abandon. Yet, I always end up short. I asked Jesus to give me an example of how to live this type of life. Just as good as Jesus is, He did just that.

About a month ago I woke up early and started to do my Bible study. Right there in front of me was the perfect example, the sinful woman who dried her tears off the feet of Jesus with her hair. (Luke 7:36-50) I have always liked this passage and thought it sweet and beautiful but this day God took me so much deeper into the story that caused me to fall in love with this story.

Jesus and I went back in time, and put myself in each of the main roles to try to grasp the feelings, the hurts, the piety, the disgust, the desperation. After many days of mediating on it, reading it and praying about it; this story has taken on a new meaning to me. I want to learn how to see Jesus for who He is, not for what He can give me, in such a way that I abandon all other thoughts of what people think or care about me; as long as I get to sit at His feet and worship Him. To pour myself out to Him so that He can use me as He so desires. To learn that He IS enough for me and I will never need anything else.

So I shared with my fellow classmates (all who are missionaries, learning Spanish for whatever country God is sending to) my journey through these story. I took them back in time with me to imagine who these people were, what their lives were like, and most importantly to see the life of this woman and how Jesus took compassion on her and love for who she was.

I could write and write about this, but I won’t. However, I’m excited to see how God will continue to mold me as I try to seek Him as this sinful woman did, with total reckless abandon.

April/May 09 Newsletter

2009-07-15T07:13:00.002-05:00

Okay so I was really late on this one but I finally got it out! http://lifepointozark.com/media/pdf/2009-05_lovelandNews.pdf

Learning To Ride A Bike

2009-07-12T14:01:00.004-05:00

Today I was on a date with Jesus at Parque Bosque. The sun was shinning, the wind was wrestling the leaves, the mountains gave away some of their secrets, and the perfect temperature made it just…well, perfect.

I love watching people and from time to time I would get distracted. There were these two that I couldn’t take my eyes off of for awhile. The man was tall for a tico, his white beard coming out from under his ball cap encircling his proud smile for his grandchild. He was teaching his grand-daughter, who looked to be about 8 years old, how to ride a bike.

He would show her how to get on the bike and would position the peddles for her. The loving grandfather would hold on to either her or the bike as they started off for the grand adventure. At times he would only hold on to the back of the bike, or the front of the bike, or just her shirt; wherever he felt would give her the best chance to do it alone without getting too hurt.

The grandfather was so encouraging and would give her instructions on what to do. Sometimes it wasn’t all fun; she did fall off several times. Yet her grandfather was right there to encourage her to keep trying.

As I enjoyed every minute watching these two, God started showing me this is how He is with us. He will show us one step at a time how to do the next new thing in our lives. He demonstrates how to get started; He even positions the peddles for us. He guides us and when He knows we are ready He begins letting us do more. He is there always with His hand on us being our cheerleader.

He’s there even when we fall off the bike and get hurt. God our Father, picks us up, checks our wounds, does the healing He needs to and helps us back up on the bike again. As we ride, He is running right next to us, never letting us out of His sight or reach. He rejoices in our success and laughs with us. He is ever so gentle and never calls us stupid because it takes us longer than we think it should, or we take detours. He is always there loving us ever so sweetly.

What an awesome God we have that cares to teach us, show us, guide us, love us, and be there for us every moment of the day.

Saca Tus Máscaras

2009-07-06T21:00:00.005-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I helped my friend Kathy at La Carpio with the Saturday group of teenage girls. I taught the lesson.

The afternoon started off a little rough. I had put in my brand new pair of contacts from my brand new boxes, but one was bothering me and I thought it would settle down after a few. So I left and caught my two different buses to head to La Carpio.

By this time it has been 2 hours and my contact was still bothering me. When I got to the building it was locked but I had to get the contact out of my eye and clean it. So I thought for some reason, it was a good idea to do it right there outside. Everything went fine until I was holding it up making sure it was clean and then the wind came. My contact took off like a feather and fell somewhere behind me in the tall grass. The two ticos who were there wouldn't give up trying to find it, though I had. This now meant I was unable to read my notes or even the Bible. But as always God had His plans.

I got to talk to a girl who was 15 and taking care of her 5 year old sister. She had very sad eyes and a heaviness about her that a 15 year old should not have. She told me that she has been living in La Carpio for about a year now. Before that she was living in Nicaragua with her grandparents. Her mother left her in Nicaragua when she was less than two years old and moved to Costa Rica.

This young lady knew only her grandparents as her parents. She never had contact with her mother until her grandparents died and she had to move to Costa Rica and meet her mother for the first time that she can remember. It's a very hard situation for her as her mother's boyfriend isn't the nicest; her mother has 4 other kids; and she is living with "complete strangers". Her fragile heart was breaking before me. This sweet girl helped me out with a lot that day.

The girls played some games for a while and then I began teaching "Saca Tus Máscaras" meaning "Take Off Your Masks." God directed me to talk about how I have worn different masks in my life and what they were and why; and the ones I still struggle with. Then I shared about how they get in our way of living a true life and shared with them what God tells us about them. I then shared that God wants us to put something on every day to protect us but it's not our masks, it's His armor and so we briefly talked about the armor. After the lesson we made masks.

The girls were great to work with and it was fun and I was surprised at how well it went, even without being able to read my notes. God is great to always show up when His Truth is being taught and a person is willing to allow Him to speak through them.

Thank you so much to those of you who were praying. Your prayers helped make this possible. Thank you for being a part of this ministry of changing ashes into beauty of the Lord.

I Cut My Hair Off

2009-07-05T20:55:00.004-05:00

So I have been needing a change for a while. Perhaps it's a last 6 months of being in my 20's crisis or something like that. Nonetheless my hair was cut off for some mental break down but I really like it a lot! Here's a few pictures of it.

Sharing in Church

2009-07-05T20:32:00.004-05:00

I have been attending a church called Mision Cristiana Enmanuel Siloh for about 2 months now and have fallen in love with it. It's a small church with about 50 people. Besides myself there are only two other gringo families. Last Sunday during service Pastor Alex was talking about us, the gringos, and how we're a blessing to them and how they want to be a blessing to us. Then Pastor Alex asked the church if they would like us to do the next Sunday's service; and so it was we were doing the next service.

Today was that next Sunday's service. I got the pleasure to sing with their praise team along with my friend who played guitar and sung. Our theme was that everyone is a missionary, not just us who left our countries. So each of shared with them a little about how God has called us to missions.

I always love looking back at how God has called me because there's a lot of times that I allow satan's lies to get into my head and heart and I really start questioning if I'm really suppose to be here. But God is amazing and always knows when I need to look back at how He has undoubtedly called me and has opened the doors for me to be here. Then I got to share that great joy with others and even in another language.

The pastor has a tendency to call people out to pray for a certain thing or a person or group. I was up in front with the praise team and he was talking about the family. Yet I must confess I was half listening and half off somewhere else. He was looking at me and I was looking at him and he said something about praying for the families of the church. Then he bowed his head but didn't begin to pray out loud. Then he looked at me and I was like "Oh you mean me." Of course I even said it in Engligh. Silly me. So then I was frazzled and totally butchered it. But thankfully God knows our hearts adn He knows what the prayer was.

It was a great time worshiping God and allowing Him to speak words in another language through each of us. I'm truly blessed.

Urgent

2009-07-02T20:19:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I posted the blog below about the safety here. I'm asking once again with great urgency for prayer. It's is rapidly becoming worse and all of the things I have heard of are within a 1/2 mile or less from my house. And where I have to, among many others, walk through.

Today a gringo, who isn't from my school, was shot in the foot and leg just a few blocks away from my home. This is going to sound a little weird but I think you will understand. Thankfully it was because the gringo was being "stupid" and that the robber didn't shoot him "without his idea of cause". Meaning the gringo was out in the park with his computer and had been warned many times that that was a bad idea. Then he tried to fight the armed robber and run away from him instead of just giving him the computer. But God is good and allowed several students to be over in that area this morning to see it all and one of the students was a doctor. So that student was able to attend to the gringo.

Nonetheless it's getting worse rapidly. As mentioned in the post below, please pray for safety, "street smartness", and a spirit of peace, not one of fear. Thank you again.

Prayer For Safety

2009-07-01T20:12:00.003-05:00

Please pray for safety for us here. In the past few weeks the number of armed robberies has increased and over the past 4 days or so there's been at least three people robbed at gunpoint walking down the main, very busy road here in broad daylight. This main road and the park is one I go by and use every day.

I'm trying to not live in fear and trust God. At the same time I'm trying to be smart and take only the bare minium with me, I'm even thinking about not carrying my bag for awhile.

Pray for protection and safety if a robbery does happen. Pray for the poilce to begin heavier patrols of the area. Pray that we will all be wise and also not live in fear of our surroundings. Thank you for your immediate prayers in this.

And So It Began To Rain

2009-06-29T15:42:00.004-05:00

Costa Rica consists of two seasons; the middle of December thru April is summer or the dry season and May thru the middle of December is winter or the rainy season. During winter, the rainy season, it rains every afternoon for at least 3 or 4 hours. By October it's common to have rain all day and for several days straight.

As it likes to happen the torrential rain starts just a few minutes before it's time for me to leave school and head home. Today's rain was literally coming in sideways. This is always bad because it's impossible to stay dry due to the angle your umbrella has to be. (Trust me, I am at the low-advance level of a professional umbrella user - It's tricky.)

As I walk my 8 minutes home, my mesh tennis shoes begin to fill up with water and my rolled-up pant legs are filling up with water as well, in the cuffs! I was wishing that I didn't have my books so I could just forego the umbrella all together. I finally got home dripping of water.

BUT the fun doesn't stop there (otherwise it wouldn't be a true Costa Rican story.) Due to home my apartment is made and how it sits in the carport of a tico family; it's prone to rain problems. If it's a torrential downpour (like today) and if the rain is angled in the perfect direction (like today) then the rain likes to visit me through the 1/2 inch to 1 inch gap under my front door. (I found this out last week!)

So today it was unavoidable, my friend the flood was coming over for lunch. Thankfully the tiny semi-automatic washer I have comes in handy. It has it's own little part to put clothes in to spin dry. So it becomes very useful when I only have four towels to dry up the flood. Oh wait that's not all to this story.

My laundry room has given me much grief with rain and now it's much better until all the ingredients come together so perfectly, like today. Because it is a laundry room and ticos aren't fans of dryers (they are so expensive to run) there is a hole in the wall where air and sunlight can come in to dry the clothes. So once again one of my towels had to soak up the minor flooding in the back.

Let's go back to the kitchen where the front door is. My apartment is not the best constructed place, and there are several cracks in the wall and it so happens that in two other places the rain decided to enter in through these cracks and through the molding of the corners of the ceiling; which took up the other two towels.

At least the mopping in the kitchen area will be taken care of today! I'm just a tad worried about how my apartment will fair while I'm back in the states for 6 1/2 weeks...The joys of living in Costa Rica. One can't help but laugh. Otherwise you'll be a pretty unhappy person throughout winter here!

I NEED YOUR HELP! ASAP!

2009-06-16T17:37:00.003-05:00

(I know this is a long one but it’s one of the most important ones you can read. So please take the time to read this.)

As you might know I am returning to the Missouri Ozarks on 15 August to 1 October. I’m very excited about this opportunity to be home, attend a beloved friend’s wedding, see the new baby of another beloved friend (once he is born in September), to worship with the people of LifePoint, and to see all my friends who I have missed so much.

Besides loving on friends, I am also home to raise support for the next year (August ‘09-August ‘10). I would like to do two big fundraisers while I am there. My goal is to raise my entire year of support which is $24,000 through fundraisers and individual support. I know God is able to provide all of this and more. So this is where I need your help.

GOLF TOURNAMENT I need to find several people who would be willing to put on a golf tournament for a fundraiser in September. Some tasks to be done: costs, find course, adverstise to find golfers and I’m sure other things. I will work alongside of them from Costa Rica until I return home. Obviously, the more people who can help the better it can be. I have a friend, who has a friend, who had a fundraiser tournament and raised their entire support for an entire year (for a family of 4). This is an immediate thing that we need to start working on.

DINNER/DESSERT THING I would also like to do some type of dinner, maybe a spaghetti dinner or something, in September. I have several ideas for this and would like to work alongside with several people who would be willing to help bring this all together. I would love to begin working on this no latter than the beginning of August.

“CAFECITAS” (This is a Costa Rican favorite daily custom. Around 3-4pm the ticas will fill their coffee cups and have pastries called empanadas.) What I would like to do with this idea is set up as many “cafecitas” as possible. I would like to take about 45 minutes to share with each small group about what God has done in me and is doing in me during my first year here in Costa Rica. I would like to share about the ministry that I will be working in and have a time of prayer. I would like to then extend the opportunity to those there to be a part of this ministry in several ways; being a prayer partner, being a financial support partner, and/or holding their own “cafecita” to help spread the news about what God is doing here with the teenage girls of Costa Rica. My goal is to have at least 25 of these small groups. (Now I can’t promise that many bags of Costa Rican coffee…sorry.) I would like to get started now setting up dates for these.

ARE YOU INTERESTED? First, pray to see how God wants to use you. Then, I need you to email me at sunshineloveland@gmail.com with how you are interested in helping, as soon as possible. PLEASE do not think “I would love to help but I’m sure she already has enough people.” If everyone thinks this then I will not have any of these fundraisers. There is always a place for you to be used.

THANK YOU! Thank you for being a part of working with God as He changes the ashes of the teenage girls to incredible beauty, as only He can, by helping me raise support, by supporting me, and by praying for me. I would not be here without the incredible team that God has provided me and continues to grow for me. Thank you.

PS. 2010 CALENDARS I am currently working on putting together a 2010 calendar of my photos from Costa Rica to sell as another fundraiser. More info to come…

Newsletter is coming!

2009-06-16T17:32:00.002-05:00

I give my apologies that I have not sent out my newsletter yet. Things have been crazier than I could have imagined! But don't you fret. I am currently working on it and hope to have it emailed before midnight tomorrow. Thanks for waiting...and praying.

Teaching on Saturday

2009-06-10T22:16:00.002-05:00

I'm very excited yet nervious about teaching this Saturday. I will be teaching the teenage girls of the La Carpio ministry about the masks we wear and what God has to say about it. I am responsible for three hours worth of material (all in Spanish of course.) There will be a craft, some type of game (that I have no clue what it will be yet), and then the lesson.

Please pray for me in these next few days to get everything done the way God wants. Please pray that God will provide the ability to share in spanish and that I would understand what the girls are sayin. Please pray that the girls will be responsive and will begin and/or continue to know the face of the perfect savior, Jesus.