#GivingTuesday

I had a goal of raising $1,000 towards YL Costa Rica, today, on Giving Tuesday.  And WE HAVE MET THAT GOAL!!!  Wow!  I am blown away!!  Obviously I was hopeful, but after five months of fundraising, it's hard to be 100% that your goals are attainable.

But thankfully, we serve a God of abundance!  And a God who provides abundantly more than we ask for!  (Thanks, AT, for reminding me of this.) 

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 7:7-8

Click HERE to support YL Costa Rica!

Can we double the goal before the day ends??!  

Follow THIS link to give online!

I am so grateful for the support!  YOU are an important part of ministry here!  Thank you for making a difference in the lives of kids!

thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

For the past few years my family in the States has done the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day.  I decided to keep the tradition alive by going on a run this morning with one of the interns before all the feasting!

Not a bad view for a Turkey Trot...

Then we went to Jeni's house to celebrate!  Thanksgiving is so fun here!  It is, of course, a U.S. holiday.  However, we have created a tradition of throwing Thanksgiving for all of our Tico friends and co-workers!  It is so fun!  They share so much of their culture with us, it's great to be able to share some of ours with them!  It was a full house and the most perfect afternoon!  This past year has been a whirlwind but there truly is so much to be thankful for - resting in that today.

Grateful for my Costa Rican family!

wyldlife camp!

Check out the amazing weekend my middle school friends just had at WyldLife camp!  What a weekend!  Two of my high school girls also went to serve as part of the Work Crew.  They had a blast!

where it all began...

Today I had the INCREDIBLE opportunity to meet the founders of Young Life Costa Rica, Marv and Wilma!  It's an incredible story.  Marv is from the States and had been working in Brazil when the Lord brought him to Costa Rica to start Young Life.  Wilma is a Tica who had noticed a need for ministry in her community and started praying for Young Life to come.  Marv spoke English and Portuguese but not Spanish.  Wilma spoke Spanish but not English or Portuguese...

But in some miraculous way, Young Life Costa Rica was born!  Their passion for Jesus and this ministry is still so evident.  It was so encouraging to hear them describe Young Life years ago and realize the message and the mission has not changed.  The desire is still the same, for every kid to know Jesus and grow in their faith.  To do life and live life together.

They shared several stories of success and several more of failure.  Through it all, the Lord has been faithful and constant.  He has raised up leaders within the various communities to continue pouring into local kids and growing the ministry.  Both Marv and Wilma left us with the charge that the best is yet to come!!  How exciting to think and pray about the future of ministry here - The hundreds and thousands of kids and families who will be changed because of it!

Thanks for sharing, Marv and Wilma!  And thank you for your obedience years ago, and establishing a solid foundation for Young Life in Costa Rica!

The founders of YL CR!
Marv to my left and Wilma to my right.

"When Jesus speaks about shepherding, he does not want us to think about a brave, lonely shepherd who takes care of a large flock of obedient sheep."

-Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus

435

435.
It's not a number, it's a vision.

The Lord is on the move in Costa Rica!  And He is calling us to WAKE UP!  To lift up our heads and look around - to see what He is doing.  Where He is moving.  What and who He is calling us to.  The harvest is ready NOW!  We don't need to wait, but we do need to wake up!  To see it.  To notice it.  To experience it.  To engage in it!

You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.'  But I say, wake up and look around.  The fields are already ripe for harvest.

John 4:35

So we have a vision.  As a team we have a vision.  To participate in this.  To stop looking at our own feet on the ground and to start looking up!  To wake up!  To see what is around us - life and joy and peace and love - and to invite others into it with renewed excitement and passion.

Together, we have a hope that 435 kids will come to camp this year - to hear and experience the Gospel for themselves.  To hear and experience the radical love of Jesus, what He did on their behalf, and the gift of this tremendous life of LOVE and adventure He desires for his children.

Please join us in praying for this vision.  International schools staff and leaders are currently inviting our middle school friends to WyldLife Camp November 21-23.  Pray for this vision.  Pray for boldness to look up.  To see.  To go where the Lord is leading us and to invite kids into the journey.  Thank you!

"What decisions have you been making lately and how are they a reflection of the way you sense the future?"

-Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus

misoneros meeting

Meet my friends and heroes!  These are (some!) of the many faces behind Young Life Costa Rica!  Young Life staff and team leaders joined by our special friends Marty (SVP Young Life International South Division) and Susan Caldwell, here for Sharon (YL National Direction Team) and Rodolfo's (YL Camp On Wheels) wedding!

los estados unidos!

So I recently had a great trip to the US.  It was a little crazy, like all trips back seem to be, but it was great!  And a true gift.  This trip was a little bit of everything.  I went back to be part of a dear friend's wedding, but managed to squeeze in some catching up, some fundraising, a meeting with a church, some time at home, and ended my stay with a YL conference in Grand Rapids, MI.  Here are some highlights - Thanks to so many who helped make this trip a success!  Places to stay, cars to drive, food to eat...it was an absolute JOY seeing you cara a cara, being in your homes, drinking coffee, celebrating fall and life.  THANK YOU!!

Let the festivities begin...Wescott-Latham Wedding!

October 11, 2014

Rehearsing at the beautiful West Manor Estate in Lynchburg, VA.

Bridesmaids

The women of 414 N Sheppard St - Y'all are the best!
Thanks for the memories and your friendship!  RIP apartment #7.

Next Stop...Indianapolis!

October 15-17, 2014

One of my favorite places in the world!  Yes, in the world!  I was able to share with a church what is going on in and through Young Life in Costa Rica and invite them to be a significant financial partner.  Please join me in prayer as they consider supporting ministry here!

I also got to spend some great time with my favorite family!  (Thanks Darc, for the precious Insta of y'all!)  These people are the best.  They are the real deal.  They live and they love deeply.  They care about people and are part of their community in a real and raw and transparent way.  So grateful for y'all - For what your family has taught me and for the way you are loving the entire Zionsville community.

Andy, Corbin, Charlene, and Darcy Miller!
These people are world changers!!

Even got to go to YL Club where I used to lead!  Who doesn't love giant Twister, racing around trash cans, and eating milk (from the gallon) and Oreos to Roxanne?!

Real Fall!  Holland/Grand Rapids, MI.

October 18-23, 2014

Wow.  Fall color is stunning!  Like makes my jaw hit the ground stunning.  What a gift to experience real fall.  Bright blue skies and even brighter colored leaves, bursting with reds, yellows, and oranges!  Wow.  It was the best to bundle up!  To be home and wear my favorite Better Sweater jacket, boots, and a scarf!  Thanks Mom and Dad for always welcoming me with open arms.  It was the best to be with you for a couple days - Zumba, the best burger of all time, and three hours+ at the Apple store.  Y'all are great!

Wow.

My time in the US ended with the YL International Schools Conference in Grand Rapids, MI.  My team and I traveled from Costa Rica, and we were joined by staff from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.  It was a great time to be encouraged.  To see the larger community we are part of.  To share and learn and grow together through sharing our experiences.  Our success and our failures.  Our celebrations and our devastations.  It's all happening all of the time all around us, and it was great to step back and process it together.

We were able to experience some more fall, introduced some friends to "The Big Lake" (which I'd like to remind everyone, has a BEACH), and got to hear my teammate Kelly's amazing guitar skills.

Team Rica dominating the corn maze!

Becca (intern) and I
My first ever corn maze - not sure how that happened!

Who knew there were such things as "giant umping pillows"?!

Grand Haven Pier

Group shot at Pastor Heather's house

It sure was a whirlwind, but one of the best kind!  Full of friends and family and love!  All my favorite places and people in one trip - VA, IN, MI!  Lots of traveling, but so worth it!  Love you all!  Thanks for welcoming me home with open arms!!

chosen.

Por lo tanto, you, prisionero por servir al Señor, les suplico que lleven una vida digna del llamado que han recibido de Dios, porque en verdad han sido llamados.  Sean siempre humildes y amables.  Sean pacientes unos con otros y tolérense las faltas por amor.  Hagan todo lo posible por mantenerse unidos en el Espíritu y enlazados mediante la paz.  Pues hay un solo cuerpo y un solo Espíritu, tal como ustedes fueron llamados a una misma esperanza gloriosa para el futuro.
Efesios 4:1-4

Therefore I, as a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.  Always be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.  Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Ephesians 4:1-4

LETS LIVE INTO OUR CHOSENNESS, TOGETHER.

91 for 91

Join our Young Life friends in Liberia and Sierra Leone in praying Psalm 91 for the next 91 days (October 27 - January 26).  This scripture has been a source of strength and encouragement for them as they serve in an area devastated by the Ebola crisis.  For more information, check out the YL Africa website.

Here is the most recent update written from Steve Larmey, VP of YL Africa, and his wife Dyan:

Sadness, Sickness and Hope: Ebola Update

Our Young Life friends in Sierra Leone and Liberia are closing in on four months now of life/death with Ebola. They keep praying, going and hoping, but visibly they see a battle being lost. The numbers of infections and deaths are increasing -- the World Health Organization says that in two months there will be 10,000 new infections each day if some significant intervention does not happen. The death rate has risen from a low of 52 percent to over 70 percent now.

The Liberian government has run out of money to pay health workers who are threatening to strike if their $500/month danger pay is not increased to $700/month. President Johnson of Liberia literally begged the workers’ union to continue working, explaining to them the government has no money. In what has been called by some a surrender, the government of Sierra Leone is now just giving families rubber gloves and some hydration salts and medicine and is telling people to treat Ebola victims at home because they lack space at Ebola treatment centers.

Here are some updates from our Young Life family in Liberia and Sierra Leone:

• Our teacher staff in Freetown, Sahr Kamasie, lost his wife, Victoria, two nights ago. She was 29 years old, fell sick and died a few days later. She has left behind a 2-year-old son, John, and a 3-month-old baby, Matilda, with Sahr. Sahr has been alone in his house with her body waiting for Ebola test results on her body to come back. The babies are at their grandmother’s house where they sent them as soon as Victoria was sick. Please pray for Sahr and the Sierra Leone team. The results will come back Thursday. If it was not Ebola (thousands of people are dying of many things other than Ebola every day because the healthcare system can only handle Ebola cases) they will bury her body with just a few friends. If it is a positive test, Sahr and the children will be under quarantine. 

• Andrew Quimeh, one of our top volunteer leaders in Kakata, Liberia, died of Ebola yesterday. He was on the Leadership Tree of Area Director Yancy Dixon. A Campaigners kid from the same area – Greature Worr – was released Ebola-free from a treatment center after weeks of treatment, but she lost her father and her sister. Pray for Andrew's family, for Greature and for Yancy and his team.

• Jeraline Johnson has two weeks left of her second 21-day quarantine. She is the only one left in the house as both her sister and brother-in-law have died of Ebola and her niece – 2 year-old Blessings – and Blessings’ aunt were both diagnosed with Ebola and taken to a treatment center eight days ago. I asked her what she does all day as she sits alone: "I pray and I read my Bible. I pray Psalm 91 constantly. I sing and praise and thank God."  Then she broke down in tears and sobbed with me on the phone for about five minutes and said, "Steve, I am so, so scared." There was good news today as Blessings' aunt was released after eight days of treatment from the Ebola center. At the end of the call she composed herself and said, "My hope is in Jesus alone. And He is faithful." We prayed Psalm 91 together.

• Our area director from Robertsport and DGL graduate, Baccus Roberts, and two other leaders from Monrovia, Abraham and Gbeme, are all currently sick. We are praying that this is not Ebola. Pray for healing for them. 

James Davis, our regional director for Liberia and Sierra Leone, texted today, "Steve, I have to admit, I feel like giving up the fight, but if I do, who will help lead kids and leaders? We have no peace or freedom. Our people are dying every hour. Our hope is in Jesus, but we fear we may be the next Ebola victims. I can't bear this – Jesus we need you more."  He later texted back to the whole team of Senior African leaders who are here now in Colorado, "I promise I will NOT give up – the Band of Brothers do not give up. … I know that we are not in this alone – the Lord is with us. And so are you."

Please continue to lift our friends up and let's not grow weary. Let's be strong for them as they focus not on what is seen but on what is unseen.

Thank you, 

Dyan and Steve

happy fall!

I just returned from a crazy trip to the US!  Lots of traveling, but it was super great!  Between VA, IN, and MI - It was so great to see so many of you!  I'll be posting a recap on here soon, so stay tuned!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Reeds Lake - East Grand Rapids, MI

BC, just like the good ole days

Many of you know my favorite days used to include BC, BS, OC.

Big cookie.
Bible study.
Obstacle course.

It meant Day 1 of Young Life camp, lots of energy, and hundreds of campers arriving to experience the best week of their lives!

So we brought a little bit of that Day 1 camp magic to Costa Rica!  We had spaghetti night, which was unreal - I've never seen kids take down pasta like they did!  And we ended our carb-loading session with big cookie.  One giant, warm cookie in a pan, covered with ice cream.  Soooo good!

The boys challenged the girls to a competition...who could eat it faster?  (There were two.)  And don't you worry, ladies and gentlemen...The girls did not have a problem winning.

Becca, our sweet intern, gave her first ever YL talk in Costa Rica!  She shared with us what it means to be chosen by Christ.  Not haphazardly stumbled upon but intentionally seen and chosen.  It was awesome!

Did you know that the English word "adoption" comes from the Latin word meaning "to choose"?  Pretty cool, right?!  So when the Bible talks about being adopted as God's children, or references a "spirit of adoption," it's really talking about being chosen!  It's not talking about feeling sorry for someone.  It's not referencing an act of sympathy or an accident.  It's intentional.  It's choosing to invite in.  Choosing to see.  Choosing to care for.   And choosing to love.

You didn't choose me.  I chose you.  I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruity, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

John 15:16

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.  Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.  Now we call him, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15

fundraising update!

Things are happening!  Have a goal of raising $500 in monthly support by October 1st - $350/month to go!  Thanks for your prayers and generosity!

If you would like to give, follow this link and search by Area Number X8205:

giving.younglife.org

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20

go deep.

GO DEEP.
Go where Jesus is.

We focused on Luke 5:1-11 as a team today.  The passage where Jesus invites Simon (and us) to cast our nets in deep water.  In the middle of the day, mind you, when the fish are at the bottom of the lake.  But that's the thing.  Jesus asks us and invites us to do things we wouldn't normally do in a way we wouldn't normally do them because he has a plan for us.  Simon thinks he's going to proves Jesus wrong, that they won't be able to catch any fish.  But wrong.  They catch un montón de fish!

Interesting that the Spanish word for "deep" is "profundo" which also means "profound."  Isn't that so cool?!  When we have the guts to follow Jesus, to go where he is, to do what he's doing, and engage in life with him, he has something profound for us.  Something miraculous.  Something life changing.

He knows what he's doing.  So go where Jesus is.  And go deep with him.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish."  

Luke 5:4

carrera de la pensa

Before (top) and After (bottom)

Check out these fine runners!  They did a GREAT job today participating in their first 5K of the season!!  It was a "practice" more or less to prepare us for AASCA in November.  They got to practice their pacing and build their confidence on a marked course!

It was a little crazy - they don't close the streets for these races like they do in the States.  And let me remind you that San Jose is huge!!  Lots of traffic!  Luckily, we finished without anyone getting taken out by moving objects on 4 (or more) wheels!  

Proud of these guys and how far they've come!  (And for getting up at 6AM on a Sunday to participate!)

fundraising update!

I am $2,375 per month away from being fully funded!!  Thanks for your prayers and your partnership!  My goal is to raise an additional $300/month in support this week!  

If you can help, follow this link and search by Area Number X8205:  

giving.younglife.org

So grateful for your support!  Thank you!!

feelin' 22

Meet Becca...

She's my awesome teammate and today she turned 22!  So what did we do?  Made a quick trip to Volcán Arenal to celebrate!

Celebratory jumps.
L-R:  Me, Becca (intern), Ashley (intern), Grace (Staff Associate)

The Arenal/La Fortuna area is gorgeous!  And Becca couldn't have picked a better day!  We arrived on Saturday and it was sunny so we could SEE the volcano!!  This is pretty uncommon, especially now during rainy season.  You can almost always see the base, but then there is normally a thick cloud that blocks the rest of the view.  But not for us!  So we were able to snag a few pics!  It was seriously unreal weather and it felt so great to get out of the city, even if just for one night!

This is real.  And unfiltered.
Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Chelgren for this lovely view this weekend!

On Sunday we went canyoning (aka repelling down waterfalls)!!  This is SO fun!  If you have any streak of adventure/nature-lover in you, you will love this I guarantee it!  We did four repels, one was almost 200ft!  And they do such a great job guiding you and making it fun.

After repel 2.

Last repel.

Unanimously, our favorite part of the tour is when they made us cannon ball one-by-one into this super narrow natural pool!  (It was also the scariest part of the whole thing!  Forget the heights...narrow waterholes where you are totally just trusting it is deep enough...definitely scarier than repels!  But so fun!!  And it was deep enough...).  That was water surprise #1.  Water surprise #2 was the tsunami - take a look at the pictures below...

SO.

MUCH.

WATER!!!

To make this happen, one of our guides laid in the river, "blocking" the water while we climbed down and got situated.  Then as soon as he stood up, this is what happened!  The flood gates literally opened!  Crazy, because water flowed by him the entire time he was laying in the stream.  Definitely did not think it was going to be this powerful but it was SO fun!!  And we were obviously soaked!

We ate dinner at 5:30.
Had the place to ourselves...haha, gringos...

This was such a great weekend for our team!  Fun to do something together, spend some intentional time together and grow as a team.  Thanks Becca for being born and for giving a reason to celebrate! We are so glad you're here!!  Excited for more adventures to come!

L-R:  Ashley, Becca (interns), Me, Kelly (intern),
Jessie (Area Director), Grace (Staff Associate)

Club!

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose (Jesus) is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  

John 10:10 NLT

How great is that?!  That's what we got to invite kids into on yesterday at our first Club - a rich and satisfying life!  I'm excited to do life together this semester!  With kids and leaders!  We were made for community and together we get to explore and experience a life of adventure and joy and celebration!

We had a great night!  Three new kids and lots of great conversation!  Thanks for praying for us - we're excited to meet again this week!

fundraising update!!

The ball is definitely rolling!  And God is good!!  I am looking to raise an additional $2,675 in monthly support and then I'll be funded!!  Woohoo!!  That's 27 people giving $100/month - so attainable!

I am so grateful for the many people who have given so generously to me and this ministry.  The Lord is on the move and it is SO exciting!!  Please join me in praying for raising the rest of these funds.  My goal is to have this monthly support committed by October 9 so that I am able to stay in Costa Rica (otherwise I will most likely be heading back to the States until I am funded).  If you are interested in partnering, please let me know!  Every little bit helps!  Here's some context:

$10 / month - Supplies for 2 YL Clubs

$25 / month - Visa Renewal

$50 / month - Service Project

$100 / month - One Month of Leader Care and Contact Work

$200 / month - One Month of Transportation

$250 / month - One Month of Club Expenses

$500 / month - Housing

It is possible!!  And even "small" gifts are BIG!!  Please click HERE if you are interested in giving online using Account #X8205.  Grateful to the One who is able to anticipate and provide!  Thanks for being in this with me and believing in what the Lord is doing here in San Jose through Young Life!

"When I think of all of this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

Ephesians 3:14-19

ready to run!

School's back in session, which means YL is up and running!!  Today was our first Cross Country practice and it was the best!!  Last year I was the assistant coach, but this year I am the head coach.  And the only coach.  (A little scary.)

I'll be honest.  I was a little nervous for the first practice.  My biggest fear was that no one was going to come.  I knew, of course, that this would not be true but I had no clue what to expect in terms of numbers.  But to my surprise and great joy, 15 kids came!!  Several runners from last year and several new runners!  I'm SO excited to be their coach again!  They are a great group of student athletes and I love being able to spend time with them and help them improve/surprise themselves with their abilities.

It was really reaffirming to be back.  The Lord brought me so much joy as we worked through a tough first workout together.  Hoping I didn't scare anyone away, because we definitely didn't take it easy!  But excited to see how this group grows and performs this year!  Hoping it won't rain Thursday so we can run outside!  Our AASCA (one big race - in Panama this year) is in November - it'll be here before we know it!!

i left home to go home.

I traveled back to Richmond, VA this past week for the first time in 14 months!  It is crazy to think that it had been over one year since I was last there.  So much has happened!  But it felt good to be back.  It felt like home.

It was a great two weeks relationally.  I kicked off my time in the States with a 20-hour stay in Orlando to see my sister and brother-in-law.  It was short but so sweet!  I love seeing their life there.  Thanks for hosting, E and Z!  (And Macy, too!)

Then I made it up to RVA.  It was a week of fundraising, a weekend of celebrating, and another week of fundraising.  Parts definitely felt like a whirlwind, but overall, it was great!  It was great to be back in my old apartment - thanks Lauren and Ginny!  It was great seeing old friends, walking monument avenue and the streets of the Fan, and eating my favorite foods.  I loved reconnecting with people and sharing what the Lord has been up to in me and this ministry this past year!  Thanks to all who took the time to connect!  I am so grateful for your friendship and your encouragement as I look to two more years in Costa Rica.

There were definitely hard parts being back in the States.  I felt like I had one foot in VA and another in Costa Rica...doing life in both places simultaneously.  I knew it before, but now I am absolutely convinced that we are not meant to live like that, one foot in and one foot out.  There were times when I literally felt like I was doing the splits...one leg in VA, the other in CR, and my body hanging out somewhere in the middle.  But this seems to be the reality of my life right now, for better or for worse, until the rest of my budget gets raised.

However, I am grateful to feel like I have a home in two places (arguably 2-5 places, actually).  It's kind of weird if I'm being honest.  To walk off a plane in RVA feeling like I just arrived at "home" and to board a plane back to Costa Rica and feel like I'm returning "home".  Two lives that look incredibly similar yet drastically different.  A little hard to reconcile, honestly.  And I think it's given me more of a real taste of what life is like for so many of my international school friends.  My friends who have to make a new home every two to four years, usually in different countries.  My friends who can't answer the question, "Where are you from?" or "Where is home?"

So that's where I am.  Trying to sit in that tension a little bit, yet trying to be fully present.  That's a little contradictory, but I'm going with it.  A classic case of living and being in the "in between" and trying to discover exactly what the Lord has for me in this time of transition.

ILE graduation!

After eight months, today I graduated from language school!  It's hard to believe I've been going to school for 20 hours a week since January, commuting to the other side of San Jose every day.  I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to learn the language and to grow, as a speaker, as a student, and as a missionary.

Langauge teaches you a lot of things, most of which have nothing to do with language.  Humility.  Determination.  Grace.  Time management.  Patience.  Persistence.  These are just a few of the things I learned.  I am so grateful for the friends in my classes -- laughing and crying together as we tried to master our second language.  I am grateful for my sweet teachers who loved and encouraged me.  Who believed in me.  And who invested in me because they believed it was their mission to equip me with the skills of Spanish language and grammar.

Class selfie on the last day

So the popular question is, "How's your Spanish?"  And that's always a hard question to answer.  I mean, I graduated, so one could argue pretty good.  But, there is always so much more you could know when it comes to language.  I definitely know more than when I started and I definitely feel more confident speaking, which is huge.  People always want to know about fluency, and that is not something I am willing to claim until I sound native, accent and all!  Haha.  So highly conversational, yes.  Fluent, no.  But I am excited to have two more years to learn and communicate in this wonderful language!

My host-mom, Mayra, came to my graduation along with the Area Director, Jessie.  Thanks for your support, ladies!  Also, this graduation day marks 364 days in Costa Rica!  Hard to believe it's been almost a year already!  Looking forward to two more, but first, a quick trip to the USA!!

Classmates Laura (L) and Amy (R)

Jessie (Area Director) and I

she's back!

One of my dear high school friends spent the month of July serving at Lake Champion, one of the YL camps in NY.  She got home August first and reported that she had a GREAT month!!

It's been fun to see all of her pictures and new friends via various forms of social media.  All with big smiles, bright eyes, and joy-filled hearts.  You can sense the presence of Jesus and the significance of the months at just a quick glance.  The Lord was present.  He moved.  He changed hearts.  And now campers, volunteers, and staffers are different because of it.

That's the beauty of YL camp.  Lives are changed by the reality of Jesus.  He comes close.  It's holy ground.  There is noticeable something different there.  The overwhelming presence of the Lord.  And I am so grateful my dear friend was able to experience this!

I met her at school the other day and got to hear her tell me stories about her month.  How she say Jesus.  How her heart has been touched and changed.  And how being back is hard.  She's the only one in Costa Rica that had this intense summer experience in NY.  Her friends, although excited for her, don't fully understand.  And that's hard.  But in her own words she said to me, "I've changed 180 degrees for Jesus," and described her first experience with real and authentic Christian community.  She saw (and was part of) a group of high schoolers serving out of love.  Serving campers, serving each other, and serving Jesus.  And now that's something she's craving in Costa Rica.

It is my hope that as she shares this experience with her friends, they will desire to experience this same community founded in Christ.  It is my hope that her friends will be drawn to her joy, given to her by Christ, and long for it.  It is my hope that she is able to show her friends what living for Christ really looks like.  A life full of adventure, joy, hope, and community.

Two of my favorite people, at one of my favorite places!
Naya (right) with my friend Andy, Area Director of Zionsville, IN (left) where I led in college.

Also, a huge THANK YOU to all who prayed for Naya, sent her care packages (and tshirts!!!), and made her feel loved in the States!  She will NEVER forget this experience and those she has met.  She is already begging me for next year's application!!

little victories

I have been in language school since January.  Full time.  Twenty hours per week in class.  It has been a huge commitment, but it is worth it.  There are definitely still some days when I don't feel like I know any Spanish, (For example I'll come home and my Tica mom will just rattle something off and I'm like...what???  No entiendo...), but for the most part, it's been fun to recognize my improvement.

One of our projects this semester is to give a two-hour presentation, in Spanish of course, about the country we'll be going to after language school.  So for me, that meant a two-hour presentation about Costa Rica.  We could do pretty much whatever, as long as we spoke in Spanish.  So, since most of my classmates know quite a bit about Costa Rica and Costa Rican culture (most have been here since August) I decided to make it fun.  We played Are you smarter than my Tica mom? and Pin the tourist attraction on the map of Costa Rica.  Glad my classmates and teachers were good sports and willing participants!  It was fun to be able to stand up there and speak for two hours in Spanish!  Little victories are worth celebrating!!

After class, my Area Director picked me up to school and drove me to the Hampton's house.  The Hampton's are a wonderful family who just moved here from Texas to be on staff with Young Life!  It was so great to finally meet them after hearing so many great things and exchanging multiple emails. They have been in the country for two weeks and their entire house is un-packed!  I can't believe it -- totally impressive.  I mean things hung on the walls, Anthropologie candles burning...Jeannie even made me a delicious espresso!  So fun sharing with them, hearing a bit of their story, and meeting their kids.  I'm SO excited for them to be part of our team and can't wait to do ministry with them!!  Felt so loved as they welcomed me into their home, made me coffee, fed me dinner, and even offered me a place to spend the night.

I've said it before, but Christ is one the move here in Costa Rica!  We're all saying it, that He's doing BIG things!!  And it's so exciting and humbling to be a part of it.  Thank you for your hand in this.  It would not be possible for any of us here to live in this country and do what we do without a team of people behind us and beside us.  I was reminded today while meeting the Hampton's that this is so much bigger than one person or one family.  That we are all serving in this country because of the generous support of others who also believe in this ministry, and who are passionate about kids in San Jose meeting Jesus.  THANK YOU for being in this with me!  With us!  With Jesus!!

#vamosticos

The World Cup here is UNREAL.  I have never seen a whole country celebrate like this before.  The first two games, I was in the States.  But I made it back to watch Costa Rica defeat Greece in penalty kicks!

And wow.  WOW.

I watched the game at one of my YL girls' houses with her family and extended family.  It was so generous of them to have us over.  And it was SO fun!!  They projected the game in their house so it was huge and set the atmosphere.  They are Ticos so they are passionate about the sport and this particular game.  The Ticos were playing to make history, and they did!  Their defeat of Greece led them to the quarterfinals for the first time in the country's history!!!

After the game we jumped in the car to join everyone else in the nation, honking and screaming and waving Costa Rican flags!  I have never seen such an act of patriotism!  It was literally one of the coolest things I've seen in my life.  Everyone celebrating.  Happy.  Screaming.  Jumping.  Coming together.  All of the parks...full of people.  All of the streets...full of people.  Ticos have so much pride for their country and for their team.  They knew the odds were stacked against them, but that made the defeat that much more exciting!  This particular game against Greece, they played 55 minutes with ten players on the field against Greece's 11 and still managed to pull out win!

It brought back memories of Butler making it to the Final Four the first time.  How they always like to make it a nail biter for those watching...easily giving us all heart attacks but pulling out the win.  But this was a whole other level because it was literally the whole country.  Even if you didn't care about futbol, you watched the game and you were celebrating!

Unreal cultural experience.  Check it out:

There were large screens showing the game all over the city.
This one was downtown San Jose.

This is Mall San Pedro, a shopping mall in walking distance to the YL office.
People gather here after every win to celebrate.
Even the newly elected Costa Rican president was there on one of the balconies!

More pictures/articles:
http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/06/29/27-photos-from-costa-ricas-all-night-long-celebration-after-the-ticos-beat-greece
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-28083548

there's no place like home.

It is so true...there really is no place like home.  This past week I traveled back to Michigan to mark, what would have been the end of my time in Costa Rica.  It was when I was "supposed" to be "done".  Haha, but we all know that that is not the case.  Although I am so excited about spending two more years here, it was a breath of fresh air to be home.

It was great timing.  We all left...pretty much.  So for my head and my heart, it was what I needed.  To wrap up my internship and have some closure with that, and then come back to Costa Rica on my own terms, knowing that it would be different (some of my closest friends, gone).  It gave me an interesting perspective into the lives and realities of our kids...dealing with transition over and over again.  It's hard!  It's good but it's hard!  And I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go home for a week.

I spent some great time with my family.  My parents were home some.  My mom and I did some shopping, stocking up of some things you can't get in CR.  We also starting making some scarfs that I will be selling as a fundraiser -- let me know if you want one!  $25!!

This could be yours...for $25!
And you're helping kids meet Jesus...win, win!

I was hoping to meet with some folks face-to-face to share the ministry vision for these next two years, but that unfortunately didn't really happen.  Just too quick of trip.  But that is one huge challenge of fundraising from Costa Rica...that I can't really meet with people.  Most people going on staff take a good 6-12 months to meet with people face-to-face and invite them to partner in their ministry.  That is not a reality for me.  Not at this point yet.  I'm here, and most of my supporters are there (in the States).  My anticipated start date is September 1st, which means all funds for the next two years need to be at least pledged before then.  (If they're not, I'll be sent back to the States until they are.)  So it can be a scary reality if I let it get the best of me.  But I have to trust. I have to trust in what the Lord has put on my heart.  These kids.  This ministry to international school students in San Jose.  I can't be distracted by what look like limitations and I must focus on the promises and faithfulness of the Lord I serve, and that He is a provider.  The Provider.

I also had the chance to spend the day at Timber Wolf Lake, the Young Life camp in Michigan.  Some close friends who are on staff with YL in the States were up there serving for the month of June.  It was great to be face-to-face and catch up.  To share.  To be encouraged.  To celebrate.  And I LOVE Young Life camp!!!  I went on Day 1, so I got to witness all of the welcomes!  So exciting to see the faces of hundreds of kids who were about to have the best week of their lives and leave changed because of it!  It was another reminder of why I do what I do and how faithful the Lord I serve is.

On the way home was able to spend the night with a great friend from high school now living in Grand Rapids.  She's an all-star and just landed her dream job at DeVos Children's Hospital.  Great to catch up with her and see what her life looks like.  Great to share the "realities of adulthood" and that life is sometimes just messy and hard, but that there is beauty in the mess.

All in all, it was a great trip.  A gift for sure.  To be able to stop.  To be out of the routine of Costa Rican life.  To drive a car.  To be rejuvenated.  To hit "pause" for a tiny second before going back full-speed to a life of language school, fundraising, and preparing for new interns and a new year of ministry.

Thanks Mom and Dad for always letting me come home!  Love you guys!

the last supper

...except it was breakfast.

This morning we gathered together as friends and as a leadership team for the last time.  So sad, but definitely something worth celebrating.  Jason and Bradyn were back in town and it was right before Alex and Rachel (and I for one week) were heading back to the States.

Rachel picked the place because, technically, it was her good-bye party (even though that didn't really happen).  WAFFLES.  And not just any waffles, all kinds of waffles!  Mine was loaded with Nutella, strawberries, and even a scoop of vanilla ice cream!  Delicious!!

As I mentioned before, it wasn't really a good-bye party.  It was more of a catch up party since it was the first time we had all been in the same spot, with some quality time for sharing, in months.  It was fun nonetheless, and Rach and I got to have our own good-bye party later -- a definite bonding moment.  

Back L to R:  Jason, Pan
Front L to R:  Bradyn, Jessie, Me, Rach, Alex, Sharon

It has been a definite privilege doing ministry with these friends this past year.  We have learned and grown together, and for that, none of us will ever be the same.  Grateful for these relationships and that these friends will have a significant place in my life for years to come!

graduation

Well, nothing says the end of a school year like graduation.  And today, several of my friends at Country Day School (CDS) sat on stage and received their diplomas!  So proud of them!!  This is a class of impressive students.  I was in awe as I sat in the audience.  Truly remarkable young people.  And it was nice how the school so intentionally celebrated each student.

CDS is a small school that really is a family.  Forty-six Seniors graduated today.  And as a class they've been through a lot.  Transition is the only normal in these kids' lives.  People and teachers come and go as most international assignments are 2-4 years.  There have been some kids that have been at CDS their entire life.  Literally starting in the day-care program at 18 months.  And it was so cool to hear in their words, the community they have created.  They know it's something special.  These kids really know how to embrace each other.  And they can provide a support system that no one else can, because they know (all to well) what it means to be the new kid.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the Director read a list of mind-blowing statistics about the graduating class of 2014.  From individual accomplishments, to a record amount of scholarships awarded (in millions!!), to pop culture highlights and lowlights that have defined their past year.  I felt almost star-struck sitting in the crowd, facing these remarkable students who embody so much potential and opportunity.  These remarkable students who are so ready to embrace adventure at its fullest as they travel all over the globe to continue their education.  From Hong Kong, to Canada, to the States, to Oxford, to Sydney, Australia...literally they are taking the world by storm!  (Every graduating Senior of CDS is going to college - impressive!  One student is taking a gap year, but then will be attending college in the States the following year.)

As each graduate received their diploma, Ms. O, their college counselor read their name and all of their accomplishments during their high school career.  WOW!  Awards, successes, scholarships...everything from academics to athletics to drama to community service.  Incredible the list of accomplishments these kids have attached to their name, and so cool that they were celebrated for them.  But I am convinced that the best is yet to come!  These kids are world changers and I'm excited to see how they do that!  These kids are out of the box thinkers, creative solutionists, world engagers, and industry visionaries.  But most importantly, these kids are children of God.  They are not defined by their amazing successes or the list of awards read after their names.  They are defined by the One who knows them and loves them.  And that, too, is definitely worth celebrating!

Congratulations, CDS Class of 2014!!  It has been an honor to know, to coach, and to do life with you!

Two of my non-graduating friends!

A little blurry, but the XC guys couldn't resist one last cheer...
Strength.  Honor.  Victory.  'Merica.

leader celebration!

We had such a fun end of the year leader celebration!  We as interns, staff, and our student leaders met at Lincoln Plaza to hang out, reflect on and celebrate the year, and play a game of laser tag!  (Yes, they do have that in Costa Rica!!)

We are ready.

It was a great, night.  A night we could all be together one last time before everyone scattered.  Before people went to college, moved back to the States, went to Work Crew, stayed in Costa Rica, went to camp or back to work.  It was a time we could sit and be, laugh and share, and remember and celebrate.  I love these sweet moments -- to just reminisce and be thankful.

And why not create more memories in the process of remembering?!  Laser tag was hilarious and awesome.  And HOT.  It was a sauna in there but so fun!  (Classic Costa Rica and no AC.)

I will miss this group of people deeply.  Our student leaders were all-stars.  Actually, they ARE all-stars.  Giving their lives as an example to their middle school friends -- showing up and loving them.  I will miss this team of interns and staff.  The way we have shared and grown together to share Jesus with kids in San Jose.  It has been a privilege to be part of this team who loves Christ and loves each other.  It's been a great year!

Acting out our laser tag names:  Falcon, Raptor, Viper, etc.
Classic laser tag names...

don’t leave me!

Tonight we celebrated our friend Alex.  Alex is the current Staff Associate.  She has been here for three years but is moving back to the States at the end of this school year where she will continue with Young Life in South Carolina.

She is such a dear friend.  She has taught me so much about life and ministry in Costa Rica and I am so grateful for her friendship.  It was great to have everyone together, the international schools team and the YL national staff, to celebrate her and her love for kids here.

The goodbyes don’t seem real yet.  Partly because the end of the school year has come so quickly, and partly because I’m not really leaving.  But it’s something that hasn’t really hit us yet.  We’ve been having goodbye celebration after goodbye celebration, but I don’t think it will hit me until they’re all gone and I’m still here.  It will be weird, an adjustment for sure.  But this is the nature of the international community (and the reality our kids face everyday).  So together we are trying to soak it all up.  We will keep gathering and celebrating.  We will keep embracing the high five and the pura vida of life in Costa Rica.  So grateful for Alex, Rachel, and this sweet group of people living fully for Christ.  Can’t wait to reunite in the various places the Lord takes us!

WE LOVE ALEX!!
L to R:  Sharon (Natinoal Direction Team), Rachel (other intern)

Happy Family!  Such fun and loving people.
We’ll miss you, Alex!
Thanks for giving us something to celebrate!

Dear, dear friends.  I will miss you more than you know.
What a great year its been.  You’ve both taught me more than you know.
It’s been a privilege to serve with you.  Grateful for how you love Jesus and kids.