#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.