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!!
