Coincidence? I think not.

Happy August to you all! It’s so strange to think that it’s already August… Summer is winding down and people are getting ready to go back to school. As for me, I can’t really tell the difference. The weather is quite mild here all year round. Although it is the rainy season (winter), I am told that it is the driest it has been in many years. Everyone keeps saying it’s like summer because that is dry season here—warm, sunny, and windy...

I have had quite a few interesting cultural experiences in the past few weeks. I went with our last team to Orosi Valley and visited the oldest church in Costa Rica that is still in operation. Our bus driver said it was built around 1750, and all the original artwork is still there! There are no guards, gates, or bars, yet it is all in excellent condition.

And today, I experienced a taste of the judicial system. I had to go to the main police station to get fingerprinted because I am applying for temporary residency here. Well, I waited there for 2 ½ hours, but I am now officially in the system… that’s a scary thought. I should be able to submit my paperwork on Monday or Tuesday!

Those kinds of waits are the norm in Costa Rica, especially at more official places like banks and government buildings. Everyone takes it in stride and with a good attitude though because there is nothing you can do about it. It’s just part of life.
On the way there, I also got to see the first ever mall in Costa Rica! How exciting! ;D

In other happenings around the Project, we got a new intern on August 1st, and he’s a surfer! I think he really liked our excursion to Playa Hermosa this past Thursday and Friday. A world surfing competition took place there, and I, along with four other Americans and four Costa Ricans, got to be right there in the action! We not only got to spend time by the pool, in the ocean, and watching the competition, but we also helped the Christian Surfer's Association with security detail. I had a great view of the competition surrounded by teams from all over the world! But praise God because we arrived at the beach only minutes after the storm that we drove into caused a tree to fall on a transformer just a few hundred feet behind us. I watched the transformer explode and live wires fall onto the highway! As far as I know, no one was hurt though.

I am very excited about the next four months because I was asked to help out with a couple kids who recently accepted Christ and are going through a course about basic Christianity in preparation for baptism. One is a 9 y/o girl from one of the Children’s Homes at the Project, and the other is the son of the couple who runs one of the homes. I will be attending the class with them on Sundays and helping them with their weekly homework. I can’t wait to be a part of their walk with God as they learn who Jesus is and who they are in Him.

Prayer Requests:

-Continue to pray for humility as I continue to learn about the culture, form relationships, and integrate myself as a part of my host family.

-As I start my job as a publicist for the Children’s Homes, please pray for a clear and organized mind. This is new ground for me, and I know that anything good that is achieved is a result of God’s grace. The first step is seeing what needs to be done and coming up with a timeline of goals to achieve it.

-Please pray that our pastoral group would be able to form into more of a cohesive community of believers despite the constant work that needs to be accomplished. The people in this group are: Steve & Georgiana (admin. of Children’s Homes), Brauny & Ingrid (House parents of 1st house), Isella & Gerardo (House parents of 2nd house), Candace (intern coordinator), Johanna & Tim (fill-in house parents and ‘grandparents’ to the children), Jonathan & Amy (short-term missions team coordinators), and me (publicist).

An evangelistic activity at a local elementary school where professional martial artists integrated karate with sharing the gospel and their testimonies