I got approved for temporary residency!!
Woohoo!
Thank you, Lord!
I have an appointment with Immigration next Tuesday, October 6th. I'm not sure what goes on during that, but I'm not worried about it. Still, please pray that things go well with that. Yay!
Well, I know I'm terrible at updating this... sorry! I can't believe it's been two weeks since I've updated. That's crazy! Quite a bit has happened in those two weeks. Well, the 15th was Independence Day here, so I got to do a few fun things with my host family. On the night before, we went to a Lantern Parade where the kids from the neighborhood come and make a procession, led by a torchbearer, carrying all different kinds of patriotic lanterns that they bought or made. This is a yearly tradition.
Felipe and his Dad with their lantern
The torchbearer getting ready to lead the procession through the streets
Felipe and his Dad with their lantern
The torchbearer getting ready to lead the procession through the streetsOn the actual day, we went to see a parade in a nearby city. Every school usually gets involved by putting together some sort of display, like traditional transportation or dress, or musical presentation. It really enjoyed being able to experience another part of Costa Rican culture that I've never seen before.
Costa Rican flags often preceded each group of kids
this group led the way with a fantastic musical
depicting coffee plantation workers
the ox cart - traditional method of traveling back in the day
little ones in traditional dress--so cute!
ending with a percussion group by a local night school--hence why they look older
I believe I mentioned in my last posts that I'm involved in the worship group at church, and practices have been going well. I'm learning a lot of worship songs in Spanish of course, but we also have an instructor come in bi-weekly to teach more technique. It's so funny to see people warm up for singing. They pant and stick out their tongues as far as they go and crazy stuff like that. haha! ...wait, I'm saying 'they' but what I really mean is 'we' seeing as I also have to do that crazy stuff now too. :D
I've also gotten more involved with the youth group and will be helping with the before-service prayer once in a while. I had just volunteered to get more involved two weeks ago, and the youth pastor had me jump in right away by asking me to do the prayer the next week, which was this past Saturday. I think it went well, could have gone better, but it was my first time so I'm fine with it.
I'm very excited about something that has just started in the group of people I work with. We had a meeting last Friday in which we discussed Community, among other things. But we are now making more of an effort to purposefully grow our relationships both with each other and with God. So, we'll be having a monthly potluck with our pastoral group which includes all the Americans working here, the house parents of the Children's Homes, and another couple from the church who volunteers their time to this part of the Project. We also just had our first weekly Monday morning prayer meeting! It was so refreshing, and I know that it will be so beneficial to us as a group and to me individually. The more unity there is in the body of Christ, the more we will be able to stand against the attacks of that enemy, Satan, who easily weasels his way into our lives and communities if we are not vigilant.
I had a really great weekend! Yesterday, Sunday, was great because we had company over in the afternoon, and I was able to be part of the conversations that were going on. My host mom's sister, brother-in-law, and their daughter Rachel visited. Rachel is about eight years old, I think, and is so much fun! She and I got to spend a little time together in July when she was on 'winter' break from school and visiting with her cousin, Isabelle who lives next door, and she is not shy at all. :) I also got to join in the afternoon 'café' which I rarely do. It's a cultural norm to take a break in the afternoon to eat something, typically bread with cheese/jam/butter/etc, and drink coffee. In my house, it happens anytime between 3-5 when I'm usually working, or I just don't realize that they're doing it. But on the weekends, if I'm at the house, I'll have coffee with them (but I don't drink coffee, just eat). Anyways, it was great to hang out with the fam!
Speaking of hanging out with the fam, mine is coming to visit in March! It's finally official, and I'm so excited already! It's going to be super special because I'm not going home for Christmas, so it'll be the only time I get to be with them while I'm here. Also, I'm so excited that they'll be able to see where I've been spending all my time, and I'll get to show them this country and experience the culture with them. Plus, they're coming on my birthday... but that's because it happens to be spring break for my sister which is why they can come in March in the first place. Yay!
Wow! So many things to tell! I just leave you with one more thing. God has been dealing with me about the attitude of my heart. I've been reading and learning about the Law of the Lord--you know, all those boring commandments about mildew in your house and the dimensions of the temple and blah, blah, blah. Right? You're following me? Well, they are so NOT boring! Ok, reading it can be tedious, but in learning the history of Israel I am beginning to understand why King David went crazy in the Psalms about how much he LOVED the law and how he meditated on it day and night! Anyways, I hope this makes sense, but all that led me to Psalm 50 which basically talks about how God liked the sacrifices Israel was bringing Him every day. But it also said that God didn't need their sacrifices, and He hated when the people did these daily rituals without their heart behind it and their actions reflecting what was in their hearts. And in Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus said that if you come to bring your offerings to the Lord and remember that you have something against your brother, you should leave your offering and make things right with your brother before you come to give your offering. How important is the attitude of our heart to God! Our attitude is a product of our will; you can choose to be happy; you can choose to persevere, or the opposite. Well, your thoughts are vital in this decision making process, no? But Paul says to 'take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ' (2 Corinthians 10:5) and also says that our thoughts should be occupied by things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). I want to confess to you all that my attitude has been less than Christ-honoring because I have allowed my thoughts to wallow in self-pity and selfishness. I want to bring my offering to the Lord with a clear conscience and a right attitude. Although God had been convicting me of these things for some time, I had selfishly held onto my attitude. No more! I have repented and know that the Father is faithful and gracious towards me. I want to take joy in my God and let nothing keep my heart back from Him!
Prayer Requests
-that our community would continually be strengthened, that relationships would be built on Christ the Solid Rock, and that through our unity we would become a witness to His love and be more effective workers in His kingdom here in Costa Rica
-that I would be bold in seeking friendships with the youth and others in the church
-that my Spanish would improve rapidly and I would be able to remember the new vocabulary that I'm learning all the time
-that I would be in constant communication with the Father so that my focus is in the right place and that my thoughts and attitude would naturally follow; that I would be able to take my thoughts captive for Christ
Thank you so much for your prayers and intercession on my behalf and for the work that God is doing here! Please let me know how I can be interceding for YOU.
Costa Rican flags often preceded each group of kids
this group led the way with a fantastic musical
depicting coffee plantation workers
the ox cart - traditional method of traveling back in the day
little ones in traditional dress--so cute!
ending with a percussion group by a local night school--hence why they look olderI believe I mentioned in my last posts that I'm involved in the worship group at church, and practices have been going well. I'm learning a lot of worship songs in Spanish of course, but we also have an instructor come in bi-weekly to teach more technique. It's so funny to see people warm up for singing. They pant and stick out their tongues as far as they go and crazy stuff like that. haha! ...wait, I'm saying 'they' but what I really mean is 'we' seeing as I also have to do that crazy stuff now too. :D
I've also gotten more involved with the youth group and will be helping with the before-service prayer once in a while. I had just volunteered to get more involved two weeks ago, and the youth pastor had me jump in right away by asking me to do the prayer the next week, which was this past Saturday. I think it went well, could have gone better, but it was my first time so I'm fine with it.
I'm very excited about something that has just started in the group of people I work with. We had a meeting last Friday in which we discussed Community, among other things. But we are now making more of an effort to purposefully grow our relationships both with each other and with God. So, we'll be having a monthly potluck with our pastoral group which includes all the Americans working here, the house parents of the Children's Homes, and another couple from the church who volunteers their time to this part of the Project. We also just had our first weekly Monday morning prayer meeting! It was so refreshing, and I know that it will be so beneficial to us as a group and to me individually. The more unity there is in the body of Christ, the more we will be able to stand against the attacks of that enemy, Satan, who easily weasels his way into our lives and communities if we are not vigilant.
I had a really great weekend! Yesterday, Sunday, was great because we had company over in the afternoon, and I was able to be part of the conversations that were going on. My host mom's sister, brother-in-law, and their daughter Rachel visited. Rachel is about eight years old, I think, and is so much fun! She and I got to spend a little time together in July when she was on 'winter' break from school and visiting with her cousin, Isabelle who lives next door, and she is not shy at all. :) I also got to join in the afternoon 'café' which I rarely do. It's a cultural norm to take a break in the afternoon to eat something, typically bread with cheese/jam/butter/etc, and drink coffee. In my house, it happens anytime between 3-5 when I'm usually working, or I just don't realize that they're doing it. But on the weekends, if I'm at the house, I'll have coffee with them (but I don't drink coffee, just eat). Anyways, it was great to hang out with the fam!
Speaking of hanging out with the fam, mine is coming to visit in March! It's finally official, and I'm so excited already! It's going to be super special because I'm not going home for Christmas, so it'll be the only time I get to be with them while I'm here. Also, I'm so excited that they'll be able to see where I've been spending all my time, and I'll get to show them this country and experience the culture with them. Plus, they're coming on my birthday... but that's because it happens to be spring break for my sister which is why they can come in March in the first place. Yay!
Wow! So many things to tell! I just leave you with one more thing. God has been dealing with me about the attitude of my heart. I've been reading and learning about the Law of the Lord--you know, all those boring commandments about mildew in your house and the dimensions of the temple and blah, blah, blah. Right? You're following me? Well, they are so NOT boring! Ok, reading it can be tedious, but in learning the history of Israel I am beginning to understand why King David went crazy in the Psalms about how much he LOVED the law and how he meditated on it day and night! Anyways, I hope this makes sense, but all that led me to Psalm 50 which basically talks about how God liked the sacrifices Israel was bringing Him every day. But it also said that God didn't need their sacrifices, and He hated when the people did these daily rituals without their heart behind it and their actions reflecting what was in their hearts. And in Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus said that if you come to bring your offerings to the Lord and remember that you have something against your brother, you should leave your offering and make things right with your brother before you come to give your offering. How important is the attitude of our heart to God! Our attitude is a product of our will; you can choose to be happy; you can choose to persevere, or the opposite. Well, your thoughts are vital in this decision making process, no? But Paul says to 'take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ' (2 Corinthians 10:5) and also says that our thoughts should be occupied by things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). I want to confess to you all that my attitude has been less than Christ-honoring because I have allowed my thoughts to wallow in self-pity and selfishness. I want to bring my offering to the Lord with a clear conscience and a right attitude. Although God had been convicting me of these things for some time, I had selfishly held onto my attitude. No more! I have repented and know that the Father is faithful and gracious towards me. I want to take joy in my God and let nothing keep my heart back from Him!
Prayer Requests
-that our community would continually be strengthened, that relationships would be built on Christ the Solid Rock, and that through our unity we would become a witness to His love and be more effective workers in His kingdom here in Costa Rica
-that I would be bold in seeking friendships with the youth and others in the church
-that my Spanish would improve rapidly and I would be able to remember the new vocabulary that I'm learning all the time
-that I would be in constant communication with the Father so that my focus is in the right place and that my thoughts and attitude would naturally follow; that I would be able to take my thoughts captive for Christ
Thank you so much for your prayers and intercession on my behalf and for the work that God is doing here! Please let me know how I can be interceding for YOU.
1 comment:
Hey Shiny, I'm still praying! Its good to hear that God is blessing down south just as he is here. Keep on with the updates, you never know when they might especially bless someone :)
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