my semester in costa rica isn't exactly like a vacation. yes, i have vacationed on the beach, yes i do eat mangos and melon almost every day, and i have not worn my favorite north face fleece at all in 2011 (thank goodness!)... but this semester has probably been one of the most challenging semesters i have had. i'm faced with scary questions, big world issues, and different faith perspectives and ways of interpreting Scripture that makes it hard to process everything - especially in a place i'm not familiar with and without the people who know me the most.
last week i think i was in the "mid semester slump" and i cried frequently - but i am becoming more okay with my emotions (haha) and am learning to let the tears come, and then keep a' goin! (with the encouragement and prayer of family and friends, of course! i certainly can't do this by myself!) sometimes that means wearing my new "boy ban" sunglasses (fake ray bands bought in nicaragua - i couldn't resist) to cover up puffy eyes, sometimes it means listening to katy perry over and over again on the exercise machine (i'm a firework! thanks k.p.), and just praying that God would give me peace and a thankful heart for what he is teaching me here in latin america.
this week has been better and i think God has placed it on my heart to work towards a greater spirit of thankfulness (something i always need to be working harder towards) and so i want to write a little bit about some of the things i am so thankful for and some of the ways i have been touched and loved this semester.
[hermanas: gabi, me, glori, susan]
these are my sisters at their soccer game right before nicaragua. while i don't get to spend a lot of time with them each day because we are both in school and they work as well, they have been so patient, kind, and loving to me. they invite me to almost everything that they do whether they are going to hang out with their friends, go to the movies, or are just watching TV. they help me with my spanish homework, always greet me with a hug & kiss and are willing to help me in whatever way they can. they are such a blessing.
[nicaragua friends]
i honestly can't look at this picture without getting the biggest smile on my face and starting to laugh. one day i came home from being at the church in our little town in nicaragua and these two men were sitting outside my house smoking and just chatting. the man on the left (i am embarrassed to say that i didn't catch their names) is my uncle and the man the right is his friend. apparently my uncle worked in the US for a number of years doing some kind of electrical work and we talked all about northern california, the freeways, and where he used to work (being born in no. cal was a huge advantage for me since i met a lot of nicaraguans who had worked in the san francisco area!). they talked about different spanish accents and how mexicans and nicaraguans speak differently. they were so funny and i had so much fun laughing with them, comparing spanish accents, and listening to them talk back and forth to one another with such expression and emotion. i had to take a picture to remember them and one of the best conversations i had in nicaragua.
[some other blessings]
on monday i had a wonderful skype date with my dear aunt and grandma b. it was so much fun to talk to them, and i was even more excited when i got a letter in the mail from my grandma! it made my day and i was so happy to sit outside and read from her beautiful handwriting. thanks grandma!
this weekend i learned some new recipes! cake ("que que"), gallo pinto, and patacones (delish!). i also met up with a friend in san jose and saw some beautiful art, laughed a lot with my host parents, and decided that i probably will never completely understand how to properly use the imperfect and preterite tenses (but i think i'm okay with that).
i am blessed in so many ways ...and those blessings have continued to come in unique times and places here in latin america, even during times where i feel overwhelmed. so, i want to end by saying, as we do in latinoamérica, gracias a Dios.
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