I'm sorry that this update has taken so long! I feel like I have been trying to write it for a week and things keep getting in the way (only having enough money for 30 minutes at an internet cafe, moving, power going out for two days. You know normal, everyday stuff)
Last Saturday was the last English class and it was a disappointing finish. Out of my original 8 students only 1 showed up! I taught what I had planned and then let him draw on the board for a few minutes (which he was really excited about). I have to remind myself that the other weeks were much more successful, even if this last one was discouraging. We decided to end Saturday because the kids are starting a new school year this week and it was going to be very difficult on the families to continue.
I am very excited about this week of February 9-13 becuase I will be attending a conference about worship here in San José. The church that my friend Ericka attends is a Vineyard church plant in Alajuela and they are putting it on. Some famous worship leaders and worship song writers from the US will be there including Jeremy Riddle, Andy Park, Shirley McDonald and several people from Costa Rica!! I attended church with them Saturday and Sunday and got to meet Andy Park, Mark Young and and some of the others helping to lead the conference. It was so cool. He gave an amazing talk about worship, talking about worshiping with our lives and not just by singing. I am planning to post reflections on the conference when I get back.
I have moved again and this has been the best move yet. This is the closest I have felt to coming home since I have been here. I am living with Ericka and her family! She has been my main contact here whenever I need anything and she has also been one the only real friends I have here (it's hard to develop a friendship when all you can say is "Can I help?" "Can I eat something?" "I need to wash my clothes." "This is delicious, thank you" and other things along those lines). She likes to talk to me in English to add to her vocabulary and her English is excellent (I often forget it's not her first language). It's also nice because she is able to help me with my Spanish! They are a very fun family, her husband is Alberto and they have two children Samuel (2 1/2) and Christina (9).
I am also excited because I think I will begin working with Kids soon! The first foundation that I told you about has been a little bit slow as far as working out my job and communication. It's been very frustrating because I have wanted to work since January. However, there was another opportunity as a foundation close to Ericka's house that we are looking into. It's an organization that works through Ericka's church. I will find out more about it this week and keep you updated on what's going on there.
A couple of weeks ago I attended a wedding. At first it was stressful because I was told to be ready at 4 becasue the wedding started at 6 and was an hour away. Well being the good Hobby Girl that I am I was ready at 3:45. We left the house at 5:45. We got to the wedding at about 6:30 and hardly any of the guests had arrived. The bride arrived around 7. The 6 o'clock wedding started at 7:15. Time here works differently, very differently.
It was beautiful! There were about 50 guests. The ceremony and the reception were very similar to a US wedding. The only difference was that the first 15 minutes of the ceremony consisted of reading the Costa Rican laws about Marriage by a lawyer. The seperation of Church and State does not exist here.
I will have internet again in a week. Please pray for the conference this week that God works in the lives of those attending and those leading and that it will be a cool mixture of cultures as the North American and Costa Ricans come together to worship Jesus!
I am praying for you and I hope that you are well!
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