gifts from the beach

memories of many sunsets here and places like it ...

                                                                              The hostel/ministry house where we stayed. "La Ola"

If you haven't been to Costa Rica before,
say "Buen Provecho" if you walk in
and people are eating.
The chair's from the coffee shop.


               A little reading on the beach. mmm.

Camp

Some of the girls post-water slide which was like this...

not all cucarachas--and we're reading James and the Giant Peach which has a ladybug : )

The teachers really have been lovely (These two teach math and Bible).
Also, my shirt is as it is due to a hug I received from a student after a mud crawl.  : )

Coffee from the counter

Ok, after letting some thoughts percolate and brew, I'm finally getting around to pouring the cup to share, so I hope it still tastes fresh for you. 

Part I

Last week at this time I had just gotten back from camp with the 7th, 8th and 9th graders, exhausted after a couple of very full days having just met everyone less than two weeks prior and thinking and functioning completely in Spanish for the first time in a long, long time. 

That brought with it twinges of nostalgia for my own comfort places and people and a deep gratitude for where I have come from and for the opportunity to be a part of those sweet couple of days. (It also brought a little bought of sickness for the week so now I have a nice, husky voice--great for communicating in our echoey classrooms.)

It was beautiful to be up more in the mountains with the nieblina (fog) and cooler air. There were lots of camp activities, games, challenges, team-building, and Bible studies with our groups. I spent time back and forth with teachers and students, trying to get to know both and figure out the dance of a new place and people. No, I'm not totally at home, but at the same time I do feel at home. 

By this I mean, I don't fit exactly in any place and this is a good reminder that most of us do feel like the wandering souls that we are from time to time. Yet, we can still find connection and home in some sense wherever we may be, centered and whole and grateful. (We sang Desde Mi Interior at the end of camp which always brings comfort).

Part II

My time with Jesus has been very sweet, prayers ranging from overly-dramatic desperation to relief, mere grunts, and overflowing gratitude. I’m learning what it means to pray continually, the in and out of living in the Spirit—pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, with this in mind, always be alert and keep on praying for all of the Lord’s people.  Eph. 6:18

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” – Colossians 3:16-17. 

So good. So true. So necessary.

Last weekend, we really enjoyed some much-needed time at the beach. Neither Kate nor I has been feeling the best, so we maybe didn’t disfrutar to the fullest, but we were glad we went, although we found out we’re not that great a putting on sunscreen-ouch.

We saw providence in many ways, which thrills me and I think stresses Kate, some.

• Getting to the road just as the bus to San Jose was pulling away—he stopped for us! Getting the last seat on the bus out to the beach.
• Getting money from the ATM in the nick of time.
• Rain letting up while we were walking without umbrella.
• Even finding gum and a bathroom before leaving the city.
• Happening upon a really neat couple who started a Bible church there a few years ago (international and Spanish—check out Horizons), as they were about to start youth group so that we could have a little hostel all to ourselves which is part of a neat ministry tied to a little skating ramp and other work going on in the town,
• Catching the sunset that peeked out when it had been cloudy after an evening walk on the beach
• Enjoying dinner at a Japanese restaurant and reminiscing with Kate about her travels in Asia and people watching/musing
• Getting much needed long hours of sleep in the evening
• Finding a kind owner of a coffee shop who helped us get a cheap taxi out to a different beach
• Sunshine all day during rainy season—enjoying relaxing by the ocean
• Nearly getting stuck inside the gate—the lock was suddenly being difficult—but Kate finally wiggled it free—just in time
• we hustled to get Cosechas (the woman was not in a hurry, she began to read us every item on the menu!)
• Caught a taxi just as we needed it and he was great—cut off the bus for us, so we hopped out, hopped on, sat down and pulled away (reminiscent of one of my trips to Des Moines!)

Oh, goodness. There was also the sweetness of fresh mango, the friendly dog at the hostel, the surfers to watch at the beach, the strength of the waves pushing and lulling and the worn-out feeling of arriving back with sand everywhere.

Part III

This week is kind of crazy because it's been hard to get my head on straight and gear up for finishing the last week before break which will also be spiritual emphasis week. We had a speaker this week for chapel who definitely connected with a lot of the students--he has a genetic deformity so that he has hands, but no arms and very short legs upon which he was not supposed to be able to walk. He shares about God's purposes and the search for identity that a lot of high schoolers are walking through. We also got to celebrate the principal's birthday today and say goodbye to the team that was here.

Both grades took a test in my class and it was a learning experience for all of us. : } I need prayer to really connect with/meet my eighth graders where they're at and to help them grow. We have our ups and downs throughout the week and I do enjoy them. Everyone's tired as happens at the end of a term and needing not to check out! "So much time, so little to do! Strike that. Reverse it." Good thing I like crunch time. I'm looking forward to planning time, visiting people and hopefully a few excursions during break. I've been blessed by many offering support and encouragement here, and even from my pen pal from student teaching in the states a few years back! 

Enjoyable to spend the evening with friends, hosting and sharing life a bit. Looking forward to sleep, so I'll check in at the end of next week! 

Walkawalka, lesson plans and prayers

MORE THAN ONE WEEK HAS PASSED--OFF AND RUNNING!

The first week was a lot of feeling in over my head and also feeling the normalcy of the place. There is so much I do not yet understand and also a lot that one can glean in the first few days about an organization, its people, its culture. With students, it is hard to realize what vast differences I find in an EFL classroom where some of the students would be placed in an honors English class in the States and others in ESL pullout or modified instruction.
I feel somewhat behind and like there is so much nitty gritty to work on while wanting them to see the bigger picture and wanting to delve into "the good stuff," recognizing that certain grammatical points don't always hold the most sparkling appeal yet that if we try to build without the foundation, our building will crumble! At the same time, there are students for whom the simplest task is daunting.

Don't we always find these disparities in life and wish that we were the bridge to cross them. I'm not the Savior. weight off, but pressure's on.

This weekend Kate and I did quite a bit of walking and were both pretty exhausted from the week, but we found solace in the sunshine and walking up where it feels less city and more "campo," and got some work done at a coffee shop for a bit. We payed this time and headed back in time to grab some dinner at home and be a little (ok, a lot with the buses) late for church.

On the way home, switching buses got tricky because the second bus didn't swing by the stop, so we had to scamper over the barrier while he briefly stopped. In the rush, what did I forget but the most important possession of the season--my umbrella. As I got on, I realized, looked back and saw a man pick it up and walk off. Well, I guess it's rainy season for everyone. (I do have a rain coat, so I'm ok). 

This week--trying to get tests created and prepped for next week along with lesson plans and an understanding of where we're headed over the next few weeks before break and couple of months before the end of the trimester.  We have visitors coming on Wednesday (gringos from Kentucky) who will lead chapel and also participate in English class, so we'll see how that goes!
Then, we head to camp with the 7th, 8th and 9th graders for a retreat Thursday-Friday. Pray for their hearts, their relationships, their growth and connection and that it would be a time that honors God and their families, especially upon return. Also for those who don't go for whatever reason that there will be good connection and integration next week. 

Praying for students and friends who I know are heavy-laden right now.
Looking forward always to what's in store and laying burdens down. 

snapshots--the refreshing sweetness of fresh-squeezed guanabana juice at the market

Things I've enjoyed the first week or so: 

sunshine, sweating, those great school polos, heavy, heavy rain and strong thunder and lightening and running, bruschetta, different leftovers for lunch, meeting people, conversations with Kate, being with the students—want more of this (pray for camp), coffee in the morning, laughing, prayer times, scripture fitting and convicting, walking, Belen, smoothie mishap, getting settled quickly, having other Wheaties here, making it through the week, the ferria (market), walking up in the mountains, church, skyping, reading Gracias, picnic lunch, quick-drying laundry, internet operations at the house, honesty of students . . . I'm thankful.

Allow me to explain the lesson from the smoothie mishap--don't forget to pay for your food, even if the person you are waiting to pay sends you back to your seat. When you leave, they will follow you and kindly explain your mistake. Whoops. Embarrassing. (this gringa did pay up. I like that place.).

Also, you probably already know but the ferria is wonderful (We go to one a couple of towns over) because you get the sights and sounds and smells of real life:

Xylophones playing, lottery ticket vendors calling out, fruit stand vendors trying to get customers' attention, little streets crammed with people, rolling baskets, vegetable stands, meat vendors, fresh pupusas or empanada tents, fresh juice booths, customers and their families or their dogs,   money being exchanged, and life going on all around--the church right behind, a performing group packing up, a group of bicyclists out for a ride, homeless and wealthy, trucks and cars and buses, and luckily this Sunday, sunshine. 

such good gifts we get each day!

Peace

I corralled all of the seventh graders back into the classroom yesterday and the previous day had the eighth graders sit down after the bell rang to remind them that the bell did not signal to "peace out." 

…but the peace that I’m thinking of today is that which comes and resonates, deep, as the Spirit fills and restores. Peace can be produced in us even in chaos, or confusion, when we feel agitated or overwhelmed. Lay your burdens and worries and fears to rest.

Efesios 2:14-18  (add in accents)

Porque Cristo es nuestra paz . . . para reconciliar . . . El vino y proclamo paz a usteds que estaban lejos y paz a los que estaban cerca. Pues por medio de el tenemos acceso al Padre por un mismo Espiritu.

As it’s rainy season, it’s fitting that this song should be brought to mind today in honor of those who are searching for peace who are on my heart.

Sometimes the rain keeps spitting in your face

or the icy wind wears a sickly grin as its teeth sink in

Does anyone really hear you?

Are you a victim of your fears?

Here in the storm, the thunder screams your pain

And you spit right back as you walk the path in the rain

Sitting alone again makes you wonder,

What was the point of all those tears?

and the rain streaking down the window pane

mirrors the tear drops that just keep falling

They shatter

             

Does anyone really hear you?

Are you a victim of your fears?

Here in the storm, the thunder screams your pain

And you spit right back as you walk the path in the rain

Walking on, your heart grows heavy

You stumble and fall to your knees

Suddenly you’re caught in sweet surrender

Your eyes are lifted, and though it’s still blurry

You see it

           

There is a hope in sweet surrender

Grace is real and mercy, pure  

redemption came to heal the broken

now you’re holdin’ the hand of the one who authored the rain

The sun may not really come tomorrow

But maybe the rain is your gift for today

The rainbow still holds the same old promise

faithfulness- hope that has come and is coming

you must see

           

There is a hope in sweet surrender

Grace is real and mercy, pure  

redemption came to heal the broken

now you walk the long road with the one who understands pain

so keep holding the hand of the one who authored the rain

pictures

A glimpse inside...

really can't tell ya why this rotates the wrong way, but if you come over, you'd be welcomed--that's the living room where I would skype you : )

School...(primary's down the hill)

you can just see, if you look, that we get sunsets over the mountains in the distance.

Arrival. 1 Junio, 2013. Initial thoughts.

I was curious at first coming down through the clouds with the sun beaming through over the mountains at the fact that, taking check of my emotions, I didn’t really feel anything particular that I could sequester out. The closer we got, however, the more I let my little heart leap.

(You see, I had turned off emotions first when mom cried the morning I left—too much—and then when a study abroad group couldn’t stop talking about how long that had to wait to get drunk—I had little sympathy.)

I took a second to praise God for bringing me through, awed at it all, and surprisingly calm through everything. How fitting that today’s devotional was on that deep-seeded/seated peace (I like both).

So many wonderful gifts and confirmations along the way from those older, younger, wiser, further along or following behind. Prayer and being sent, perfect although scary timing. Support on this end and feeling welcomed although still a stranger. There are certain places that just feel right and somewhat reminiscent—this is one of them.

La Palabra De Vida Bilingual Christian School was started 16 years ago by a couple who came down after most of their large litter had left the nest, sensing time for a change and seeking to minister and serve in a country not originally their own. The last son who was with them at the time has since returned and the school continues to live and thrive off of support from many various places through work teams, prayer, finances for scholarships, etc. It is still a beautiful place, but it is becoming more city, less country as the years go by. I can attest that the atardecer—sunset is still gorgeous, for one thing.

I live in “The English House” with another gal, Kate. Originally from Ohio, she taught in Korea a couple of years ago and is teaching second grade English and Science here. I wouldn’t say we’re alike in temperament or appearance, but I would say she’s lovely and much sweeter than me. We’re hoping to have a few adventures together starting tomorrow.  It is a gift to share life with someone.

Our house is quite spacious and has been well-worn over the years, serving us well as it has those before us. It is also conveniently located only a few steps from my classroom—let’s hope this means I will be extremely punctual. I settled in quickly and enjoyed a nap, adjusting to the new lullabies various animals, celebrations and rain. I’ll have to see about adding that to my ocean alarm. I slept soundly, in case you wondered.

Met with Isaac, the English Coordinator on campus today, which was helpful and frightening. We all know I struggle to be the ahead-of-the-game person. I’d rather roll with the punches in many ways, but I also thrive under pressure and enjoy getting things done/helping people achieve, so hopefully the priority of my students will get my rear in gear. Honestly, though, I was definitely tracking and on the same page as Isaac, which is wonderful, and I feel very supported even if it will be difficult. Pray for my students. : )

Went to Befuses for dinner with Savanna and James Millikan, Kevin Ung and Kate. Got to meet Mrs. Befus, the founder, and wash dishes with her, and I enjoyed everyone’s company and generosity of the hosts in serving us.

Yes, feeling tired, content, tiniest inklings of worry, and peace. Hasta luego.