Back at Port

Well, I am back in Costa Rica for my second semester at Portantorchas Bible School. Yesterday I woke up at 2:45 AM so I could leave for a 5:40 flight to fly to Miami and then San Jose. It was sad to leave my family again but I am so glad to finally be back here after 2 months at home. My awesome roomie Emily is here with me and there are a few other students here already that were here with me last semester. This weekend all the other students will arrive :). It's weird being back-- I feel like I keep transitioning between two completely different worlds. I'm going into this semester with a different attitude/perspective than last semester. Nothing is new anymore. I've had the last 2 months to kind of snap me back into the reality that this is my last time coming here and after this, I'm going to have to go back to whatever else God has for me. I just pray that I will be able to move on after this wonderful experience. So, I guess I could use lots of prayer in the next few months, as I will have to be making decisions about my future and what to do in the fall. A few goals I have for this semester at Port are to 1)be more intentional with my time (be in God's word, prayer, reading, developing relationships), 2)stop focusing so much on myself, and instead, turn the attention towards God and to the others that I'm building relationships with, and 3) be intentional about serving others and sharing my faith with others. So anyways, that's all for now. Oh and by the way, I'm still freezing in Costa Rica. Who would have thought?

Piercing the Darkness

I have heard of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago all of my life, but I've never really stopped to take a second look at what it is all about until today. This morning, my dad and I went to visit and I went to see a friend from Port who now goes there. I was pretty blown away by what I witnessed. I've always been excited at the possibility of going to a Christian college but never really considered attending a strictly "Bible" college, because honestly, it's always sounded a little bit like spiritual overdose. But I guess going to a one-year Bible school has opened my eyes more to a Bible school possibility. At my visit this morning, I was amazed by the passion that seeped out of almost everyone that I came in contact with. That school is just busting with kids that are on-fire for Christ and really seem to clearly understand their purpose of making disciples of all the nations of the earth. The chapel service was amazing and all of the people that I met just exuded Christ's love in simple but very impactful ways. It was extremely moving to discover that in the heart of the spiritually broken city of Chicago, there is a large group of people whose hearts are overflowing with the passion of the church of Christ and are learning how to go out to the ends of the earth and pierce the darkness with the beauty of the gospel.

Also, I just watched a random YouTube video of a slideshow of pictures from Haiti (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esUu2C6kLu8#) and at one part, a man was being interviewed-- apparently he lost his wife, his church, his Bible college all in the devastation of the earthquakes. However, when asked why he was still smiling, he simply replied that his joy comes from the Lord.

The power of the God we are here to serve is insane. I know of nothing else in the world that can give hope in the midst of these huge storms of life and put such beautiful smiles back on the faces of the broken.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam , though the mountains tremble at its swelling" (Psalm 46:1-3).

All that to say, I still have no idea what I will be doing this coming fall, whether it be Moody, or a liberal arts Christian college, or community college, or even no college at all (SHOCKER), but God will work it all out in His timing. And I can take comfort and find peace in the truth that, "for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). God works in beautiful ways, and I can do nothing but be left in awe when I see small glimpses of what He is doing across the nations.

Back to COSTA RICA in 4 days. CRAZY pumped.

Sneak Attack of the Emotions

Only 10 days until I return to the much loved country of Costa Rica! I am very excited to see everyone again and find out what God has for me this second semester at Portantorchas. This past month and a half God has been stretching me and growing me spiritually and as a result, I feel like the devil has been trying harder to steal me away. Thankfully, God wins :), but this break there has been a constant battle waging between soul and Spirit.

Apparently, I'm a very emotional person. And this fact has been hiding itself for most of my life until now when it decided to jump out and attack me. Thank you for that lovely surprise. Anyways, my emotions decided to creep out right now specifically because for the first time in my life, my future seems very wide open and unsure. And in the next few years I'm going to venture into the real world of responsibility-- no more of that carefree childhood. Dang. But although I don't know what my future looks like, I can trust that it will be a good one as long as I keep my eyes on God.

Wellll, yes. I am extremely excited to head back to Costa Rica-- the warmth, my crazy awesome friends (although some of them sadly aren't coming back! Que triste mae! Ping pong with Tach no mas!) Pero, I am also starting to get sad because I'm realizing that I have to leave my family again for 4 months. I guess from here on out I will always be missing someone. Joy.

Haha, but really, I'm not as depressed as I sound. I'm very happy. I am blessed in so many ways. I have wonderful family who wants what is best for me, amazing friends, the awesome opportunity to spend the next 4 months building relationships with God and others in a beautiful country, and the hope of a bright future in Christ. Despite many unknowns, I got it good. And I am just going to live in the present and depend on God to give me what I need every day, one day at a time. He is good!

Well, I wish I could be more naturally funny like Christie, or more unnaturally funny like Tasha, but unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, I just can't be clever with my writing like them. Well it is what it is. And I can't think of anything more to say. Goodnight.

Little Blessings

my sister

the bright shining sun

Pablo

friends that want to go deep spiritually

Costa Rica

the piano

painting

hot chocolate

my brother

my Bible

jammin out in the car

prayer

my casita girls

TACHA

when my friends kidnap me

books

working out with Lily

Cedric ;)

my parents

spanish

weird freak people from long distance

gallo pinto

the warm beach

chillin in the laundry room

love

my talks with emily

music

talking

grandparents

dance parties

chocolate chip cookie dough

my bed

praise music

Thank you for all the little blessings.