Reality

Today was our first day for ministry at the churches we will be working with the rest of the year! God is so good! I had heard of a church that ministered in one of the poorest places in San Jose and in the back of my mind wanted to go. The Lord worked it out and our first Sunday was great!! We are in the slums but the church is a lighthouse to the very dark area around us. As many of you know I have my degree as a master cosmetologist and wanted to cut hair as part of my ministry. I had already discussed this with our house "parents" here and they were very excited about that being a possibility in whatever church I was to be placed in. Nothing could have prepared me for being told in front of a whole congregation that I was an answer to prayer and that they want me to teach the ladies of the church how to cut hair so that they can make money for their families!!!!! Talk about blowing me away! But did I know at that moment God was totally in control? oh yes!! :-) I can not wait to see actually happens so keep me in your prayers!! Yesturday I was finally able to go see my friends that live in CR!! It was the best day so far and gave me such a boost! There is NO doubt in my mind God has called me here (this is my 5th trip-lol) but seeing my Costa Rican sister(her name is Johanna and she is why I am here) and visiting with my friend who is a prostitute REALLY let's me know why I am here. God has placed these people in my life for a reason and I can not wait to know their language so I can fully communicate with them God's love- my ministry will truly just be getting started on that day! As for school it is so much to take in- I have been very discouraged and I have been under alot of spiritual attack that has not helped anything. Please pray against that in our group and that I will be able to stay focused. It has been a very trying past few weeks and it is because God has me here and wants me here and satan wants to break me down. My heart is here with these people and our God is BIG so it will be ok! For those of you who have prayerfully and financailly supported me thank you for also being God's hands and feet! You will truly be blessed!

ps. so sorry if this is scatter brained,..I do not have much time to blog but when I do I write what I think of down and post it! :-)

My new life!! :-)

I can't believe I have only been here for alittle over a week! I feel like I have been here for forever but it is amazing! I just finished coloring one of my friends hair after a busy day of school and going to the supermarket!:-) I have been staying busy in my free time being a hairdresser, by the time I leave here I will be much better at everything! :-) Thank you friends! School is going pretty good, just so much to take in! I still have some homework to finish and may get to bed early tonight. Our morning start somewhat early- this week we have Bible class at 8:30am and then spanish classes until 3 or 4. We will eventually have a different schedule though getting done around 2:30!!! That will be nice,...I enjoy free time! :-) Everyone is great here, and I love being here. I have been homesick for a few moments at several different times but nothing too bad! I know I will be back home in no time, the program will be over and I will not want to leave! This is like a dream come true for me-living in CR. On my previous trips here I have always wanted to stay longer and one other friend of mine have discussed how we wanted to move here! Here I am!! :-) Please pray that I will be able to comprehend everything and really have an understanding of this language, it is alot to take in and I feel soooo slow. I will get it though! I am commited! Thank you all for your prayers and please keep me in them! Your prayers and support mean alot to me and I am still in need of funds so pray that those will come in! Well, I have to run- homework awaits! Goodnight!

Home sweet home!!!

Hey Everyone!! I am finally settled in at my new casa in Costa Rica-it is a beautiful!! Better than anything I pictured. I had forgotten just how much I LOVE it here. God has laid it heavily on my heart and for what purpose I will find out!! :-) I talked to our leaders today at lunch and shared with them how I want to use my talent in cutting hair as part of my ministry here and they are so excited and already have some ideas for me!!! I am so pumped! I am with a team of 33 students(ages 17-21) from all over the US and I am the oldest of the group! lol It's very funny to me but hey, age is just a number!! :-) I have already made some good friends and can't wait to see what the Lord does with each of us!! I am not homesick yet but I forsee it coming within the next few weeks to a month- but we shall see!! I hope everyone is doing well back home!! I will try and load photos when I can so be looking for those!! Ps. we start classes on Tuesday so pray I can learn quickly and I am diligent in studying!! :-) oh the things the Lord is going to teach me!

I will talk to yall soon!!!

3 days!!

Hey everyone! I am leaving this coming Tuesday for Costa Rica! I can't believe it is finally here. I have packed all day today and leave tomorrow for orientation where I will meet all of my team members and say goodbye to the family! :-( I do not know how long it will be before I will be able to update this so here is my contact information for anyone who would like to send letters:

Carretera a Sabanilla
Del Gimnasio del Este
800 Mts. Norte
Casa amarilla can bandera de CR
Antes del puente
San Jose- Costa Rica

Please stay in touch I would love to hear from you!!

Also I am still in the process of raising all the funds needed to stay for the total nine months so if the Lord lays it on your heart to help sponsor this trip here is the information.

A check can be made out to: SCORE, INC.(please specify what person you are giving it to) and sent to:

SCORE, Inc.
PO Box 9994
Chattanooga, TN. 37412

Please keep me in your prayers! I will update this as soon as possible! :-) Thank you!!!

I hope to keep this updated as often as possible!! I want to thank everyone who has supported me financially and prayerfully. Please continue to keep me in your prayers and keep in touch! :-)

For those who do not have Facebook here is a link for you to check out my albums from previous trips to Costa Rica!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000674&id=1120830176&l=0a37e7fb8e

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001235&id=1120830176&l=29f40b7f4b

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001234&id=1120830176&l=f098d8fce1

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001244&id=1120830176&l=30230557d9