learning to be comfortable with not being comfortable

  April was a month that somewhat flew by but was very tiring emotionally as well.  The girls and I returned from the states and four days later, my uncle passed away.  Of course, I wanted to turn around and run back, but I was holding onto the memories I was able to share with him the past couple weeks prior to his passing.  I kept telling myself that I was pretty fortunate because not everyone got that chance.  But it was extremely difficult knowing my entire family was together but not us.  UGH!!  My father, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer, has decided to actively watch and not doing any treatment at this time. Please continue to keep my family in your prayers as the days go on. 

On the 8^th, we celebrated our 1^st birthday away from friends and family, as Makaylee turned 7!  Thankfully our wonderful neighbors and friends came to help celebrate!  They even sang “Happy Birthday” in Spanish.  And we celebrated our 1^st holiday, Easter also!  Thankfully they like us enough to have invited us over to Easter dinner with a lot of missionaries in the area.  There were approximately 50 people there!  I think we all met new people and made new friends!  So as you can imagine, it has been an emotional ride the past couple of weeks.  Also, the reality of we are out of our comfort zone, missing our friends and family, and feeling like a fish out of water, has gotten the best of us at times. You all might want to pray for Shaun as he is living with 3 girls!  Ha

The girls and I were fortunate enough this month to be able to meet with a group of women who will be creating products to sell.  They range anything from paintings, cross stiching, sewing, to knitting, etc. These women have been working with Reisa Sanchez for several years, and she is trying to help them be able to earn money to help support their families.  Most are single mothers, all with a different story to tell.  They had a great time telling their story, getting their picture taken, sharing their talent, and being able to go shopping to buy supplies!  We are excited to see the finished products and how God is going to use their talent to help not only them but others as well. 

Also, the girls and I were invited to go to a little neighborhood with a lady named Christine.  She goes every Saturday and does like a Sunday School/VBS lesson with the local children.  She invited us to go have an Easter egg hunt and dye eggs with the kids!  We had a blast!  The boys dropped us off with a table and bags of stuff, and we were fortunate to set up on some lady’s front porch.  We hid the eggs and then actually walked door to door gathering the kids!  Of course, with Madison and Makaylee they were so intrigued they followed us all the way to the last house!  After we gathered the kids, we had an Easter egg hunt, told the story of the Resurrection, dyed eggs with them for the 1^st time ever, and had a snack.  They children aged from 2-13! This woman does this every week.  She was so thankful that we were there to help, and I was just in awe that she gave up her Saturday mornings each week to just go to a local neighborhood and share the love of God and tell the kids about Jesus.  Really how difficult is that?                                                                                 

We also got to deliver food to a couple of families and pray with them.  I love being able to be a part of this, and I also enjoy watching my girls experience these things.  We have taken way too many things for granted!  We want the biggest house, the best cars, the nicest things, and yet it seems like we are sometimes never satisfied.  Some of these people have extremely very little and they seem so happy!  I wish I could only take you and show you their conditions, because pictures and words just don’t paint the picture!  I love being able to step inside their world even though it is for a short time.  It is very humbling to witness.                                             

                                                                

The girls also attended their 1^st baby shower in Costa Rica.  I had already witnessed one, so I kind of knew what to expect.  They are so used to seeing big cakes, and decorations, and games, and presents galore.  It is a lot more simple here, but with the same outcome!  The woman pregnant is having twin boys!  (Notice the only decoration, it says girl! J) She is I believe 20 and umarried.  Please keep this girl in your prayers!  I hope God gives her lots of energy and patience! J  (both of these girls are pregnant)

This past weekend, we were able to travel to Panama to renew our visas! (However, we really never made it across the border! Don’t ask!) It was definitely a nice added break with a few exciting memories! We were able to hang out at the beach for a day, swimming, catching waves, surfing, and collecting sea shells. Oh and we soaked up a little too much sun!  Shaun spent a day in bed sick from it! He won’t let me show the pictures to prove it! J                                       

Today, Shaun began a Spanish class at a local school.  He will attend for 4 weeks.  So hopefully he can go and learn and teach us when he gets home!  He really has done well picking it up so far!  I am impressed! J  The girls and I are slowly learning!  My neighbor and I have been walking every day and she teaches me a few new words a day! It seems to be working!  We will see.  Please pray that we can close this language barrier soon! 

Tonight we will have a little pizza party, because Matt will be leaving us to return home.  He came with us in February and has endured our family for three months!  I pray that he has learned something from this experience, and I know God is going to use him to do great things.  Please keep him in your prayers as he figures out what lies ahead for him.  I am thankful that we are returning him to his mother in one piece! (the trees here are tall!) 

YOU COULD BE PRAYING FOR:

The girls: to ease their homesick

The women making and selling products

Learning the Spanish language

Kim being able to drive (it’s a stick and very hilly!  Our nightly drives are entertaining!  The girls at least are saying “Mom, you are doing so good!” instead of “NO! she can’t drive you do it dad!” J

A local pastor  who is deciding whether or not to stay at his church or leave to go to Nicaragua

The teams that are going to be coming to Costa Rica this summer.  Starting May 17^th, we have back to back teams through the end of July!

The mission training school that is set to begin in August.  Pray for the students that are making the commitment and those that have yet to make it!