Wow, does anyone else think that the last five weeks went by wayyyyyy to fast. While they were happening, they felt normal, but now they just feel like a dream and in less than 24 hours, I will be back in the States and back to "normal" life.
I have learned so much from this trip that I can't even explain enough if I had all the time in the world. I feel, also, that there are still things that God will teach me from the trip, but maybe days/weeks/months/years later. One of the biggest things I learned from the trip I even just finally realized it three days ago up at the beach. What is that, you ask?
I realized that God wants me to spend more alone time with him. It took me until about 3 days before the end of the trip to figure it out. The whole trip, I just felt like a lot of times I felt like spending time alone. I didn't like it. I am a people person and usually like being around lots of people especially on trips like this. so, when I had the desire to spend time alone, I ignored it and was a little scared that I wanted to be that way and figured that I should just spend time with as much people as possible. But then, like I have already told you, I finally realized that God was telling me to spend time with him one on one. Even in such a great christian environment and real body of Christ, I still found myself doing.. and doing.. and doing... and not just resting in the Lord and letting him speak to me in silence/through his word, or different ways.
Oh, I learned how to use my obsession with photography in a different way to glorify God. Every night, I put on a worship song on my computer and let my screen saver of pictures from the trip play through. I let the pictures that come up guide my prayer. And I am trusting that if a picture comes up, then I need to know about that and pray for that person/situation/etc. how sweet it is to realize gifts you have and then to realize even more ways to glorify God with them.
So the retreat was hands down a blast. I did get very sun burnt, however, which is not nice. I guess I couldn't have really prevented it. I mean, for you motherly types out there, I put sunscreen on (spf 55) twice in the morining and once again later, but I was playing in the water for a good 4 hours before re-applying again. Anyway, it will be obvious for the next day or two that I was at the beach.
As part of the end of project debriefing, we shared with the whole group what God has been teaching us here and then people went around and said nice things about you. It was so uplifting and some people said somethings about me and how I ministered or served them and I had no idea that it had made that kind of an impact, so remember how you are percieved (but don't be in fear in it, only look to please God, but just realize that people do percieve what you do and you can either lead them to God, or you can turn them away, it's your choice.) Then we layed hands on those that shared for that specific meeting and prayed for them. There was something so powerful in it. I felt like the early church in acts when they retreated and layed hands on each other and prayed for each other.
That has been what this trip has taught me. I have seen what the early church was like, what it means to be a movement instead of a ministry (I would love to share this sometime when it is not 2 AM and we leave at 7 AM to go to the airport), and what a true body of believers and christ followers should look like. I will never forget this summer and a lot of it is due to you guys, the people who care about me and who I love very much. Your encouragement and support has been a huge part of the trips success.
So, I will still be finishing that coffee blog ~ the process from the coffee bean, then the plant, then to the cup. So.. look forward to that : ) Also, I might put a couple more pictures up, but otherwise. See you guys soon.
Please ask me about the trip. We can sit down some time and chat if you would like, just ask me and we'll find a time. Also, if it ends up being possible, I want to give another concert, but this time not asking for support just sharing my summer with you and letting you see what God did through 20 students and staff in a country that is hungry for the living, breathing word of God.
Love and hugs,
Jodi Marie
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Relfecting on Sweet Times
Oh wow, so much to actually write and so little time/room to write it
Surprisingly, I am going to keep this post fairly short and leave the rest up to possibly the imagination and creative minds. Well, this past weekend was quite possibly the most refreshing and amazing of the whole trip. So, one thing was that I was able to go to the ocean. I don't get to go to the ocean very often so this was very exciting. Just putting yourself in the way of the waves, one can feel the complete power of God. Your mind starts to race at all the incredible vastness of our creator and how he didn't just create a world where we can get by, but he created a world that enchants us and captures our hearts (or at least mine)
Well, I met up with another friend from Moscow High School who was an exchange student from, if you can believe it Costa Rica, opened up her house and her life with me. It was purely by God's grace that I even was able to get a hold of her. Several attempts through emails came back void. I asked my mom to possibly find any more information on her that she could. She found her parents names Eduardo Arroyo and Iris Araya. Well, the only way to find them was in a gigantic phone book which encompasses all of Costa Rica. However, I finally found Arraya de Arroyo Iris in Nicoya. Well, I called her up in Spanish and simply asked if Yacsiry (my friend was her daughter) She then invited me there for the weekend. And the rest is history. She took me all around her town and I got to be artistic and take pictures. One place was Iglesia Vieja or literally translated Old Church. I just got to see a slower like in Guanacaste (that is the province I was in)
The weekend was so refreshing because I was in a small town again. We didn't have to lock the car door or clutch or belongings as if anyone around us would attempt to steal our stuff or hurt us in some way. It gave me faith in people again. It's not that everyone in San Jose is horrible, but it is a big city so there are more such dangers. Well, Saturday lasted 23 1/2 hours since my bus left at 5:30 in the morning and sunday afternoon came all too soon and I was back at the hostel yet again.
Quite possibly the best conversation of the trip was with a two girls Tatiana and Gladys. Gladys was always very shy throughout the conversation about the gospel, but I could tell that she wanted it none the less. Her friend Tatiana said that this is what she needed to here (the message of the gospel and of salvation through Jesus Christ) She said that everything happens for a reason and that we were here talking to her because she needs to accept Christ and because God wants her to change. Talk about saying exactly how we feel. She, however, felt like she needs to know a little more about Christ before she can accept him which makes me sad, but she was the most excited about bible studies and getting to know Jesus because she acknoledges that she needs him and that is what she wants. It will only be a matter of time for the salvation of her soul! How exciting.
The girl, Genina that we have been meeting with sent us this email and I wanted you to be able to read it. She wrote in both english and spanish. This will give you the chance to see the change in the people's hearts that is happening through our group and through your help and support (I can never offer enough thanks for this):
Dios pone personas en nuestro camino para que no olvidemos que no
estamos solas y que él nos ama, gracias por ser el medio que Dios para
decirme que me ama y que debo seguir adelante.
God put some people i our way to show us how much He love us and we
dons´t forget that we aren´t alone. thank you to be the way God told
me he loves me and i most go ahead.
Today, we went to a daycare to paint the place and play with kids. It was so much fun. Some of the kids don't get hugs from their family that often. Don't worry, I made sure that they got plenty. They all love cameras. They simply can't stop taking them and so as a result, I have many. Also as a result, I had to put my camera away part way through because there is really no way to regulate how to let them use it. Simply there are ten kids grabbing at the camera and you have to express that they be careful and take turns all in Spanish. It was definelty a reminder for teaching some day.
Wow, I guess I lied I did write a lot on this post. Well, I hope you can forgive me. I guess it's just the way that I am. Time for bed now... my friend's are sooo sweet. They tried to forbid me from using my computer so that I would get more sleep. I love the love they have for me. Someday, I will learn this lesson, but not yet. : * )
With all the love of Christ and your sister in Him,
Jodi Marie
Surprisingly, I am going to keep this post fairly short and leave the rest up to possibly the imagination and creative minds. Well, this past weekend was quite possibly the most refreshing and amazing of the whole trip. So, one thing was that I was able to go to the ocean. I don't get to go to the ocean very often so this was very exciting. Just putting yourself in the way of the waves, one can feel the complete power of God. Your mind starts to race at all the incredible vastness of our creator and how he didn't just create a world where we can get by, but he created a world that enchants us and captures our hearts (or at least mine)
Well, I met up with another friend from Moscow High School who was an exchange student from, if you can believe it Costa Rica, opened up her house and her life with me. It was purely by God's grace that I even was able to get a hold of her. Several attempts through emails came back void. I asked my mom to possibly find any more information on her that she could. She found her parents names Eduardo Arroyo and Iris Araya. Well, the only way to find them was in a gigantic phone book which encompasses all of Costa Rica. However, I finally found Arraya de Arroyo Iris in Nicoya. Well, I called her up in Spanish and simply asked if Yacsiry (my friend was her daughter) She then invited me there for the weekend. And the rest is history. She took me all around her town and I got to be artistic and take pictures. One place was Iglesia Vieja or literally translated Old Church. I just got to see a slower like in Guanacaste (that is the province I was in)
The weekend was so refreshing because I was in a small town again. We didn't have to lock the car door or clutch or belongings as if anyone around us would attempt to steal our stuff or hurt us in some way. It gave me faith in people again. It's not that everyone in San Jose is horrible, but it is a big city so there are more such dangers. Well, Saturday lasted 23 1/2 hours since my bus left at 5:30 in the morning and sunday afternoon came all too soon and I was back at the hostel yet again.
Quite possibly the best conversation of the trip was with a two girls Tatiana and Gladys. Gladys was always very shy throughout the conversation about the gospel, but I could tell that she wanted it none the less. Her friend Tatiana said that this is what she needed to here (the message of the gospel and of salvation through Jesus Christ) She said that everything happens for a reason and that we were here talking to her because she needs to accept Christ and because God wants her to change. Talk about saying exactly how we feel. She, however, felt like she needs to know a little more about Christ before she can accept him which makes me sad, but she was the most excited about bible studies and getting to know Jesus because she acknoledges that she needs him and that is what she wants. It will only be a matter of time for the salvation of her soul! How exciting.
The girl, Genina that we have been meeting with sent us this email and I wanted you to be able to read it. She wrote in both english and spanish. This will give you the chance to see the change in the people's hearts that is happening through our group and through your help and support (I can never offer enough thanks for this):
Dios pone personas en nuestro camino para que no olvidemos que no
estamos solas y que él nos ama, gracias por ser el medio que Dios para
decirme que me ama y que debo seguir adelante.
God put some people i our way to show us how much He love us and we
dons´t forget that we aren´t alone. thank you to be the way God told
me he loves me and i most go ahead.
Today, we went to a daycare to paint the place and play with kids. It was so much fun. Some of the kids don't get hugs from their family that often. Don't worry, I made sure that they got plenty. They all love cameras. They simply can't stop taking them and so as a result, I have many. Also as a result, I had to put my camera away part way through because there is really no way to regulate how to let them use it. Simply there are ten kids grabbing at the camera and you have to express that they be careful and take turns all in Spanish. It was definelty a reminder for teaching some day.Wow, I guess I lied I did write a lot on this post. Well, I hope you can forgive me. I guess it's just the way that I am. Time for bed now... my friend's are sooo sweet. They tried to forbid me from using my computer so that I would get more sleep. I love the love they have for me. Someday, I will learn this lesson, but not yet. : * )
With all the love of Christ and your sister in Him,
Jodi Marie
Monday, July 9, 2007
Second to last week on campus
Lisa and I got to meet this past week with two really sweet girls that we have met with before and just to really love on them.
Genina is so sweet. Her heart is teachable and really yearning for fellowship. I think I have mentioned her before. I also wanted to share a picture of you so that you can see the sweet woman that God is changing and forming possibly through Lisa and I.
On Friday, we got to spend time with Melissa. She is a christian that is also soooo hungry for fellowship. She has really connected with a lot of our group already, I believe. I asked her if she ever really has gotten to share her faith. She said that she shares with her friends, but she is scared because she doesn't want to lose her friends and they already know what she believes and so then it is hard to break into that relationship that is already formed with something so intimate as Christ, but she is excited to do so.
Friday was the last offical day of classes on campus. This does mean that less and less students will be on campus next week, so everything we do, really makes a difference. This coming week is the time to pour into more and more students who don't know Christ, but it is really the time to challenge the students we have already met and poured into to take maybe another step in where they are in their walk with Christ.
Maybe they are Lost and we need to encourage them to accept Christ.
Maybe have accepted Christ but they need to become Learners of God's word (so encourage them to study on their own, with friends, with the crusade bible studies)
Maybe they have been learning for a while now (and while we are always learning) they are ready to share their faith with others and be Laborers for Christ
Maybe they have shared their faith with others and, now they really need to become leaders (so maybe we need to challenge them to take a leadership role in Crusade or maybe another ministry they are involved in)
Lost
Learners
Laborers
Leaders
We are also learning that we need to find "FAT" ticos. Ones who are:
Faithful
Available
Teachable
Things can happen if these qualities are not always there, but their walk with Christ and their relationship will grow in intimacy and maturaty possibly more, stronger, and faster if these are qualities that they have.
Hmm... am I learning a lot... you betcha. Claro que sí. Por su puesto.
Until next time,
Jodi Marie
Genina is so sweet. Her heart is teachable and really yearning for fellowship. I think I have mentioned her before. I also wanted to share a picture of you so that you can see the sweet woman that God is changing and forming possibly through Lisa and I.
On Friday, we got to spend time with Melissa. She is a christian that is also soooo hungry for fellowship. She has really connected with a lot of our group already, I believe. I asked her if she ever really has gotten to share her faith. She said that she shares with her friends, but she is scared because she doesn't want to lose her friends and they already know what she believes and so then it is hard to break into that relationship that is already formed with something so intimate as Christ, but she is excited to do so.
Friday was the last offical day of classes on campus. This does mean that less and less students will be on campus next week, so everything we do, really makes a difference. This coming week is the time to pour into more and more students who don't know Christ, but it is really the time to challenge the students we have already met and poured into to take maybe another step in where they are in their walk with Christ.
Maybe they are Lost and we need to encourage them to accept Christ.
Maybe have accepted Christ but they need to become Learners of God's word (so encourage them to study on their own, with friends, with the crusade bible studies)
Maybe they have been learning for a while now (and while we are always learning) they are ready to share their faith with others and be Laborers for Christ
Maybe they have shared their faith with others and, now they really need to become leaders (so maybe we need to challenge them to take a leadership role in Crusade or maybe another ministry they are involved in)
Lost
Learners
Laborers
Leaders
We are also learning that we need to find "FAT" ticos. Ones who are:
Faithful
Available
Teachable
Things can happen if these qualities are not always there, but their walk with Christ and their relationship will grow in intimacy and maturaty possibly more, stronger, and faster if these are qualities that they have.
Hmm... am I learning a lot... you betcha. Claro que sí. Por su puesto.
Until next time,
Jodi Marie
Fourth of July in a country that counts it as just another day.
Oh wow, what a fun day.
Well, we were on campus for fourth of July which is always fun to be on campus in the first place. During the first week of our project, during a card game of spoons boys versus girls, we placed high stakes that whoever lost would cook the other gender dinner one of the nights. Well, the girls actually lost, but as a great testimony to how cool our guys on project are, the guys agreed to make dinner for the ladies anyway (because it was really close)
We had so much food that I didn't know what to do. The guys were very creative with the food as well which surprised me.
A lot of our Tico friends who are either involved with Campus Crusade already or friends of people who are came to our barbeque and party that we had at the hostel.
It was a sweet time of fellowship, including swing dancing, and pool, and...
FIREWORKS!!!
The fun part, if you can imagine being in a different country for such an occasion, was that the town didn't know what to think of our fireworks. One of the guys that works at the hostel searched all day and found some great fireworks for the occasion.
So, after a round of the star-spangled banner around an array of food, we headed to a hostel nearby to light them off.
The town, however, like I said, was not ready for them and many neighbors called with noise complaints of gun shots. So our policeman friends showed up to make sure everything was okay. Thankfully, we had just lit the last round when they came, but it was definetely still a fourth of July to remember.
My stomach, however, had been acting weird all day and, actually for a couple of days after, so I had to call it an early night, but no worries, it was still so fun and memorable.
God Bless America!!!
Jodi Marie
Well, we were on campus for fourth of July which is always fun to be on campus in the first place. During the first week of our project, during a card game of spoons boys versus girls, we placed high stakes that whoever lost would cook the other gender dinner one of the nights. Well, the girls actually lost, but as a great testimony to how cool our guys on project are, the guys agreed to make dinner for the ladies anyway (because it was really close)
We had so much food that I didn't know what to do. The guys were very creative with the food as well which surprised me.
A lot of our Tico friends who are either involved with Campus Crusade already or friends of people who are came to our barbeque and party that we had at the hostel.
It was a sweet time of fellowship, including swing dancing, and pool, and...
FIREWORKS!!!
The fun part, if you can imagine being in a different country for such an occasion, was that the town didn't know what to think of our fireworks. One of the guys that works at the hostel searched all day and found some great fireworks for the occasion.
So, after a round of the star-spangled banner around an array of food, we headed to a hostel nearby to light them off.
The town, however, like I said, was not ready for them and many neighbors called with noise complaints of gun shots. So our policeman friends showed up to make sure everything was okay. Thankfully, we had just lit the last round when they came, but it was definetely still a fourth of July to remember.My stomach, however, had been acting weird all day and, actually for a couple of days after, so I had to call it an early night, but no worries, it was still so fun and memorable.
God Bless America!!!
Jodi Marie
Monday, July 2, 2007
God is good.
Ah, what a relaxing weekend it was. But, I also have to update on how things were before the weekend...
Wednesday night was quite a blast. As is customary, wednesday night is men's and women's times. Again, I don't know what the men do. We did attempt a practical joke on them during their time as our duty as women. We took all the boards out from under the guy's mattresses and put the mattresses back as if they weren't there. Later, some of the girl's also sprayed smelly girl stuff all over the guys things. For our women's time, we went to the rollerskating rink nearby. The first obstacle
to this fun night was making our way across traffic as 11 women to the rink itself. We chose to take the route that would put us near the most cars. Quite fun running across the street screaming thankful to get across. Anyway, roller skating was a sweet way to work our some energy and just be like little girls again.
Thursday night, my friend Lisa Fisher and I, the one I mentioned before, went to our friend Esteban's house. Esteban was the one that I met in March who's birthday was our first day on campus and we just bumped into him that day (divine appointment). I haven't been able to have a lot of spiritual conversations with him or share the gospel again (we shared it with him in March), but we learned that he has a lot of christians in his life. One of his good friends is an on fire tico named Fabricio who I also met in March who is already involved strongly in a Christian youth ministry who wants to pour into Esteban who is agnostic. Also, Esteban's mom and brother go to the Church near San Jose where my friend Lisa excepted Christ. 
We see him all the time on campus, but he is always out of breath and seemingly late for something else to do. Well, his dad works with a computer chip company, but in his free time not only does amazing photography, but also is a gourmet chef. His dad cooked pasta for us that took about 2 hours to make so you know it's good. Mom and Cara, you would have been proud of me, I tried this appetizer that was bread with mushroom topping and I actually kind of liked it. By the end of the night, we were all so tired and everything was funny. In the cab ride back to the hostel, Mr Big's "Next to be with you," played and our driver cranked the sound and we sang our hearts out. What a great memory.
This is on campus
As far as campus last week, Thursday was incredibly inspiring. We met a girl who grew up catholic, but doesn't practice anymore. From what we learned from her, she is a believer and has accepted Christ before but is really hungry for friends who are also Christian's and for sweet Christian Fellowship. She is excited about Cruzada Estudiantil (Campus Crusade) Her name is Genina. Today actually, Lisa and I had lunch with her at a Mexican restaurante and I told her how she actually inspired me. She was surprised and asked why. I told her it is because she lives in this moment for Christ and wants to have a life Now with Him in it and doesn't only look towards the future and Heaven. She just gave me a sweet perspective. Jessica didn't end up making it to our meeting Yesterday, but hopefully we will meet up again. I can't believe we only have 2 weeks left here. I know it will be fast. I really want to find the right time to share the gospel with my friend from high school, Memo that some of you know, but there just hasn't been the right time.
Memo
Please pray that God will let me know when to do so and the courage to accept his reaction. We have had some spiritual conversations with him, but they have not gotten very far. It has taught me that it is much easier to introduce the gospel to a complete stranger because you are not as vulnerable and you won't lose anything valuable to you. On the other hand, though, if you care enough about the person, you will at least want to let them know about a life-giving message such as the gospel. Memo's sister Dianna is really curious about why we're here and if nothing else, when we are fully able to share with her, maybe she will share with Memo some day. Who knows.
Sarah (she's discipling me here), Diana, and me
Friday night was the 5 hour drive to Monte Verde. It is a cloud forest. We stayed at a hotel with consistently warm showers, very nice addition, and a cozy atmosphere in the mountains complete with a jacuzzi. The drive was incredible long (five hours) okay, i know that's not forever long, but when the roads are filled with potholes and not paved for part of the way, it can seem like a long time. We made the trip fun, however by singing worship songs in the bus and old songs like Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and Disney songs. What good times.
The night we arrived, I had an incredible experience with God. I just felt like spending some time alone after being around people every day all the time (even though I love the all) So, I sat at the top of the stairs leading to the jacuzzi looking out over the expanse of the sky and just spent some time letting God woo my heart. 
lightning
One of the students we talked to on campus had been sent an email of a picture of a galaxy that looked like "the eye of God" and I was thinking about that and saw in the sky a similar view. What a blessing. I didn't have my camera on me at the time (I know, amazing) but I grabbed it later and captured the moon/sky/and lightning that God displayed for me.
The next day was incredible. We went on a canopy zip-lining tour through the rain forrest. All the guides were so fun to talk to. Cara and Matthew, you know how much fun it is. 
I learned my lesson, however, of not putting my hand in front of the pulley when the first zip line my finger got cut-up in the pulley. Later, I made friends with one of the guides because of it though because as a guide, he even put his hand in front and had a bandage on his finger too.
The next day, Sunday we went horseback riding in the mountains. We got to run the horses a couple of times which just made me smile and laugh at how sweet of an experience it was. My horses name was Eagle, but in Spanish, Aguilar. Later that day, I went on a coffee tour through the Don Juan coffee plantation and got to see the process of coffee from the seed to the roasting process and taste the coffee (which was probably my favorite part) I am making a separete blog of the process and will post the link soon. One of the best parts of the weekend was getting to know the people on the team and just chilling. Two of my friends and I played my Spanish monopoly that I bought late into the night and then just talked and laughed. You should all know that these are two of my favorite things.
Right now, we are on our way to a mexican restaurant for Lisa. Ah, how fun. There have been three birthdays already on project and I believe three more (so many birthdays in so little time)
Well, I will be updating as much as possible, so keep on checking the site whenever you get the chance.
I love you guys!
Jodi Marie
Wednesday night was quite a blast. As is customary, wednesday night is men's and women's times. Again, I don't know what the men do. We did attempt a practical joke on them during their time as our duty as women. We took all the boards out from under the guy's mattresses and put the mattresses back as if they weren't there. Later, some of the girl's also sprayed smelly girl stuff all over the guys things. For our women's time, we went to the rollerskating rink nearby. The first obstacle
to this fun night was making our way across traffic as 11 women to the rink itself. We chose to take the route that would put us near the most cars. Quite fun running across the street screaming thankful to get across. Anyway, roller skating was a sweet way to work our some energy and just be like little girls again.
Thursday night, my friend Lisa Fisher and I, the one I mentioned before, went to our friend Esteban's house. Esteban was the one that I met in March who's birthday was our first day on campus and we just bumped into him that day (divine appointment). I haven't been able to have a lot of spiritual conversations with him or share the gospel again (we shared it with him in March), but we learned that he has a lot of christians in his life. One of his good friends is an on fire tico named Fabricio who I also met in March who is already involved strongly in a Christian youth ministry who wants to pour into Esteban who is agnostic. Also, Esteban's mom and brother go to the Church near San Jose where my friend Lisa excepted Christ. 
We see him all the time on campus, but he is always out of breath and seemingly late for something else to do. Well, his dad works with a computer chip company, but in his free time not only does amazing photography, but also is a gourmet chef. His dad cooked pasta for us that took about 2 hours to make so you know it's good. Mom and Cara, you would have been proud of me, I tried this appetizer that was bread with mushroom topping and I actually kind of liked it. By the end of the night, we were all so tired and everything was funny. In the cab ride back to the hostel, Mr Big's "Next to be with you," played and our driver cranked the sound and we sang our hearts out. What a great memory.
This is on campus
As far as campus last week, Thursday was incredibly inspiring. We met a girl who grew up catholic, but doesn't practice anymore. From what we learned from her, she is a believer and has accepted Christ before but is really hungry for friends who are also Christian's and for sweet Christian Fellowship. She is excited about Cruzada Estudiantil (Campus Crusade) Her name is Genina. Today actually, Lisa and I had lunch with her at a Mexican restaurante and I told her how she actually inspired me. She was surprised and asked why. I told her it is because she lives in this moment for Christ and wants to have a life Now with Him in it and doesn't only look towards the future and Heaven. She just gave me a sweet perspective. Jessica didn't end up making it to our meeting Yesterday, but hopefully we will meet up again. I can't believe we only have 2 weeks left here. I know it will be fast. I really want to find the right time to share the gospel with my friend from high school, Memo that some of you know, but there just hasn't been the right time.
Memo Please pray that God will let me know when to do so and the courage to accept his reaction. We have had some spiritual conversations with him, but they have not gotten very far. It has taught me that it is much easier to introduce the gospel to a complete stranger because you are not as vulnerable and you won't lose anything valuable to you. On the other hand, though, if you care enough about the person, you will at least want to let them know about a life-giving message such as the gospel. Memo's sister Dianna is really curious about why we're here and if nothing else, when we are fully able to share with her, maybe she will share with Memo some day. Who knows.
Sarah (she's discipling me here), Diana, and me
Friday night was the 5 hour drive to Monte Verde. It is a cloud forest. We stayed at a hotel with consistently warm showers, very nice addition, and a cozy atmosphere in the mountains complete with a jacuzzi. The drive was incredible long (five hours) okay, i know that's not forever long, but when the roads are filled with potholes and not paved for part of the way, it can seem like a long time. We made the trip fun, however by singing worship songs in the bus and old songs like Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and Disney songs. What good times.
The night we arrived, I had an incredible experience with God. I just felt like spending some time alone after being around people every day all the time (even though I love the all) So, I sat at the top of the stairs leading to the jacuzzi looking out over the expanse of the sky and just spent some time letting God woo my heart. 
lightning One of the students we talked to on campus had been sent an email of a picture of a galaxy that looked like "the eye of God" and I was thinking about that and saw in the sky a similar view. What a blessing. I didn't have my camera on me at the time (I know, amazing) but I grabbed it later and captured the moon/sky/and lightning that God displayed for me.
The next day was incredible. We went on a canopy zip-lining tour through the rain forrest. All the guides were so fun to talk to. Cara and Matthew, you know how much fun it is. 
I learned my lesson, however, of not putting my hand in front of the pulley when the first zip line my finger got cut-up in the pulley. Later, I made friends with one of the guides because of it though because as a guide, he even put his hand in front and had a bandage on his finger too.
The next day, Sunday we went horseback riding in the mountains. We got to run the horses a couple of times which just made me smile and laugh at how sweet of an experience it was. My horses name was Eagle, but in Spanish, Aguilar. Later that day, I went on a coffee tour through the Don Juan coffee plantation and got to see the process of coffee from the seed to the roasting process and taste the coffee (which was probably my favorite part) I am making a separete blog of the process and will post the link soon. One of the best parts of the weekend was getting to know the people on the team and just chilling. Two of my friends and I played my Spanish monopoly that I bought late into the night and then just talked and laughed. You should all know that these are two of my favorite things.Right now, we are on our way to a mexican restaurant for Lisa. Ah, how fun. There have been three birthdays already on project and I believe three more (so many birthdays in so little time)
Well, I will be updating as much as possible, so keep on checking the site whenever you get the chance.I love you guys!
Jodi Marie
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