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