For such a time as this

It’s getting close to the one month mark of being in Costa Rica.  We’re all getting a little more settled in, and things are getting less “new”.  Lately, I’ve been asking myself, “Why am I in Costa Rica for these three and a half months?”  Is it just to take classes and study hard and get better at Spanish?  Is it to work in a health clinic in an internship (that still isn’t quite set up...)?  Is it to live with and really get to know some Costa Rican families?  Fortunately and unfortunately, I am someone who likes to be doing, going, doing constantly and productively.  Here, some days are very full with lots of interesting and engaging classes and conversations, outings with my host family, and new experiences.  And, as is the life, there are also days that move a little slower, like when I have some free time up at campus between class and dinner or when I’m just kind of hanging around the house with my host family watching TV or when I take a slow walk around town because it’s too early to go home.  At these times especially, I wonder what is the purpose of my time here.  I mean I could study, watch TV, or hang out anywhere.  So, my thoughts dwell on what should my time in Costa Rica look like and why I'm here in the first place.  (Just a side note…When I’m actually writing all of these thoughts down, I think, “Girl, just calm down!  Don’t try to analyze every little bit of life.  It’s ok if you don’t feel 100% ‘productive’ in everything you do!”  That’s why I love writing things down because you can process through them and realize sometimes how ridiculous it all sounds :) ) 

So, there’s the background…One day last week, I came outside to sit on a bench by one of the lakes on campus during a little break between classes.  I started reflecting/praying about what's been on my mind, particularly the question “Why am I in Costa Rica this semester?”  Then, Mordecai’s words of courage to Esther came to mind, and I found my answer.  Why am I in Costa Rica?  for such a time as this  (Esther 4:14)  For such a time of sitting outside and being still before God on the beautiful Whitworth campus here in Costa Rica.  For such a time as learning the power of presence as I sit with my family.  For such a time as meeting new people and experiencing new places as I walk around town because I missed the bus.  For such a time as reflecting on past experiences like Peru and processing through those a little more.  For such a time as sitting with my host mom after dinner to talk (mostly her talking :) ) for an hour.  For such a time as being in a new place, learning the phrases, getting to know the culture.  I could on and on.  Wow, what truth!  The phrase “for such a times as this” has been such an inspiration to me this past week, so I wanted to share that here.  Rather than gaze into my unknown future, I can live each moment in joyful awareness of God’s presence.   

A Little Glimpse into my Everyday

Because last week was our first more "normal" week, I wanted to give a little glimpse into my everydays here in the beautiful and welcoming Costa Rica.  Since I love pictures, especially when I read blogs, this post will include a lot of pictures :)  

During the week, Tuesday through Friday, we have classes up at campus.  I have a wonderful breakfast every morning with my host mom.  Coffee is always in abundance!  Then, to the bus we go, up the hill to campus.  I love my classes, especially since they are so small with a lot of professor interactions.  My professors here- Lindy and Dinorah Scott- definitely feel more like friends/mentors more than professors.  Here's a picture of the always animated and challenging Lindy Scott teaching.

Then, here's a picture of us about to start a 3 hour afternoon class.  Sometimes we all get a little stir crazy after 3 hours of classes, no matter interesting they are. 

 

 After classes, we take the bus back down and walk to our houses.  Here's a coffee field along my walk home from the bus.

My house (my family's house) is a little up from the small city San Rafael de Heredia at the base of Monte de la Cruz.  This is a picture from the bus of a random street in San Rafael.   In the back, you can just see the top of the church in the Parque Central of the city.  I LOVE this church.  It's pretty easy to spot, so I know we're getting close when I see the top of the church :)

We live off a semi-dirt road.  Here's some pictures of the outside and inside of my house to give some visual :)  In this picture, my house is the more colorful one on the left.  They rent out the apartment above to a really sweet family.  My neighbor Josh in this picture lives in the house behind the gray gate to the right. 

Now, here is a picture of the dear dog Peter.  For all you with whom I've skyped, you know this is not a dear dog to me!  He barks constantly, especially at night it always seems.  It's crazy how a little dog can make so much noise!  Maybe one day I'll warm up to him or appreciate him...but not right now

This is the kitchen with the table we eat (and take all of our cafecitos) at toward the back.

  This is my room right beside the kitchen :)

Usually, I am greeted by my host mom and dad, and we talk about our days for a while in the kitchen.  Sometimes they teach me new vocabulary words or Costa Rican phrases.  Other times, they just laugh about some of my stories about getting lost.  I enjoy the daily debrief with them.  Here's us with our sunglasses trying to look oh so cool.

Then, we have dinner.  Usually another family (relatives or friends) comes over for dinner too.  My host mom fixes some good dinners!  We talk around the table or watch whatever weird show is on the TV.  Then, we watch soccer games, play fooseball, talk, or just do our own things, like homework or getting on the computer. 

Well, that's a little glimpse into my Tuesday-Friday weekdays!  I sure can't complain :) 

The Garita Chavez Family

We moved in with our host families over a week ago, so here’s a little glimpse into my lovely family—the Garita Chavez family!  Moving in with a host family was probably my biggest worry but the part that I looked to forward to most during my time in Costa Rica.  While my host family is a little different than what I expected, I have loved getting to know them and live life with them.  As my host mom told my parents on Skype last night, they are taking very good care of me—feeding me very well with all sorts of food (coffee every day!), making sure I wear shoes around the house so as not to catch a cold, helping me learn the way around town (though I still got lost haha), and putting an umbrella in my purse or backpack before I leave the house.  I love coming home and telling my host parents about my day and hearing about their days.  I love having dinner as a family (plus friends usually) and talking and laughing.  Most of all, I love being a part of a family here!  What an awesome experience.  They’re very special people, and I’m so grateful that they are letting me live with them for three months. 

Alright, now on to some things we’ve been doing (with pictures!):

1)  FRIENDS!  They have many friends and pass a lot of time with them.  I love it, probably mostly because I just love sweet, enduring, fun friendships.  One of their closest friends live right next door, so we do a lot with them. It reminds me a lot of special neighbors that my family has had (Copeland’s, Perkins’, etc.).  Anywas, Sylvia and Antonio (the neighbors) come over a lot or we go over to their house.  One of the other students from the program live with them, so I see Josh a lot.  It pretty much feels like two families combined into one.  I love it :)  They talk most every day, help each other out, and enjoy being together.  Last Saturday, the day we moved in with our families, Sylvia and Antonio came over and we all ate dinner and then sang karaoke! YES!  So, two pictures.  Here’s me and my host parents- Manuel and Hilda…

 

Like the tiger?  Haha.  And here’s Josh and his host parents (Sylvia and Antonio) singing karaoke at our house.  This was hilarious!  I have a video :)

2)  Soccer games with Johan!  Johan is eleven-years-old, and he loves to play soccer.  He’s a funny one, though he doesn’t talk too much.  He has a sweet heart and laugh that always brings a smile to my face.  For the past two weekend mornings, Hilda, Josh and I have walked down to one of the nearby fields to watch Johan’s games.  I enjoy it a lot, especially when we do a little side play with the soccer ball :) 

Here’s a picture of Johan’s soccer game.  He’s not the one headbutting the ball, just to clear that up, but isn’t that a pretty sweet action shot?  Yea, new camera!

 

Here’s a closer up one of Johan with me and Josh:

 

3)  Independence Day (Sept. 15^th) in Costa Rica!  Last Thursday, most everyone was off of work or school and there were many parades through Costa Rica to celebrate their independence day.  I went down with my host sister Mila and her boyfriend Robert.  Here’s us at the parades in San Rafael de Heredia (the closest town):

 

I loved watching all of the kids in the parades!  The bands were amazing.  We’re talking about little 6-year olds playing the drums almost like in the movie Drumline…not quite that pro but still really good.  The city was full of people, and the Costa Rican colors shown everywhere.  Here’s a picture of the parade in San Rafael de Heredia:  

 

4)  Going to see the family…Hilda (my host mom) has a HUGE family- like 15 brothers and sisters!  They all live pretty close to each other too.  Her mom is so sweet, and I love to go see her with Hilda.  We always see at least five of her siblings when we go.  It definitely reminds me of some of my extended family…eh, eh Bryson’s :)…with a lot of the kids and grandkids around the house a lot visiting Granny and Paw Paw.  Anyways, her mom lives pretty close by, so she goes quite often over there just to talk.  Here’s a picture of us when we took my host mom’s moto over there (definitely a highlight! haha):

 

Well, that’s all for now folks!  Thank you for all of your prayers and support.  I am so blessed with wonderful friends and family at home and here in Costa Rica.  Hasta luego

Besos y Lagrimas

I also want to share a little YouTube video that is imitating/making fun of Spanish "telenovelas", or soap operas.  We watched this in one of our first orientation classes.  It makes me laugh :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meSgQa5WLjQ

A week of calm, classes, and compost

We spent most of our first week on the lovely Whitworth Costa Rica Center campus.  And, it sure is so lovely and tranquil!  Close your eyes and soak it up...

 Above is one of our TA's Travis with the campus puppy named Feijão (Portuguese for bean).

  

I had some wonderful quiet times outside in the morning before it rained.  It is quite calm and refreshing to be up here.  What a beautiful place to learn in all aspects of the word.  The campus is pretty high up on the Monte de la Cruz.  Apparently, we're kind of located in a "cloud forest" or something like that.  Here's a picture, but it can't quite capture the view of a cloud crawling over the mountain (and that's the continental divide!).  It gets pretty cold up here at night, but I don't mind too much because it's NOTHING like the cold of my dear friend Wheaton, Illinois!    

On to classes and other stuff...We had a lot of orientation classes as well as academic classes.  I've really enjoyed getting to know the other students in the group (only 6 of us!) and all of the staff.  I'm the only one from the south and from Wheaton, so represent!  I'll definitely be putting up some pics of them along the way.  Being that there's so few of us, we get a lot of one-on-one attention in classes which is so great.  Each day, I learn so much, sometimes too much if you know what I'm sayin' :)  In the morning (Tuesday-Friday), I have a Spanish class- Advanced Grammar through Lit-taught by Dinorah.  She is so great and an amazing example of patience.  Then, on Wednesdays, Ticcia and I (talk about one-on-one attention!) have Spanish in Christian Ministry class with Lindy.  I'm so excited about this one!  We're going to be studying Latin American church history and theology, as well as learning vocabulary and Scripture passages in Spanish and so much more!  Then, I have a public policy, ethics, and worldview course that I think is going to be pretty challenging but transformative- the best kind of classes!  I definitely would get a little overwhelmed after a full day of classes, so I am so grateful for times of real life experience.  For example, on Monday and Friday, we went into the nearby towns for a "plunge", in which we had to answer certain questions, find out where important stores or landmarks are (how many times can one person ask, "Donde esta?"??), and take lots of random pictures.  

This is a picture of Emily and Nanda doing homework ever so diligently    

 Above is one of the pictures that Josh and I had to take in front of the post office of San Rafael during the plunge.

And finally, just to explain the title, here's a picture of us taking out the compost :)  For all of you environmental science majors out there (Chelsea and Sus!), Whitworth in Costa Rica is all about sustainability, which represents beautiful stewardship of God's creation! 

Summing it up, my first impressions of Costa Rica are the following:  rain (lots of it!), tranquil lifestyle, good food, beautiful and colorful nature all around, friendly and loving people (Ticos!), and a unique country that stands out among the other Central American countries.   

My Address

No pressure or anything...but if you feel so inclined to send me a letter, I'd love it!  And, I could hopefully send you one back :) 

Here is my address:
Sara Johnson
Apartado Postal 108-3015
San Rafael de Heredia, Costa Rica 40501
AMERICA CENTRAL
(*if you send a package or something more than a letter, it'd be good to write "c/o Lindy Scott" on the second line below my name)

I Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills...

Before I left today, Mom gave me a small notebook of encouragement.  The first bit of encouragement she wrote to me came from Psalm 121, a song of ascent.  Verses 1-2:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills.
   From where does my help come?
 My help comes from the LORD,
   who made heaven and earth."
As I'm beginning this new semester in Costa Rica, I am so uplifted and inspired by this psalm of David.  I remember when and where we read this particular psalm during Wheaton in the Holy Lands.  We were standing at the top of the "City of David" looking all around us to the hills surrounding Jerusalem.  Our professor gave us insight into this psalm.  As David looked up to the hills, he might have seen enemy soldiers about to attack or he may have just felt the vulnerability and uncertainty of being on lower ground.  Thus, as he looked up into his greatest fears, he turned to the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, for help.  Only God could protect David from his enemies and lead him safely through the unknown.  Here's a little video from our Holy Lands trip at the place:

 
While I am super excited to be in Costa Rica and to begin this semester, I also can give into thoughts of self-doubt, fear of the unknown, and anxiety over being in an extremely new context.  When I start to look up to the hills of the unknown around me, rather than dwell on my fears and anxieties, I can lift my eyes and my prayers to God.  The Lord is always with me.  When I put my trust in Him, such a beautiful thing happens- each moment is filled with the joy of the Lord and the peace that passes understanding!  I thank God for his constant and loving presence that never leaves me.  When I lift up my eyes to the hills, I hold onto the truth that my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth!

Bienvenidos a Costa Rica

After a wonderful summer break after Peru, I am now beginning my "Gran Aventura" in Costa Rica!  Maybe I'll stay a little more consistent with this blog than I did in Peru :)  I flew in today and am now up at the beautiful Whitworth Costa Rica Center.  We'll be having a week of orientation up here at the center before we move in with our host families, start internships, and really get into a normal schedule of classes.  I'll definitely put some pictures up as the time goes!  Don't be expecting any super deep thoughts, but I hope to bring you along on this adventure, as indicated in this picture from Peru :)

 Here's the three nuggets of advice a wise friend of mine gave me before I left:  

1)  Remember you are never alone.  You are so loved by the Lord, by family, and by friends.

2)  Make your own fun, finding joy in the moment. 

3)  Be present and live day-by-day because it goes by fast.  

Hasta pronto!