It's going to be a challenge to remember it all but hopefully skimming through photos will help.
Friday - Sunday (August 3-5)
We spent the morning in Terrases playing soccer with Jairo and the kids. I was sad not to see Andres there but got to meet a wonderful girl named Iris (Eh-reese). I didn't take many photos this time because I was out on the court playing and practicing with the kids. I was so afraid I was going to accidentally kick one of the little ones in the face. Jairo gave the lesson in-between practice and scrimmaging. His lesson was in spanish and although I didn't understand most of it I got to watch the children respond and see how they reacted to the lesson. There was one little boy in particular that stole my heart. He was so in tune and had all the answers. He couldn't have been any older than 7. I asked Brooke later what the lesson was about and she told me it was about friendship. So then I asked about the little boy and his responses to Jairo's questions. Brooke said Jairo was asking the kids what a friend is like or what it takes to be a friend. The little boy answered with an experience he had when he watched a person give a man on the street a shirt because the man didn't have a shirt and needed one. He said that's what friends do. Oh my word my heart melted.
I got to "speak" with the little spanish that I do know with Iris. She was telling me about her friends and how they were playing on the other field. Later on Brooke told me she had a conversation with her about life. She is 15 years old, and just like many of the families there her's struggles with finances. She had to work that week and couldn't go to school because they're family needed money. The thing is, from what we are aware... it doesn't cost money to go to school there. So she was "working" for the family to help with supporting them. We aren't exactly sure what that means but I am praying for the best.
We made our way back home and realized we were all a bit sunburnt. I think I got the worst of it. I got my farmers tan in Costa Rica. It was nice to get back and shower off.
I really miss those kids. It's saturday and today I would be playing soccer with them. I just wanted to take them all home with me. My heart loves them and misses them. My heart also hurts for them. Just some of the stories and situations. Their faces sit in my memory. I want to make sure never to forget them. I want to make a spot on my wall to place the group photo so I can be praying for them. I am so glad Jairo is there for these kids. He's giving them hope. He's showing them a bright and fun side of life. He's instilling discipline and perseverance and structure. In realizing all of this I pray for strength and continued passion in his life with this program.
Saturday night I went out to the streets for the last time. Brooke and I worshiped with Freedom Street and then went out with the crew. I got to say my goodbye to Laylah. I told her I was leaving and she hugged me and told me to have safe travels. I told her "hasta luego" and she said the same. I started to cry a little. I didn't want to leave. It was interesting coming back to the apartment. There are some things that happen on the street that stick with you that you really have to pray over. You have to set your heart and mind in a spirit of worship before you sleep because things can follow you into your dreams.
Sunday
I was all packed and ready to go. Pati and I had a photoshoot upstairs which was fun. She is such a beautiful person inside and out.
Anna and Laura took me to the airport and dropped me off. I was trying so hard not to cry. It almost didn't seem real. So I go through and pay my exit tax. I check my bags. I get my boarding passes and head to my gate. I ate some food before getting on the plane. Boarded the plane. Fell asleep before take off. Well I woke up and hour later to find we were still on the ground. Uh yeah. So apparently the immigration computers crashed and they were having to put all of our information in manually. So an hour and a half later we were clear to leave Costa Rica. Well I prayed right then and there because I was nervous about possibly missing my next flight out of Miami to Norfolk. I ended up running off the plane (thankfully I was near the front) through immigration to baggage claim. Stood around with other people from my flight waiting for our bags which took forever. I got my bags at 8:45pm and I was supposed to be boarding my next flight at 9:05pm. So I rushed through customs... handed off my luggage... went through security and on to the skylink... got to the terminal... only to find out that my flight was 30 minutes delayed (they just hadn't updated any of the computers or online data base). Well God got me to my gate and I even had time to eat dinner... which consisted of Apple Juice and some Yogurt.
Got on the little bitty plane and couldn't sleep so I worked on RA things in preparation for the coming week. I got off my plane and to baggage claim only to see two lovely faces there to greet me. Karlie and my friend Jordan had come to pick me up from the airport. Gosh I love them. So we had fun talking about my trip in general and made our way to regent.
Got home around 1:30am Monday morning. I couldn't sleep so I just started moving into my new apartment down the hall. I moved things till 5am and then went to bed. Got up at 9:30am to get my official keys and went back to bed until 11:30am. Then moved for the rest of the day.
It's been pretty non-stop since I got here. A huge and sudden change from Costa. Wednesday morning was pretty rough. Wednesday night was interesting. But, I have a wonderful friend who is here for me to talk through things with that I am thankful for. I'm still learning and processing and realizing things even though I have left Costa Rica.
Honestly, I got to do there... what I want to do with my life. I want to be hands on in ministry and outreach as well as helping with media related things. Anna asked if I would come back... perhaps in a "you'll come back and see us right?" manner but... honest to goodness I would. I would. I would. If there is where God places me and says "go" dude I would do it in a heartbeat. So I guess we will see. :)
Friday - Sunday (August 3-5)
Friday
I think this was the day after we went to the fiesta. Yeah. So I spent most of the day editing the LightForce Update Video. I was really pleased with the outcome.Saturday
We spent the morning in Terrases playing soccer with Jairo and the kids. I was sad not to see Andres there but got to meet a wonderful girl named Iris (Eh-reese). I didn't take many photos this time because I was out on the court playing and practicing with the kids. I was so afraid I was going to accidentally kick one of the little ones in the face. Jairo gave the lesson in-between practice and scrimmaging. His lesson was in spanish and although I didn't understand most of it I got to watch the children respond and see how they reacted to the lesson. There was one little boy in particular that stole my heart. He was so in tune and had all the answers. He couldn't have been any older than 7. I asked Brooke later what the lesson was about and she told me it was about friendship. So then I asked about the little boy and his responses to Jairo's questions. Brooke said Jairo was asking the kids what a friend is like or what it takes to be a friend. The little boy answered with an experience he had when he watched a person give a man on the street a shirt because the man didn't have a shirt and needed one. He said that's what friends do. Oh my word my heart melted.
I got to "speak" with the little spanish that I do know with Iris. She was telling me about her friends and how they were playing on the other field. Later on Brooke told me she had a conversation with her about life. She is 15 years old, and just like many of the families there her's struggles with finances. She had to work that week and couldn't go to school because they're family needed money. The thing is, from what we are aware... it doesn't cost money to go to school there. So she was "working" for the family to help with supporting them. We aren't exactly sure what that means but I am praying for the best.
We made our way back home and realized we were all a bit sunburnt. I think I got the worst of it. I got my farmers tan in Costa Rica. It was nice to get back and shower off.
I really miss those kids. It's saturday and today I would be playing soccer with them. I just wanted to take them all home with me. My heart loves them and misses them. My heart also hurts for them. Just some of the stories and situations. Their faces sit in my memory. I want to make sure never to forget them. I want to make a spot on my wall to place the group photo so I can be praying for them. I am so glad Jairo is there for these kids. He's giving them hope. He's showing them a bright and fun side of life. He's instilling discipline and perseverance and structure. In realizing all of this I pray for strength and continued passion in his life with this program.
Saturday night I went out to the streets for the last time. Brooke and I worshiped with Freedom Street and then went out with the crew. I got to say my goodbye to Laylah. I told her I was leaving and she hugged me and told me to have safe travels. I told her "hasta luego" and she said the same. I started to cry a little. I didn't want to leave. It was interesting coming back to the apartment. There are some things that happen on the street that stick with you that you really have to pray over. You have to set your heart and mind in a spirit of worship before you sleep because things can follow you into your dreams.
 |
| The little boy in the yellow shirt... I wanted to take him home with me! So cute! |
Sunday
I was all packed and ready to go. Pati and I had a photoshoot upstairs which was fun. She is such a beautiful person inside and out.
 |
| This is Pati. She is my honduran sister from another mister. |
Anna and Laura took me to the airport and dropped me off. I was trying so hard not to cry. It almost didn't seem real. So I go through and pay my exit tax. I check my bags. I get my boarding passes and head to my gate. I ate some food before getting on the plane. Boarded the plane. Fell asleep before take off. Well I woke up and hour later to find we were still on the ground. Uh yeah. So apparently the immigration computers crashed and they were having to put all of our information in manually. So an hour and a half later we were clear to leave Costa Rica. Well I prayed right then and there because I was nervous about possibly missing my next flight out of Miami to Norfolk. I ended up running off the plane (thankfully I was near the front) through immigration to baggage claim. Stood around with other people from my flight waiting for our bags which took forever. I got my bags at 8:45pm and I was supposed to be boarding my next flight at 9:05pm. So I rushed through customs... handed off my luggage... went through security and on to the skylink... got to the terminal... only to find out that my flight was 30 minutes delayed (they just hadn't updated any of the computers or online data base). Well God got me to my gate and I even had time to eat dinner... which consisted of Apple Juice and some Yogurt.
Got on the little bitty plane and couldn't sleep so I worked on RA things in preparation for the coming week. I got off my plane and to baggage claim only to see two lovely faces there to greet me. Karlie and my friend Jordan had come to pick me up from the airport. Gosh I love them. So we had fun talking about my trip in general and made our way to regent.
Got home around 1:30am Monday morning. I couldn't sleep so I just started moving into my new apartment down the hall. I moved things till 5am and then went to bed. Got up at 9:30am to get my official keys and went back to bed until 11:30am. Then moved for the rest of the day.
It's been pretty non-stop since I got here. A huge and sudden change from Costa. Wednesday morning was pretty rough. Wednesday night was interesting. But, I have a wonderful friend who is here for me to talk through things with that I am thankful for. I'm still learning and processing and realizing things even though I have left Costa Rica.
Honestly, I got to do there... what I want to do with my life. I want to be hands on in ministry and outreach as well as helping with media related things. Anna asked if I would come back... perhaps in a "you'll come back and see us right?" manner but... honest to goodness I would. I would. I would. If there is where God places me and says "go" dude I would do it in a heartbeat. So I guess we will see. :)
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