give me a brake! no....literally, we need brakes- we don't have any!

The adventures here in Costa Rica never seem to stop! Which can be a good thing and a bad thing- I guess it mostly depends on your perspective. Either way, in this particular adventure, God DEFINITELY had His hand over, under and just all around us. Let me preface this story by saying that we are all completely fine- everyone miraculously escaped virtually unscathed!

We all decided that a trip to the beach would be nice, especially since the majority of us had just arrived from significantly colder climates. This particular "we" included Krysta, Leah and myself, the Janzen family and Dustin. The Janzens took their car and Dustin rode with them, while Krysta, Leah and I took our car and followed behind them. We'd stopped once because the Janzen's dog, Bosco, had gotten a little car sick and a little cleaning needed to take place. We were soon back on our way, beach-bound and pretty stinkin' stoked about it! We were driving through a mountainous area on pretty curvy roads, with steep drop-offs and one lane bridges around just about every bend. Alright....now, about 10 minutes after we'd stopped for Bosco, Krysta was driving and we were behind the Janzens on a down hill slope. We were needing to slow down, so naturally, Krysta went to step on the brakes, but nothing happened. She let up and tried again. Still no braking or slowing type of response. Right about then, some kinds of panic/survival mode set in. Now, I can't be sure if I can recollect the following events with the exact details, or even with some kind of semi-accurate time frame, but here's how I remember it. The Janzens were ahead of us and we weren't able to stop. There were cars in the other lane coming from the other direction, so that wasn't an option. Krysta's driving at this point, I'm convinced, was inspired and we were for sure being protected. With no other option, we braced ourselves and rear-ended the Janzens. They told us afterwards that because of the speed that we were both going, they didn't really feel us hit them too bad. After we hit them and the cars in the other lane had passed, Krysta maneuvered us over to the left lane and over to where there happen to be a little shoulder on the side of the road. Krysta had pulled the emergency brake at some point earlier, but maybe not quite hard enough because it wasn't pulled up at this time. We had slowed down quite a bit by this time, so we pulled the emergency brake one more time, while riding the shoulder. Then , we hit a kind of cement drainage pipe, with a little ditch on either side of it. This finally brought us to a stop. We were tilted with the driver side up and teetered for a little bit, but nothing else happened. Jeremy had pulled their car over up ahead of us and he and Dustin got out and ran over to our car. They made sure we were all okay and helped us exit the perched vehicle. Within minutes a policeman appeared on the scene. And then a newspaperman came for pictures and interviews- of which he was disappointed to learn that we were all friends and not going to have a rumble or something. Then an ambulance came and we assured them that we were all fine. The place where we ended up was quite the perfect setting for rubberneckers, as we were right near one of the single lane bridges so cars often had to stop and yield to the other lane, giving them plenty of time to stare at us, point and take pictures with their cell phones. In Costa Rica, after an accident, you're not allowed to move the vehicles until the insurance person comes and takes pictures and checks it all out. So, the insurance person showed up after a couple hours and we put the call in for a tow truck to get the car back home. The accident occurred around 9:30am and the tow truck didn't come till about 1:30pm. At one point it started to rain pretty hard, so Jeremy and Dustin used a tarp (that was meant for shade at the beach) and made a shelter using the Janzen's car and a fence, so that we could avoid the rain. We were also all getting pretty hungry, so Jeremy whipped out their little bbq and grilled up the hot dogs that were meant for our lunch. So, we had a little camp set up, complete with a bbq lunch and everything- it was pretty amazing! Finally, the tow truck showed up and brought our smashed little car all the way back home. whew! I had to take quite a few deep breaths while writing/ remembering all that had happened. But we are all safe and fine!

It's pretty amazing, though, as we've remembered these events and thought about how pretty perfectly it all happened, well, after the failure of the brakes. If we hadn't stopped for Bosco, who knows how that would have changed the location of where the brakes went out. Or the fact that our car almost went ahead to get gas, but didn't. If we had, the Janzens and Dustin wouldn't have been there to stop us with their car and keep us from driving off some edge. That's another thing- the place where our brakes failed was kinda perfect also. There were no crazy curves that we had to attempt and the shoulder was in the perfect place- we probably would have gone off the single lane bridge if that space hadn't been there. And the fact that there were no cars in the other lane coming at us when we needed to get over there. Also the big cement drainage cylinder and the ditch around it was perfect for stopping us. Really.....the fact that all those things so perfectly lined up for us to walk away, unharmed, from a brakeless runaway car on a much travelled, curvy, mountain highway can be no coincidence. God definitely spared us from an event that could have been really tragic and we are incredibly grateful.

Below are some pictures that were taken, post-accident, while we waited on the side of the road.




This is just minutes after the accident occurred- you can see our car over on the right, the ambulance and the reporter's car behind it.




You can kind of see in this picture how the car was sort of teetering.




Our car actually didn't get smashed up too badly- it could have been a lot worse.




The Janzens' car didn't get too badly damaged either.




This happened for pretty much 4 hours straight- I'm sure we provided many cars with a topic for conversation.




Our little make-shift, out of the rain, bbq-ing camp site. pretty amazing!




One last shot- you can kinda see where the front passenger side wheel is in the drainage cylinder ditch thing.

California, there I came....

So, it's been a while since I've written and quite a bit has transpired in that time. I had the amazing blessing of being able to go home for about a month over the holidays. I was able to spend some good time with family and friends, as well as, see some supporters and share with people face to face. I was also able to speak to the missions committee and a sunday school class at my home church. It was just overall good being able to share my life with those that have had such a big role in it, past and present. It was also refreshing to hear peoples' words of encouragement and assurance that they have been and will continue to be in prayer for me. Below are some pictures from my trip.





It's a rare occasion these days when my entire family is together. So, we decided to commemorate such an event with a family picture, of course. (left-right: top row- David and Isaac, middle row- Dad (holding Oscar) and Mom, bottom row- Jonathan and myself)




Together with my parents and brother, David, there are 7 dogs. And my dad and I took all of them on a walk. At once. It was quite the hilarious challenge =)




It was REALLY nice going home over the holidays because I saw a number of people who had also come home or to the area for the holidays that normally wouldn't have been there----like my friend, Rebekah!!!




aaaaaaaand my friends, Courtney and Caitlin!!!!




My dad and I drove down to the San Diego area to visit my brother, Jonathan, and check out where he lives and all. While down there, we went bowling and I had to document the one time when I was actually ahead of both of them. Of course, it was only the first frame and my dad still had one turn left......but still. ; )




I even got Superior Dairy with Aiyla and Derek!!!!




We also made a little trip out to the Pismo/Arroyo Grande area to visit my brother, David. Pretty fantastic!

Recent events as told through pictures....

Jeremy came and taught the kids to do a wood working project. They made bird houses and loved it! Pictured here is Jeremy and Anthony.



Jeff's helping some of the boys in their cutting and measuring.



We had a team from Wasco come over Thanksgiving. I had two amazing girls at my site, Emily and Lauren!




Tests were done for the year, so we did leaf rubbings and various art projects with the kids.



We played soccer in the rain and it was pretty fantastic!



Teaching some of the kids all important skills, such as whistling.



We had 14 kids show up at our Christmas party. Jeff and Olivia came to help out. In this picture, the kids are decorating bags.



The kids still working on their bags, which went incredibly smoothly.



We also decorated sugar cookies with the kids. I'm pretty sure it was their first time doing so, seeing as they didn't know what frosting was. In this picture are: Luis, Kairo, Angel and Andres





We also played, pin the tail on the donkey that Mary rode into Bethlehem. The kids tended to help each other and use their free hand to feel where they should pin the tail, thus the reason for all the tails to be in basically the right spot.



Me and all the kids from our Christmas party.




And, of course, it got a little crazy- frosting began to fly!

Discouragement and then some Dislodging

So, for a while I'd had this blog idea brewing in my head. It had to do with all of the discouragements that encompass my life at this time---mine, as well as, those of others who surround me. However, before I got a chance to indulge myself in such a pity fiesta, God began to convict me through an array of people and situations. Pretty much what it comes down to is that I'm having to learn to dislodge myself from the center position in my life. /Dislodge: remove from an established or fixed position/ It seems so easy to think, 'Duh- when your whole world revolves around you, things are going to be discouraging at best, because the rest of the world is ignorant to the fact that they should be orbiting around you.' But it's also amazing how easy it is to slip into that mindset and then start putting down some roots there. Thus, the need for such a dislodging in my own life. When we look to ourselves as the center of our lives, all we see is what's wrong and why we're not happy. But in removing myself from that position, my focus is no longer on what I do or don't have. And in putting Jesus in that rightful position, that incredible obsession with self begins to dissolve, because the focus has changed. I think "dislodging" is also a good term for it because it implies just the right amount of force in having to uproot what was being established in order to replant in an appropriate place. It's amazing when your focus goes from serving yourself to how you can serve others how many of the things you formerly thought of as problems tend to fade from view. As with so many other things, it's easier said than done. But having left it unsaid or unacknowledged would seem to make the 'doing' process nowhere even close to easy. So, with the saying said, the doing has begun to be done. Not by my strength, but in my surrender. Thanks for your continued prayers and support! =)




This is a picture of me on a visa renewal trip to Panama being not in the center. Uncentered, if you will. ; )

Happy Anniversary!!!!

Today, October 18th, marks my first full year of being here in Costa Rica! Crazy! In some ways, I can't believe it's been a whole year, while in other ways, it's felt more like a life time. But things are finally in full swing here in that we have sites up and running to some degree. There have been quite a few adjustments and changes that we've had to make, but all with the intentions of fine tuning the sites to fit the needs and desires of the community as well as the gifts and passions we have. With all this in mind, we have been making some adjustments and new developments at my site in Las Fuentes. In these last two weeks, I have begun leading kids in the community in various outdoor activities, in addition to the after school and tutoring programs that we already have established.

The week before last, Erin Janzen, Aiyla Shockency and I lead a group of about 20 kids on a hike up a hill behind the community to a cell tower that has an amazing panoramic view of the San Jose area. This last week, we had a couple days where we went to an open field that the kids call the "Play Azul." The first day we played soccer (of course) and had probably around 30-40 kids total that showed up, probably from ages 5-14. The next time we went, there were about 7 kids that we played baseball, or some kind of versions of baseball- basically it turned into the kids finding anything they could use as a bat and hitting the balls as I ran back and forth, retrieving the balls and pitching them to the kids. They seemed to like it- and I got a good workout! =) (A reason for the large difference in the number of kids that showed up is that kids switch off every other day having school either in the mornings or the afternoons. So when we have our field day on Tuesday afternoons, the kids that can come then generally can't come Friday afternoons, because they have class then). It's been fun to hang out with the kids in a different environment and it's even brought about kids that I haven't seen before, so I'm excited to be involved with the kids in this new way!

A while back, some ladies from the church asked me if I knew anything about aerobics or exercising. As it would so happen, I do. So, we've been looking at using the community center there in Las Fuentes and trying to figure out what days and times would work best. So, we talked to Pastor Gilberth about it and apparently he is the one who could arrange for us to use the building, free of charge. That same day, we talked to some of the women who would be interested in participating and we decided right then and there on the times and days that would work best. So, pretty much all is left is for me to figure out some music and learn some routines----of which I know my mom will be more than delighted to help me out with (she teaches a variety of aerobic type exercises). The women seem especially excited to get a jump, a hop and a kick on this ; )

Along with the after school program/tutoring, the home visits and the English course, I'm excited to see how these new projects go. Please pray for my organizational skills in being able to balance each of these projects, as well as coming up with creative ways of engaging people. Thank you very much for your prayers and I'll be sure to keep you up to date. =) Below are some pictures I took from the hike with the kids.



A little bit of controlled chaos, as we head out.




Erin and some of the kids on the way up.




We hiked up through a coffee plantation- those little plants in the background are baby coffee plants.




Two of the boys, checking out the view.




Some of us paused for a little break.



The kids picked some fruit along the way.




We made it to the top! Me, Aiyla and Erin sitting back and enjoying it.




No worries- we didn't let them get too high, but we couldn't exactly keep them completely grounded =)

Surpr-Isaac!!!!

So, I was sitting at home one day and I heard a tapping on our gate- pretty typical- people trying to sell stuff usually. So, I didn't think much of it and just kind of ignored it, thinking that whoever it was would just go away after a little bit. However, the tapping persisted. So, finally, I went down to see what the deal was. And I was struck speechless and dumbfounded to see my brother, Isaac, standing there with a suitcase!!!!! I just kinda stood there, mumbling for a second and then went to find the keys to unlock the gate and let him in. I didn't even know what to do with him- with him being there! It was just such a complete surprise! Crazy!

He got to stay for 10 days, so we got to do quite a few fun things and he even helped me out a ton at my work site in Las Fuentes. It was for sure a time of refreshment for me, having him here and him getting to see where I live and what I do, but it was super tough to see him go, as well.

The following is a picture diary of our Isaac and Cailah fun time together in Costa Rica:




Tracey, Aiyla and Isaac prepping/testing out our homemade Guess Who game before English Class



The Guess Who game board that Isaac helped me put together and name the people



Isaac with the kids from the tutoring center in Las Fuentes- such fun!



Isaac and I at a Costa Rican soccer game with rival teams where we accidentally found our way into the fanatical section of the losing team- it was quite interesting and a little scary at times, but SUPER fun!



Our friend, Josh, and Isaac as we prepared to slide down the the hill in Parque de la Paz on cardboard.



Let the sliding commence! (Isaac, Krysta, Josh, Leah and Aiyla)



Sliding in style. =)



And then we all teamworked our way up onto a rock.



Super duper fun day!!! (Aiyla, Krysta, Leah, Josh, me and Isaac)



Josh and Isaac- kids at heart...and life ; )



Isaac even went with me to get the tires changed on our car- so sweet! =)

Food for thought and food for eating.

So, things have been underway in a more or less normal day-to-day setting in Las Fuentes as of late. Things have been coming along just fine as we continue to make small adjustments and changes to better fit and meet the needs of the people there. The tutoring center has been going well. It's always encouraging how the kids want to come and hang out even if they don't have homework or need help or even if it's Saturday. They're always asking for more classes (as they call them), which is exciting in realizing that they'd rather be hanging out at the church with me than running around doing whatever else. It's definitely challenging to motivate the kids in their studies and find educational activities that support what they're learning and aid them in their understanding in a fresh way. I am open to any suggestions! This last Saturday, I walked around the community with one of the women from the church and passed out flyers about the tutoring center and the dates and times, so that people could become more familiar with me and also so they could have a written schedule of the tutoring times (which are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings and Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoons).

Wednesday afternoons have continued with the teaching of an English course, for ages 12 and up. There have been various people that have come and gone in this class, but we have had two sisters that have come consistently each week. They have a good base in English, so it's fun to be able to have the formal teaching type stuff but also to be able to have a more informal conversation time. It's been good.

Fridays consist of me going to visit people in the community that aren't able to leave their homes much. Currently, there are about five women I visit between the ages of sixty something and ninety-four or so. They're always so welcoming and grateful for even the simple act of stopping by and listening. Last week, I went and visited these two ladies, America and Clemencia (Clemencia is America's daughter) and when I was leaving, they gave me a chocolate and nougat bar, some graham cracker types, a red pepper and a tomato so that I could make some kind of lunch with these items. So sweet! I did eat them, but there was no configuration I could find to use them all together for lunch =)

After leaving America and Clemencia's, I stopped by the house where Marselina lives and her daughters, Natalia and Maira, take care of her. I think Marselina is about 93 years old and in very difficult conditions. She sits in a chair all day, not really able to speak or see. She eats very little, but has AMAZING daughters that serve her so willingly and lovingly, it's always a huge testimony to me. It can be really hard at times to visit this house and see Marselina in such poor condition and her daughters in pain over seeing their mother so helpless. Yet even more amazing to see the selfless love that is so plainly displayed through all of it. It's pretty heartbreakingly amazing.

I also visit a lady named Maria, who is around 94 years old. She spends her days either sitting inside staring at the wall or outside looking at her yard, where the first team of the summer helped plant some flowers for her to enjoy. I've been trying to think of some kind of activity that I could do with her to help her occupy some time and maybe give her a kind of hobby. Last week, I brought over some stuff to paint. Previously, Blake and I had picked out a picture of a flower and traced the design onto the canvas. So, we tried it out. She seemed to like it at first, but lost interest after a while. I did a little painting for her and she seemed to enjoy the finished product. We put it on display, so that she could see it whenever she wanted. I noticed she was wearing a bracelet and she said that some ladies had made it for her, so I'm thinking next time I might bring some jewelry making stuff and have her help me pick out beads to make some jewelry or decorative art type stuff.

So, in going to people's houses and spending a significant amount of time there, I have had the opportunity to experience a number of different forms and demonstrations of hospitality. This last week, I brought some pictures of family and friends and home to show to America and Clemencia. They just kept going about how beautiful everyone is (so, be encouraged ; ) and how they couldn't believe how much of animal lovers my family is to have 5 dogs! I saw a ton of their family pictures, as well, and tried to keep up with whose kid was whose and what birthday was when. But, wait, there's more. Just as I mentioned earlier, food tends to be a large byproduct of the hospitality factor. So, this last week, in visiting America and Clemencia, I was able to try a number of different things I haven't eaten or even drank before. When we were finished looking at the pictures, Clemencia brought out a bright orange, opaque juice for me. I braced myself for it, thinking it would be papaya. Instead, it was sweet and it turned out to be carrot and orange juice- not too shabby. To accompany my carrot/orange juice, I was given some wafer cookies and a piece of an orange. Then, they asked me if I'd ever had sweet squash and I said I didn't think so. So, they said that I would try some after I was done with my juice because the taste of the juice would mess up the taste of the sweet squash. Oh, the anticipation! So, when I finished with my juice, they didn't delay in giving me what looked liked a squash based gelatin. It definitely jiggled. So, I dug in and it was actually pretty good! Serves me right for judging based on jigglage. Then, when I was leaving, they gave me some lemons from a tree in their yard.

That same day, I went to go visit Maria and one of her sons happened to be around. He is always very thankful towards me for coming and spending time with his mom. He left and brought each of us an orange. Then, he left again and after a while he came back with some limes for me from their yard. Not too long after, he showed up with some Guavas for me to try. And then he left again and came back with several Jocotes (a small sourish fruit that you usually eat with salt). In all, that day between the lemons from America and Clemencia and the fruit from Maria's house, I ended up with 15 pieces of some kind of citrus fruit in my purse! And this makes me happy =) And so my post is concluded.

Below my cornucopious collection of fruits is pictured.