Sweet Home Nicaragua

This post is long overdue but it brings me great joy to tell you all about my trip to Nicaragua in April.  Ella and I made the trip together from San Jose in a bus to Managua, about 8 hours plus border crossing time.  I think this trip came at the perfect time in between our intensive course and the beginning of our trimester (that starts tomorrow).  I think it gave me a great vision and sweet excitement for what's to come.  

One of my favorite things we did while we were there was get to participate in Young Life club with the international schools.  I have been helping out here in San Jose for the last 2+ months but there was something so sweet about hanging out with the kids that I will get to hang out with for the years to come.  The theme of club was "summer time" as if it's not hot enough in Managua.  We finished the night with the longest ice cream sundae that turned into the largest ice cream food fight/water war.  

The before...

My zipline buddy for last summer! Mariana went to Windy Gap last year where we met and concurred our fear of heights together.  This summer she is going on Work Crew at Lost Canyon in AZ.  Oh the way the Lord is  transforming hearts in Nicaragua! 

My sweet teammates. Dry, clean and happy during what turned into a huge food fight!  

Ha. 

I also got to participate in the Work Crew training for Mariana and Ana Maria who are both sacrificing a month of their summer to serve at a YL camp in AZ called Lost Canyon.  I met both of these girls last summer at Windy Gap and I love seeing where the Lord is taking them on their journeys.  

While we were in Nicaragua, so were most of the international schools in Central America for the annual AASCA volleyball tournament.  It was awesome because there were 3 girls that went on Service Project with us in March from Costa Rica that we ran into for a few minutes after their game.  They were shocked to see us in Nicaragua because not too many people make that trek. 

And finally, the weekend that we were there was also the weekend for "campomento crecimiento" or growth camp for team coordinators and planning teams.  These are the leaders who are new to their role as a leader so they start on the planning team and learn more about what it looks like to be a leader for Christ in their location.  All of these leaders/planners were from Managua - 80 new leaders in Managua! I L-O-V-E-D getting to meet these leaders.  They are the body of Christ in areas that this little redhead would never be able to go - they are leaders in their neighborhoods, at their universities and even a student leader for the international school.  I love that Vida Joven Managua has such an integration between Young Life and Vida Joven, that there isn't a division or separate trainings but we all learn under the same leadership.   

What's a YL camp without an obstacle course as soon as you get off the bus!? 

Club area - who needs walls!? 

Worship together at night :) 

Some of my new friends! 

A few of the beautiful faces that love kids for Christ in Managua! 

To finish off the weekend, a late night pool party in your clothes! 

The leadership team of Managua doing the new, up and coming dance "Limonada Style" 

So much joy flows out of this girl! 

One of the first things Pratt said to us when he & Ashley picked us up from the bus station was "Welcome home!" and that has rung in my ears ever since.  It was a beautifully simple phrase that went straight to my heart.  I know that there will be plenty of challenges in my future but I also know the promises of God, in HIS faithfulness will ring truer and louder than any challenge that will come my way.  I am thankful for this time in Costa Rica and language school (that officially starts tomorrow) because I know God is teaching me so much in my time here, more than a language.  He is teaching me to find my satisfaction in Him, something I have to be reminded of every morning with this verse: 

"Satisfy [me] in the morning with your steadfast love, that [I] may rejoice and be glad all [my] days." 

Psalm 90:14

Nicaragua may be one of the poorest countries but it is rich in the Spirit.  I am so excited to call this place my home and to learn more about who Christ is. 

 

Dance party at camp! 

Young Life Service Project

The week before Easter is what they call in Latin America "Semana Santa" or Holy Week also known in the States to most people as Spring Break.  In Costa Rica, instead of taking kids to summer camp we take kids on a service project during the week of vacation before Easter.  Like Young Life camp, this is meant to take kids out of the comfort zone but instead taking them to camp, we put them to work.   The area we went to is one of the last indigenous regions of Costa Rica and has a much poorer population than what these kids experience in their every day life.  The service part of the week was also a draw for some kids who had never come to YL club but were interested in the service hours so it turned out to be a great way to meet new kids too!  

There is so much that I want to tell you about this week that it might all come out as one big jumbled thought but I hope you see the beauty that came out of this week.  

For our project we built a basketball court for a small community in Talamanca, Costa Rica.  We worked along side the staff of Pura Vida Missions/Vida Net that has a base in Talamanca where about 7 of their staff members live.  I really enjoyed getting to know the staff and was so impressed with everything about their base.  The base is there for the community, primarily the kids, to have a safe place to come away from the temptations of the drugs and violence that are so common in their area.  The basketball court that we built will serve as yet another alternative to those things as a way to pass the time with friends.  The base also has a church that worships with amazing admiration for the Lord.  Our first day working was Sunday and I'm pretty sure their church service was at least 2 hours - we could hear the music as we were hauling rocks.  We stayed on the base the whole week but were able to interact with the community through the people who came to help and the kids who came to play.  

Three of the afternoons that we were there, we helped host a mini lesson for the local kids.  You could tell how comfortable each of them felt on this property where they were able to be free and just play.  We taught them about good hygiene, good eating habits and how to say no to drugs.  When we were finished we just played with them - tag, hopscotch, soccer, basketball (with a hoop attached to a tree until we finished the court), some even became jungle-gyms that the kids climbed all over - pure joy. 

The work was hard.  We hauled all the rock, gravel and sand from the river.  We mixed the cement with shovels and man power.  But no one quit, no one wished they were anywhere else.  I was so impressed with the students that it made me work harder just to try to keep up.  

So excited! 

On our way! 

Digging the trench so the rainy season won't wash away all of our hard work. 

So the grass...has got to go! 

That's my teammate - she's a beast! 

Such good attitudes all week! 

Working hard or hardly working?

These girls came to learn about healthy habits! 

We got creative in our rock hauling ways. 

So strong. 

But since we're in Costa Rica, there's always time for soccer! 

Oh the rocks, sand and gravel 

Who needs a cement truck when you've got these guys?! 

This must be day 4...getting so close!! 

The house the girls stayed in. 

But what would a YL trip be without a little club? Every night, after a long day of work, the leaders and I would also host club.  We had amazing skit characters, Isa and Bella, from Italy trying to get their cooking show back.  We played plenty of games, sang lots of songs and heard the sweet truth of God's love for us through his son Jesus.  Our speaker was Kent Williams who flew in from the US and was able to speak to this group of very intellectual kids in a way that stirred hearts and raised questions.  I know at least one kid committed his life to Christ that week and I was able to be a fly on the wall for a lot of other conversations with kids who have a new desire to hear more about Jesus.  My roll in club was the "techie" but I have to say, I have a new appreciation for the work of real techies because it wasn't super easy and I was off on cues more often than not.  

Isa and Bella but you can call them both. 

Good thing Josh flew in on his Spring Break to be covered in spaghetti. 

How often do you get to put spaghetti on your teacher's head? Good ol' Young Life. 

The final product on our last night.

The leaders 

Rocking our snazzy shirts on the bball court the last morning 

Our "cabin time" spent praying for kids filled with great joy, laughter and delirium. 

This week was nothing short of amazing.  I loved getting to know the Costa Rican YL team better.  I loved getting to know more kids by name and even some of their back stories.  I loved the exhaustion from a hard day's work.  I loved hearing the Love Story that the Lord has for each of us if we just receive it.  I loved the laughter and the joy I felt hauling rocks because I knew that was exactly where the Lord wanted me.  

There are so many days since I've been in Costa Rica that a pure contentment just comes over me at the end of the day.  There's no place I'd rather be. 

The club we had on Wednesday as a mini reunion/picture party after Service Project.  Isa and Bella made even the trip! 

Happy One Month-aversary!

I just wanted to give you a quick update, pictures included, of the happenings of life in Costa Rica.  I have had quite the adventure already and I haven't even left the city yet.  It started out a few weeks ago at my first international schools Wyld Life club.  The pictures below might actually be from the two clubs that I've been to but it's always a good time and I feel right at home in the Wyld & crazy world of middle school kids. :) 

At our first Wyld Life club! 

A classic YL game where if you lose, you hold onto onto  the winner's shoulders after crawling through their legs...lines get long! 

A spin off from Rock/Paper/Scissors, Hobbit edition. 

I have also been to a few Young Life clubs/hang outs in my time here but I haven't brought my camera with me.

 I also helped out at a 5K for one of the main schools where we do Young Life and Wyld Life in Costa Rica.  It was a fundraiser through their new property where they plan to build a new campus in the near future.  Notice how I didn't say I ran the 5k but took it upon myself, with my friend Tiffany, to cheer on the crowd!  It was absolutely adorable because they had mini races for each age group starting at 2 years old!  Somehow, parents weren't allowed to help their kids because that would be "cheating" but I think overall everyone had a good time and only the redhead got sunburned.

 This is a picture of the girls in my class celebrating International Women's Day!  Who knew there was such a thing but we celebrated (and had already these made plans) with some fresh juice at our favorite local joint called Fresas.  You'll probably hear of that place a lot since it's so close to the house and oh so delicious.  (They also serve chicken nuggets & french fries, what more could you ask for?)

Pia, Emily, Ella & me 

 Last weekend I was invited on an amazing hike.  It was a challenging hike up to the "Tres Cruces" or three crosses that overlook San José.  It was beautiful but definitely not a walk in the park.

Tiffany, Sarah, Jessie & Me at the first cross

Second cross 

Tiffany & her leader from the US Jenni at the 3rd cross 

The cows are laying down and the clouds are rolling in, a sure sign of rain! (But it didn't, thankfully!) 

 The best part of the hike was when Tiffany was baptized by her YL leader who was visiting for the week.  It was a beautiful, intimate setting and it meant so much that I got to be a part of her day.

From death... 

To life & freezing cold water! 

 As you can see, this month has been jammed packed with a lot of fun adventures.  This past weekend was one of my favorites by far but it will get another blog post later this week because I want to fill in the details.  I am so thankful for this time in Costa Rica to get to build great new relationships and be in the part of the world that my heart was created for even if my skin hasn't quite caught on to that just yet.  Costa Rica is a beautiful country with great people and a special way of doing life that just makes you sigh sometimes, "Oh Costa Rica." But even as I let out that sigh, I find myself full of joy that this is my life and the Lord has placed me here specifically.

La Vida Tica

So when I wake up tomorrow, I will have been here for 7 days.  It's hard to believe it's already been 7 days yet has only been 7 days.  My ability to keep up with time has escaped me which might be a good thing to live in Central America but I know tomorrow is Friday which means WYLD LIFE night!  I'm sure there will be stories and possibly pictures from the Hobbit themed club but we'll have to wait and see.  Until then, let's recap this week. 

My host family has been great.  I haven't taken any pictures with them yet but I promise there will be stories and pictures to come about them.  I have a host brother named Luis who is 10 and might be one of my favorite people ever.  We like to play games - I taught him War and Slap Jack - and watch tv together.  He likes to explain everything to me and keeps me very entertained.  Since I was the youngest in my family I never had the experience of a younger sibling but so far I like this kid.  I also have two Tica sisters (Tica means Costa Rican).  One is in college and the other is my age.  So far communication with them has been a bit of a challenge but things are starting to settle in.  I also have a host mom named Doña Ana who has taken great care of me and cooks really well!  

Saturday night Ella and I went to the 32nd Anniversary party for Vida Joven in Costa Rica.  It was, of course, a neon party.  The picture below is of the Costa Rican Young Life team plus Ella and me.  There are three interns, Tiffany, Sarah and Elena that have been here since August and will leave in June.  Jessie (the other pelirroja) and Alex are on staff here in San Jose.  They work with the middle school and high school kids of the international schools here in San Jose and have invited Ella and I to be a part of their team while we are in language school.  

On Tuesday, we were sent out on "Mission San José" which was like a scavenger hunt without a map or clues to get around...So really we just wandered the city until we happened upon a few of the major landmarks in the city.  

First stop, frapuccinos. 

Isn't your manger scene still up in the middle of your city too? 

My beautiful teammate in front of the National Museum (that we didn't go in). 

Call me crazy but I love artistic graffiti - not to be confused with vandalism. 

We had had our fill of Tica food lately so we treated ourselves to a little Pizza Hut. 

 Finished the day of being a tourist with a picture at the bus stop. 

 The parents of one of the interns, Elena, were visiting this past week so we were invited to eat dinner with them on Tuesday night.  Elena's mom used to be a chef for people in California so it was definitely a good home cooked meal.  This was the view from their hotel which may have been one of the best I've seen of the city this week.

All in all, I would say my first week in CR has been great and I am looking forward to settling in more. I have felt so cared for by the team here, my host family and the few friends and family I've been able to chat with.  Next Monday language school starts and the adventures continue. 

Abrazos de la Casa Amarilla. 

I MADE IT!

I made it to Costa Rica and I wanted everyone in the airport to know what I was doing...but no one asked...BUT YOU KNOW!  Let me just remind you, I'm in Costa Rica for language school through August (even though my Tica - Costa Rican - host mom just told me my Spanish is already good!) so don't be confused as to why this blog is called the redhead in Nicaragua because it's all part of the journey.

I want to be insightful and reflect on the process of getting fully funded and moving to Costa Rica within a month but I'm tired.  The things I want you to know right now is that my host family (one of many at this point) is great.  My host brother Luis has taken it upon himself to entertain me with YouTube videos & tv in Spanish - he's in 5th grade.  My host sister Brenda made me dinner and showed me around the house.  And my host mom Doña Ana is already taking care of my cough that I brought with me.  It's going to be a great time in the Casa Amarilla.

Language school doesn't start until the 25th so I'll be getting to know the neighborhood with my host family and the YL staff here in San Jose.  Tomorrow is the anniversary of Vida Joven in Costa Rica so they're having a neon dance party with 200 barrio (neighborhood) kids & staff/volunteer leaders. - That just solidifies what some of the Raleigh crew was saying at my going away party last week that YL folks always wear neon.  I didn't believe it until right now.

Thank you for your prayers.  It's the only explanation of the smooth start to this big adventure.  I am so thankful for each and everyone of you who have helped me in every and any way to get to this point.  If I think about it too much + I'm running little sleep = I might cry.  Just know, you rock more than you will ever really understand.

Con mucho amor desde la Casa Amarilla.