Ps.100:5 For the LORD is good;his mercy is everlasting...

Woohoo! Graduation Day! We made it! Hallelujah a Dios. Paul, Gabriella, and Lucy came to the ceremony for me. They are such good friends. My part in the ceremony was to read scripture in Spanish, of course. I chose Psalms 100. But what a relief that it is over! I survived! And I'm ready to leave. But not until 8 in the morning. Will get to St. Louis around 3 in the afternoon. I'm so excited about seeing my family and my friends. What a year this has been. And no, I don't want to repeat it.

Last Saturday I went on the picnic with my special group. It was a good time. I met Minor's (who is blind) daughter and family. And what a great treat for me, but not the only one, because his granddaughter is named Beverly. She is about 4 years old. I was so happy to hear that they spell and pronounce it correctly. Thanks to Beverly Hills!!! Most Latinos spell and pronounce it Beberly. Esteban, Beverly's father, and I will be emailing, because he wants to learn more English. They are such a beautiful family. Several from the group told me that I needed to stay here in CR. They said I could teach English here! Bless their hearts. I love the friends I have here, but the heart is in Honduras.

I presented my project on the church and their relationship with people with disabilities this past Monday. My teacher gave me a big hug, said I did very well, and that I made her very happy. And that made me happy!!! But the real blessings come when God ministers through you to another person. He did that this week, and I praise him for his goodness to us and his love.

I praise God for the things that I have learned and the friends that he has given me. God is truly good all the time. One chapter closed and another to begin. How exciting it is to serve God the Creator. You don't always know what he is planning for your life, but you can be sure it will turn out well. Even the bad, he has promised to use it for our good. Hallelujah!

Well, I have to wash out the microwave and a couple of other things, and I'm done.

So Lord, thank you for this year even when I told you that I didn't like it here. You gave me your grace, and I finished well. Thank you for what I have learned, and thank you for multiplying it. Thank you for the people you put in my path to be my friends and vice verse. I ask you to bless them in the coming year, to save their loved ones that don't know you, and to help them know you more intimately. I love you Father. Gracias Jesus por total. Amen.

Give thanks with a grateful heart...song

Only TWO more weeks to go! Yeah!!! Everybody is counting down. Last project is completed! I just have to present it next Monday. WooHoo!! ECO's, oral test, is this Thursday and no classes on Friday. But my last time with my friends that have children with disabilities will be on the 3rd of Dec. the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. I will miss them.

This Thanksgiving was definitely different. I went with Paul, Gabriella, and Emanuel to San Gerardo de Dota and the surrounding area. We had breakfast at this fabulous Cloud Forest Lodge, Dantica, owned by a Dutch fellow. The food was great, but the bread was wonderful with homemade marmalade. It was mora which is the blackberry. And then they took me around the valley and to the trout farms, rainbow trout. Wow, there were several ponds full of them. And guess what we had for lunch? Yep, trout. Great stuff. While we were at this little Mom & Pop's restaurant eating lunch, a tourist bus came with European travelers. They were stopping to bird watch. This area is known for the Quetzal. Paul saw one for the first time in his life so that made the day special for him. Even though it rained off and on, it was a day to be thankful. I definitely missed seeing my kids and families. Other than the date on the calendar, it didn't feel like Thanksgiving Day. But God always gives us things to be thankful for and the greatest, of course, is being his child, thanks to Jesus.

So now I'm cleaning the apartment getting ready to leave. I've washed the windows, ceiling fans, and cabinets. Will finish the fridge and stove next week. And I have started packing my bags. My fridge is almost empty as are the cabinets. And it's a little difficult to know how much food to buy especially when you are used to buying for more than a week or two at a time. The only thing that remains the same are changes!

Our conversation class has to have Ps.121 memorized by Wed., in Spanish, of course. I have it, but it is so hard for me to say it at the same time the other two are saying it!

I am thankful for what God has done in me since I have been here, and the language that I have learned. But I am assuredly ready to leave here. Ready to see my family first and then ready to return to HN.

I am so thankful that I know that God has my life in his hands, and he is in total control of all that comes my way.

Gen. 2:7, 21-22 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground...

A few weeks ago I was asked to describe the first two chapters in Genesis by looking at drawings that really didn't do much to help me. I remember saying that God said it was good after every creation. My teacher said no, that God saw that it was good. She was right. Saying and seeing are two different things. So I have gone back to reread this part of Genesis again, in Spanish of course. So a couple of nights ago after I went to bed, I started thinking about God creating everything. All was spoken into existence except man. He formed man from the dust of the earth. And I thought about that a lot laying there in bed. I believe a baby's heart starts beating a week or so after conception, and he forms from the inside out. In my mind I could see the Lord down on the ground forming Adam. He had to start with the insides. And what a mind! I don't know which part he formed first, but forming the heart, the lungs, stomach, all the different systems: digestive, nervous, respiratory, skeletal, glandular, and all the rest. And then I thought about that little thing called the gall bladder. Just the right amount of bile released at the right time or there is a lot of pain and anguish. Wow! The mind of God. Every part had to work just right with all the other parts. And of course in my mind he had to use water, right? I can remember making mud pies, and I had to use water or there was just the loose dirt and no pie, which of course, no one wanted to eat after all my labor. The Bible doesn't say he used water. But I can see him on his knees or sitting, and moving around on the ground forming his first son of flesh. And when he finished with all that makes a human body, there it laid on the ground. This big creature of dirt. And then he breathed the breath of life into him and the thing formed became flesh and blood. Now isn't that the most awesome thing ever? This big form of DIRT that turned into flesh. The many times that I have read this in Genesis and it never hit me like this. Scripture describes God as having eyes, ears, hands, feet, etc., but we never see him getting his hands dirty. But I see him working in that dirt with a love that is indescribable. This man child Adam was perfect in every way. He was made with God's own hands. And then the Lord turned around and made Eve from one of Adam's ribs after he put Adam in a deep sleep. And in them he put the seeds necessary to populate the earth. I am amazed. And we are always in a hurry to shed this body that God made with his hands. I understand all the reasons, but at the same time I don't think we give him enough glory and honor for this part of ourselves. But then we love to see new babies, yes? Just think how God felt when he looked at Adam and Eve. And now when he looks at us. Such love. There is none better.

Ps.116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

This weekend has been one of surprises, some good and some not so good. I was suppose to meet with my special group on Saturday and interview one of the mother's for my project, but I received a call from the missionary on Friday telling me that one of the kids died that day. What a shock for his mother (and the rest of us) because he hadn't been sick. They think it was a seizure. The "kid" was 42 years old. So needless to say, the meeting was cancelled Saturday for the funeral. Funerals are held within 24 hours here just like in Honduras. I didn't know Minor personally, but I sure feel the loss. And I pray for his mother. There will be such a void in her life, because Minor was happiest at his mother's side, but I know God will comfort her. His father died a few years ago. It's so precious how the Lord moves. I was thinking about Minor this morning and calling him a child, and I thought how we are God's children. Just like Minor, we are his children regardless of our age. God doesn't have grandchildren. And then the message in church this morning was about being God's child. Totally awesome! When we are adults, I think we forget that we are children in God's sight. His children. My oldest is 50, and I introduce him as my son or oldest child, or something to the effect that indicates he is my child. He doesn't become something else because he is an adult. And it's the same for my other four. Regardless of our ages, they will always be my children. Bless their hearts. And the same goes with them and their children. I am so blessed to know that I am a child of God, and He will never leave or forsake me, and will continue to teach me until the day that I stand before him in my new body.

On a happier note, when I answered the phone yesterday, a fellow started talking to me in English saying that I knew him because he had been with one of the teams that had come to HN. Well, there were several teams that had come, and I relayed that to him, because I surely didn't recognize his voice. Well, what a great surprise, it was Pastor Ken from MA. And I was able to talk to 2 of the ladies that had come on the team. AND then I talked to Becky, my missionary, who is their guest missionary for a few days. What a great surprise. God knows just how to bless our socks off! It's so nice to know that someone is thinking about you.

It has been so quiet this weekend. Most went to the beaches, but Sara and I stayed here. The peace is wonderful!!! She shares an apartment with two other girls. So we've went shopping, to church, and ate at the food court at the mall. There is a store here that is named El Rey, and it is like Dollar General and Family Dollar rolled into one. I spent a whole dollar! And the other store that is super cheap and closer to home is Pequeno Mundo. Fun places to go and look. We don't buy the things that we normally would because we are only allowed so much weight in our suitcases, so we definitely don't spend a lot of money on stuff.

So yesterday and today, I have spent a lot of time listening and watching Spanish television. Sometimes I don't understand at all, and other times, it's right there. Oh well, this is is a life long endeavor for sure.

For those of you that read my blog, please pray for Minor's mother and the rest of the group. The death of their special child lays heavy on their hearts at times. Thanks and God bless you for doing so.

John 16:33...but be of good cheer:I have overcome the world.

Hallelujah! One project completed and another started! Yesterday was Capilla de Las Culturas (Cultural Chapel). We all had to speak about the country where we are going. Of course all was spoken in Spanish. Oh, my, the many times I had to practice with the recorder in front of the bathroom mirror at the school! Wow! I could talk about Honduras forever, I think, but it's a little more difficult in Spanish. But as I listened to all of us, I remembered Ps.24:1 that the Lord gave me when when he was leading me to go to Honduras. He has created the whole earth and everybody on it. That means all the different peoples, languages, and their cultures (and of course every culture has its good and bad). He values everyone of them because they are his. He made them. What a variety! That speaks mountains to us or should. He didn't make us all alike, but how many times do we want to be like someone else or do something as well as someone else when He hasn't given us that particular gift or talent? And when you hear all these things and see the pictures, it makes one really appreciate the peoples and God's handiwork. We all fixed some kind of food and/or drink. I fixed baleadas and horchata. The baleladas are flour tortillas with beans, crema(like a sour cream) with cheese on top. The horchata is a traditional drink made with rice, cinnamon, sugar, and milk or water. What a job that is to make! I don't think I'll make it too often from scratch. The fake stuff can be bought in a package like Kool-Aid. Don't know if they have it (hochata)in the states, but maybe.

On Tuesday, we were given an assignment to write about the last century, 1900-2000, and life in the U.S. It was due on Wednesday. Oh, wow, when I began to think of all that I have seen, I realized my age like never before. AND I only have 33 more years before I'm 100, if the Lord permits. When I started writing the changes, it was absolutely astounding. And it was like the Lord was saying, Celebrate your age! Well, ok, but how do I do that when older age isn't valued so much anymore? I guess I'll find out. But then He told ME to celebrate it, not everybody else! But there have been tremendous changes in every aspect of life, from communication to how children play. Incredible.

In Latin American countries, you will hear people exclaiming Jesus' name or !Dios Mio! which means My God. Yesterday, one of the workers exclaimed Jesus' name, and I cringed because it really hurt my heart, and I told her that Christians in the U.S. don't say that because it's not good. She said that her husband says it all the time(he's Latino) and I asked if he was a Christian and she said yes. I guess I was shaking my head because she asked why was it bad. I showed her Exodus 20:7 in my Spanish Bible, and she immediately said, No more! She told me the next day that she went home and showed her husband, and he also said no more. Hallelujah!!! I am so tired of being told about the culture and to accept it. Well, I understand that, but at the same time when the culture, which ever one it is, runs a muck of God's word, don't we need to speak up. And if they aren't told, because they don't know and aren't given the chance to know, nothing will change, and will we not be held accountable? And I understand one doesn't go around shooting his mouth off all the time, but at the same there is a time to speak (and a time to be still, according to Eccl). And yesterday it was time to speak and the Holy Spirit moved. Praise the Lord for his saving grace. Sometimes we don't speak up because we're afraid of offending or being persecuted. Wow, every time Jesus spoke, someone was offended because he spoke truth. He didn't speak to offend, but to save. And he was persecuted. Isn't that what comes with that cross we are suppose to carry? I, myself don't like that cross, because it was and is a thing of torture, but I love the One that gave the commandment to take it and follow, and if persecution comes, and it will, so be it. He overcame the world, and by his grace, I will too.

So now it's time to work on my next and last project. It will be about people with disabilities and their relationship in the church.

Thank you Lord for all you have done in me since being here. It is not a place that I have wanted to be, but you have done tremendous things, and I praise you for it, and understand that if I had not been here, they might not have been done. Muchas gracias por tu amor.

Heb.13:5-6...The Lord is my helper...

Well, here we are once again. It has been three days since we returned from Panama. Nothing spectacular happened there, except we enjoyed the time off from classes. But, of course, we had homework, but not so much. Thank you, Jesus. And I couldn't find shoes, so will wear these that are really looking rough. Oh well, at least I have shoes and feet!

We had a different bus this time. It was more like a Greyhound because there were so many of us. But we had to unload our bags at both borders, so customs could see and run their hands through our stuff. But it wasn't a problem. Someone said they were looking for drugs, but who knows. It set us back an hour in time returning to CR, but that really wasn't a problem either. Instead of getting to CINCEL around 5, we made it around 6.

This morning we all had to speak in Spanish during the cultural chapel. Those that are learning English had to use English. I shared my experience with a funeral in Honduras compared to the way it is all done in the states. (My experience in HN reminded me of my Grandma describing my Grandpa's funeral so many years ago, long before I was born. So different then. So much more personal). But anyway, I was told I did very well. Once again I have to give glory to God for helping me.

I am enjoying my classes a lot more now. Tomorrow Clint and I have to converse and ask questions off the top of our heads. That ought to be real interesting! I just have to learn to pray without writing it out and reading it. That's my goal, not necessarily my teacher's goal. I do ok in my apartment, but when I have to do it in class, it's a little different.

Well, it's almost 5 o'clock our time, and I just felt an earthquake tremor. Wow! It's funny, because first you hear some rattling in your house and wonder what is making that noise. Then you feel the shaking, and you know what is happening. Then you wonder is it going to be longer or is it going to stop quickly. Then it's like do I move out of the house or stay. These thoughts are almost simultaneous. You "feel the earth move under your feet." An old song, but I think about it every time the earth shakes here. So it didn't last but a minute or so. I guess I'll turn on the TV and listen to the news, and see what they say about it.

Keith and I have to memorize scriptures for next week in our phonics class. I picked Heb.13:5-6. I have thought of what they say so many times since I have been here. But God's word never gets old and it does not change. Even when our circumstances change, God does not. I am so thankful for him in my life.

John 14:16...he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever:

What a great birthday I had yesterday. I wasn't telling anyone here, but I forgot about FB! So when I turned on my computer, there were a lot of birthday greetings. A little after 5 am, my phone rang, and I thought who in the world is calling so early and decided that it was probably a wrong number. Well, lo and behold, it was Becky from the states singing Happy Birthday when I answered. What a pleasant surprise. So we chatted for awhile, and she had forgotten that we are an hour behind KS time. But no matter because I'm up early anyway. I heard from my children which is always a BIG blessing. I Skyped with my youngest last night and was able to talk to his whole family. Totally wonderful. Paul and Gabriella took Leticia and I out for dinner to an authentic Chinese restaurant. They did not know it was my birthday till we arrived back home and some of the guys were standing by the gate and said happy birthday to me. And Gabriella wanted to know whose birthday, and I told her it was mine. Well, how great God is. She said that's why the Lord told her and Paul the day before to take me out to dinner. God always takes care of the "little" things, and he knows how to bless our socks off! He is soooo good to me!

Paul and I laughed when I told him that I was learning some Chinese culture from him. His reply was something to the effect that I had to come to Costa Rica to learn it. He and Gabriella are truly a blessing to me. Paul put food on my plate when it was getting empty, and I told him that it reminded me of my dad when I was really little. And I actually used chop sticks for part of the time. I could never quite get them to work before, but I'm getting there. By time I leave here, I should do pretty good, just in time to return to a place that basically uses pieces of tortillas for utensils!

I hear so many times the reason God is doing something is to get us out of our comfort zones, like that is the only reason. As I was thinking about that yesterday, I was thinking, really? No, he takes us out of our comfort zones when we have been chosen to do whatever he wants us to do. He always has a purpose for doing what he does, and it isn't to just get us out of our comfort zones. True, it's not comfortable at times, because we have to change due the circumstances that he puts us in, but he's preparing us for whatever he has planned. Like yesterday. Chariti, in Mexico, popped up to chat when I was working on the computer. She was telling me about the changes there in her living conditions since she had returned there. I was laughing so hard that I was almost in tears. Comfort zone??? No washer and dryer. Hardly any furniture, and no waste paper cans, which she went and bought. Things that most Americans take for granted. And then today or yesterday in the conversation class, we were discussing the "comfort zone." Coming here is definitely out of our comfort zones, and we have the things that Chariti doesn't have. But he strips us of all the things we cling to, including people-family, church, etc. in order for us to cling to him. God will be first in our lives. Here we have been stripped of our language, food, friends, family, paying jobs, cars, houses, yards, customs, etc. Why? Because God is teaching us to totally depend on him. If we don't learn to do that, we won't make it in some of the countries where some are being sent. (It's very difficult to put all this into words)! And we truly learn that he is in control. Nothing happens in our lives without his say so. So all this teaches us to truly wait on him and follow the leading of his Holy Spirit. There is a deeper love for him that grows from all these things. We learn that he truly is our Father, and he loves us with a love that is deeper than we can understand. And whatever happens is for our good and his glory. AND he always provides for our needs whether it's physical, emotional, or spiritual. We don't always "feel" his presence, but he is always with us. He said so in his word. And that's called "faith" to believe what you can't feel or see. When we rely on his word, we have peace even when there's nothing peaceful going on around us. So to be out of our comfort zone is actually exciting, because you don't know what's coming next. So whether we have the physical comforts or not, we have the Comforter.

And when you are learning another language, it's really a strange feeling when you forget words in your own language! Today Kevin, whose is 16 and learning English, asked me what the word for parque de atracciones in English was. It took me a couple of minutes to come up with amusement park! And spelling? I always received A's in spelling. Now I find myself asking myself if the word has two r's or one. Is it a t or c? Comfort zone?! And when I'm writing and need a certain word and can't remember what it is...Sometimes I leave a blank and tell my friend to fill in the right word, please, because I can't remember what it is! And she will write back and tell me the word. Hallelujah!!

Well, tomorrow we leave for Panama again for our visas. It's my last trip there this year as far as I know. So I must get to bed.

I pray that my Father will bless my family and help them to have the peace that he has given me.

1 Pet.2:9...who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Today is Independence Day for most of Central America, therefore we don't have school today. Yesterday the teachers fixed us a typical Costa Rican breakfast. Gallopinto, which is black beans with rice mixed together with seasonings, cheese, bread, coffee and juice. We eat beans and rice in HN too, but they aren't mixed together. I can eat beans for breakfast if I must, but I really don't like to do it. Beans are fine for lunch and dinner, but breakfast? Oh well, it's their protein and that's fine. Also some elementary school students came and performed one of their national dances for us. We also sang their national anthem. The national colors are red, white, and blue, just like ours in the U.S. Interesting. The teachers gave us a small history lesson from before and when they received independence from Spain. Unlike the U.S., they didn't have to fight a war for independence.

The third trimester started on Monday. The classes so far prove to be more relaxed and not loaded down with homework. It appears that there is going to be more practice in using what we have learned thus far with some new things added. I like it a lot! And I have been reading a book of short stories that one of the girls brought with her. That also helps. I only take my Spanish Bible to church and chapel services, and I read the chapters in it after reading my King James. So hopefully the brain is getting all this!!!

Next week we leave for Panama for the last time. I really do have to buy a new pair of closed in shoes to go home in Dec. The shoes I have has lasted for a year. Good length of time for the roads we walk on in HN and here. Although they aren't bad here in the city, you have to watch out for the "gringo holes". That's those places that are suppose to have grates over them. Ha! Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. We are taught to always look up, but here you better watch where you're stepping!

We have been learning to pray in Spanish. I always write mine out so the teacher can make any needed corrections afterwards, and to stay focused with my speaking. And yesterday, my prayer was thanking God for the independence of the Central American countries. But before translating into Spanish, the realization of the freedom that God has given us was totally awesome. Jesus too, fought a war for our independence and freedom from the kingdom of darkness. Thank God that he won that war. He brought us into his marvelous kingdom of light. Sometimes we don't remember that war, what it cost him, and the end result of winning that war. And sometimes we don't really understand it all. Communion is one time to remember it. But everyday when we pray, we need to remember and be thankful for that conquest. We have freedom in Jesus Christ from sin and shame. And when we sin, we can have forgiveness upon confessing. What a loving God we have. His love and mercy is forever.

Mat.6:8...for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Hallelujah y Praise the Lord! What a fantastic 5 days that Leticia and I had at the beach house. We did nothing but rest, eat, sleep, swim, and walk the beach. God knows what we need and when we need it even when we don't. I didn't realize how tired I was until Thursday morning. Wow! And I pray God bless Paul and Gabriela a hundredfold.

I met Gabriela a few weeks ago. I had been studying and I (?)decided that I needed to take a walk and clear the mind. Well, that's when I met Gabriela. She was standing on the corner watching her 4 year old ride his bike. I spoke in Spanish, and she answered in English. Well, that definitely opened the door. Talk about kindred spirits-from the beginning. She is Costa Rican, her husband is Chinese, and their son, whom they adopted when he was 3 months old, is from Nigeria. Talk about an international family! They love the Lord with all their hearts. Even though Paul is Chinese, he has never lived in China. He was born in Bolivia where his father worked for a helicopter company. They have opened their hearts and home to me. They have become my host family, they said. Isn't God wonderful? He knows who and when to put someone in your life. Because they want to help missionaries, they will soon be introduced to the other students here. Gabriela ministered to children in Nigeria. She has a servant's heart as does Paul.

So they took Leticia and I to the beach house on Wed. and returned on Sunday to take us back to San Jose. I'm not a swimmer, but Leticia is. The ocean was very dirty, and dangerous. There were red warning flags posted on the beach. So Leticia spent a lot of time in the pool, and I spent time in the hammock and walking the beach. The sand there is not white. It is more brown, not black like in southern Honduras on Isla de Tigre. Since Costa Rica has over 100 volcanoes, I'm thinking that is why the beaches are the color that they are. There was also lot of driftwood. I'm amazed that there is not a lot of seashells on the beaches that I have been to in Honduras and Costa Rica. This area that we went to is near the Port of Caldera, so we could see big ships coming and going, perhaps a couple everyday. The Tivies(?) River runs into the ocean there. So we walked to the river a few times. We had to pay attention because there are crocodiles living in that river. I told Leticia if she saw a log raise it's tail and move, she was to run in the opposite direction!! But we never saw one. The last day that we were there, three fishermen told us that they saw one, but he submerged himself when he saw them.

Just about every morning I took some crabs out of the swimming pool. They are the funniest things. Put something in front of them and those little pincers go into fighting position. A couple of itty bitty ones drowned. So sad. One of the mornings we heard this loud noise and saw a family of four iguanas on the roof of the house next door. They were sunning themselves. They would lift up their chests and heads while facing the sun. Sunbathing at its best! Parrots would wake us up every morning between five and six o'clock chattering very loudly. And then fly away into the trees. Gabriela's brother said that about 40 macaws were around about that time in the morning but I never saw any.

Gabriela's brother Jorge,(George)came over to meet us. A very nice fellow. I greeted him in Spanish, and he started talking to me in Spanish. Well, needless to say, I didn't understand. So when I told him, he started speaking English. While we were visiting, I told him about the man I had seen the night before standing outside the living room window at one a.m. He went outside and talked to one of the guards that was passing by. Sure enough it had been him. Evidently it is time for the sea turtles to come ashore and lay their eggs, and some other fellows had come in to steal them. So he and the other guards were looking for them. This area is privately owned and has guards on duty 24 hours a day. That's nice to know except when you see someone at your window in the middle of the night. And the reason that I was up was that Paul's ipod started blaring, and I got up to turn it off. The electricity had gone off, and we thought that was the reason for the ipod doing its thing, but who knows or cares at this point in time. Anyway, Leticia and I had decided that the guy outside the window was probably a guard and maybe had heard the ipod blaring and had come up to check it out. But it was nice to find out the real reason that he was there. And there is not much privacy in Central America. Windows and doors are open all the time during the day unless it's really hot, and the people have air conditioning, and we did have air conditioning. Also the curtains we had only half covered the windows, and they were transparent. So there are not many secrets. Make sure you dress in the bathroom because someone may cut through your yard right next to your windows!

I don't know much about southern constellations. Definitely couldn't see the Big Dipper. So I have to check this out. But the stars were bright and beautiful and reminded me of God's promise to Abraham. God would bless him, and multiply his seed as the stars of heaven. And then when I walked the beach the same promise was given concerning the sand which is on the sea shore. We can't count the number of stars or the grains of sand on the sea shores. Therefore, we can't count Abraham's descendants. I'm just thankful that I am one. God's promises are real. And whether or not we can see them with our physical eyes, we see them with eyes of faith. Abraham didn't see the promises fulfilled before he died, but the day is coming when he will. Our God is faithful. And the things He has promised us will come to pass in His time and His way. Praise be to the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and to His only begotten son Jesus Christ.

Ps.23:1 The LORD is my shepherd...

Today was graduation for three students. Each will be going to different places. One will return to the states, one goes back to Mexico, and the other will stay here in Costa Rica. So now we have three weeks vacation. It could not have come at a better time for me. You ever get that feeling that enough is enough? Well, that's where I was yesterday. So it's time for a break, not from the language, of course, but from classes.

One family will be returning to the states for the break, and the other family will be entertaining family and friends from the states. Leticia and I will have a chance to go to the beach for a few days at no expense. That's a gift from God! I met a missionary and her family a couple of weeks ago, and they offered their cabin at the beach or the one in the mountains to us. And they are taking us there and will return to bring us back home. What a blessing! I like the mountains, but Leticia lives near the ocean in Chile, and I don't think she has been to the beach since arriving here in January. So that will be a good thing for the both of us.

Last weekend several of us went to Manuel Antonio and spent the night there. (When someone or two someones want to go somewhere, they always ask others if they would like to go also because it's so much cheaper for everybody). We woke up to monkeys chattering and swinging through the trees. Awesome to see them in their own habitat doing what is normal for them. We went to the beach the afternoon that we arrived there and went back to the beach the next morning. They all love the beach! I, however sat under the big umbrella and read! But I did go out on the banana boat with them. It was fun. It's this big air filled thing that looks like a banana that is pulled through the water by a motor boat. You sit astraddle the banana and hold on to a strap in front of you. It carried six of us. Of course the big "thrill" is when the boat does a uuey and dumps everybody in the ocean. Now, I'm not a good swimmer, but we all were wearing life jackets. I was wondering how in the world am I going to get back on that thing. So along comes Alicia and grabs my jacket and away we go. Much faster than me doing it on my own! Now grabbing hold of that strap, and trying to throw your leg over the banana(like getting on a horse, only there is no firm ground under your feet!) with it bouncing up and down in the water is a sight to behold, I'm sure. Thank the Lord that one of the workers was there helping everybody to get back on the thing. Goodness, the things I do! And then ask myself what am I doing here??? But it was fun. But once is enough. Just like climbing that mountain in Honduras. Once will do it for all time.

So hows the language? Tough! I have an 88% in all except for the oral section, which is 61%. So hopefully they are changing my placement next tri to put me where I need to be. I have been in the 3rd trimester sections ever since being here. That's not the best place to be when first starting out. So here's hoping...

A person really learns to say hi and good-bye on the mission field, especially here, because people are coming in and leaving every time a tri begins and ends and sometimes in the middle of one. So I remember one of my middle school students that would never say good-bye at the end of the day. Always she would say "See you later, Ms Blumer" because to her good-bye meant forever. So I really did adopt that from her, especially being here. When we were talking about this yesterday, Olivia, 10 years old, said, "Yea, but we're never going to see them again."
And I told her that she really didn't know that because we don't know where God will send us or who we will see. It's very possible to see these missionaries again. So I have learned to say"see you later."

So I guess it's time to say, See you later.
Dios le Bendiga