Sin Descanso

I realize that I am a little bit behind, but I can't wait for you guys to see all the amazing things that have happened over the past two weeks.  The groups that have been working here have been amazing!!  They have worked very hard and really know what they are doing...not that the past groups didn't know what they were doing, but the last two groups that I worked with had people who did these types of things for a living, and so it made work go much more quickly, and the progress has been amazing!  I am learning so much about what it truly means to use your gifts and talents to serve the Lord, and I have just been blown away by the people I have met this summer!
Last week we had a group from Douglasville, GA here!!  They were so much fun.  Plus it gave me a little taste of home!  We worked on the church...painting, sanding,demolition, MORE digging and beginning the third story floor for the new kitchen/youth building.

Inside - before the madness

Outside - before the madness

Outside - releasing stress :)

What wall?

Cleaning up the wall off of the floor! :)

Third story floor beginnings

Digging, digging and more digging

Hector and Les using their expert skills

These guys really took care of us this week!  Les even got me some Dial soup and icecream...I think it was because he felt sorry for me because I got so excited about Dial soup, but really, I have been looking for it since I arrived and you would have thought it was gold or diamonds or something when I saw it!! I guess he thought that anyone who got that excited about soup really needed it! haha! This group was so much fun!  They really knew how to have a good time while working super hard.  Even though I was the brunt of many jokes, I had a great week with these guys!

This week we had a group from South Carolina come, and man, I just couldn't believe how much work this team accomplished!  There were even two men, Junior and Luis, who stayed back in Alajuela on the group's free day to finish more work.  They opted out of going zip lining so that they could work more at the house.  They were one of the most hard working, knowledgeable, organized groups I have ever seen!  I have a few pictures, but I did a lot of store and food runs this week, so I didn't get much down time to take pictures.  I also do not have pictures from the end of the week, so I will add those when I go back to the house in the next couple of days!  Here is what I have though:

Pam cheesin' and making sure Chris is putting everything together right! haha

The garden ladies...wow! Erin and Molly made this place look amazing!  I will get a picture soon!  You won't believe the transformation!

Christy working hard on her birthday!

 

I know you don't believe this, but I dug dirt this week! :D

They even made Daniela work...haha kinda!

Luis and Junior leaving for their "free day" work at the house

God continues to teach me and guide me as I am here.  These last two weeks God has really been pressing in and teaching me what it means to really surrender to His will even when I don't know exactly what it is.  It is hard taking each step without seeing what is in front of you, but right now that is what God is calling me to do and in order to be the best witness and vessel I can be for Him I have to do it...no matter how hard.  Please continue to pray that God would give affirmation and direction, but more than that, that He would give peace and faith in following Him without reservation.

I have also learned how important it is to rest!  This is something that our Costa Rican brothers and sisters really understand...but we Americans have a hard time believing that it is necessary.  This week Dougy (brother), Danny (brother), Ariel (friend of the family) and Gary (friend of the family) worked at the house with us one day.  After lots of hard work, the boys were sitting outside on the sidewalk, so I decided to join them.  Our conversation turned into a rock throwing match...Danny and I against Ariel and Dougy.  It was such a nice little break during the day and we even got some of the people from the team to join in!

Me, Danny, Dougy, and Ariel

I also had the amazing opportunity to spend some time with a friend of the family, Beja Turner, this week.  She was here with a program through Duke University and decided to stay an extra week and do some mission work!  She was such a blessing!  We ate, worked, slept and played together for a whole week.  She also made me slow down for siesta time and just time to fellowship.  The people on the teams fell in love with her, and she really just made the week so much more enjoyable.  We don't have any pictures except for the last day of us running to the hotel to catch the bus so they wouldn't leave us....again...really! haha!  I love you Beja.  Thank you for all you did this week! Thank you also to Patrick and Angelea for allowing your daughter to have such an amazing experience and allowing me to share in it!  I love you guys!

Man, we look goofy!  I promise I am laughing...not in pain!

Thank you again for all of your prayers and encouragement as I continue to seek the face of God in this journey.  Please continue to pray both for me and my family.  We are all learning how to let go and let God take control, and sometimes it is not very easy, but God continues to bring blessings and guidance thanks to the many people who are praying and supporting this call.  I love you all so much and am so thankful that God has blessed me with such AMAZING friends and family!