Solo en Dios encuentro paz.... Salmos 62:5

This week, although it was my week of rest, was one of the hardest weeks I have had since I have been to Costa Rica.  When the "music fades" and everything around you slows down it is much easier to stop and think...what in the world am I doing?!?!  But it is in those times of questioning that God really does come to the rescue.  I know in the past my posts have just kind of kept you up to date with the happenings here in Costa Rica and have been giving a little insight into where God is leading and what He is doing in my heart.  This week the "happenings" have been a little different...a little more internal.  So, I don't know how personal you all want to get with what God is doing in my heart, but I am going to be a little more transparent this week, and for those of you who know me well, you know that this is not an easy thing.  This week I felt very attacked and confused about why I am here and what exactly God is doing in my life and in the lives of the people here through me.  I questioned what talent or gifts I have to offer in this place, and what I could possibly do without someone else giving direction.  For the past two months I have been serving the Lord through construction, coffee making, friendship building, and in one day it seemed like all of that was over, and I was sitting in my room alone wondering what to do next.  I just felt a little lost.  In addition, I had a few disappointing conversations and a few disappointing non-conversations (conversations that were supposed to happen that never did).  I just felt defeated and somewhat useless.
Although my situation has not changed (I still don't know what the next steps are, where I am going to live, what I am going to do...), God has changed my outlook and attitude.  After a couple of encouraging conversations with some lovely, Godly people and many prayers and tears, God restored peace and hope in what I saw as a disappointing situation.
This week God closed doors to places and opportunities that He didn't want me to follow.  My eyes were clouded by my inability to see the big picture, but God, through the affirmation of those I love, reminded me that when I follow He leads and He has never led me into a situation that I couldn't handle with His strength.
I have a few more meetings coming up this week...one with some of the people from Pura Vida Missions - the mission organization that first brought me to Costa Rica 5 years ago! :)  I am very excited about what God is doing and how He is pointing me to new opportunities and closing doors to places He is not calling (even though it might be a little painful at times).  Please continue to pray against Satan's attacks.  Pray that I would continue to trust in where God is leading and where God is calling me to stay away.  Pray that God would reveal to me the talents and gifts that He has given me for this specific purpose in serving here in Costa Rica and that He would reveal to me how to use them for His glory and honor.  Also, please pray for my relationships here.  Pray that God would teach me how to build relationships through language and cultural barriers and teach me how to serve and love with patience and kindness.  The kind of love and service that 1 Corinthians 13 talks about.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support.  I can't put into words how encouraging and uplifting it is to know that there are people praying for each step I take. I love you all so much!  Here are a few pictures of my week off:

Me, Josue and Dougy

Dougy was a little tired.  We woke him up early this day...I don't know like 11:30 or something! :) haha...Dougy, I love you!

Dougy, Josue and Brayan

Brayan and Josue stayed with us at the church for a couple of weeks, but went back to their home in San Isidro about 3 hours away at the beginning of the week.  We had fun making milk shakes (well, I made milk shakes and they drank them), playing guitars, and just hanging out a little before they had to go back home.

Isaac and Michael reading Bait of Satan in Spanish

For those of you who don't know this is my favorite book right now.  I bought a few copies for people back home after I read it because I liked it so much.  Just recently I found that they also have the book in Spanish, so I bought a couple more copies and had Mom and Dad send them to me.  This morning when I  went downstairs Isaac and Michael were reading the copy that I gave Michael and looking up the verses from the chapter they were reading in the Bible....it really just touched my heart!  Michael is one of my favorite people here in Costa Rica!  He has been cleaning the church 3 days a week with Isaac and since I am living in the church we have become very good friends.  He and Isaac both have such a heart and passion for the Lord and I am so glad for their friendships!

Dinner on Friday

I also have had to start learning how to cook in Costa Rica...it is a little different and by a little I mean completely different!  Now that there are no groups here I am on my own for meals...well kind of on my own :)  For the first few days I was eating peanut butter and jelly or cereal at every meal, but when my friend Jonathan saw this we went back to the grocery store so he could teach me how to Costa Rica "ramen noodle" shop!  We found some pretty inexpensive ways to not eat peanut butter and jelly everyday, and he taught me how to make some yummy Costa Rican foods.  I am still learning, but this was our first attempt and it was delicious...probably because he made it all and I just watched, but soon I'll know what I am doing! ;)

I was also able to go to a daycare center this week where another missionary here works.  The children were beautiful and super sweet.  Here are a few of the pictures I took:

Pictures of the children

Chalkboard - Wow! I haven't seen one of those in a while!

Margaret in the middle is the missionary...she has been here 40 years!

I found this very interesting.  Each of the children has a tooth brush that they keep at school to brush their teeth after lunch each day.

Sink with tooth brushes

These are some of the answered prayers that the children had

There wasn't any food and now there is :)

Nap time!

And here are some pictures of the progress that happened at the house over the past couple of weeks:

Daniela's old room....now with no wall!

New kitchen/laundry room area downstairs being started

Window above stairs

Upstairs hallway

Window above stairs from outside

And I found this picture on Dougy's facebook and thought it might be interesting to compare!  This is a picture of the house before the groups came this summer:

Before

This was taken about 3 weeks ago, so there is even more progress since then, but it is the latest from the outside that I could find...wow!

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support.  None of this would be possible without you all!  I love you!