Lesson from the Old to New

Is anyone else as excited this season as I am? I mean really. Let me review all the exciting things from the month of November.  First, Taylor Swift just came out with a new album, it is full of more pop-culture songs that remind me I am 20 years old and make me want to bust a move! In other news, I am a week or so away from hitting month 4 of life in Costa Rica!! It has been a crazy ride. I have made many friends, I have been hurt, loved, learned and experienced God in every single relationship. Also, I am about to fly to Honduras and grab another stamp in my Passport!!!

I have been reflecting on this semester away from home and really do think that I have encountered things here in this community that I would't have in Atascadero. That has created learning experiences that I wouldn't have had in Atascadero and this is worth this whole semester. To be totally honest, there have been a lot of messy relationships here at Portantorchas. There has been a lot of hurt, a lot of restoration, and a lot of learning.

What would have made this semester better? A lot of things. But, I think I would have given up a lot of wisdom and knowledge if it were the "perfect" semester. The current lesson I am learning as the semester ends is summarized in this question: Am I willing to take my hurt and my frustration and thank God for it? Along with that, will I see all the good, all the lovely, all the blessing, and focus on that? Any time I have a relationship in this world, I have the chance of being hurt and I think that is a reality that I will encounter for the rest of my life. But, every relationship has the chance to bless me. Every relationship at Port has blessed me and shown me God in a new way.

And, now as I think about leaving Port to a new unknown, I am thankful for all you who read this blog and are praying for me wherever you may be. I am leaving in a weak-ish (Nov 30th) to an orphanage in Honduras called Orphanage Emmanuel (I will be there from Nov. 30th until January 30th). I have no idea what to expect, what capacity I will be serving in, or how God will use me, but I am in expectancy of what God will do in my life and hopefully the lives of some of the children at the orphanage.

Please be praying for the following:

• Safety in traveling both to and from the orphanage. 
• New and meaningful relationships to form between myself and the other volunteers/staff and children.
• Health and safety in the months I am living at the orphanage.
• One close friend to walk through the experience with at the orphanage.
• The chance to see God in new ways. 
• That my Spanish will improve greatly while I am there, and that my lack of Spanish won't hinder what I need to communicate. 

Thank you all for your love and support. I may not be able to update the blog until February, so if I can't, enjoy your Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and I will be thinking of you! 

Check out the orphanage at this address: http://orphanageemmanuelhn.weebly.com

Missions Trip Pictures

When was the last time you looked a blog for pictures? Well, here is your chance. Enjoy.

I will write what the picture is about right below the pictures.

This is Shawny. She is a sweet little 1st grader. We become great friends. I miss her! 

Shawny and I colored together. She thrived on the attention. 

Bracelet making with Shawny.

I helped with the Mural at the high school mostly mixing paints, going over the outline, and writing the verse on the wall. It was a beautiful thing. 

The verse on the wall says that all the heavens are filled with God's glory and proclaims the work of His hands, so all the color was filled in with our hands and the student's hands from he school. 

Kayce and I. Love that girl!

The finished product!!!

The students that helped with our team. 

Games at the high school were a success! 

Some neighbors from the church, also a very typical yard and house from this community.

Grant, Mia, and I were the sign helpers for Mario. We really had great fellowship making that sign! 

Thanks for all the support from everyone that got me to this place. I am blessed by these opportunities. 

Blessings!

Missions Trips and Updates

This week is coming to an end, I hope it was a great week for you as it was for me. This week I have been recovering from the missions trip that we went on the week before this. I wrote towards the beginning of my time here at Portantorchas about a missions trip scouting project I went on for a weekend. Well, we took the week-long version of that trip with all the students and it was one huge success! I wish I had the pictures to show you, but I don't yet.

The trip as a whole was focused around building relationships with the community. I think that both the community and our group were ready and willing to make that happen. Costa de Pajaros may be the most hospitable place I have ever been to as well. The first night we arrived in Costa de Pajaros the high school drum line flooded the street and they performed for about 20 minutes for us. Also, the church moved their service to the evening -- just for us. We never made food for ourselves, the schools or church fed us every day every meal. It was truly an inspiring time.

I was apart of the ministry for the fishermen. There are four months that the government does not allow fishing in Costa Rica. We were in Costa de Pajaros during the last week of this restriction. It was like the town was radiating energy in excitement to be able to fish again. Part of the excitement was that the town had a game of pick up soccer on one of the last afternoons with out fishing. So, we brought a traditional dessert and coffee to the beach where they were playing, some students played with them, and then we handed out refreshments and Bibles to the fishermen and their families after they played. After, our staff leader said that some of the fishermen told him this was the first time someone had come to them and blessed them like that. The men and women both were also very open to receiving Bibles and we gave out every last one that we brought.

Our whole week was characterized by this type of interaction and it was a blessing. Also, there was a lot of things going on with wild life (seriously huge scorpions!!) so there were plenty of chances to rely on God in every which way. I will post some pictures as soon as I have them ready.

In other news, I leave in less than a month for Honduras. I am feeling more sure that this will be a very defining experience for me. Please continue to pray for safe travels and health as I go and spend time in that environment. Also, please pray that I can find a female staff or volunteer that I really connect with and brush hearts with.

Finally, I have an amazing friend here at school who is practically a professional photographer and she took some pictures of me just for fun before leaving for the missions trip. Here is one of some of the girls and then one of me.

Isn't she awesome!? Also, our campus is pretty awesome too, I think it looks like a back drop for one of those cheesy school pictures -- except real!

These are the newest things at Port and with me. Wish there were more, but that's about it. 

We'll talk soon :)

Erin