Never a Dull Moment

January 7-So I’ve been studying Spanish a lot, but putting it into practice is another story. I didn’t think it would be so difficult to even just try to start up a conversation. I’m already socially awkward in English (sorry Joe, no red shoes here), it’s pretty crazy when I’m attempting to speak another language!  I really need to just go for it more often.  It’s not like I’m fooling anyone. “Whoa, you’re not a Tica?! Weird! I totally couldn’t tell before until you opened your mouth!”  I did try Sunday after church and had a short conversation with a girl named Pricilla who goes to the youth group, then a bit with her mom who then told me I needed to practice Spanish more!

Anyways, it’s been cool to see God use things here in Costa Rica that I’d never thought I use.  In high school, I took a lot of computer classes, mainly because I refuse to take chorus and despite what most of you might think, I have the coordination of a 5 year old so more gym classes wasn’t on the top of my list of electives.  Anyways, I took these computer courses and never imagined I would actually ever use what I learned (along with anything else I learned in high school...)  But now, Brooke has me more or less designing and creating these books (for lack of a better description, they are a lot like AWANA books) on Publisher. How awesome is God!  I’ve already finished the first book, and start on the second one today!

January 9: The other day were able to go with Brooke and deliever uniforms for the kids who are in the Potter's Field program. It was really neat to be able to meet there family's, even if we didn't understand them. The people here are so hospitable. Like, in the States, we'd probably just say hi and drop the stuff off.  But at every house, we went in, talked, had to sit down, were offered food and drinks, etc. 

Also, I finally convinced Sarah to go running with me on the beach, and I tried to stab a scorpian that just crawled out of our sink. I think that might be my spiritual gift...killing insects and whatnot with common household objects. I'm getting pretty good at it.  Maybe if God ever opens the door for Uganda, I'll take down the LRA with some clorox and a swifer duster or something...

So I figured out today that when I listen to Pastor Phil teach in Spanish, I can understand probably 2/3 or what he’s saying. It’s just when the Tico’s speak that it goes over my head. Especially Don Victor because he doesn’t understand that Sarah and I don’t speak Spanish and speaks to us as if we’re fluent. Pastor Phil says that he really just doesn’t get it. How are we suppose to understand them when-it’s-like-talking-like-this-except-harder-because-this-is-written-and-in-english-and-this-is-how-they-talk-kinda-like-Paul-where-he-just-rambels-and-you’re-like-whoa-take-a-breath-dude.

This afternoon, Sarah found a scorpion in the sink. The knife was the closest thing to me, so I tried to stab it a few times, but it went deep into the drain. Far enough to be unable to reach it but close enough to where we can see it not want to sleep that night. Then, after Bible study we got home and there was one on the wall. I’m not sure whether it was the same one, but I grabbed my broom (Is it weird that just then “Eye of the Tiger” started playing in my head. For real) and smacked it. This one was a little messier than the first.  It tried climbing higher then when I got it to the ground it tried to come towards me so I hit it hard. Its guts kind of were spilling out but it was still alive, so I swept it out of the house and smacked it again until it died. Sarah supportively watched from a chair in the kitchen ha ha. Afterwards she said she felt bad for it (I think she got that from you Mrs. Storm ;]) so I told her she could get rid of the next one. Needless to say, she’s ok if I keep taking care of them.
Pastor Steve and Pastor John-I learned invaluable lessons at Potter’s Field, but I think you should add a knife throwing course in with one of the modules. (Oh yeah also, Cortney and I met a very nice man in Whitefish before I left who said he would give us a discount if some interns wanted to learn quilting. That’d be cool too.) Or, if that’s too much you could just let me teach interns my new martial art. I call it Broom Shanking. It’s a work in progress.