6/28 English Class

The McClain family left yesterday for the States for a month. It's going to be so different not having them here, and we're really going to miss them!


Don Victory praying over the McClains at Las Manos Del Alfarero



Natalie and I are now teaching the English class. I had done the class without Matt before, but I was a little nervous about planning what the kids were going to do and how well they would do.  But, by the grace of God, it was a great day.  We started off with a song, then Daniel and I explained to them how to play bingo.  We gave them little game boards that I made that had different body parts on it.  Then we had them draw a little card that had a picture of the parts of the body and they had to say it in English and find it on their boards. We had gone over body parts in the song, and they guessed a lot. But by the second Bingo game, the kids were all into it and kept wanting to play it. After a few games, Daniel decided that using Dennis works better then the little cards, so if the word was leg, he lifted poor Daniel up and had the kids say what it was. It was so funny! The second game we did I stole from AWANA's.  I remember when I was still helping out at AWANA's, they played this game where the leader would shout north or south and the kids would have to run to that wall, and the last one had to sit out.  I had the kids stand in a line facing me, and asked them which was the left side and the right side. Then I called out left or right and the kids would go running.  It was really fun mixing it up, like calling the other side before they all reached one so that they're constantly running.  It reminded me of gym class in high school... But the kids loved it! They kept wanting to play it over and over (these kids LOVE to run!). I don't think I've laughed so hard since I've been here watching the kids.  At one point, Gustavo (the little ball of fire) was running then stopped and laid down in the rocks. I feel accomplished ;)

"eyes and ears and mouth and nose, head shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes!"

Ivan and Edy

Left! Right! Left! Right!

Hokey Pokey

Witnessing in Tamarindo

This Saturday, Justine and I went out with Corrie and Eddy in Tamarindo.  We went to the beach then walked around looking for a surfboard for Corrie. At one shop, he got to talking with a man named Pablo. The conversation went from surfboards to Pablo advising Corrie how to pick up girls. But Corrie explained that he was a missionary and loves Jesus and doesn’t sleep aroudn with women. Then the man right away started talking about religion, how God is everywhere, and that if you are good you will go to heaven etc. I almost started laughing about how God turned that conversation around and provided an open door. Corrie and I jumped right in. We probably talked to him for a good half hour before he seemed to want to leave. But it was interesting the things that he said. He was talking about his ancestors preformed human sacrifices and how that was ok. After explaining that that was murder, he defended it saying that was the culture, and you can’t just go in and try to change the culture. I looked behind me and made eye contact with Justine at that point- here is a chance to live out practically something we specifically learned at the Ranch. After another 10 minutes or so, the conversation ended but Corrie told the man that he would take him out to lunch sometime and go surfing together. But it was encouraging to see the Holy Spirit work. I have the hardest time memorizing Scripture (which is no excuse for anyone), but as we talked to this man, it all came back. With each thing that he said, a verse (or at least something to say) would come to mind.  That was definitely God.
So please pray for Pablo and an open door for Corrie to speak into his life!God is so good!

I Threw My Husband Away in a Speghetti Strainer

I've been really bad about keeping up with this since I've been sick, but here's a quick recap.  The McClain's are leaving for the States ( :[ ) so the three of us will be staying in their house. We're still going to do PFK, but it's going to be a little different.  Natalie and I are going to be teaching the English class now.  I've done it once by myself before and it went really well, so I'm excited. 

This is a video Justine took during one of the storms.  This is what happens in our freetime

all wet after my umbrella broke and we had to run to the church :)

kickball at the plaza!



Emerson, Julian, Elias, Rodrigo, Daniel, Gabriel and Correy

Add caption

My "prince" (justine's words not mine) who came and attacked my pillow while I was sleeping

Anways, a few prayer requests:

-Justine and I have been sick

-teaching next week

-learning Spanish

Sustaining Grace

What is sustain grace?
Not grace to bar what is not bliss
Nor flight from all distress, but this:
The grace that orders our trouble and pain
And then in the darkness is there to sustain.
-John Piper

God has been doing some great things this week. I almost missed it getting so caught up in the craziness that is my life, but God is good and was working through difficult circumstances. I read in my devotions in Acts, verses 8-11 say, “Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.” This man, though crippled from birth, had enough faith to stand up. But it wasn’t just his faith that healed him, but God using that faith to do something for his glory. So many are content to sit on the side of the road in the dirt. But if we’d just have that faith to stand when he calls us, what could God do through us? I’m sure most of us struggling as much as this man had in his life- never being able to walk and so being forced to rely on family and friends for everything, and yet when Paul said rise, he sprang up! Honestly, this week I didn’t want to stand up. I was content to sit in the dirt and worry and be anxious. But thankfully God is rich in mercy and grace and wouldn’t let me. But I’ll get to that in a second.

If you keep going on in Acts 14, Paul gets dragged out of the city and stoned. Verse 20 says, “But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city…” I have such small faith. Even death cannot thwart His purposes! God’s will will be done. What more can I do then plead that my will be lost in His. My trust is in Him through this all.

So despite this crazy week, I went to club (as often as my body allowed. I, as well as Justine, have bad colds) and I was really blessed that I did. Every moment with these kids is precious.

Natalie, Justine, the McClains and I got to the church Tuesday and started our normal routine of setting up for Las Manos Del Alfarero. Then the rain started to pour. I don't think I've ever seen it rain so hard. As the kids started to show up, we all stood in the front area watching the rain with a few kids (and Justine ;]) ventured out. Soon the street was flooded and a steady, strong stream of water came down from the drain pipe. Before I knew it, almost all the kids were playing in the water and pushing each other into the stream of water coming from the roof (still including Justine ha ha). I'm not sure who planted the idea first (my guess from later actions it was Yoel, Tamara and Gabriella) but soon the kids came after me. I had no defense against the pack of children dragging me into the water. It became a huge water fight and pretty much everyone got drenched- Natalie, Matt, Brooke and even Don Victor!

Joel

Attacking Don Victor

They're stronger than they look...really

Everyone was DRENCHED

That same night was the first time that Gabriella actually was comfortable enough to joke around with me. And tonight as well I got to kid around with her. She's opening up :) Praise Jesus!  One girl, Rosiris, tonight really surprised me. We only see this group of kids every other week so I haven't gotten to interact with her much, especially since I've been sick a lot. But she wanted me to play with her and refused to let me leave. Then she insisted that I HAD to sit with her for dinner and play with only her again afterwards. THEN (yes, there’s more :]) on Thursday one of the PFK girls, Natalia, who is usually extremely shy and introverted, opened up and kept trying to tickle me and grab me (which she probably learned from the boys.) This even surprised Matt and Brooke. It was such a joy to see her smile and laugh and play around instead of sitting quietly and watching from the sidelines.

I am so thankful to God for putting me here with the kids. It’s been on my heart since I’ve gotten here to be completely focused here during my time in Costa Rica, and not get distracted. So the Enemy is throwing out things left and right. Please pray for endurance for all 3 of us as well as all the sickness to go away.

God is good, all the time.

Desert Song

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

You make beautiful things out of the dust

I found this song this morning and fell in love with it.  It's a really simple song. I guess listen to it first, then I'll continue...

Real simple right? But there is so much hope and beauty in that!  I love it, especially being part of Potter's Field Ministries and having seen Pastor Mike's presentation.  The picture of taking up plain, hard, ugly clay and being molded and constructed into something beautiful.  I remember this one time when we were evangelizing (it was actually in Tamarindo) and I was sharing this gospel with this lady.  As I started talking about man's fallen nature, she got defensive and kept telling me over and over how I was an angel, that I was perfect and couldn't be this wretched sinful creature deserving the wrath of God.  As she tried to convince me that I truly was a good person, I felt tears well in my eyes, my heart sink and my stomach drop.  That's because just the opposite is true.  From birth I was fully deserving eternity in hell.  I was one who stood on the side of the road cursing at Christ as he walked holding the cross.  I'm guilty of nailing his hands and piercing his side.  There's a Paul Washer sermon that I've listened to over and over.  In it he says that the greatest act of faith is not raising someone from the dead, but for a man to look into the mirror of God's Word and see his sin, and yet believe that God loves us how He says He does.  Because I'm not a victim in chains.  I'm not a little lost sheep.  I am a vile, wretched, God hating criminal and he, JESUS, bought me not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood!

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Willingly, he has drawn this wretched person into his embracing arms and has removed my heart of stone.  I am but dust, yet God is making something beautiful.  And this is not because I did anything great or deserving of it. He has done it for His glory!
"Hope is springing up from this old ground.  Out of chaos, life is being found in You." Praise God that he would choose to have any good come from me through Christ!  And though I so often am found looking back at what I was, I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


You make me new, You are making me new

Is not our God amazing?  Praise Jesus! 
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

6/10

Natalie is now with us and is doing great :) I love her boldness in trying to reach out to the people here.  She has only been studying Spanish for a month or so I believe, but that hasn't slowed her down one bit!  If you've read anything from the first time I came to Costa, I got discouraged as I couldn't understand the kids or I would make a mistake etc.

But this is Natalie we're talking about. This girl does not slow down!

We were sitting in the church with the kids before eating.  Don Victor asked the kids something and one of the boys across from Natalie said, "yo yo yo yo!" meaning "I".  Natalie looks over at him and says all cool like, "Yo!" as in "what's up."  I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! She is so sweet! When I explained that was not what Julian was saying she just laughed and kept trying to talk to the kids. I'm pretty sure she went up to each kid and asked them what their name was and introduced herself. Soemtimes she got a little mixed up and kept saying to the kids, "Mi nombre es" instead of "Como se llama?" and they would look at me confused.  Now, I'm not making fun of  Natalie in ANY way! I love her heart and her boldness! Plus, I called Don Juan cute when I meant to tell him he was kind, and have mixed up sooo many words!

Justine has been doing really great as well.  She has a way of connecting with the kids without speaking in Spanish.  Plus, she's killed more cockroaches in 3 weeks then I have in all my time put together!

Lastly, I just wanted to ask for prayer.  I've been sick the past few days and I am soooo ready for it to be over! It's so frustrating missing time with the kids when there's only a few weeks left!!  The other night I had to leave and started walking home and a few of the kids called out my name. I almost started crying!  I ended up going back because I really wanted to be with the kids. I snuck in and the kids had split into groups. I usually go with Matt and the older kids so I grabbed a chair and joined them. Yoel, who is a boy I've been praying for and acts up a lot (like he's trying to be older then he is), grabbed his chair and scooted next to me and said said "Meekala!" and gave me a big smile :)

I think being sick all the time has been from the enemy. It's so ridiculous!  Tuesday, Matt split up the kids for English class and took half and I was with the other half while Justine and Natalie were in the kitchen.  I've never worked with the kids by myself, but it was a lot of fun and I think it went really well. Sofia told me that my Spanish is getting really good ha ha.  Neysi, who is Gabriella's little sister and is like her in her quietness and unwillingness to participate, surprised me.  When Matt rejoineed the two groups together to sing a song, the majority sat down and didn't want to do it.  I looked over and Neysi and lightly with a smile and almost jokingly told her to come stand next to me.  And, without protest, she got up and stood next to me and did the song!  I was so shocked! God is doing some awesome things!

Life In Costa Rica

Bible Club!

The Vargas family! Victor and Sylvia and their kids Daniel, Dennis and Sofia

Justine helping out making meals for the kids

  

Weird giant spider/scorpian looking that the Don Victor found

Natalie sitting in on her first day at Las Manos del Alfarero

We sang Por Siempre (Forever) and Loco Por Mi Rey (Undignified)

This is from a storm we had about a week ago and the streets were flooding!

Rodrigo the giant flying cockroach

6/5-6/6

6/5


I got to play and do worship with Alex and Daniel for church. It’s always a huge blessing, but very stretching as well. For those who didn’t know me before the first time I went to Costa Rica, Alex almost never has chords or even lyrics. And now he works until 5 on Sundays which is when church starts (and by starts I mean people are just starting to show up :]) so we just kind of jumped right in. But it just makes me rely on the Holy Spirit even more. It’s getting a little easier. If Alex plays in the key of G, I’m use to it enough that I don’t have to watch to see the chord progression, I can just follow. He told me that next Sunday he’s leading at Beach Community Church (the English speaking church) and if Josh (the worship leader there) doesn’t end up doing worship (sorry for lots of parenthesis, I am NOT a very good writer ha ha. Anyways, he’s the worship leader there) Alex wants me to play. I’m starting to get that he doesn’t realize that I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing!

 This picture is a little older, but that's Alex and Daniel

6/6
I was reading in my devotions in Acts this morning and found something really cool : ) It’s right after Peter heals a lame man. Acts 4 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What she we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
God had preformed a miracle using Peter and John and the Council couldn’t deny it. They had seen the man standing before them! Now, it would be awesome to be used by God in a way just like that, yet each Christian can still have such an impact. Which is more miraculous, a lame man healed, or a sinful creature deserving the full wrath of God (that’s me) being declared forgiven? We are dead men walking! What is more amazing than that? The blind having sight, the crippled rising to their feet, the lepers healing have nothing on this! How great is it having been the “prodigal son” but having had my life so radically changed that when people see what Christ has done they can also say “we cannot deny it.” Soli deo Gloria!

addition

Hey also I guess in addition, please pray for Justine, she's slept most of the day.  She's just been really tired lately. I mean, I don't know why, I even let her sleep in her own bed last night ;] (If that doesn't make any sense, you'll have to read Justine's blog ha ha.)  Anyways, it's really hot and it's easy to be tired a lot. Thanks!

6/4

6/4


I threw a snowball at Justine. I feel very accomplished : )

There was a lot that I wanted to write, but I can never remember anything if I don’t write it down right away...that's probably why these posts can be so weird. They're what go through my mind during the day but things I probably wouldn’t say outloud. Weird. Anyways...

I’ve been really blessed the past couple days. Just little things here and there. Like I saw Tamara for the first time this Thursday at Bible Club, and she ran up to me and called me name and gave me a big hug : ) Also, when we split off into groups, I was with Matt and the older kids. They paid attention and did verses for what seemed like maybe 5 minutes before they started going crazy, but there was one boy who was focused the whole time and kept coming up to me to say verses in the midst of the chaos. It was amazing to see one of the kids really want to learn more of God’s Word. I also had a chance to hang out with the McClains and Rebecca and her kids at the beach. It was funny I was facing the ocean standing in the water and Audrey grabbed onto me from behind. Then all at once Isabelle, Eden and Ezekiel are all behind me clinging to my arms, legs and waist. I confidently said, “I am like a tree planted by streams of water, I shall not be mov-“ then got hit by a wave and knocked over by the 4 children :)

Last night Brooke was talking about how she hates bugs and how difficult it was when she first got here (Costa Rica is not the place you want to be if you're scared of bugs I've found out) but how God has helped her through that fear. I remember she told Sarah and I how she saw a scorpion next to her and went all Rambo on it and just cut it in half. That's so crazy! And the other night, Matt shared with me a little about their life before Costa Rica and how they ended up here. I was thinking today about how both of them are a great example of faithfulness. Not only having to move your family and learn a new language for a completely different culture filled with many..."surprises", but also to have friends, co-workers, family and even some in the church telling you your crazy.  Yet they were obedient despite that and did what God has set before them.  Likewise, we all have to walk in this way, because Jesus has called us to pick up our cross and follow him no matter what the cost. How seriously do we take that?

I hope to have that obedience. When Sarah and I were here, we went through this book called “Christ Indwelling and Enthroned” (can’t remember who it’s by…probably some “old dead British guy” ;]) with Pastor Phil. In it he talked about being completely surrendered to the will of Christ and the fruit from it (which is also evident in the McClains). He said something like, “He alone can confidently expect victory who has submitted unreservedly and irrevocably to the Lordship of Christ.” There are many who “gladly take life from Christ but stubbornly refuse to take law from him. He is hailed as Savior but ignored as Sovereign…His Saviorhood is gladly welcomed, but He Himself is banished to some backroom of the heart, while Self fills the throne which is His by purchased right.”

Do I reserve myself the right to have my own way in some things? If he indeed is Lord of my heart, my attitude will be one of glad, thankful and entire submission. “All arms of rebellion must be laid at his feet and the throne of the heart abdicated in His favor.”  And this submission and surrender...don't think like it's some great thing you are doing for God or giving to Him.  It is His in the first place.

And all of this sounds pretty intense, yet I LOVE that when in Matthew Jesus says "Pray like this", he starts out with “Our father.” This is how we are suppose to pray, not addressing him as God or Lord or Savior, but we are to call out as His children to our Father :] What a blessing. And through it all, His grace is sufficient for us!

My day thus far: Got to the church this morning and Pastor Phil asked me to run to go to the store and make some copies of a paper for the church while Justine helped Rebecca out. He said that I could take his bike which was over at his house. Here are some things you need to know before I continue.

1. I haven’t ridden a bike in years
2. Pastor Phil is like 3 feet taller than I am. His bike is big
3. The roads are mud from the storm last night

I had to get to the side of the road where it’s elevated a little just to get my leg over the bar, and quickly found out that if I sat down my legs couldn’t reach the pedals ha ha. But I finally got going and only went a few feet before the pedal stopped moving and I gracefully…fell in the mud. So I picked up the bike and looked at the chain. Now I remember when I was little this would happen to my bike, but I always had my big brother right there to fix it. However, after a few tries, I finally got the chain on correctly. I was pretty proud of myself until I realized that now I was covered in mud and I still hadn’t left the front of the McKay’s house. So I got going trying to avoid the giant puddles and the worst of the mud then started heading down the street to the main road. It slopes a little bit so I started going fast. This is when I found out that Pastor Phil’s brakes aren’t the greatest. Thankfully I was able to slow down enough to take the turn I needed. There were a couple times that I almost crashed considering I was trying to stay out of the road since the cars don’t seem too worried about pedestrians and there’s not a lot of room on the side and it’s all mud and I accidentally hit this cement thingy. But I made it to the store alive! And it was closed.

The way back was a little smoother except I almost hit a puppy… ok yeah I know that sounds horrible but at the time I had 3 options- 1. Go towards the puppy and hope it moves in time 2. Veer into a ditch 3. Hit a truck head on. Thankfully the puppy moved ha ha.

So that was within the first few hours of the day. Justine and I went grocery shopping with Rebecca then stopped by the copy shop now that it was open. So I just ran in real quick and asked for 20 copies. 20 is vente. I didn’t say vente, I said venti as if I was ordering a large coffee at Starbucks ha ha. I know I’m not that great at Spanish, but that’s pretty pathetic.
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Justine and I were walking down the road and someone yelled, “hola!” from one of the houses, but we couldn’t tell who. So we kept walking and then I heard, “Meekaehla!” and Daniel waving frantically. Totally made my day! I have never liked being called Michaela for some reason, but I like it when the kids say it. Gustavo came to Las Manos del Alfarero for the first time since I’ve been here and he would keep looking at me and say my name, “Meekaehla” over and over. So I just responded, “Gustavo.” :) While Matt was teaching that afternoon it was hard to keep a straight face and be stern with Gustavo because he kept saying, “Thank you! Thank you very much! I love you! I love you!” It was sooo funny!

5/30-31

I was sweeping the church and noticed my dirt pile kept trying to run away from me. So. Many. Bugs.


April 31

Lately God has put it on my heart to be able to share the gospel in Spanish. So I’ve been studying a lot and been practicing out loud to Justine (she’s so sweet, listening to me rambling in Spanish). Monday is Christian Surfers so I was really excited to go out and see what exactly God was going to do with my two years of high school Spanish out on the streets of Tamarindo. So I had spent extra time studying Sunday and went to bed early so that I would be good to go for the next day.
That night I got about 3 hours of sleep.
The next morning was really busy as well as the afternoon. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up going that night. I thought I was going to crash. But still, though I was really disappointed, I was super blessed that day. For the first time I did some songs in Spanish for Las Manos Del Alfarero. To most people this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when it comes to singing in front of people, I’m terrified, though I’m slowly (slowly slowly slowly) getting use to it. And this was in Spanish! But God gave me grace :) And the McClain kids ha ha. I went over to Matt and Brooke’s and played around with some of the songs I had been practicing with Isabelle, Audrey and Ethan and they helped me out at club.


April 30

I was talking with Darla (another girl who went to PFR) and she was saying that she’s going to go to college for elementary education. I told her that when I was in high school that was what I was thinking about doing after I graduated. Then I somehow ended up at this real crazy place in Olney…
It’s so weird just standing back and looking where I am. It blows my mind that I get to serve in Costa Rica. 2 years ago to this day, I was in rehab. 1 year ago around this time, I was graduating high school and had absolutely no idea what I was going to do. Even a few months later when I found out I was accepted into Potter’s Field, I believed that I was just going to do the 6 months and then be done (great heart, right?) and go to college in Billings. And this is where I am now…God is awesome :)
You always hear people say that God doesn’t always show you what He has in store for you because you probably wouldn’t believe him. That always bothered me because I thought, “Who cares, I would just want to know!” Yet I can step back now and look what God did and how I ended up here- it’s amazing to see the work that God has done. He is sooo good!