First Week

June 30-First of all I want to start by saying Happy Birthday to Evan! Yesterday night was our first church service. We don’t go to church as a class, we are told to find one that commits to us individual. I along with a few other girls went to church with Paola. It was all in Spanish and I didn’t understand much but near the end of the singing I was able to sing a lot! I was very proud of myself. I am the worst of the class at Spanish, but all the Americans had to learn Spanish in school. But I have faith that I will learn soon enough. In the past three days I have picked up on a tiny bite. This morning was our first bible class. I guess before I tell you about class I should first explain what I am exactly doing here. I am attending a DST (Discipleship Training School) through YWAM (Youth With A Mission). There are several YWAM bases all over the world including one in Winnipeg and a few in Alberta. For the first twelve weeks here I will be attending bible classes in the mornings and working on the base in the afternoon with the local missionaries. Every week of we will have a different teacher with a different topic. Some of the teachers will be flew in from other YWAM bases all over the world and some are from the area. After the first twelve weeks are over we will have a four day adventure camp in the jungles of Costa Rica, followed by three weeks in of outreach in Costa Rica but outside of San Jose. Finally for our last six weeks we will be doing an international outreach. We have not been told to where but I should know soon. For our first week of class we were schedule to have our DTS leader’s wife teach us. But in DTS there are flexible and so a YWAM staff from another base who was visiting Costa Rica spoke to us today. Her name is Suzanne and she is from Germany. She missions to people through pictures she has taken all over the world. Her talk was mostly based on her life experiences and how it is important to have faith in God and allow God to work through our talents. It moved me a lot because I am a planner and always have every step planned out. Lately I have been confused of exactly what I am going to do with my life and where. But Suzanne reminded me that I don’t have to know every move before I make it, I just have to have faith in God and He will lead me.
I don’t remember if I told you already but here in Costa Rica there is no hot water and toilet paper doesn’t go in the toilet but instead in the trash can. I will have to get use to these changes. But on the positive side there is rootbeer and peanut butter here!!!!!

July 2
I hope everyone had an awesome Canada Day! Spencer (my DTS leader and the only other Canadian on the base) and I celebrated with a high five. Also Spencer used a quote from the ‘Great One’ in his teaching. Oh also I bought myself a rootbeer! But that’s as far as the party went. Yesterday we learnt about ‘intercession’ . Which is basically when you pray to God, asking Him what you should pray for and then God answers. It is like we want to pray for others and there problems but first we ask God to inform us of who the people are and what their problems are. I have heard of intercession before but have never practised it. It going to take time for me to begin to recognize God’s voice but I will be patient and practice. It seems to be more difficult for the people from North America, most likely because it is not something we are taught in our churchs. Most of the Central Americans have learnt it and practised it in church. With cultures we experience God in different ways. This trip is about opening our eyes to new ways to experience God. After class most afternoons are free to do as we like, but everyday everyone of us has work duties to complete. I was lucky enough to have my work dutie being supper preparation. Every week day I have to help out in the kitchen from 4 to 6 o’clock, making supper. I really enjoy it because the people in the kitchen are fun and I get to learn to cook Costa Rican food. But it is really hot in the kitchen and I have a fear that one of these days I am going to cut myself or something bad like that. Please pray for my safety while I work in the kitchen and for my coworker, Paola, safety as well. She cut her finger open today. Luckily it wasn’t that bad. Today in class we learnt about the love of God. Class has been very interesting, and I enjoy it a lot. After class today we had our first small group meeting. I am a group with the English speaking girls. It is a great group and I am really excited to spend time with them. Today we were each able to share a little about ourselves. All of the girls are so awesome! I feel connect to each one. I am so excited to get to know them better and build strong friendships with them. Every other Wednesday night, the base holds a family night. So that wasn’t tonight but next Wednesday we will be having our first family night. Thursday is our busiest day. We have worship followed by class, then lunch, followed by local outreach, followed by work duties followed by dinner and then an evening class. Thursday is the only day we are scheduled to have class in the evening. On Friday is more of the normal day with class in the morning and work duties in the afternoon. But in the evening we have a “fun night!” So my days are busy and I have a lot to do. But I feel I still have enough time to do things right, like doing my homework and reading my bible. It’s a good schedule. I am really enjoying it here and it makes me so happy to hear from you guys back at home, making me feel supported in my quest to know God better. Thank you for all the comments. I enjoy reading them. Please remember me and my team in your prays. Pray that we may find God in ways we never imagined.