And We Have A House...

"For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God" 

Hebrews 3:4 

Since the beginning of August, Kenzie and I have been looking for a house to rent here in Costa Rica. There were only a few things that we really wanted in a house. We wanted a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom, a space for a car and it be located near the office and friends. For some reason we thought it would be really easy to find and we would be out of our host homes with the week or 2. 

So we started our search with some help from our friends. The first house we saw was an amazing new modern place. The rent wasn't that bad, but as it is custom here, it would go up 10% every year. Since we are on a fix salary, we decided to take the day to figure out if we wanted it or not. So when we called the next day to tell the owner we wanted it, it had already been rented out! Yup, less then 24 hrs the place was rented. So we continued on with the search. 

After about the 4th house, we were starting to feel discourage. We weren't sure if we were going to find a house that we liked and as much as we love living with our host families, we were ready to live on our own and have a house. We knew that God had the perfect place for us but we just didn't know when He would reveal it to us. 

So last week, we went to look at another house. We tried not to be too excited about seeing it because we didn't want to be disappointed again. We walked to this cute little light maroon house and as we walked in, we fell in love with it! It is more then what we could ever ask for! It met all wants and needs and then some! 

We move in on Sept 1 :)

I feel so blessed to be able to have this house. God has truly blessed us with it! I am so excited to be able to decorate it, start making it my HOME, investing in my neighborhood and having people visit us!

Thank you for your prayers! God answered it in a BIG way and in HIS timing!

Ticolandia

 

Costa Rica also known as Ticolandia by my dad,  is where God has me, this is my new normal, this is my HOME. I have been here for 7 weeks now. That means that it has been 7 weeks since I have seen my family, friends and church family. I have lived, walked, talked and in these streets, in this country. And even though it is my new home, there are some things that I do miss from Fresno. 

I miss my family, Mexican food, my girlfriends, frozen yogurt, Flaming Hot Cheetos and many other things. But that is all apart of the transition process. Letting go of the things that were so common and easy to get and figuring out what my new favorite things to eat or make here is, finding a new community but not forgetting the one that I have in Fresno and trusting that God will continue to build the family that I need here. It has been a process and one that will continue for sometime and that brings me comfort knowing that I dont have to master it all right now.

This last month, I have had the joy of visiting some new places in Costa Rica. I got to go to Jaco, Doka Coffee Plantation, Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfalls and Manuel Antonio. Here are some pics from those trips :)

 

 

This last two weeks have been such a blessing to me. The Well CR team is here and it has been fun seeing friends :) It has been such a blessing to be able to share with them my heart and passion for missions, not to mention that they get to see what my life is like here in Costa Rica. PLUS they brought some amazing goodies!!!  So life has been busy the last two weeks with them being here but it has been amazing! 

Once they leave, Kenzie and I will start to look for a house and then we start language school. Please keep those two things in prayer, we want a house that is near our friends/co-workers but also safe for us, also that we will retain all that we need to learn in language school. 

Till next time!

 

2 weeks down, going on 3!

It is hard to believe that I am starting my third week in Costa Rica. There are some days were it seems as though I have been here for months and other days  I realize that it is only been 3 weeks. But none the less, God is good and I am learning and being stretch in BIG ways.

The first night that I got here, I went straight to my host family's house. I am staying here till mid-August. That is when Kenzie and I are planning to get our place! :) Here are some pics of my room and my amazing back yard!

 My Bed and Window

 

My Closet

 

The view of the backyard from my window :)

We just said good-bye to my first summer team here as staff. They were an amazing bunch of high school kids from Indy and they were such a blessing. Now we have a 4 week gap with no teams till the end of July when The Well comes! I am excited to see friends that are going on the trip and have them see what I am doing here and why God called me to Costa Rica.




My second week here I got really sick. I had 102 fever for 2 days and then got bronchitis. I am currently on the mend but still not at 100%. Being here and sick was a new experience for me. I was able to go to the pharmacy and just get a Z-pack without an prescription and it only cost about $15.00. There is no way that would have happen back in Fresno.

That was a hard week for me mentally, defiantly physically but also spiritually. I was homesick mainly because I was sick and just wanted to be taken care of, which my host mom Martha did an amazing job, but there is something about having your own mom take care of you.  So I read or watch TV when I was awake. You see, before I left Fresno, I found a devotional that had a bunch of encouraging verse and I marked those in my bible knowing that one day (or many days) I would need to feel encouraged. And I started to read them and knew that God had placed those there for me to hear. I also realized that I need to be in fellowship with other believers and need to hear the word and be feed. So I am currently in the process of looking for a church where I can build relationship, be feed and worship. I was able to go to English speaking church today and it was awesome! It was great to worship in English and not have to translate the message in my head. I am not sure if I will call this church my home yet, but it was nice change of pace.

Now I am getting ready to start my 3rd week here. I have just touched the surface of emotions to come with this transition, but I cling to this verse,

"Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

 Is 41:10

 

And I feel a since of peace. God is good and HE will help me through the good, ugly, easy and hard times to come! 

 

Prayer Request! 

1. My Spanish. (it will improve everyday and not be frustrated with the process)

2. Health. (that my lungs will be back to 100% and that I will be back at 100%)

3. Transitions. (that I will take time to process it all and feel the feeling that come along with it)

4. Home Church (one I can build relationships but be feed as I serve here)

Love and miss you all! 

 

Getting ready for the new normal...

 

I have a week and a half left in America! AH! I am currently writing this as I am driving back from LA.(don’t worry I am not driving).  I was able to get my temporary visa today. (It was my second trip in 1 week) BUT that means that I save $200 and a couple of bus tickets out of CR every 90 days. :)

It still hasn’t hit me that I am moving in 9 days. Maybe that is because I am trying to get all the little things done and I haven’t packed yet. But I know that will change. My room will be packed by the end of the week, I will decided what I will take with me to CR in the next two days, what I am going to leave in Fresno and what will be going to Neighborhood thrift because I just done have time to do a yard sale.

It is weird to know that in a few days my life will be packed up into suitcases, which will come with me to CR or come with The Well team at the end of July. That the places I have gotten used to will no longer be apart of my everyday life. That there will be a new normal for me in CR.

People have been asking me what I am excited for in CR? What or whom I am going to miss from Fresno? How I am feeling as the day to move gets closer? Is there anything they can pray for? So here are my answers in case you were wondering.

What I am excited for in CR?

            There are so many things that I am excited for. The newness of the country, even though I have been there a few times. Working with the girls and the Girls Group again. Being able to invest and use the talents that God has given me there.

What or whom I am going to miss from Fresno?

            I am going to miss my family and friends the most. I am super close to my family. We laugh, pick on each other and love each other dearly. It is going to be weird not having them around but I am thankful for skype and facetime! God has blessed me with such an amazing group of friends. These are friendships that will last a lifetime! There are definitely some places that I will miss. Di Bai Dang is one of them. It is the usually place my girlfriends and I go for dinner. We have celebrated many birthdays there, laughed and ate a lot. I will miss Monterey Bay Aquarium. For those who do not know, that is my favorite place to go! I have a season pass and do go several times a year. It never gets old to me and every time I go, I am amazed of the God I served and reminded on just how BIG and awesome God is!

How I am feeling as the day to move gets closer?

            Overwhelmed, nervous, tired, excited, ready, anxious and I am sure that there are other emotions that I have not mentioned. But I am just trying to not think to far ahead or I will get overwhelmed. I am in the chaos stage of transition so I am trying to just be PRESENT in what I need to get done today.

 " If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" Ps 139:9-10

Prayer Request:

1. That I will have good goodbyes with family, friends, places and things.
2. That I will have safe travels on June 7^th. That I will get to CR safely and that my luggage will arrive with me
3. That I will transition well. Meaning that I wont get sick, get along with my host family and not rush the process.

P/S

Check out my contact info! I updated it with the lasted and greatest way to see what I am doing through social media!

One Way Ticket.....

After a year and a half of praying, trusting, seeking, working, fund raising, crying, laughing, worrying,  doubting, delighting, calling, writing, asking, learning, heart ache, worshiping, making new friendships, feeling anxious and trusting in God's timing, it has all come down to this.... 

JUNE 7th! 

That is the day that I will be flying to Costa Rica and starting a new season!

I am at 97% and I am taking the step of faith that God will provide the remaining 3% and more before I leave. That means I need 3 more people to make monthly commitments of $20.00. (you can email me or send me a FB message) 

Thank you all for all you love, encouragement, prayers and unending support!  I am so grateful for my family, friends and church community who have walked along side me through this season! I am beyond blessed! 

Only 15% left to raise! (April Newsletter)

"You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior,

the hope of all the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength,

who stilled the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades,you call forth songs of joy. You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.  The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing."  Psalm 65:5-13

 Lately I have been reminded of God's strength and joy that this world shows. From the blooming flowers, to seeing the furious ocean waves, to the sunset. I am reminded that I serve a God who created each and everyone of these things to remind us of Him. And He created us in His image so we can worship Him! I am so blessed to serve a God who took the time to create the mountains to my east and an ocean that is only 2 1/2 hrs to my west. That in one day I could be looking at Half Dome or see vineyards for miles. But more so, that He took the time to create me with a heart and a passion for youth ministries and for missions. Praise and Glory be to God! 

15% left to go!!!! 

I am currently at 85% fully funded! (1529.19 out of 1800.00) Praise GOD!!! With that I need 15% left (270.81) to raise for monthly support. That means I need about 14 people to donate $20.00 a month to reach my goal! I cant buy my plane ticket till I reach this goal. So I ask that you would pray about coming along side with me and being apart of my support team. If you want to be one on the 14, please email me at rose.e.torres@gmail.com. You can make ONE time donations online here!

Commissioning Date!

The Well will be commissioning (praying) my future roommate (Mackenzie Butler) and I on June 2! That is 1 month away. With that, I am praying and hoping to be fully funded by then so I can leave on a plane with Mackenzie on June 7 or 8th! BUT please know that I will not by my ticket till I am at 100%. CRAZY! This just became real for me. I have been praying and trusting God with his timing for Costa Rica. He has truly opened up so many doors for me over the last few weeks and it hasnt stop.

Now what???

Well now I continue to raise the last 15% with the goal and prayer of moving around June 7/8th. At the same time, I will be heading down to LA to get my visa paper work finalized. As well as doing a major spring cleaning to decide on what I need in Costa Rica and what I can sell. And then enjoying  time with friends and family. So if you want to hangout before I go, please let me know! 

Prayer Request::

1. The remaining 15% would come in and more! 

2. I am speaking at The Well Kingsburg this Sunday (May 5th), so pray that God would speak through me and that the people will have ears to hear and hearts to support. 

3. That I would not be overwhelmed with the list (I am about to created when I am done with this blog post) of things that I need to do before June. 

Thank you all for your love, prayers and support! It has been a journey and I am so glad that I have been able to share it with you all. I pray that my next post will be news of purchasing my plane ticket! 

Blessings! 

Rose

33 at 1%

What is 33 at 1%?

33 is the age that I just turned last week. It is the amount that I need left to raise for Costa Rica and 33 will be a significant year for me. 

Here is the challenge for this next month. :: 

I need 33 people to support me on a monthly basis at 1%. 

What is 1%???

1% is $20. That's it! I need 33 people to support me $20 a month to be able to move to Costa Rica! 

20.00 is not a lot, but when you get a group of people, it is enough to make a difference. 

It is enough for me to move and start the work that God has called me to do in CR. 

How can you be apart of the 33??

 The best way is to send me a email or FB message saying that you want to be one of the 33. I have already got 3 people!!! From there I will send you the form on how to go about it. OR you can send your first check to : 

Students International
PO Box 2733
Visalia, CA 93279-2733

Account:: Rosa Torres (on the memo) 
with a note that you want to be a monthly supporter and need the paper work.
From there they will send you the form you will need. 

Will you be one of the 33?
I know that $20 could be a lot for some, but it could mean getting a tall instead of a venti at Starbucks, or not going to the movies once a month. It could be a simple as not eating out 2 times a week. Please know that your support will be tax deductible! 

So will you be one of the 33 and help me get to Costa Rica??

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
2 Corinthians 9:7-9