Good-Bye to A Road Less Traveled.....

I started this blog to record my journey and give friends and family the chance to read about my life is Costa Rica. For the last couple of years, I have open my heart on this blog. I have shared my highs and lows of living in a different country, written about what God has shown me on this journey and shared a little bit about Costa Rica.

But since, I am not longer living in Costa Rica, I feel as though it is time to say good-bye to this blog... and hello to the new blog!

that is right, I have a new blog about re-adapting, missions and life. So here is the link.

Happy reading!

3 months later.....

It has been awhile since I have written a new blog post. I would love to tell you that it is because I am so busy with doing fun things and that life is good. But that would be a lie, well not all of it is a lie. Things are going, that is for sure. I am still amazed that we are half way through March. But I have come to realize, that even though I would like time to slow down so I can have more time to process and gather my thoughts, time just wont stop. It keeps moving forward and so must I.

So here I am 3 months into this reentry/transition process. In the last 3 months, I have moved into a house with 2 other awesome ladies, found a part time job, held my grandmother's hand for the last time and buried her a week later. I have cried, laughed, and felt loved by others. I have heard the Lord's voice speak encouragements to my heart and felt the Holy Spirit shower me with grace as I worship in the quietness of my home. I have reconnected with old friends and have made new ones. I seen the cruelty, selfishness and ugliness of people in the midst of pain but have also seen people cling to the hope of God and His promises in that time. I have felt overwhelmed by the many choices of cereal, yogurt, milk and soups. I currently crave homemade pizzas and tacos (taco trucks tacos) all the time. (I cant get enough!) But through it all, I have felt and seen God's hand the last 3 months.

I am learning everyday what it means to have grace with myself and with others during this season. Grace with myself and knowing that it is okay to feel overwhelmed, cry for no reason and ask questions, even if I might look dumb for asking them. Grace in not rushing this season of reentry and not being upset when certain worship songs make me cry still. Grace with others, because they have not experience the things that I have, so they dont get "tico time" or "cafecitos". Grace with people because you see I have changed, so people remember me before I moved, but they dont know the ME that came back. That has been the biggest challenged so far, learning who the new ME is and sharing that with others.

I am still in the midst of this season, and I am not sure how long I will be in it. BUT please continue to pray for me, ask me how I am doing and give me grace when I just dont have the energy to explain my thoughts or feelings.

till the next time,
Rose

A week in the States....

I have been home for a week now.

I would like to tell you that I feel different being back, but honestly I don't. I think that will hit me when January comes and I realize that I am not going back to Costa Rica. So far I have spent some good time with my family, seen some friends and slept a lot.

I have been encouraged a lot by family and friends. They have encouraged me to have grace with myself as I enter this season of transition. Which is something that I struggle with, giving myself grace. I am not sure why, but I have always been hard on myself. So moving back here, I gave myself a time line of how long it is going to take me to re adapt to life in the states. But lets be real, nobody really knows how long it will take me to feel like myself again. But the beauty about it, is that I don't have to do it alone and honestly, I don't want to. I want to allow people into this journey of transition with me. I want people to stop and ask me how I am really doing, what are my prayer request, what am I feeling and so forth. I want to be able to share my thoughts and feelings even when I don't really know that they are. But most of all I want to be able to share how God used me in Costa Rica and how living there has changed my life.

This last week....
- I have had to give myself pep talks (Okay Rose, you can do this) when shopping for grocery or Christmas gifts. Just feeling a bit overwhelmed by people and commercialism. 
- I have gotten lost in Fresno. New streets, new places that have been built since I have been gone, and not having a phone to help navigate these changes.
- I gotten to drive my car! That is a huge blessing because for over a year I didn't have a car in Costa Rica.

- 

Something to keep in mind. 
-Please be patient with me. I am still processing everything and living in transition chaos right now. There are moments that I feel overwhelmed with people and questions that I don't have answers to.
-I want to share my experience with you but only if you ask. So if you want to know, ask and I would love to share.

Common questions: 
How do you feel being back? Right now I am excited to be back. But ask me on day 30 and it might be a different answer.
Do you know what you are going to do now? Honestly, no. I am not sure what I am going to do for work. I am just trying to adapt to being back in Fresno with family and friends. And when the timing is right, I will start praying and looking for a job.
Did you bring a lot of stuff back with you?  Well I had 4 bags that had some kitchen stuff, paintings, office supplies, some clothes (I donated a lot since the majority of them were summer clothes) and decorations for the house.
Where are you living at? Currently I am living with my parents. Next month, I will be moving into a house with 2 awesome gals!

How can you help??
- Please be pray for me during this season. That I would take the time to truly process everything and give myself the time to do it.
- You can make a one time donation to help with the relocation cost. You can do so here on the SI website.


Merry Christmas! :)
R

O N E week left....

I am in the midst of transition.
Transition in life, home, future and so many other things.

I am entering the stage of this journey where it is my last... Friday, Girls Group, weekend, Sunday at church, etc.

Which means that I have started to say goodbye to people and places. I have written notes, given gifts and given my last hugs to friends. I have taken pictures to remember those faces and smiles. And  I know that with each goodbye I give, I give a little piece of my heart. And I know that by the time I leave next week, I will be heartbroken. Not from hurt or pain, but from missing the relationships that I was able to be apart of over the last 2 years.

 I am forever grateful that the Lord brought me here to Costa Rica. As I finish my last week in this beautiful country, I pray that God will continue to flourish the seeds that were planted in the relationships that I was able to pour into.

Prayer Request:
- This next week. That I would be able to finish well and continue to say goodbye to SI staff and host family.
- For my travel back to CA.
- Reentry process back to the US culture, family, friends and everything else.


If you would like to make a one time donation help cover moving expenses, you can do so here at the Students International website. All donations need to be in by Dec 28th. 

One Month From Today....

5 years ago God brought me to Costa Rica for the first time. At the time I didn't realize how important that trip would be and how it was just the beginning of a new adventure. 

WSM 2010

Over 2 years ago, God allowed me to move to Costa Rica and make this country my home. What a beautiful country it is. The people are friendly, there are some gorgeous beaches, volcanoes and waterfalls. Driving here is scary but can be done if you dont mind the regular honking or people stopping in the middle of the road. Public transportation is better then in Fresno and seeing a movie is cheap here. But what makes this place feel like home is the relationships that I have built with host families, co-workers and church friends. That is the thing that I am going to miss the most. 

Los Guidos

Futbol 5

Why do I say "miss the most?" Well in a month (from today), I will be moving back to California.
  
Yup after many months of praying and seeking the Lord, I have felt Him leading me back to California.  I have such a peace about moving back but I am also sad about leaving a place that I have called home for over 2 years. I have enjoyed my time with SICR and I believe in ministry they are doing here in Costa Rica. I know that God is going to continue to use them in Desamparados to further His Kingdom.

So what will I do in California?

Staff Retreat 2015

I have been asked this question a lot lately by my friends and co-workers in Costa Rica. Honestly, I am not sure yet.  However, I am sure I still want to be a part of missions. Whether financially and prayerfully supporting a missionary, encouraging current missionaries, or walking alongside those who are thinking about moving abroad for missions, I want to be involved.  Please continue to pray for me in the role I will have regarding missions over the next several months.  Also, please be in prayer as I prepare to move back and look for a job. 

How can you Help??
First you can be praying for me for my physical health. I am currently sick (again) with a virus or flu. I am not really sure what I have, but I have been sick for over a week and it is not be getting better.  

Friends from IBC

You can also pray for my transition back to California. That I would finish strong these next 4 weeks, say good good-byes to friends here in Costa Rica and also make time to process the change that I will be entering in the next few months. 

Secondly, there is additional support I need to raise for my transition back to California. This will help cover moving expenses, my flight back to the US, enrolling in a re-entry program, and re-settling costs. The additional donations will also help cover expenses for my first month being back in the States as I begin looking for a job and process this significant transition.  Will you prayerfully consider giving a one time gift to help me transition back? 

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all of you who have prayed, encouraged, sent letters, sent packages and gave financially to me. I am and will forever be grateful for your kindness and generosity. 

Blessings! 

R

Here is a link to give online to my Students International Account. :) 

Finishing the Marathon....

How are we in August tomorrow??? 

It has been a busy fun couple of months for me. As it is the busiest time of the year for me here in Costa Rica. We have had teams from the states (all over the US) working along side our ministry sites since mid-May and we have 1 week left of team season. It is crazy to think that God has allowed over 130 people to come and work with us here in Costa Rica this summer. And what a blessings those teams have been to us here. I have loved getting the chance to connect with people and share with them how God is using me here. BUT that also means longer hours of work, always being on, and less sleep.  I often refer to this season as my marathon season.

 For 12 weeks I am "on" and pouring into people from the states as well and trying to keep up with my "normal" work. There are some days were I am just trying to keep my head above water. Finding moments of quietness and refueling my spirit. But now, we only have 1 more week left in this race, and I find it easy for me to get caught up on all the things that "need to be done" and not on the team that is here. So my prayer has been Act 20:24.

  

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."

I want to finish this marathon season well. That the last team that comes, will feel just as loved as the first team that came in May. Will you join me in praying for us here in CR as well as our other SI countries? (Nicaragua, Guatemala & DR)

Team Season also means that patient levels are running low and that gives the enemy the right opportunity to create conflict. Knowing this, I have been reminded lately to be mindful of how others are doing and how my attitude is. And it does help that we have been going over Ephesians 4 for the last 2 months in our staff meeting. 

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift" 

Ephesians 4:1-7

WOW! Even as I reread this, I am reminded again just how important unity is, not just with my SICR co-workers, but with us as a body of Believers!  Daily I am reminded  "to walk in a manner worthy of the calling" (v 1)  and to "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"(v 3). I am reminded that it is an action that I am called to protect the unity, not only with my SI family but with believers. That doesn't mean that I need to avoid conflict, but that I need to make sure that when I address a problem, that I do it with love and grace. This has been such a good reminder for me during this team season. That when I feel tired and my patient level is low, to stop and think about my attitude, my heart and to make sure that I keep the unity that I am called to keep. 


 

Happy 2 years!!!

Today is my 2nd year anniversary of living in Costa Rica!  

It is hard to imagine that I have lived here for 2 years now. 

I remember boarding the plane 2 years ago and knowing that my life will forever be changed. 

Knowing that living cross-culturally will have its ups and downs. That I would need to give myself some grace with language, learning the Costa Rican cultural and with people. 

BUT the one thing that hasnt changed through these last 2 years, is God. 

It is confronting in knowing that as my world has changed from location, to friendships and what used to be "normal", God has never changed. His joy, peace, love, comfort, promises are still the same. So on the days when I feel as though I cant do anything right, I find comfort that God is on my side. 

Here are a few snap shots from this last year! 

Oh the fun that I have had being able to pour my gifts and talents to my work, church and friends.

I am excited for what this next season will bring. Excited for the teams that are coming these next 2 months, to be able to pour into them and see them leave changed. 

I am excited to go back to Cali for 10 days to spend time with family and friends. 

Excited for the fall for a slower pace of life.

No matter what, I couldnt be here without the support of friends, family and church supporting me financially and through prayers! 

THANK YOU

 to all who pray for me on a regularly basis, and those who have given/giving financially, to allow me to be here!