September 2009 Update

2009

S E PT E M BE R

U P D A T E

2009

JO SH & L I SA SE A RS IN

COS TA R I C A

IN AUGUST, JOSH & I CELEBRATED OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO

I thought you were missionaries to El Salvador... We are! However, as missionary build lasting relationships with other associates with the Assembly of God Latin American missionaries. World Missions we are required to go Josh has classes in Grammar, Phonetics, to Costa Rica to study Spanish. and Conversation refreshing the basics This is a true blessing as we have the and moving quickly into new material. opportunity to minister to Ticos (what I’m in classes in upper level Grammar Costa Ricans call themselves) as well as and Conversation. Also, we both have a

SEPT. 15TH - INDEPENDENCE DAY

TRADITIONAL DANCES

class called Interaction where we have the opportunity to form relationships with Ticos outside of the school. Please pray for us as we continue to study Spanish and also try to adapt to a new culture. We are certainly expecting BIG things right now from God!

PARADE OF LANTERNS OR “FAROLES”

A T R I P TO TO RT U G U E RO

WE

HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE CARIBBEAN COAST ONE WEEKEND FOR TURTLE NESTING SEASON AND ALSO TO LEARN ABOUT THE LOCAL CULTURE. SAD TO SAY, WE WALKED ALONG THE BEACH FOR OVER

4

MILES IN THE PITCH BLACK OF

NIGHT AND NEVER SAW ANY TURTLES. HOWEVER, THE PLACE WE STAYED HAD A TON OF NATURAL TROPICAL PLANTS TO THE COASTAL REGION AND WE GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE WILDLIFE, INCLUDING A SLOTH OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON THE WAY BACK HOME! THE FAMILY WE STAYED WITH WERE EXTREMELY HOSPITABLE.

THEY

COOKED ALL OF OUR MEALS AND TOLD US

ALL ABOUT THE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE. LOCAL

WE STOPPED AT THE DEL MONTE BANANA PLANTATION TOO!

New Semester, New Challenges When we arrived at Cincel in August, we were really excited to get to know all the other missionaries that we’ll be spending time with over these next several months. We were also thrilled to see a couple familiar faces and find out that there are a few others here that are going to be working with us in El Salvador as well. Praise God! As we started classes, many of us had no idea what we were really in for and stress and nerves set in right away. During just this first month of being here, we have had several missionary friends visit the doctor or the hospital. I had a couple weeks of daily headaches but luckily a quick trip to the local Chiropractor and that’s been fixed. It’s interesting how as soon as you get here and finally start aggressively preparing yourself for the mission field, Satan takes offense and starts attacking our bodies. He attacks our minds with fears that the language will never be learned and that you’re never going to understand that new verb tense. However, knowing that we have the Lord on our side and know we have supporters and friends back home praying for us is an incredible encouragement. Please pray for continued health for us and our fellow missionaries in the coming months!

T HI N G S W E ’ VE LEARNED IN COSTA RIC A YOU DO NOT SLAM THE DOOR...ANYWHERE! RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY TICOS ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND WILL HELP OUT COMPLETE STRANGERS PUBLIC BUSES AND TRANSPORTATION IS PERFECTLY SAFE HERE “PURA VIDA” MEANING PURE LIFE IS AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER TO ALMOST ANY QUESTION IT IS CONSIDERED RUDE NOT TO SAY HI AND BYE TO EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER, EVEN IF IT MEANS INTERRUPTING THEM FROM THEIR WORK

C OF FE E IT’S NOT JUST AN EXPORT FOR COSTA RICA, BUT A WAY OF LIFE. COFFEE IS ENJOYED BY ALL AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY. COFFEE IS NOT JUST A MORNING PICK-ME-UP.

THERE

IS ACTUALLY A TIME

SET ASIDE HERE AT 4 P.M. WHERE THE LOCALS ENJOY A CUP OF COFFEE AND SOME BREAD WITH CHEESE OR MAYBE A DESSERT OR SUCH. WE HAVE FOUND SOME OF THE SMOOTHEST, FRESHEST COFFEE HERE AND HAVE TO SAY THAT IS A GREAT “PERK” OF LIVING HERE!

P IGE O NS ONE

OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID WHEN WE ARRIVED WAS A GROUP TRIP TO DOWNTOWN WHERE RUDY, A TICO FRIEND, SHOWED US ALL THE HISTORICAL SPOTS AS WELL AS THE LOCAL MARKET.

HE ALSO

HAD US STOP BY THIS PLAZA WHERE HE SAID IT IS CUSTOM FOR ALL THE COSTA RICAN CHILDREN TO COME AND FEED THE PIGEONS AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR CHILDHOOD. HE SAID EVERY

TICO

HAS A PICTURE FROM WHEN THEY

WERE A KID FEEDING THESE PIGEONS.

PRAY ER REQUESTS: 1. SAFETY DURING OUR TIME HERE IN COSTA RICA 2. CONTINUED FINANCIAL AND HEALTH PROVISIONS. 3. SAFETY FOR FRIENDS AND MISSIONARIES IN EL SALVADOR. 4. TRANSFORMATION IN THE LIVES OF GANG MEMBERS. 5. WISDOM AND GUIDANCE FOR MINISTRY ONCE WE RETURN TO EL SALVADOR.