I apologize for taking so long to post. I have been busy moving around the country getting settled with the mission teams. I moved out of the house I was staying in last week and will be staying with mission teams for the summer, one week at a time, while they come here to serve. It will be fun and exciting, but exhausting at the same time. I will do that for a few months, then return to language school in late August. I appreciate the emails from some of you with encouraging and motivating words. I am having so much fun and am trying to remember to thank God for every experience and every person I come in contact with.

As most of you know, the Methodist Church of Costa Rica will be building a clinic in an area 2 hours north of San Jose called Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. It is a beautiful, quiet small town that is home to an amazing church community. The Methodist church owns a piece of land that now contains a local church and a building under construction for a children's activity center to host events for kids from many of the local churches. Next to the children's center is an open field that the church has been dreaming of using for a clinic. This area is fairly close to the Nicaraguan border and many of the people living here are immigrants escaping violence and political corruption. The church wants to provide a safe and encouraging environment to foster health, education, and spirituality. The socialist system in place for medical care in Costa Rica is not working. People are waiting years to be seen by doctors. People are resorting to cutting off gangrenous toes with scissors and leaving broken arms to heal themselves crooked, without a cast. A community struggling against the lack of basic needs cannot grow and thrive in education and spirituality. The church has an opportunity to be a beacon of hope and a positive influence on the people of this area. Many of the church members are more concerned about reaching out than of their own needs. They are excited to have a clinic connected with their church because it gives them a chance to give back to people in their community and to show them how the Lord has changed their lives for the better.

Sunday morning, I went to my first service at my new church home. Pastor Fernando is a quiet, humble, and wise man. He leads his congregation by example and loves each of them dearly. As I was sitting there singing "Open the Eyes of my Heart" in Spanish, I was overcome with peace and a wave of reassurance that this is the place God wants me to be. I feel so at home in this place and already feel like family to many in the community. The wind was blowing across the open air sanctuary and filled me with strength of the holy spirit. I have been doubtful that I am the right person to set up this clinic, but after this week, I have been reminded that all things are possible through God and that it is He who is working in this place, not me. He has sent me here to be a vessel for his word and to bring some healing to the people. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve and cannot wait to see the connections that are made in the community and how many of you can serve alongside me!

***Sorry for not having any pictures. My camera will not give them up! I will work on that and get them on here soon!