Everything I Am

Clinic Project

2009-11-11T20:30:00.014-06:00

Two weeks ago, a group of people from St. Andrew UMC in Plano, TX came down to Costa Rica to work on plans for the clinic in Sarapiqui. We had a whirlwind three days of meetings, planning, and traveling. In the end, we came up with some great building plans, ideas for fundraising and getting churches from the states involved, and more structure that allows everyone to see where God is leading them to be a part of this project.

It is very important that this clinic is started as an extension of the Methodist church of Costa Rica, more specifically, the local church in Sarapiqui. The Agape church has a history of outreach and service to the community. This project has been a vision of the pastor for many years. They hope to reach more members of the community and share the love of Jesus with them through meeting some of their physical needs. There are many members of the church that have already been involved in the planning phase of the clinic and will continue to be a part of their church’s ministry to the community. I look forward to working with all of them to get this clinic up and running.

We also made a trip to an indigenous village near Cahuita, a small beach town on the Caribbean side in the province of Limon. The roads took us to a bridge that seemed to connect civilization with the preserved land of the Cebacar Indians, yet divide it at the same time. The whole group had to hike 2 hours on hilly, dirt roads to get from the bridge to the village. This area is the closest to the bridge. Other areas can be as much as a 6 hour hike. These people are a part of the socialized medical system here, but they have to get to that bridge to be seen. Often they are unable to make the hike or by the time they get there, they cannot be seen. If they need medication, they have to walk even farther into town to get to a pharmacy. Most of these people do not speak Spanish and would have difficulties if they needed to go to a hospital.

Christianity is also something new that they have been exposed to in recent years. Some of the pastors in more populated, mainstream areas have “adopted” these people and are bringing them supplies for churches and training pastors to bring the Word to their villages. The people that we spoke with feel that they are trapped inside a country that doesn’t care about them and they have been neglected. They raise and grow their own food, make their own houses, and deliver their babies at home. They have been promised a lot of things, yet few have actually come to fruition. There is a definite need for medical attention and ongoing education in this area and I look forward to finding out how the Methodist Church can be involved in making that happen.

I has been my prayer that I will clearly see how God desires to use me here and with this project. He is revealing things to me little by little, but I guess that’s all we can ask. Thank you for going on this journey with me and I ask for continued prayers and support for the clinic as we advance from here. I will be coming back to the states in early December and hope to see many of you then!

2009-10-21T14:04:00.008-06:00

I am moved in and my apartment is starting to feel like home. Here are some pictures of my new place.

2009-10-04T13:30:00.002-06:00

Not much going on here to report. Just working on learning Spanish, getting settled into my apartment, and enjoying the amazing opportunity God has given me to live here!

I am trying to be patient as far as the clinic project is concerned. I am here to set up this medical clinic, yet I have done nothing to work toward that specific goal. I know God's timing in this is planned out and is the way it is for a reason, so I am trying not to let my impatience get in the way. For now, I am enjoying being here and experiencing this culture and the great people I go to school with. It is really neat to be surrounded by many other missionaries, all with very different stories that are eerily the same. We have one major thing in common and it makes things easier to be around other people that are going through the same experiences/struggles/joys as you are.

As the Lord reveals His plan to me (one teeny tiny piece at a time), I am starting to realize that my love of missions is more than just something for me. It is something I want to share with others. I really enjoyed working with mission teams this summer (much to my surprise) and would love to work with medical teams in the future as a continuation of the clinic project. Funny how God gives you things you don't necessarily know you want or need and makes your heart want for them. He DOES know what He is doing!

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
~Romans 8:25

Please be in prayer for the clinic planning team that is coming here later this month. It is made up of people from St. Andrew UMC in Plano who will be working out the details and doing some decision making, fundraising, and planning on the US side. Many of the details discussed will determine a lot about my future here and with the clinic longterm. Pray specifically for clarity and descernment for me as I make dicisions about how I will be involved with the clinic.

Moving Day

2009-09-18T12:41:00.003-06:00

I will be moving into an apartment this weekend! Yea! I am so excited to have a place that feels like a home and I can spread out a little bit and not have to live out of a suitcase. I have been feeling so stir crazy lately, so I hope this will give me a better sense of permanency. I will post pictures once I move in and get it all spruced up! It has two bedrooms so if anyone wants to visit, I have a place for you to stay!

Seriously. God is amazing.

2009-09-10T20:27:00.004-06:00

Living in such a beautiful place has helped me to recognize the magnitude of God's creation. The fact that he gave us a gorgeous planet to live on is such a blessing that we tend to forget. Even taking a walk is an incredible experience here. The sunsets have been beautiful lately and the fact that I am completely surrounded by mountains doesn't hurt, either. It is so easy to forget the little things we have been given and to thank God for them! So, here's my thank you card...

2009-09-10T20:18:00.005-06:00

This is the ad that has been displayed in the window next to my email inbox all day...

I just find it funny that even my computer is confused about where I live!

Why am I here?

2009-09-03T18:09:00.002-06:00

Before you get worried that I have gone off the deep end, I am not questioning the meaning of life. Well, maybe a little. It is funny that at times we are okay with not knowing the future and at other times, we feel like we need to find answers NOW. I don't think we ever really know that we are doing the absolute right thing in every moment, we just have to trust that we are pleasing the Lord and that is the best we can do.

In this moment, I am working on learning Spanish. Soon, I will be working on developing a clinic to meet medical, dental, and psychological needs of a community north of San Jose. Past next year, I have no idea what my life looks like. I have been stressing over this fact recently for some reason until someone reminded me that I really never knew what my future held, even when I lived my very predictable life in the states. Wow. Really? I didn't have it all figured out before? What is different about this situation? I think it is harder (but not impossible) to have faith that God will protect you when you leave the shelter of "home." I have to trust that he will be there to tell me what I am supposed to do next and that I am here for a purpose. I am here, right now, for a reason. I have to live in this moment and not worry about the next thing or I will miss the blessings he has given me. Nothing I am, or have, or do is because of me. It's all Him.

Please continue to pray for me- for direction, guidance, and discernment. That I will know what that next step is and faithfully take that leap. Thank you!!!!

...for it is God who works in you and will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13

Back to School

2009-08-26T11:11:00.003-06:00

I'm back in Costa Rica after a long, yet very enjoyable, vacation in Texas. I arrived last night and moved in with an amazing family. They are so sweet and they treat me like part of the family, so it is not hard to feel welcome here! Today was the first day of orientation and I will be tested today to see which class I will be in for the trimester. I'm not very hopeful that I will be placed in a very "advanced" class because I have been away from speaking spanish for almost a month. That's ok, there would be more homework in those classes anyway.

I am so thankful to my family and friends that made my visit home a good experience. I miss you all so much, but I am looking forward to getting back into the language and the culture here. I can receive mail here at the language school at the address below. Make sure you put my name on the package because everything for all students goes to one place!

MY NAME
Instituto de Lengua Espanola
Apartado 100-2350
San Jose, Costa Rica
America Central

Children's Home

2009-08-03T15:13:00.003-06:00

Will, Alli, Hannah, Chris, and I have had an amazing opportunity this summer to work with some members of the Methodist church of CR to work toward building a Children’s Home. The goal is to provide a loving, Christian home for kids without one. Many of the teams that have come here every week for the summer have been working toward getting things on the land ready for the first house to be built. Last week, the first cinder block was laid to begin building walls for the first house. The family that will live in this house arrived this week with their triplets. They have committed their lives to help raise their current and future children in a loving environment. Please pray for them as they transition into life here and prepare their hearts for welcoming in some new children.

As we stood on the land where the house will be, I heard laughter in the wind and saw smiles in each shovel of dirt and concrete. I prayed on that land that the kids there would be filled with the love of Jesus and know that so many people love them so much that they gave vacation time and lots of money to come there to help build a place for them to live. Ray and Lidia Zirkel, and Will Hasley were in the US when construction of the house was scheduled to begin, so I had the amazing opportunity to lay the first block. I felt so honored to be a part of that moment. The team that was working there at the time circled around as we prepared to start building the home. We prayed over the block as a representation of all that will be done there in God’s name for the children. We sang Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place as we laid the block on top of rebar, concrete, and dirt that so many have worked for years to prepare. It was such a powerful moment to think about all of the people that will be blessed by this ministry, by those blocks.

In Your Hands

2009-07-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

I have been struggling lately with giving my life over, fully and completely, to Christ. I feel that moving to another country to work for the Lord is just the first step in what He is calling me to do. The longer I am here, I realize that the clutter of real life is slowly getting in the way. As I make my life in Costa Rica and get settled, I am finding myself distracted by my wants and needs; wanting to spend time with people, getting to travel around the country, and even in the construction work itself. Even though the big picture purpose is ultimately working for the Lord, I forget to focus my thoughts on Him and the kingdom in the moment. My prayers have been centered on thanking God for the blessings he has given me and the amazing things He has done in my life. While it is great to thank him and praise Him, that prayer is still about me. I am looking inward at the ways God has worked in me. I need to remember to live for Him and Him alone, not for myself in His name.
I am a huge fan of music. I get a lot out of songs because they appeal to my emotional side and make me think- which connects the two parts of my brain. I tend to focus in on one song at a time and fixate on it because I feel that it has a message for me. Right now, that song for me is In Your Hands by Christy Nockels.

Here’s my life, I give it to you
I place it in your hands
Here’s my heart, your dwelling place
I place it in your hands
For so long I have held on to all that I am
When all you want is for me to place it in your hands
Here’s my thoughts, I want to think of you
And place them in your hands
Here’s my time, take it as you will
I place it in your hands

All I can do is strive to fully give everything to the Lord instead of asking Him to intercede in certain areas and keeping Him at a safe distance with others. I want the Lord to invade my life and for Him to have complete control because I just can’t do it if it’s for me.

Mailing Address

2009-07-04T18:20:00.002-06:00

Here is my mailing address for letters or small packages. Other things that need to be sent down can be sent to HPUMC (Attention: Rachael Faubion) and they will get sent down with the next mission team or next time I come home for a visit.

Ray & Lidia Zirkel
Attn: Kim Baldwin
J.B.C. SJO #1441
PO Box 025240
Miami, FL 33102

We are starting a clothes closet for pastors to "shop" in and get needed items for people in their congregations. Please start collecting clothes, shoes, school/craft supplies, or any other donation items if you have them laying around or if you want to get a group (sunday school class or small group) involved in ministry here. We will ensure they get to the right place where they are needed and very much appreciated. Thanks!

2009-07-03T14:43:00.003-06:00

Since it has been a very long time since I have posted anything and it would be impossible to catch you all up on everything that has happened. So, I will just give you a quick summary and lots of pictures so you can see what I have been up to for the last month.

Time is really flying by! Each week seems like it is gone so fast. I am really enjoying my time with the mission teams. It is so fun to get to know all of them. With these diverse groups have come some interesting people and situations, but all in all, it has been a wonderful experience. Will, Alli, and Hannah are the other interns I have been working with. They are so great to have around because it makes it feel more like a family. We are going through all of these experiences together. Hannah will be leaving us in a week and Chris will be joining the team for a few weeks before he heads back for another year at UVA. Will's friend, Wes, was also here for 2 weeks to hang out and play with the kiddos. It is so fun to have all of these people around all the time, but I am starting to miss my family and friends that I used to see all the time. It is really hard to keep up with emails and skype dates because I want to be able to pour out everything for the team members and for the Costa Rican people I come in contact with. I just need to learn balance...which is easier said than done.

I love being out in Puerto Viejo because that is where I will be spending all of my time come next year. I feel so comfortable and at home there now, or as "at home" as you can feel in a hotel. It just feels so right and I am so blessed to be doing it! I will be done with mission teams by August 1st and then I will come back to Dallas for a few weeks. After that, I will come back to language school for a bit and then move out to PV next year.

2009-06-10T19:07:00.002-06:00

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!

2009-05-28T11:27:00.003-06:00

Dear McDonald's,

I am unhappy with the service I received at your restaurant in San Jose, Costa Rica as I am still feeling the effects of the grilled chicken sandwich I ate there on Saturday.

Thanks for the week of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I will forward my bill for the doctor visit, the 2 weeks of antibiotics, and the week of class I missed.

Sincerely,

Your least loyal customer

Yep. It was bound to happen. I believe I was infected with Salmonella from a chicken sandwich. Kind of ironic since the meal at McDonald's is one of the few meals I have here that is similar to American food. Safe food storage and handling is a concept lost on people of many Latin American countries. Why should commercial food preparation be any different?

2009-05-23T08:13:00.002-06:00

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I came across this verse this morning and it was one of those times where I literally felt the Lord talking to me. Things are not easy for me here, but I am so thankful for the opportunity to do what I'm doing! I just need to remember that when my back hurts from the bed, or my stomach hurts from the bologna, or I am missing my family and friends. Lord, help us all remember that in any situation to give thanks to you.

What did you have for dinner?

2009-05-22T10:09:00.002-06:00

Last night I was served a bologna sandwich for dinner. I am SO thankful that I have food and that these lovely ladies are preparing it for me. It's just funny because I am allergic to wheat (not deathly allergic, just sensitive, so I normally don't eat it) and I am not a fan of bologna. Weird veggies I can handle, but strange meats, not so much. I knew it was a bad sign when I asked her what the meat was and she couldn't pinpoint what animal it came from. Then she poured me a drink. These Ticos love their drinks. They juice every fruit, vegetable, or grain they can get a hold of. I asked her what it was and she told me it was oatmeal blended with water. Interesting.

So I ate a bologna sandwich and drank oatmeal for dinner last night. Top that mom!

Language School

2009-05-18T18:07:00.002-06:00

Pense que lo haria todo mi blog en espanol...

Only problem is that I don't know enough espanol to do that! I am so excited to be here and have the opportunity to study Spanish at el Instituto de Lengua Espanola (ILE). The classes are small and the instructors are so helpful and patient. I have really enjoyed relearning the language. I am exhausted at the end of a day of studying and listening because I still have to concentrate on EVERY word! I can't wait, though, until I can speak well. I will be in language school until June 5 and then will be working with mission teams coming from the states for the summer. I will come back to language school in September to continue studying.

Here is a link to the language school if you are interested...
www.thespanishinstitute.com

So, Costa Rica...Where do I begin?

2009-05-12T17:49:00.001-06:00

**Sorry about the format of the page. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do this. If anyone knows about formatting blogs, please help me!**

I would like to thank my family and the missions staff at HPUMC for all they did to get me here! I could not have asked for better people to experience this with and none of this would be possible without them! I love you guys!!!

I didn’t sleep a wink the first night due to a combination of noises outside, unfamiliarity, and a 3 inch foam mattress on a plywood board for a bed. Every time I heard a noise I would wake up and find my arm or leg asleep because I was lying on a hard surface. The next night I folded up my blanket and put it under me for padding. I am used to the street noise now and I constantly hear sweet little voices giggling as the kids playing across the street. There is no sweeter sound.

First thing I noticed in my new room is my favorite Bible verse on the wall, en espanol. So perfect!
My Tico family is so sweet and welcoming. The mom, Grace, is an amazing, Godly woman and has had a difficult life so far. Her husband left her for another woman, she has survived breast cancer (and treatment) going on 5 years, and her oldest child is mentally handicapped. Paula, the daughter, is 32 and is a lot of work to care for. She is very sweet and is obsessed with me and one of their dogs. She runs around the house in a bicycle helmet yelling, “Kim! Amiga!” Grace teaches biology at a high school part time. Grace’s son, Gabriel, is 30 years old and is newly engaged. He was educated at the Methodist school and went to the US for college and grad school. He is living at home until he gets married in September. The other daughter, Bernarda, is 27 and a physical therapist. We have had a lot of fun together and she has invited me to do some fun things with her and her friends. Berna and Gabriel speak English, so that helps me feel a little more comfortable with them, although it doesn’t help my Spanish! The people of Costa Rica, in general, have never met a stranger. Everyone is family and everyone is loved wholeheartedly, even if they just met you. The family has two dogs and a rooster named Pavarotti (also a reason I haven’t slept). Their maid, Mercedes, is from Nicaragua. She is a great cook, but she wants me to eat way more than I want to! She left behind 5 kids (ages 14-23) to come here to work.

The neighborhood I am living in is full of gringos from the language school and I have met many other families that are hosting my school friends. It is so interesting to get different perspectives on family/home life here. We have many “teachers” because everyone in and around the school, including our families, know we are trying to learn. I am constantly being corrected on my grammar, but I love it because that’s the only way I will learn. This was the first thing I saw when I woke up my first morning here.

I have made lots of friends at school, many of them missionaries. There is another nurse whose ministry is to set up medical mission trips, so we have plenty to talk about! We agreed to speak only Spanish to each other. Yeah…that lasted about 10 minutes because we ran out of things we knew how to say. I am improving already and that Spanish I took in high school is starting to come back. The more I learn, though, the more I realize how little I know now!

We are going to walk to la feria and the farmer’s market tomorrow, then possibly into downtown San Jose to explore! Class is in the afternoons 1:30- 4:15 pm. Tuesday and Thursday mornings there is chapel that is an option in the mornings. Several people from my class went this morning and it was great- all in English, unlike the church I went to on Sunday with the Zirkels!

Still don’t have hot water. Yep, freezing cold showers…for a month. I have gotten used to it (not happy, just accepting) and have developed a little routine of jumping jacks and running in place to warm up before I get in and then I run under the water VERY quickly. It’s invigorating to say the least. This is a picture of the electrical shower head that is supposed to heat the water as it comes out. No question as to why it is sometimes called a widow maker.

All part of this really fun experience! I thank God for it everyday! I am extremely blessed to be here, experiencing this culture, making connections and relationships, learning Spanish, learning more about and growing closer the the Lord, all in this beautiful and sacred place. Thanks for coming on this journey with me!

Under Construction

2009-05-10T20:30:00.000-06:00

Made it to Costa Rica safely! I am here hanging out with my host family and starting language school tomorrow.
Sorry everything looks messed up with the blog lately. I am trying to change the layout and haven't had much time to get to it this weekend. Please bear with me and I will get it updated soon!

Too much stuff

2009-05-03T22:13:00.000-06:00

Now that all of the parties are over and most of the goodbye's have been said, it's time to pack! I have had all of my clothes and things that I will be taking laid out in my room for a long time, but am just now putting it all together. I am a chronic over packer, so I was very careful to not put too many things in the pile. I even brought in back-up (my mom) to pair down and give a second opinion on all clothes and other items that had made the cut so far. I was so proud of my accomplishment and was ready to get everything in the bag so I didn't have to look at it anymore. I started rolling all of my pants and clothes and lining them up in obsessive-compulsive style. Okay. Bag's full and I'm ready to go! One problem...

Still lots of stuff not in the bag. Guess this is what I will be working on this week. Somehow I don't think this would pass through customs and airport security.

On a different note, thanks to everyone who made it to the send off lunch today! I am so thankful for each of you! None of this would be possible without each and every one of you. I thank you for your support, prayers, and love during this exciting time. I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for my life (and yours) in Costa Rica!

Swine Flu Arrives in Costa Rica

2009-04-30T22:15:00.001-06:00

Swine Flu Arrives in Costa Rica

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Commissioning

2009-04-26T21:31:00.000-06:00

It's official! This morning in the sanctuary service at Highland Park UMC, I was commissioned as a missionary to Costa Rica. It was amazing to see so many people supporting the Costa Rica mission project. I feel like I have been embraced by the entire congregation and I know that you all are praying constantly for me and the work I will be doing. I pray for YOU everyday- that you will come to know and love the people of Costa Rica as I do, that you will consider going on or supporting mission trips, and that your hearts will be touched by the projects already underway and coming up in the future. There are so many ways to get involved. We need you! Thank you so much for all that you do and will do for the church, locally and globally.

Can you hear me now?

2009-04-14T17:20:00.000-06:00

If you have ever travelled outside of the country, you know that communication is very important. Everyone wants to know where you are and that you are safe. You would think that in 2009 cell phones and internet access would be available anywhere you go. They are, but they come at a price. A very high price. In order for me to use my cell phone in Costa Rica, I would have to pay over $100 just for the opportunity to use the phone. Then, the usage costs $2 per minute. That is just plain ridiculous! Why can't we figure out how to use cell phones in other countries for less money? I have been running into the same problems with internet access. There are limited options available and the ones that are there are expensive. My plan is to travel around the country bumming wifi off of everyone else's networks. It's the only way to go on a missionary budget!

So, goodbye iPhone. So long to having the world at my fingertips...literally.

Organization

2009-04-06T22:02:00.001-06:00

Moving out of my house that I have lived in for 2 1/2 years was difficult to say the least! I am generally a very organized person. Those closest to me know I have a list for everything and am usually on top of things. I NEVER lose things! These past few months have been a complete exception to the norm. I am a mess! Things are everywhere and I can't find anything.

Here is how my belongings are organized at the moment.

Note the attempt to make things orderly and accessible (the stackable bins that are meticulously labeled). Yeah, I don't know what happened.

By the end of the week, things will be in order. Now that I am not working, I finally have time to get myself organizedand prepared for the next big move. Which, by the way, will happen on May 8. Let the countdown begin...

This is all thanks to my amazing parents who allow me to set up storage camp in their house. They have been such a huge help in this transition time and none of this would be possible without them!

That's how you know...

2009-03-30T17:45:00.001-06:00

I can't believe this is really happening! I have been talking about doing missions since I was a kid and have been praying specifically about Costa Rica for months. You would think that changing my entire life and leaving everything behind in Dallas would be difficult, right? Well, it IS hard, don't get me wrong, but there is a certain inner peace that comes with knowing that you are going in the right direction. When things just fall into place without force, it's totally a God thing. That's how I know it's right. I can't wait to share this journey with you!