Tico Tuesday, July 26th

It was another wonderful weekend on Isla Venado! Wonderful journaling on the ferry (plus a typical dance presentation by a group of high schoolers), more special bonding time with doña Epi and her daughters (and daughters in-law), learning to make chorreadas (homemade fresh-ground fried corn tortillas), learning more about the people and families and issues of the island, going to the beach, biking around the island for the first time (in 37 minutes, which I was told must be a record! Jajaja!), having great times of fellowship and worship at church, both at the youth and the traditional services, etc, etc, etc. Also, there was a group of people there that brought 50 packages of food to give to the people since they have been in veda (prohibited to fish so the fish can reproduce) since June 1^st. Fishing is the main source of livelihood for almost everyone on the island, so veda is a very difficult time. I loved how they handed out the food-praying with one family at a time and sharing with them before handing the food over. It was beautiful! Picture will appear on facebook very soon!

Love,

Carrie

Tico Tuesday, July 19th

Do you ever get jealous of me and my missionary life? I live in a beautiful, tropical country and serve children and families who come from slums built into beautiful hillsides. Do you ever wish you could serve God more/better or be more involved in something "for God?"
If so, I invite you to read the following quote I received in an InterVarsity alumni e-mail. If not, that's ok, and I encourage you to keep reading anyway. "If a vocation represents a call of God to serve him in the world, then that vocation is sacred because it comes from God. It therefore makes no sense to speak of a secular vocation; such a phrase is a contradiction in terms. A vocation, because it comes from God, is sacred." (Gordon T. Smith)
So, please, don't belittle your current occupation/line of work. You can do accounting, nursing, teaching, engineering, sales and a whole lot of "boring paperwork" all for the glory of God right there where God has placed you. I think He likes us to "bloom where we're planted." Not to downplay missions - but rather I say this to you to remind you that the Great Commission doesn't just apply to "vocational missionaries." Sharing God's love and truth is the responsibility of all who claim to follow Christ and we all have vitally important roles that God has given us! So, let's stick close to the Head Gardener and bloom wherever He puts us!
Love,
Carrie

Tico Tuesday, July 12th

Friday night my friend Heather and I capped off the week with pizza and ice cream. We had a wonderful time chatting all about life, our stories and what the future might bring. I'd packed the week superfull and it was all great, but Thursday and Friday were especially wonderful. I was at our 15 de Setiembre Child Care Center with a group of 8 high schoolers that were doing games with some of the children. I got to explain to them about Roblealto and how we work. Their Spanish was quite good, so they didn't really need me to translate. It was wonderful to be at the center though and get to see some of the kids I write about and meet a little girl I wrote about today! She didn't want to participate in musical chairs anymore, so she sat and chatted with me for a little bit. I continue to be amazed by God's work in Roblealto and how the children change and become more sure of themselves. More stories about children on the blog!
I pray God also amazes you with His work this week!
Love,
Carrie

So this little girl that came and sat with me is adorable. Her name is E and her cousins used to be at the 15 de Setiembre but now they are at the Bible Home (and one of them is in the Sparky AWANA club I help with). Unfortunately, her dad is an alcoholic and her parents' relationship is not in very good shape. There was another little boy that didn't really want to participate in a game either. He and his 4 siblings come to our child care center because their dad has to work and their mom is in prison for 20 years. Poor kids! He and his siblings all watch out for each other, but when I read and wrote their entrance reports, it was clear that he and his sister (the younger ones of the family) have been more affected by the absence of their mother. So sad!!
Not all the kids are withdrawn though. Many have a ton of energy and just can't get enough attention. I watched the most extreme, intense of duck, duck, goose ever-with the kids running multiple times around the circle, leaving the circle and running around other parts of the room, cutting through the circle, etc. It was hilarious. At first, the volunteers would only play the traditional way, but before long they started playing the intense way too. It was HILARIOUS!!
One of my other favorite moments was when one of the slightly older age groups came into the cafeteria where we were playing and a girl I'd never seen or met before just came up to me and hugged me and talked with me. It was awesome!
I took some pictures with the camera from work but forgot to save them onto my flash drive, so they'll come later. It's bedtime!

A Brief Thought

So my Daddy wrote this "Praying through the Psalms" book. He writes a little comment and prayer that corresponds to each Psalm. It's wicked cool. This morning I read Ps 22 - one of the most blatantly prophetic Psalms that points us to Christ's ugly, painful crucifixion. Between reading the Psalm and the prayer Daddy wrote, something (the Holy Spirit) just kind of jabbed me again and reminded me: my sin drove Jesus to the cross. Each sin I commit deserves the death penalty. And Jesus died for every one. And He would die for every one again and again if He had to. Diay!And He didn't die just for my sin though-He died for every sin ever committed by everyone! His sacrifice is sufficient for us all. But let us never forgot its great cost, nor the victory and freedom we have through Jesus' RESURRECTION!
So let's spread the word!

Learning to Love

Have you ever been in a Bible study or read something that encouraged you to read 1 Corinthians 13 and stick your name in all the places that say "love?" Carrie is patient. Carrie is kind. She does not boast, is not proud, rude, self-seeking, does not envy, etc?? Jajaja! I sure can't make it through without laughing! Me, patient? Who are we kidding? Me, kind? I like to think so. Doesn't boast and isn't proud? Hmm, you must not know me too well. I think inserting my name there is one of the best ways to show me how NOT loving I am. I think that is part of the purpose of the exercise. But here's the thing:

On the one hand, it is WONDERFUL to know that I'm not perfect and still have a VERY long ways to go, and that God still loves me and forgives me in spite of that. I have come to adore confession and acknowledging my total brokenness, depravity and desperate need for God.

On the other hand, what an awesome way to make myself look like a total failure and feel guilty about myself! This is so not what life is about! It is impossible for any of us to have that perfect love and try as we may, we will never be able to love like that on our own strength! We will continue to NOT be long-suffering, delighters in truth who always protect, trust, hope and persevere. God IS love and is the only One capable of loving in the way that Paul writes about. (And there's the whole context thing which people always leave out. This is the climax of the book with a whole bunch of instructions for believers and how they should live their lives together). He is the standard for love and the way we live our lives. So, what do I think we should do instead of putting our own names in there in the place of "love?" Insert the name of the One who IS love. Jesus is patient, kind, keeps no record of wrongs, does not rejoice in evil and will never, ever fail. Hallelujah!

O Lord make me more like You!

Tico Tuesday, July 5th

Yesterday was one of the more interesting 4th of Julys I've had recently. The last time I celebrated the 4th in the States with other gringos was in Jackson, WY in 2008. Pretty crazy, huh? Well, yesterday there was an Independence Day shindig here in Costa Rica! If you didn't know, there is quite the gringo population here in Costa Rica, I just don't live too near to most of it. So yes, here in Costa Rica we had square dancers, a 4th of July parade (shortest one ever, I'm pretty sure), a flag-raising ceremony and fireworks to celebrate our independence in a country that is quite dependent on the US in many ways. Fascinating irony! It was fun though. I hung out with Pam and Nelly and Pam's family. We had a really good time. And there were big yummy burgers from Outback for $4. The 4th is always a bit nostalgic, but I enjoy getting to celebrate it each year. More on the blog. Looks for pics on fb!
Love,
Carrie

I'm pretty sure I blogged about this. I know I have. I LOVED celebrating July 4th when I was little because Grammy loved it and the celebration they do in Falmouth, Massachusetts is superchiva- really cool! The Falmouth Militia, flags, the booming salutes to each of the 13 colonies, biking by Surf Drive, picnicking, family games, blueberries, dessert and of course, fireworks. I miss it. Maybe I'll get to go back, some day. It's not the same without Grammy though (she passed away 10 years ago this year. The anniversary is next month). So, the nostalgia and sentimentality are greater. It was fun to be at a 4th of July fireworks presentation again though. And I came home and flipped back and forth between the fireworks in NY and Boston. I loved the shots over Fenway!! Thank God for freedom and may freedom soon come to those who don't have it!

Tennis & Faith

What do Venus Williams and Rafa Nadal have to do with faith? Watching them makes me have to exercise it! Maybe this seems trite, but I was surprised at the spiritual connection when I realized it. I love watching tennis. Not only do it I enjoy it because I find it fascinating and entertaining, but it is also a fun chance to spend time with my mom (and one of my brothers) when we are hundreds and hundreds of miles apart. We used to always do it together (I can still remember the legs and bodies all over our couch in the den in Maine quite vividly) and I like being able to be together (even though we're apart at the same time).
Anyway, Wimbledon ended today. One incredible match I got to see part of earlier in the tournament was Venus Williams vs Kimiko Date-Krum (I hope I got that right). Venus was very close to losing the 1st set when I had to leave to go to work. I was very discouraged for her. I was trying to be optimistic, but it was really hard to keep the faith for her. I learned my lesson when I got a chance to check the match results later in the day and was shocked when I saw the Venus won!! She still lost the 1st set, though not when I'd anticipated. She got it to go to a tiebreak.
Today I watched Rafa Nadal take on Novak Djokovic. Set 1 all is can say is lucky break (Djokovic won it). Set 2, I never should have gone to shower because Djokovic broke Rafa while I wasn't watching and was up 3-0. But I came back and again, it was hard to keep the faith. Now, yes, I think there is a line between faith and blind, almost thoughtless, optimism. But, having learned from Venus, I kept the faith in Rafa. I know he doesn't need me. He can't hear me. He doesn't even know I exist. but, I believed he could win. I'd seen him win many times in the past, I saw Venus pull off a great win against the Japanese girl. I clearly have no control over the matter. So, what can I do? Enjoy the match! Believe in my player's capabilities. Be optimistic, but realistic. I try to think what the player must be thinking and how he or she might be strategizing. If I can just win this game, if I can just hold my serve... But my conclusion is that it comes down to- I have to win this point. I just have to win this point. I have to win this one and the next one, and the next one. I can't dwell on the past, but I can learn from it. Now, I'm going to try to win this point.
And I think many life lessons can be pulled from this. Mainly: I can, and desperately need to, have faith and not give in, even when things look bleak. I can recognize my lack of control in life, and trust my God, who has control and already has everything worked out. I can be optimistic, yet realistic. And I can enjoy the ride, with my brother's long legs on my lap and my mom's and my curly "attack hairs" (we call them) left all over the couch when the match is over. Long live Wimbledon and let's keep up the faith!