Tico Tuesday, March 25th

 Happy Tuesday!
As I mentioned last week, Wednesday, March 19th, was my 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY of missionary service here in Costa Rica! That was a few pounds, much lighter skin, 3 jobs, and several lifetimes ago! But you know a really cool thing? The other girl in this picture? I went to her wedding last year, and I was at a baby shower for her this past weekend! Still friends! We don't see each other or talk very often, but Ana Luisa is still a very sweet, loving sister-in-Christ with whom I feel comfortable and really enjoy spending time.
Anyway, 5 years. That's the second longest I've ever lived anywhere. Maine: 7. Pennsylvania made it to about 4.5, but I was never there during summers, so that didn't really count. Therefore, Costa Rica is in 2nd place after Maine!
When I first came down here, I honestly thought I knew it all. I thought the cultural differences between here and the US weren't that significant. I thought machismo (Male superiority/putting down of women) was practically dead here. Oh how little I actually knew! The arrogance and ignorance of youth! And I still have much, much more to learn.
Above all, I give thanks and praise to God for all he has done in me. I trust he has worked through me as well, but I can testify primarily to my own life and the incredible transformations he has brought about. I could go on about that for a very long time, but will save that for later!
May God continue to do his transforming work in each of our lives and make us more like him every day!
Carrie

Tico Tuesday, March 18th

CAMP IS COMING!!
This past weekend we had the encerrona, the training retreat for camp leaders. We'll be having a world cup theme this year, to go along with the actual World Cup that will be taking place later this year. (Random fact: did you know that the Women's U17 World Cup is taking place here in Costa Rica right now? I didn't even know there was one!) What happens at the encerrona? We learn the theme song(s) for camp, we preview some of the games and activities and give feedback on how to improve them, we go over the virtues and Bible lessons we'll be focusing on during camp, we have fun and continue to bond as leaders (many of us have been leaders for AWANA and camp for a while now), and we receive training and motivation on how to be a good camp leader. I picked up some new soccer skills and learned how to relate soccer to the virtue of self-control!

(the slabs of wood we're holding have virtues on them)

The Copa Campa HB will be April 11-15. That's less than a month away! I'm so excited! Please join me in praying for the preparations, the staff and counselors, and the children. Camp is primarily about sharing the gospel with the children and giving them an opportunity to start a relationship with Jesus. Please pray for God to use us and to open the children's hearts to Christ! Later this week I should find out who my co-leader(s) and campers will be. I can't wait to plan the activities for cabin time and decide what goodies to put together for our girls!
In other news, tomorrow is my 5 YEAR Anniversary of missionary service here in Costa Rica!!! Glory and praise to God! In the near future I'll share some of my reflections with you.
Also, thanks so much to all of you who replied to last week's Tico Tuesday. I hope to reply to you individually as soon as I can. I've been continuing to process all these things and have a renewed sense of purpose for being here. God is so good!
Thank you as always for your prayers, support, and encouragement!
My current theme phrase is: The Lord is good, and his love endures forever!
May your heart and lips say the same!
Carrie

Tico Tuesday, March 11th

You'll Never Be One of Them
It's the scary, most tense scene in the Sound of Music. The von Trapps are hiding on the roof of the abbey, and Rolfe has discovered them. Captain von Trapp comes out of hiding and tries to convince Rolfe not to give them away. But, a biting line escapes his lips, and snaps Rolfe back to reality, "You'll never be one of them."

I found Chowdah heeyah!

I've come to a conclusion: I will never be fully tica (Costa Rican). I will never have Spanish as my first language, I will always look like a gringa, and I will never blend in perfectly with tico culture. You might find this rather obvious, but it has been somewhat of a revelation for me, primarily the last point. If other missionaries who have been here for decades have not been able to adapt perfectly to this culture, why should I expect that I'd be able to? Just because my Spanish accent might be better than theirs and because I have always strived to surround myself with ticos/latinos instead of other gringos? Nice try, prideful machita (blondie)!
Over the past week, I came to realize that I had been expecting myself to eventually fit in perfectly with tico culture. I have learned an awful lot about it over the last several years. There are things I still don't get though, and some things I do get drive me CRAZY and help remind everyone around me, including myself, that I am a broken sinner in desperate need of grace.
And so, once more, I'm reminded of the high quality cross-cultural training I received through InterVarsity, which I didn't realize was high quality at the time because I thought I knew it all. At MAC (Ministering Across Cultures), we talked about different ways we could approach cross-cultural ministry. The two I recall the best are "Going Native," which I realize I've been trying to do, and "Incarnational," following Jesus and Paul's examples of meeting people where they are at and minimizing all possible barriers to the Gospel. I will never be a tica, and that's ok. That is not who God made me to be. He wants me to demonstrate his love as clearly as possible to my coworkers, the children and families we serve, the Arbolitos group from church, and everyone else I know and interact with here. I will never be "one of them," but that is ok. What matters is that we all be followers of Christ.
Thanks for walking alongside me and praying for me!
Love,
Carrie

Tico Tuesday, March 4th

Happy Tuesday! Yes! It's Tuesday! Hooray!

It's been a good day, and this past weekend was a great weekend. This picture shows that I am part of a new and now doubled missionary family. I realize I haven't talked much about the LAM's merge with United World Mission (UWM). But really, that's a good thing. My everyday life has not changed as a result of the merger, and I'm glad. I am excited what the future as a UWMer will look like though. UWM is definitely on top of its game: well-organized, people respond to e-mails very quickly, my health insurance went down, it is in tune with the world and aware of what is going on in the realm of missions, and it really does share many common values and practices with the LAM. On Thursday morning, I got a bit choked up again about this transition. It is sad to have something I've been a part of for almost 5 years not be an independent organization anymore. I knew that reality would hit this weekend at the LAM/UWM retreat. But, I now freely declare that I am proud to be part of UWM.
It was a bit of a wild weekend since I wasn't able to get all my schoolwork done before the retreat started. But, it was the best "LAM" retreat I've been to. The teachings and workshops were excellent. Everything was just really well done. And we had enough people to use the whole field for the annual soccer game! John Bernard, the president of UWM (and LAM since LAM is now part of UWM), is another one of those really wonderful men of God with whom I have been able to connect. What a blessing to know him and have him as president! He is an amazing expositor of God's Word, as well as an excellent leader. And...he's a New Englander and a Red Sox fan!!! Huzzah! I am so grateful for him! Now if only I could meet a single guy like that who is close to my age... ;-) jajaja!
Please be praying for this transition and the fusion of LAM with UWM. It is a big challenge. We have a task force working on it, but it is still a very important, delicate, enormous matter.
More to come in a Chronicle soon!
May God pleasantly  surprise you this week and fill you with his joy!
Carrie