Thanksgiving…
A time when the United States remembers to be thankful.
A time when people fill their bellies with turkey, potatoes,
vegetables, and pie.
A time when consumerism takes over the human body and people
go insane at stores.
This year my Thanksgiving looked a little different. The weather didn’t feel like
Thanksgiving. I was unable to see my
family. I got to have a Thanksgiving
lunch with my students which consisted of Popeye’s chicken. Although Costa Rica doesn’t celebrate
Thanksgiving, they do have Black Friday, Black Weekend, or Black Month, which I
thought was interesting! I also was able
to have a Thanksgiving lunch with all the faculty and staff at my school. And lastly, I was invited to join one of my
bosses at his house for dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Although it was very different, I am so
thankful for the week I had, and wouldn’t change it for the world!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your
own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths
straight” –Proverbs 3:5-6. This bible
verse has been surfacing in many ways since I’ve been in Costa Rica. It’s on the journal I got from my mom before
leaving… I’ve posted it in my classroom in both Spanish and English… It’s been
in many of my devotionals… It’s been part of sermons I’ve heard. From the very first moment I was even seriously
considering teaching abroad, I’ve had to place all of my trust in the
Lord. It is very clear that if I had
only trusted in myself, I would not be here today. The beginning of my time here was very
challenging for me, for many reasons.
However, I kept trusting the Lord, and his plan for allowing me to be
here. And by trusting in his plan, I
have been able to relax (most of the time), and enjoy my time! I am constantly surprised in the ways God has
been blessing me.
The most recent blessing has been the apartment I was
offered. In my previous apartment, there
was little ventilation, and with rainy season, it was very moist. These conditions made it perfect for the
development of mold. Mold was growing
everywhere. I am slightly allergic to
mold, therefore I have been sick for a total of about 8 weeks, and I’ve only
been here for 15. But, I am now residing
in a new apartment, in a great location, within walking distance of my crossfit
gym, next to a mall, yet a little further from school. When I first took a tour of this apartment, I
was considering if I was dreaming. This
place is beyond what I ever expected, hoped for, or thought I would have. I’m beyond thankful for this incredible new
place to live.
It’s amazing… the way God works. My life in Kansas was so good, so
comfortable, I was so happy. Two years
ago, when God called me to teach abroad, I was excited, yet scared. As that calling became a reality in August, I
was still excited and still scared. I
was leaving my comfortable bubble that I knew so well, to go to a new country
I’d never been to, teach in a school I’d never seen, communicate only with
Spanish (outside of school)… yet I knew that if I put my trust in the Lord,
everything would be okay. There were
times in my life in the States when I did whatever I wanted, not what the Lord
wanted me to do. I was selfish,
ungrateful, and disobedient at times.
But being here in Costa Rica has led me on such an incredible spiritual
journey. I’ve learned to communicate
more with my Heavenly Father. I’ve
learned to depend on Him every single day.
I’ve learned that He is truly ALL I need. He has made my faith stronger in places that
I didn’t even know needed to be strengthened.
I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else right now. I’m exactly where God needs me to be, and I’m
incredibly feliz J
