A Small Health Concern

I live in the Valley of San Jose, where 75% of Costa Rica’s population lives. It sounds like it’s a huge area, but in reality it’s not all that huge, especially when the country is only about 500 miles in length and 200 miles in width. I’m surrounded by gorgeous mountains and am lucky to live just about 10 minutes from the base of the southern mountains of this valley.

However with any large city there are added health risks. Those risks are elevated when the area has little, to no, regulations on vehicles; multiple factories; and the burning of coffee fields. One of the risks are developing asthma.

Unfortunately, over the past several months I have begun noticing that it’s harder to breath out, especially in the evenings when I start settling down. These times have increased and can occur from only sitting down reading a book to exercising. I have begun experiencing a heaviness in my lungs during these episodes.

Today has been the worse. We did a entire chapel of praise and worship and I was one of the leaders, and also had a solo, however I found it hard to even sing because of the breathing issues.

After school, I asked one of my doctor friends at school about it and he said it’s very likely that it could be asthma. But there’s no way to know for sure without getting a breathing test.

Please pray that this will not become serious. (I’m hoping that working up on the mountain 5 days a week will help decrease the symptoms, since the air is fresh up there.) Also pray that if I do need to seek medical attention that the Lord will provide the financial means and the right to doctor to go to. Thanks for your prayers.

Just A Few More Days

It’s finally that time, though I truly can’t wrap my mind around it yet and probably won’t for some time to come, but I’ll be back in the states in less than 3 days – Saturday! I’m excited about seeing everyone.

I ask for grace as I adjust to American culture and English. Forgive me ahead of time if I try to kiss you on your cheek when I greet you; throw my toliet paper in the trashcan; start speaking in Spanlish; or just plain weird at times.

I’d love to see you so email me at sunshineloveland@gmail.com if you’d like together. Can’t wait to be in Missouri very soon!

I Passed!

It’s official, I’m receiving a diploma from the Instituto de Lengua Espanola! With the favor of God, I was able to pass both of my tests!

A year ago my Spanish speaking ability was a Beginner Low; with much studying and the strength of God to go on I am now at an Advance Low. The teacher who gave me my oral exam said with a little more work on my grammar and completed sentences I will quickly and very soon become an Advance Medium! Praise God!

Then there is the big grammar test worth 300 points. I was told that many people do not pass this test (meaning you have to score a 70% or higher), but 75% of our class passed; which is the highest percentage ever! I didn’t do as well as I would have liked but I did get a 78%. After talking to some people who are awesome in Spanish and they got low 80% I feel much better.

I’m just so thankful to God for His strength to survive and learn this language. I have really enjoyed learning Spanish with some amazing people. As classes end next week, I’m very sadden to say good-byes but I’m so excited to hear all about what God will be doing all around Latin America through friends that I have cherished so much. I just can’t believe the time has come to graduate. Wow!

I Made It!

I am officially done with my big tests and insane study schedule, but I feel like it paid off. The massive grammar test was easier than I expected. I, along with some others, had some issues with several parts of the test but I don’t think it will be that bad.

I am thankful to be done with this part and be able to enjoy the next two weeks as I prepare for all the stuff I’ll be doing while I’m back in the states. I’m also thankful that I get to finally rest and relax; and I’m doing it on Isla Tortuga for the day on Saturday.

Isla Tortuga is an island off the Pacific Coast, and some of my friends and I are going. The best part is that this is a gift from some friends who I watched their kids for several days. What a great way to just relax and finally get to breath some fresh, non-city air for the first time in 4 months. Isn’t God so great? He knows what we need, exactly when we need it! Yea for God! Thanks for all your prayers!

It’s Official

If you have been following my blog you know that I have been trying to decide between working at Renacer or La Carpio. It’s been a hard decision and many things to think about and pray through.

This week has been a good one with Jesus as we discussed where, when, and what. Yesterday I felt like I had a clear answer after spending time with Him, but I wanted to sleep on it to make sure that in the morning I would have the peace that He provides when it’s His will.

This morning I woke up having a great peace and I didn’t even have a doubt about where I am to be working. This was the first time in a long time there was no doubt left.

I will be spending at least the next year at Renacer, working with the teen girls there. I’m so excited and have started that process now. They are excited to have me join them. I start 5 Oct. Thanks for praying!

One Down and One to Go

Today I took my ECO, the oral exam. I wish I could say I did great and did really showed my ability to speak Spanish, however I feel very opposite of that. I know I’m much harder on myself than I should be and therefore my view of what I did is tainted some. However there were parts that I felt like I did well in.

I just wanted to be able to show my true ability. I felt like I got stuck on easy things that I knew but my nerves got a hold of me and I wanted to say things right so I thought too much about it and then that always causes problems. Oh well. I keep reminding myself that no matter what the paper says I’m able to speak Spanish and communicate with those around me. That is what is important, not if I have an advance low as my level.

Please pray for me that I will just focus on God and not focus on my self-serving and prideful side that can come out in times like this. Today I’m struggling with it. I put too much emphasis on a grade and that’s not what is important here. So as I had asked God to do several days ago, to break down my pride, He’s doing so.

Thank you for your prayers on my tests. One more to go. I’m going to try to give this one completely to the Lord and take my pridefulness out of it.

The Be All and End All Exams

So the time has finally arrived in which I have not been looking forward to for the past year…the ECO and Gramatica tests. The ECO, which is tomorrow, is a 30 minute oral exam to test my oral proficiency level. Then there’s the 3 hour Gramatica test on Friday which covers all of the Spanish grammar that I have learned over the past year! I’m a bit scared.

Please pray that I will trust God to help me recall all that I have studied and learned. Also pray that I won’t allow my nerves to take over me. Well I’m off to studying some more.

11 Months!

It seems like it was just a few months ago, yet an eternity ago as the same time, when I began my 4am trip to the Springfield Airport with Andrea and Heather. As we drove, I tried to hold back tears and tried not to think too much. Thankfully Andrea and Heather have a way to make me laugh as we joked about rain being in both countries.

I loaded up my three large suitcases that weighed .01 lb less than the max. weight of 50 lbs. Then I hugged the girls for what seemed like eternity. They told me that a year will go by so fast and Christmas will come even faster. I gave them a sarcastic laugh as I thought it will not go by fast. I hesitated to head to the line to enter the terminal but I had to finally go. (I sure felt bad for the workers when they saw my flood of tears streaming down my face.) I couldn’t quit looking back to Andrea and Heather for that last glimpse before I was gone for a very long time. (Wow I’m tearing up now just remembering this.)

Once I got to the terminal, God took over my thoughts and He and I hung out for the rest of the time. God placed a nice gentleman in the terminal, who sat behind me on the plane, to encourage me. His daughter and son-in-law were in the process of raising support to go overseas as missionaries.

I remember the first time I saw the beautiful shores of Costa Rica from up high. How incredible it was. How beautiful it was. I had to turn to God, as fear swept through me, but then He gave me a beautiful rainbow that hung over the vibrant greens of Costa Rica. Then I was on the ground and began my time here. That was 11 months yesterday!

It’s quite amazing how fast time has flown. I have only three weeks left of school and will begin saying good-byes to some incredible people. At least I have about 13 different countries I can go to now and always have a place to stay. I’m amazed at what God has done in these past 11 months and I look forward to the next 2 years to see what He continues to do. He never seems to stop amazing me. I’m so thankful that He has lead me here.

Beauty for Ashes May ’09 | News from Sunshine Loveland

This week, we received Sunshine Loveland’s most recent newsletter about her work with Christ for the City International in Costa Rica. You don’t want to miss reading about her day-spa service day or her vision trips to potential ministries she’ll be working with in the fall. Get the full scoop by downloading her newsletter (PDF)…

March Update from Impact Partner Sunshine Loveland

LifePoint recently received this email and newsletter from our partner Sunshine Loveland in Costa Rica:

Hey, Friends!

I pray everyone had a great Easter. Mine was very different; I’ll be blogging about it here within the next few days, so go to my website (www.sunshineloveland.com) and check it out, or better yet–sign up for my new posts be sent to you via email. (Do that on my website as well.) Also if you would like to chat with me via Skype, that would be awesome. I even have a webcam so you can see me. Just download Skype at www.skype.com for free (takes about 5 minutes); my Skype name is FunshineCR.

I hope you all have a great month. I look forward to April as I finish second trimester and have a week and half off school then start my last trimester! Wow how time flies by!

Grace and peace be yours from God our Father,
Sunshine

Download Sunshine’s March newsletter (PDF)…

Next Page »