Snapshots

Well, we just finished our 3rd week of this semester of language school. Even though we are reviewing topics that we covered in the intensive course, it has been great to have more practice and have a deeper understanding of the language. We have found this course to be different for many reasons, but one is that we are absorbing more of the intricacies and able to use alot of the things that we might have covered last semester, but we're actually integrating it into our language skills this semester.

God has allowed us to also use some of our skills to serve him while we're in language school. Josh has been a part of the praise teams that lead worship at Chapel each week. He's playing the djembe (a big bongo drum) and guitar. It's been very refreshing to see how God has already been using us in ways that we might no have even thought to do before we came here. The Lord is so willing to use each person when we make ourselves available. We decided before we arrived in Costa Rica that we wanted to find ways to get involved in the local community so as to have a ministry to those around us, not just those in the countries where EMI has projects. The Lord has already provided that for Josh. An opportunity has come up to be a volunteer coach for a football team here in San Jose. There is a new league of "American football", which we have to distinguish here between soccer which is also called football (futbol). He is coaching the Jaguars, which funny enough, the son of one of our teachers plays for the Jaguars. It is a team of 18 to 24 year old Costa Ricans. Most of them have a huge passion for American football, but are not Christians. Josh's experiences in football gives him automatic respect with the players and opens doors to allow him to share the love of Christ.







We are also official Costa Rican residents...well, temporary ones, at least. We just received our "cedulas" (identification cards, a lot like our Social Security cards in the States) yesterday! We were accepted for two years, and then, after two years, we'll reapply for another couple years before we can apply for permanent residency. I can't say I exactly feel like a "Costa Rican", but I know that the Lord is slowly making this place our home.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers:
1. continued language learning
2. the wife of one of the guys in Josh's class just found out she has a tumor on her kidney, so pray for wisdom and healing.
3. continued peace during a time of transition
4. finding ways to meet and make relationships with locals