So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Cor. 10:31

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Next Stop Urubamba, Peru

Well it is that time. My 10-day project trip to Urubamba, Peru to design a campus Master Plan and prepare Construction Documents for the Church and Dormitory facilities for the Seminario Evangelico Bautista Independiente officially begins this Friday! This seminary project once completed will be used to train pastors to reach the Quechua people of the central Andes mountain region. Thank you all for the love and support that has made this great adventure possible.We will be working in Urubamba, Peru in the Urubamba Valley of the Andes Moutain Range. Please keep our team in your thoughts and prayers the next two weeks as we prepare and go to serve the people of Peru.

Urubamba, Peru
 

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Yo hablo Espanol !!

Its official I graduated from my 40 hour introductory Spanish course on Friday!! I have learned a lot but I have a long way to go. I have been reminded the last two weeks of the respect I have for people who can speak multiple languages. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to practice and learn the Spanish language. The last two weeks have been full of exciting adventures and I am looking forward to a few days of a slower pace that two of my fellow interns are not able to enjoy. They left for their project trip to Mexico at 4 AM this morning! The relaxing will not last long unfortunately! We are bound for Urubamba, Peru on Friday!! You can read more about the project at the following link.

http://www.emiamericalatina.org/projects/project_7089_EN.php

Language school was intense. Class was from 8-12 each day Monday-Friday for two weeks straight. However, it also included several opportunities to be immersed into the finer things that Costa Rica has to offer. We learned a little Costa Rican history, got a taste of the traditional Costa Rican dances (salsa and merengue), shopped at the Atenas fresh produce market, and toured a coffee production facility. That's right some of your local Starbucks coffee may have been produced right here in my back yard. We also spent the Saturday between classes swinging through the trees on a canopy tour and visiting a nearby beach, Playa Jaco!


Coffee Beans



Playa Jaco

I cannot believe that I have been away from home for almost one complete month now. I am looking forward to settling down in Costa Rica and becoming accustomed to everyday life here. To this point it has seemed somewhat artificial with all of the orientation activities and schooling. In the past two weeks I have attended my first two church services and first Bible study all in Spanish. It is amazing seeing the passion for God in other peoples lives in an amazing new context. What has amazed me the most is the great passion that I have experienced from some of the younger generation of believers that I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet here in Atenas. Life here is much different than home and truly makes one appreciate the everyday things like a car to drive, hot water to shower in, and fast food restaurants just around the corner. However, here I am never far away from a beautiful mountain scene, a fresh fruit drink, and people who go out of their way to ensure that our experience in there homes is a good one.

I have had the opportunity the last couple of weeks to explore many of the local restaurants with my fellow interns, as well as, people watch in the park, enjoy a granizado (picture coming soon), try to teach a couple of ticos to play basketball, and spend time with my tico family and their friends. I was even fortunate enough to catch the Superbowl enjoying homemade pizzas with the interns and staff at Micah and Beth's outdoor pizza oven behind their house (I now have a future project to build).


Look Mom No Hands!
 
 
Our Classroom
 
 
Large Tree at the School 

Please keep me in your prayers this week as I will be packing and helping to make final preparations for our project trip to Urubamba, Peru as well as spending my first official week in the office. Keep our team of 16 people in your prayers as we work to complete designs for a future baptist seminary in the coming weeks and months. I am excited for the opportunity that we are going to have to help provide facilities necessary to train pastors for the people of Peru! Thank you for all of your love and support!