I am alive and well! The first few days in Costa Rica have been overwhelming, exciting, funny, and definitely humbling. Today at the feria, an open-air market in my neighborhood, I realized how patient and understanding my madre de Costa Rica is when I couldn't understand most of what my new friend, Laura (who is 4 years old) said! Though my Spanish is better than I thought it would be, I have a long way to go!

I am so glad I'm here and I'm so grateful for my Costa Rican family! They have been so kind and patient to me. Yesterday mi madre and I were laughing as we watched telenovelas, soap operas, and my padre has ingrained in me that the best futbol team in Costa Rica is Saprissa! 

I don't have much time to blog, but hopefully I'll be able to post mini-updates like this! 

En la feria!

My madre and I with los flores

Drinking pipa with Laura, who is wearing her abuela's sunglasses

He is not safe...

Hello! If you are reading this, you know that I will be spending the fall semester of my junior year in Costa Rica! I hope this will be a way to connect with you while I'm (not even a continent) away. Please leave all the comments you'd like to! Also, I'd greatly appreciate your prayers; I know I cannot get through this semester on my own!

This week, it has been difficult preparing to leave my family and thinking of the people I love at Wheaton as they head back to school. I've decided there are two parts of me when it comes to challenges like this semester. There is the cowardly part, the part that would like nothing more to spend every minute with people I know, in places I know, in a world I understand where nothing will hurt or confuse me. 

But then there is the Jesus part, the part powered by the Holy Spirit, the part that knows I am safe in all ways no matter where I am because I am His. This is also the part in which I know that I will grow from this semester (if He has anything to do with it!) and that I would deeply regret staying safe. 

I take comfort in the description of Aslan, the allegorical character of God, from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: "Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn't safe. But he is good."
I leave for Costa Rica in the care of a good God who loves me too much to keep me comfortable. 

Although, in a place like this, maybe I'll be more comfortable than I've ever been! !Pura Vida!