heading home for Christmas.

It's my last night living with this wonderful family, and I can't express how thankful I am for them! These past few months have been a whrilwind, a whole lot of change in a short amount of time. I've had a lot of ups and downs, and I've certainly had days (even weeks!) that I really just wanted to go back to Athens, back to my family, but, overall, I have absolutely loved it. And this family right here has been a huge part of that...these people have loved me so well: they've made me part of their family, welcomed me with open arms and unlimited love, and I've been so blessed by them.

Tomorrow, I head back to the US of A, and while I'm so excited to see my family and friends (and eat lots and lots of chicken salad and real cheese), I'm so sad to leave this family. When I return after Young Life training in January, I'll be living on the other side of the city (about 30-45 min. away, not including traffic), in an apartment with a new roommate named Kelsey, who works full time at a local church. I moved my things over to the apartment yesterday, and, again, while I'm excited to have my own space and cook my own food (mas o menos) and start a new chapter of life doing full-time ministry, it's hard to leave Costa Rica knowing that I won't be coming back to this house, to this neighborhood and to these people whom I have grown to know and love so deeply.

However, I am SO grateful to know that I have a family here, a group of people who love and care for me, who will be there for me whenever I need them, who will share life with me, who will stick with me through the ups and the downs and the culture shock and the language learning, and who will love me throughout my time in Costa Rica, however long that may be. These people are an extraordinary blessing and a sweet answer to prayer, and I can't imagine Costa Rica without them!

Los amo, y los voy a extranar muchisimo!

Thank you for your prayers for community, comfort, and love; the Lord has blessed me beyond belief.

graduation day!

Graduation from El Instituto de Lengua Espanola, spent with some of my favorite people!

advent: a season of expectation. GOD WITH US.

I listened to this podcast just this morning, and it brought my spirit a lot of joy, a lot of peace, and a lot of conviction. It's a sweet reminder of what this season of advent signifies, a reminder of the expectation and joyful anticipation of this too-often-stressful season. It reminds us not only of what advent represents for all of us living 2000 years after Jesus, but also what it signified to the ancient Jews, who for thousands of years endured horrendous persecution, slavery, exile, desert wandering, and endless battles, waiting and praying and hoping and crying out for the long-promised Savior to come and deliver them, to provide them with Hope, to bring light into the darkness.

So, take a short break from whatever your doing, find a quiet place, and take 45 minutes or so to listen to Tim Keller talk about Christmas. You won't regret it.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN to Timothy Keller's God With Us (click the link, then go to podcast #29 to listen)

                                

"Christmas is about getting near to Jesus, getting close to Him. What's keeping you from drawing near to Him? Whatever it costs to get close to Jesus, it's nothing compared to what it cost Him to be with you"-Tim Keller

Wyld Life Camp and Life Lately!