So I'm in a different country now?

Hello America!

First of all, my dear country, let me say I miss you, but not really really badly yet.  As long as I'm in this place, that may never happen...

To the people of America whom I dearly love, I DO miss you!  Adjusting to Costa Rica will be very different this time around.  Last year, everything about city life was new and exciting, and I hardly had time to stop and think.  It was a constant whirlwind of fresh tastes, new faces, and changing struggles.  This year, I feel in many ways as though I am stepping right back into an old friendship, as if this is my home, and I just had 10 months away.  As we walked the streets to dinner last night, I had to remind myself that it had actually been almost a year since I last did that!  I am sure that going on campus will be a new adventure, and the new relationships I will build will most certainly be the most exciting thing I do this year.

Today our team will go to campus for the first time, for a scavenger hunt to acquaint ourselves with the new surroundings.  The object will be to learn organically through the locals, not depending on English or our past experiences.  Not only will this get everyone more comfortable with the area, but also teach us to engage with the students and build friendships early.  Tomorrow we do the same but throughout the city.  It will be great to see some familiar places again!

Pray for my passport situation, because for some reason it was only approved for 20 days, so I will need to visit the embassy and get that amended.  Also pray for our team to grow together more, now that Hector has joined us here!  It looks like things are all going well though, and God has certainly blessed us with diversity!  At first I saw this only in our nationalities, but wsince getting to know everyone, we all hav very different gifts to share with the team.

More later!
Andrew

Psalm 86:6-12

Howdy!

Hello to my friends around the world!

I am blessed to be going back to San Jose, Costa Rica this summer to lead a Summer Project similar to the one I participated in last year.  We aim to glorify the Lord and know Him more closely, grow close as a team and a greater body of believers, and of course reach many students with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Currently I am at briefing in Portland, awaiting the arrival of my team, and making last-minute plans for our schedule and activities.  Here we will do training for culturally-sensitive ministry, get a clearer vision for how and why we are reaching out to students, and get to know our team members.

This is the breakdown of our team:

The leaders are Jerusha Karraker and I.  She is on staff with Cru at Oregon, and I am blessed to lead alongside her.  The students are Philip Asamoah (Indiana), Katherine Mitchell (Wheaton College), Jin Jung (Dickinson State, on exchange from South Korea), and Hector Suarez (American U, on exchange from Venezuela).  As you can see, we are a very diverse little group!  I believe God has brought us together for a special purpose, and I can't wait to see how we grow together and learn each other's unique stories.

We leave on Tuesday night for San Jose, where the rainy season has just started and we are hoping for fertile soil where we can plant seeds of truth!  Please pray for our safe travels and for the unity of our team as we embark.

My next post will be from Costa Rica, and I wish you well as I depart for a season!  God bless you and keep you!

Andrew

Romans 10:9-15