How beautiful are the feet...

...of those who bring the good news! - Romans 10:15

The first week of May, the Reyes Academy and Comunidad Multicultural, a local Haitian/Dominican church, ventured together across the border to our neighboring country of Haiti.  It was a crazy two nights and three days full of heat, sweat, and a lot of Jesus.

We took a bus from Santiago to Dajabon, a town in the north part of the DR.  We crossed the border on foot, and we stepped into a whole new world.

Over the three days, God taught me that everyone is searching for love.  When we were in the baby rescue center, there was a little boy who looked so sad.  Christin asked if she could pick him up, and the workers said yes.  She held him while I tickled and played with him.  His face lit up.  He was bubbling over in laughter.  He wanted to be noticed.  He wanted to be loved.

When we were at the orphanages, the older kids loved talking and connecting.  The little ones loved holding hands and playing.  What can you do to love the ones around you a little better today?

God taught me about stereotypes.  I have heard that Haiti is dirty, hot, and like a desert.  I was so surprised when I we were driving to the Citadel.  There were trees everywhere.  Looking out at the top of the mountain I could see mountains beyond mountains beyond mountains.  They were all green and beautiful.

God taught me to lean on Him for strength.  Climbing the Citadel was a huge task.  The mountain was high and the walk never-ending.  We started off singing as we were walking, but then we were so out of breath that didn't work.  Eventually Christin and I took turns praying.  We prayer walked up that giant mountain.  We prayed for the trip, the ministries we met, our school, our students, our families, and for the country of Haiti.  When we keep our eyes fixed on the problem or the mountain, we will fail.  But when we fix our eyes on the LORD, He will help us.

God taught me about what heaven will be like.  I loved serving on a team with people from different countries.  We had Haitians, Haitian-Dominicans, Dominicans, Americans, and Dominican-Americans.  It was a mixture of skin colors, cultures, and languages.  And it was amazing.  We would sing in English, Spanish, and French.  We would lift our voices together in prayer in Creole, English, and Spanish.

When we were at the top of the Citadel, we had communion together, thanking Jesus for all He has done for us.  One of the leaders of the other group mentioned how we are in such awe and wonder of the beautiful view and of the amazing Citadel, but how we need to be even more amazed and in awe of what Jesus did on the cross.  It just gave me such a beautiful picture of what heaven will be like.

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne before the Lamb."  Revelation 7:9

I learned the power of communication.  I never thought I would learn a third language, but I can have conversations in French and tell the story of the calling of the first disciples.  Annie taught it to us before we left for our trip.  We stopped at Fort Liberty to walk and pray with the people.  We came across this little beach where people were bathing and washing clothes.  A little girl came up to Christin and I, and we asked her if she wanted to hear a story.  We shared Matthew 4:18-22 with her in French from memory.  She actually understood us, and she repeated the names of the disciples back to us in French.  Walking along the water, imagining what the story was like, I realized what it truly means to be a disciple.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."  Matthew 4:19

I loved watching the boys interact and play with the kids at the orphanage.  One of them asked to pray for a woman on the beach who was studying for a test.  They washed plates, they hiked the mountain, they amazed me.  It was incredible to see the fruit after two years working with them.

God, what do You have up Your sleeves next for me?

Con mucho amor.

Costa Rica Trip #5

Where I've been:  Just like last year, I flew to Costa Rica during Semana Santa.  This year was extra special, though, because my parents and sister joined me there.  By the grace of God, Krysta and I had the same week of spring break.  We decided to take advantage of the awesome coincidence and show mom and dad around Costa Rica.  It was a busy week, but such a blessing that we got to spend it together exploring a country I love.

San Ramon:  Our first stop was San Ramon, the town where my host family lives.  We got to spend time with the teacher I helped back in 2012.  Her name is Cristina, and she even brought her new baby.  It was so fun to catch up and see her.  While we were waiting for her, we explored the central park and got my favorite Cosechas milkshakes and smoothies.

We ate dinner at my host family's house, and it was such a dream for my real family to meet my Costa Rican family.

I also got to bring my parents to my church in San Ramon.  I was trying to translate the sermon, and my parent's got to see a baptism.

After church we went to my friend Lucy's house with KFC for lunch.  It was a nice time laughing and sharing with people I love.

Arenal:  We spent our first day at the volcano hiking around the national park and the hanging bridges park.  It is very humid in the rain forest.  We were sweating bullets as we adventured through the parks.  We didn't get to see much wildlife except for a few snakes and lizards.  I kept asking the park maintenance people if they had seen any sloths or monkeys that day, but no one had.

Flat Stanley also joined us on our journey.  This is the second time I've gotten Flat Stanley.  We found this mini replica of the hanging bridges that was just his size!

Although the trees and forest were beautiful, my favorite part was soaking in the hot springs.  My first and third trip to Costa Rica I went to "hot springs," but they weren't very warm.  This pool was huge, and it felt so lovely.  My mom, dad, and sister said it was too warm, but I could have spent another few days floating in the warm water.

We got to see some amazing wildlife on our way from Arenal to Tamarindo.  Although it was a long drive, it was one of my favorite parts of the week.  It made me realize the beauty in Costa Rica.

Tamarindo:  Unfortunately we picked the busiest and craziest week of the year to travel in Costa Rica.  Most of the beaches were so crowded, but we went to Bahia de los Piratas, a beach my host brother has taken me to several times.

We spent lots of time walking around the town, eating yummy food, and relaxing in the condo.

Monte Verde:  This was my first real time in Monteverde, and I loved it.  I wished we had spent more time here.  The weather was much cooler than the 90+ degree heat in Tamarindo.  We stayed at an amazing lodge with beautiful gardens and hammocks.

We also did ziplining in Monteverde.  It was my fifth time doing ziplining, and this one was the craziest and most intense.  We had to hike up a mountain and two of the lines we were hooked up on our backs.  It was one of the most terrifying things I have ever done.  There was also a tarzan swing, which I did not think I would do.  I got suited up just to check and see, but before I knew it the door was open and I was free falling.  My throat hurt so much from screaming, but I guess God knew I needed to work on taking some steps of faith.

San Jose:  My sister studied abroad in Costa Rica for a month, and she still keeps in contact with one of the girls from her program.  On my parent's last night we attempted to go to the National Theater and a market, but everything was closed for Semana Santa.  We ended up going to a little coffee shop and talking with her.

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San Ramon:  My last day in Costa Rica was awesome.  I got to spend it with all the people I love.  We ate, and talked, and laughed, and shared.

Every time I leave Costa Rica I have this feeling I will be back soon.  What places are pulling on your heartstrings?  Where is God calling you to go?

Con mucho amor.