Hello From Costa Rica Posted 8/28/09

Each time that I have made this trip my Father has made His presence known. He has shown me through the Little Things that all my cares matter to Him. The week before departing I spent a lot of my time packing and unpacking, weighing & weighing again as I tried to figure out what to take. Some of you know that it is a challenge to pack for a week, try packing for four months. My flight allowed me to bring 2 cases at 50 lbs, 2 carry on and a purse. I wish you could have seen me. I had a back pack, my camera, a large full bag, a carry on with my pillow, umbrella, sweater & jacket attached to it and the two large cases that were completely full. As I placed my first peice of luggage on the scale I held my breath as I just knew that it would be over the weight limit. Surprise, it wasn't, it weighed exactly 50 lbs. I placed the 2nd one on the scale and it to weighed exactly 50 lbs. I told my mom that the Lord placed His hand on the luggage and kept it from going over. I said my good by's to my mom and dad, which was very hard and continued through the process of baggage check. No one ever stopped me or questioned me about the amount of luggage that I still seemed to have with me. As I now know it was far more than I was suppose to have. My clue was when I began entering the plane and was having difficulty getting my baggage through the entrance. Then one of the airline steward's spoke up. She asked if I was traveling with someone. I told her no. Well, that was the wrong answer. She immediately ushered me back into a little space and told me that I had way to many bags and that she would have to call someone. After a short time of waiting for others to pass and sharing with her that I was going to be staying in Costa Rica for four months she agreed to allow me continue on board but she didnt know how I would store everything. When I got back to my seat I was relieved that no one else was sitting there at the moment. A man behind me offered to place my luggage in the overhead compartment. It almost took up the entire bin. As I sat in my seat I began to wonder why no one else was sitting next to me. Everyone else seemed to have someone sitting with them. It bothered me because this has happened at other times in my life and I have often felt alone. I said to the Lord that He obviously had something for me to learn out of this. Then the light went off. His reply was, My child, didn't you need all three spaces. If someone else had sit on your isle then you would have had to find another place to put your luggage. There wasn't any place left.
I am so happy that my Father knows me. I am sure that He is shaking His head at me and laughing out loud at some of the things that I do but He never stops paving the way to make things easier, even when things seem to be so difficult.
I love my new apartment. It is clean. I have hot running water, bright lights in my bathroom which I have been missing for a long time, a comfortable clean bed and roses outside my front door. A friend took me to buy some groceries and cleaning supplies. When you haven't had a place of your own in a while it takes an unexpected amount of money to purchase these things but thanks to many of you I was able to do this without having to take extra money from my mission account.
I am surrounded by loving neighbors who I am blessed to have as friends. Yesterday I had lunch with Trisha & Bonnie. We had a great time getting to know each other. Last night I met with my Costa Rican friends to study God's word, pray and sing songs. I didn't know everything that was being said but I sure did love being among them.
Thank you my loving friends and family for your prayers that were lifted up for me for I know without a doubt that the Lord heard you and answered.