SUPER AGUA FIN DE SEMANA!/Super Water Weekend!

Whew! I am water logged. (Not real sure if that is really a word or not, but my mom says it all the time when she has been in the water for too long!) Anyways, man I get side-tracked really fast, ok, um...so this weekend was a blast. I was asked to work with the youth pastors, Jacob & Amanda Noel (MA's from Louisiana) to help with their youth camp. So on Friday evening I loaded up Big Red (that is my 4runner...pics to come soon) with 9 yes 9 students to head out to the camp.

This is how we "roll" in E.S. 

10 people in a 5 passenger vehicle!

Thank you Lord for your protection.

So we had like 30 people ready to learn about the refreshing waters from the Lord. We had a flag competition complete with a team name and of course a mighty chant! This whole weekend the teams would rack up points to win.........cookies! (It's the small things in life!)

The Making of the Flags

We then had our Friday night service where Josh Sears brought the word. The 3 messages this weekend were #1. Knocking on the door of righteousness. #2. Knocking on the door of bitterness. #3. Knocking on the door of someone else's heart. So the service went great and the youth slept good. This morning we woke up early and had breakfast and small groups with our teams. We used follow up questions from the service last night. After small groups we loaded up again and headed to a water-park! We had a blast. Check out some pics!

Las Chicas!

Refreshing

All this for $3

Los Guapos

We had an excellent time here at the water-park. After many wonderful hours we returned home and had a scavenger hunt.....in the rain...and thunder....and with thunder comes.......yep......lightning! I was so thrilled to be out there! We then had an incredible service. The Spirit really moved and many burdens were lifted off these youth. It was awesome. 

 

Family

The winners!

It was a great weekend and we have one more day left. Thank you for your prayers and support, lives are being changed.

WORD OF THE DAY: CANSADA(TIRED)

HOW I SEE IT(today): WATERLOGGED

A long time coming......

WHEW!  I know it has been forever since I have been on here, but, when you don't have good internet and time......well.....some things get pushed to the side. I hope to try and be more consistent now that I am somewhat settled! Well.....let me tell you a little about what has been going on. I live at the camp that we have here. It sits on a lake...and a volcano! I have hit the ground running here and I am loving it. I am still trying to learn about the ministry and to get to know everyone here and try to connect with the people. I have some awesome opportunities coming up so keep me in prayer. Last week we had several children's pastors from all over the states come in to do a Children's Workers Conference/Workshop. It was great. We had around 500 attendants from several countries here. I also had the opportunity to speak in the youth group. Yea so here is what I'm feeling now.....I have so much to say to catch up on that it is overwhelming. So...I think I will just start over.....maybe tomorrow.


WORD OF THE DAY: Quizas (key-sas) MAYBE
HOW I SEE IT: Yea...probably not going to happen!

Legacy

On April 9th around 10:30a.m. my beautiful MiMi stepped into eternity. She lived an incredible life, touching many with her kind, hospitable nature. I was able to fly home for the Home-going Celebration as many of you know. It was indeed an incredible opportunity. The funeral was just a reminder to all of us of just how big and impact my grandmother had. There were somewhere around 500 people that came through those doors. I was so blessed to be a part of her family.

She was so beautiful.

The grandkids (Me, Michael, and Cassie) were blessed to be able to play a song in her honor. Michael and I played the acoustic guitar and Cassie played to piano. I felt so blessed to stand up their KNOWING where she was and seeing all those people out there that were impacted by her life. She has definitely left her mark. I hope I make her proud. I wanted to share the lyrics of the song we did.

I STILL MISS YOU

There she was, 5'3 a picture of my mother's mother
She showed me love, and all the ways of God
Her final days were spent in bed where she passed away
I won't forget her smiling face when she left us that night

But I still miss you
All the times we spent together
To hear you talk about the weather
I always prayed you'd get well soon
I wish my prayers came true
I know Jesus has the answer
And He's way bigger than the cancer in you
But I still miss you

If dreams came true, just one more chance to talk to you
And thank you for the time you spent teaching me the truth
A boy back then, I've grown up, now I'm a man
I can finally understand the things you said to me

But I still miss you
All the times we spent together
To hear you talk about the weather
I always prayed you'd get well soon
I wish my prayers came true
I know Jesus has the answer
And He's way bigger than the cancer in you
But I still miss you

I need some help to carry on
I need some strength to keep me strong... 

You were so loved Mimi. See you soon.

WORD OF THE DAY: Legado (Legacy)

Day 2 With The Madre

4:00 am came bright and early once again for us. We loaded a van with another family from my school (The Schnieders) and headed to the beach in Manuel Antonio. The trip was long and hot but well worth it! We arrived at our awesome hotel around 8:30am so we had the whole day to enjoy the beautiful beach.

We stopped at the Crocodile Bridge 

Looking kinda rough at 5am

This is our hotel room in MIMOS

It was beautiful and big....and it had a flatscreen!

This was ONE of our pools! This hotel was gorgeous!

Mom and I at Manuel Antonio Beach

The water was perfect! Mom kept saying it looked like someone poured blue gatorade in it! Way better than that nasty gulf she is used to!

So we were chilling in the hotel right, and all of a sudden mom starts screaming bloody murder, I thought surely we were being robbed but looked up to find this friendly little guy on our balcony! She just isn't used to em!

Yet!

We used our time wisely and played some cards at the restaurant waiting for our meal!

Mom's first Tico Meal! Arroz con camerones. (Rice and Shrimp...and other unmentionables!!)

She LOVED it!

We had an excellent time at the beach!

WORD OF THE DAY: Vale la pena

ACTUAL MEANING: worthwhile

HOW I SEE IT: it's going to be worth it

1st Day With My Mom in Costa Rica

The countdown was almost unbearable as I sat in my apartment....waiting...counting....waiting...counting. The morning started early for my mom and I. She was up around 3 a.m. and I woke up shortly after to make sure she was packed and ready to roll! I slept for a couple hours then called again before she boarded in Memphis. Then slept a couple more hours and called when she landed in Atlanta. Around 6:50 my maid came to clean the house before the big arrival. After she left I waited! Then Shannon and Ethan came and picked me up in their rental car and we took the "scenic" route....(not planned) and ended up in the barrios lost. My nerves were shot but I tried to remain calm. I just couldn't imagine my poor mom not knowing a lick of Spanish and never been out of the country having to wait on me. But thank the Lord we made it just in time. Ethan and I held signs that read "Katie's Mom" and when she rounded the corner and saw us she was jumping up and down! A huge time of excitement. We drove home and she was just amazed at all the scenery here. Mountains everywhere. Homegirl don't get out much!

In the car on the way to my apartment

SUPER EXCITED

She made to my place!

San Jose

We went downtown and she got to feed the pigeons!

Mom had her first CHURRO and decided to share with this beautiful lady!

First day was a blast. Stay tuned for day 2!

The Wheels Are Turning

Well....it's 12:20 here in paradise and I can't sleep. Lot's of things going on up in the thinking chamber. Exciting things (my mom is coming!), anxious thoughts ( I know....I'm trying to get rid of those), thoughts of Spanish (they just keep coming), thoughts of goodbye (life is a vapor), thoughts of transition, thoughts of Jesus coming in on a donkey (it is Palm sunday you know...well sort of...I guess now it's the day after.) Anyways I could go on but I will spare you this time! All is well here in Costa Rica. I have been super busy lately and will use that excuse as for why it has been so long since I blogged. I have recently returned from Panama. It sure is tough to have to visit another country to renew your Visa! I enjoyed the trip. I have been studying, hanging out with new friends, going to church! I have made some pretty cool connections with some people in the church i am attending. I went to a cell group and that was fun, and hard to understand! Well...so yea I obviously don't have much to say and I have REALLY been slacking in the photo department but you all know I can't blog without photos, so, I will put up some random ones! Love you and appreciate you all!

Hanging out downtown with the Pruitt's

This place is known for the pigeon feeding. Kind of gross but is a huge pastime for the Ticos.

Getting in on the action

Not real fond of these things

Rachel Turner's 16th Bday Party

She had a great idea to bring winter to us! Her friend in her class made the cake!

I know...I know...I got mad photo skills!

Megan excited that the long awaited banana tree in their backyard is finally ready to eat. 

Cool Cow in front of Taco Bell...yup Taco Bell!

(That is Lorin in the Colts shirt, Rebecca's New Husband!)

and of course the Pruitt's

HAND AND FOOT!

This is what we do

However this one was funny. The power was out all day and we were playing by candles and windows!

 Babysitting the Kling Kidz 

Ian aka BoBo and Chase

Their dad told me that every night Ian prays for "Katie & Haiti"

Skype call with Ryan and his nephew Jonathon and niece Shakina and ugly dog!

Thank God for technology!

Well...that concludes my blog for tonight! I will be sure to take lots of pics while the mother is here! I can't wait!

WORD OF THE DAY: bufanda (scarf)

HOW I SEE IT: It is my favorite word in Spanish!

Still Standing

This song is in my head today and it is really a good song. This is not I'm still standing and I crawled in and barely made it this is when you need a "bounce back" in your spirit! You can't keep me down, I'm blessed. 


Verse One:
You gave me courage to believe that all your goodness I will see and if it had not been for you standing on my side where would I be

Chorus:
If not for your goodness if not for your grace I don't know where I would be today if not for your kindness I never could say I'm still standing if not for your mercy if not for your love I most likely would have given up if not for your favor I never could say I'm still standing but by the grace of God

Verse Two:
To you I lift my offering and set my heart on higher things for if it had not been for you standing on my side where would I be

Vamp:
I'm still standing I'm standing I'm still standing but by the grace of God




Woo....well as we all know I can't update my blog without some pictures of my adventures here in Costa Rica! So a few days ago some friends and I loaded up, in the public bus, and traveled 2.5 hours to San Carlos. There in San Carlos were the most relaxing things ever.....NATURAL HOT SPRINGS!! Ahh, it was so refreshing. So I took some pics for you guys but it was such a relaxing day. There were several different natural pools and each one was a different temperature. Some were to hot even for my feet. When we found one that was just right, the rest was history!

Once we got to the resort we had a pretty long walk down this winding road. 

I'm pretty sure this is what the road to Damascus was like!

Chase and Ian had to stop for a quick photo op!

The road ended then we had a nice hike through the rainforest. 

The scenery was gorgeous!

Mi amiga Susanita!

This was the hottest pool. It was in the shape of a heart. I guess cause you would probably have a heart attack i you got in it!

My boy Chase. These pools are different temps!

I'm pretty sure this a glimpse of heaven.

Megi-poo chilling!

Ethan ALWAYS becomes a spectacle whether he wants to or not! This time the old ladies liked his blonde hair and white skin!

Brandy and Meg chatting!

When we got too hot we would go get in the creek next to the Springs. It was ice cold. The kids loved it. You didn't have to stay in there too long before you were ready to jump into the hot springs again!

The boys: Ethan, Ian, Chase

The Group:

Brandy: Argentina

The Klings=Matt, Kristi, Chase, Ian: Chile

The Pruitt's(yall already know them!)

This is what happens when you stop giving to Speed The Light! All the missionaries have to ride TOGETHER in this thing!

We are so thankful for your support.

Shannon and Matt

Ethan and Megan posing for a Speed the Light Promo!

WORD OF THE DAY: Ser pan comido.

TRANSLATION: It is easy.

HOW I SEE IT: Piece of cake.