December 10th

It has been a month as of yesterday. There are moments where it seems time has flown and we are thankful for the adventure in it all and then there are moments, like this past Wednesday night where we simply miss home and our friends. We have most definitely been provided and taken care of, God has made sure of that...an apartment, school, money, traveling in and out of country, food, my conversation has grown leaps and our marriage is strong... but we have yet to establish friends. We are living proof that there is little replacement for good friendships. Someone to call when you're bored or breath with while you watch a movie. We have kept one another sane this far, but I must admit, I could use a girlfriend and I am only so great of a futbol watching companion for Matt... we are praying that the Lord would raise up friendships.

Around the time I was really feeling it last Wednesday we get a knock on the door. Suantzy, our landlord (slash blessing), asked if we would come meet the new renter downstairs starting in January. We walked onto the balcony and 3 faces were smiling at us. Dustin, the new renter from California, a Christian who is working for an arts school with kids in the community about 20-30 minutes away and 2 young ladies who work with him. All were bilingual and we invited them in and we chatted for a bit. God's timing remains perfect. They asked if we would be interested in volunteering at the school, one of the young ladies was leaving for the states soon and they were in need of more hands with the kids. Of course we said we would be open too.

Additionally, I met a young woman at the school who is newly married and moved here to San Jose for her husband's job. She is taking classes and will be here for 2 years at least. She has invited us to come to a football restaurant with her husband and some of their work friends this Sunday..yes, a football restaurant on Sunday. And, they happen to be Christians as well. Funny how that happens. Apparently it is a sports bar/restaurant that has like a hundred screens and they play every American football game in the states at once. So, for those who know my husband, the request was pretty much the gates of heaven opening for him. Really. Again, Gods timing is perfect.

We got up the guts to stop by the building "Unidos por Cristo" today- we found it walking a different route to school. The sign said that they exist to unite Catholics and Evangelicals for the glory of God. We thought that sounded worth learning more about. We checked out their website a couple days prior and saw they had bible studies, worship services and youth activities. We went in today (buzzed through the main gate and security, once again sweating my way through explaining our purpose) and met Darwin. He is a staff there, married to a woman from Ohio, who happens to be in language school as well in San Jose. Come to find out UPC is a branch of Charles Stanley church and ministry from the states. They are planting a bilingual church in an upscale area of town called Escazu, about 15 minutes away. Again, God's timing is perfect. I think we may check out a worship service they are having tomorrow. Ill keep you posted.

After stopping by UPC.. we had an all afternoon cellphone adventure. I almost lost it in the last store. Think about how stressful it is to figure out phone plans and prices in English. Now, try being in a store with 5, 20 year old employees only speaking Spanish, and a security guard with a machine gun by the door to make the situation lighter. We gave up after they wouldn't accept Matt's passport copy as sufficient identification because part of his face was cut off. It was worse that Matt was so calm and I'm over there sweating through my shirt trying to say "How many minutes for x price" in a different way for the 10th time. Its humbling to be such a good communicator, and then, such a bad one at all the same time. I am sure this was one of Timothy's "perfecting" moments, but I definitely wasn't counting it as joy. I'm starting to sweat now just thinking about it.

In about an hour we are going to a Lebanese restaurant with Suantzy and some young people from her church (I know, it sounds oxy). Looking forward to using Spanish. I'm wearing an"airy" shirt in anticipation of some intense sweating :)

PS. Mom..if you happen to read this entry- I made potato soap from scratch the other day. I thought you would appreciate that.