this week in Costa Rica

Well,

It's been a while since I've been able to update since my computer has a virus. Things here have been going well. We're busy wedding planning still and trying to get some details fixed. My discipleships are going well. I'm a little discouraged about the women in the precario but trying to not loose hope. I would imagine it's like being a mom because many times you watch your kids make the same mistakes over and over again. It's the same with the ladies. They tend to end up with the same men in the same circumstances, and it breaks my heart. But God never gives up on us so we can't either. The other community where we work is growing a lot and we're studying the life of Christ. They are really excited. One of the leaders wants to take the step of faith and get married to her boyfriend. We're excited for her and want to help her make the day special before God and her friends.

This week I taught something that is very special to me and that I feel like God has been teaching me lately. Last week, I met with a young missionary here in Costa Rica and well talked about being a missionary. She is headed to Venezuela in August and was asking some really great questions about being a missionary. It was awesome to think about what God has taught me during these (almost) 2 years as a missionary. I really have learned a lot, and God has been molding me.

One question she asked is how to deal with loneliness. It was a great question because for any missionary, it will definitely happen to you. God taught me about loneliness in the last week, but not because I'm feeling lonely, but because God has been helping me reflect on the past and ways I should have dealt with loneliness :)

I've been learning that loneliness is a gift from God to be used for His glory. We always ask God to give us time to spend with Him, but then when He gives it to us, we often end up spending it in other ways (television, cell phone, internet, food). If God is good and He wants to bless His children, even loneliness is a gift. It is transient which is always good to remember too. God will not leave us in our loneliness forever: he will bring people into our lives in His timing to companion us. I think that so often we are looking for ways to numb the loneliness, we don't see the blessing. All seasons of life are blessings from God, good and bad, He is teaching and molding through every one. Easy to say, hard to say and believe.

I learned this lesson later, after I had squandered my loneliness. Hopefully, when it happens again in the future, I will use it for God's glory and to know Him better. It was a good lesson to teach this week, and I'm grateful that God continues to take the time to help me know Him better.