transitions

we've been here about 9 months now.  it seems hard to believe, but as i looked at all our pictures over the past month, it has been long and hard (at least for me).  it would be nice to say things have been great and it's paradise living in costa rica, but that is far from the truth.  don't get me wrong, i like it here, i know we are called here, and it has been great for jared and i to be here.  we fit in well and it hasn't really been that much of an adjustment.  we both are very flexible and pretty laid back.  

i am coming out of the 6 month transition time here, and i am feeling good.  since my time in ecuador, i realized, along with other missionaries, that there are major transitions that you experience within about every 6 months.  i remember my first 6 months in ecuador were very hard, and after 6 months, a break through occurred.  the same thing happened here.  the first six months were a haze.  i was not truly myself and it was hard getting accustomed to life, married life, mission work, a small church, a foreign school system, language, pregnancy, etc.  I mean geez! i thought my husband was possibly going to die 2 times in 2 weeks!!!

I smile because God is so faithful.  after around 6 months, it was time to start a new Beth Moore Study, and we chose to do her study on Psalms, the Psalms of ascent.  right when i opened that book and watched the introductory session, i knew God was telling me it was time to move out of my funk and continue up with Him.  It's like He was/is telling me that it's ok to learn to love where I am, and where He is calling me.  Reading, studying, and rewriting the Psalms of ascent in a personal way was/is a confirmation that during a pilgrimage, you will have distress, you look up to the Hills and realize your help will come from the LORD...that He protects us and nothing else (this was a huge revelation...the sheets will not protect me from the scorpions :)....God will :))

overall, things are going well.  im still trucking through the pregnancy, still as tired as ever.  i'm about 13 weeks along and starting to show a little bit.  jared is starting to notice, so that says something.  i am still unsure about the hospital situation, but i am going to contact the midwife and meet with her and see how that goes.  i just want to be able to communicate with a doctor/midwife who can answer my questions and tell me more about what's going on, etc.  

God has been giving jared and i lots of opportunities to open our house to friends and strangers on a weekly basis.  I was thinking today that God is really preparing us for something in this area.  Last week, we had about 25 people in our apartment/pool for 2 days straight.  Jimy and Vanessa's family were in town and they spent a lot of time at our place at the pool.  Many times, this was uncomfortable for me, but I knew it was what God was calling us to do.  Thank you Jared for your encouragement during these times.   

we are off to the states on april 30 and we are looking foward to this time with famiy and friends.  please continue to pray for us here, in this foreign land.  jared has been preaching at our church on the beach.  it has been great.