Saturday, November 24
Bug Bite Update: After I finished the laundry, I had so
much pain from my stupid bug bite that I needed to take a nap. After a nap, we got ready to go to
youth group. We were having a
party and putting up the Christmas Tree at CISA. When we arrived, Eddie and I got Hector’s attention to ask
him about my worm bug bite because I
was in so much pain. I was
frustrated because I felt like I was being such a baby and that I was letting a
little bug bite slow me down. He asked if he could try to squeeze it; and, even though it hurt more than childbirth, I let him. I was crying and screaming, but that
did not deter him. In the end, he
agreed that it was best I go to a doctor.
April had mentioned to me that there was a doctor in La
Suisa that takes patients in the evenings and on the weekends. Daniel showed up to give Eddie and I a
ride there. We left Jaden at the
Christmas party with Amanda and Rysen (Thanks for taking care of him, guys).
We only waited about 5 minutes for the doctor and we went in
to his office/exam room. He asked
me several questions, and then took a look at my worm bug bite. He
swabbed it with iodine and I was sure he was going to cut me open. I couldn’t watch. I knew Eddie was there so I closed my
eyes. He was poking me with
something and talking in Spanish and I have no idea what he was saying. Very quickly, I understood that he was
saying that it was a “grande
piel infección” (a great, big skin infection). That was WAY better than having a worm, in my opinion. He diagnosed me with some painkillers
and antibiotics that won’t hurt Jaden.
We paid for them and were on our way in less than 30 minutes. Praise the Lord for several things:
1. No
worm
2. We
didn’t have to wait long at the doctor
3. Antibiotics
and Ibuprofen
When we were on our way home, I asked Eddie what he was
poking me with. He told me that it
was just Q-tips… (oh… because it felt
like needles)
We made it back to the Christmas party on time for Eddie to
lead a few Christmas Carols with Hector, and then headed home to go to bed
Sunday, November 25
Bug Bite Update: I
stayed in bed all day because it hurt so bad. During the night, when I got up to use the restroom, I
almost passed out from the pain.
That it is when Eddie suggested I take the painkillers… duh… why didn’t
I think of that? Once they kicked
in, they helped and I was able to sleep some. I woke up often and counted the hours until morning. I tried to distract myself with
Facebook on my phone, but not many people post new updates at 3 in the
morning. I ended up playing
Solitare on my phone until I could fall back to sleep.
It rained all day, so even Eddie, Jaden and the rest of the
family stayed in all day. It was a
pretty cold and dreary day, but a good day to rest and get on my way to getting
better. It was also
good for Eddie to rest because he hurt his back yesterday. Oh 28… you are coming quickly, and
bringing aches and pains with you.
Sorry Eddie, we all have to age sometime.
Freddy and the kids put up their Christmas tree
tonight. I enjoyed watching but
was in too much pain to help. I
was also nervous for Jaden as they brought out the ornaments. He was too little to remember last
Christmas, and this year he is very curious. I hope he does not break anything!
Monday, November 26
Since Eddie has a sore back, Deidre is not feeling well, and
I have worm… bug bite… I mean skin infection, our exercise class was cancelled.
I did make it to Spanish class and I felt quite a bit better
today than yesterday. Rysen and I
are learning about reflexive verbs, and my brain just does not want to get
it. Today was a day where I felt
like frustration was hanging over my head like a cloud. I was in pain, I wasn’t learning
anything, and the world was going to end.
Okay… I’m exaggerating, but I was frustrated. I literally had to tell myself, “Today is just one of those
days where you have to press on until tomorrow because
tomorrow WILL BE
BETTER!”
I went home and took a nap.
Bug Bite Update: When
I woke up, I checked my bug bite.
Low and behold, it was doing just what the doctor said it would do. One word: Pus! I will spare you the details, but let
me tell you: Eddie will never look at mixed ketchup and mayonnaise the same
ever again!
I left it alone for a few hours, and just before bed, Eddie
asked Freddy if he wanted to see my bug bite. He was so excited, he jumped out of bed and ran to get his
glasses. Next thing I know, he is
trying to “help” me. I am glad the
word “no” crosses the language barrier easily!
Tuesday, November 27
Today in class, Rysen and I learned more about reflexive
verbs. They are just not my
favorite, but I know I will eventually understand. It is confusing because I cannot connect them to an English
equivalent, so I have a hard time knowing when to use them. Sonia said that we would work on them
the rest of the week and that we would get it as we practiced more and started
listening for them more in conversation.
For those interested, a reflexive verb is one where you are
talking about yourself. For
example, you don’t “take a shower” in Spanish. Instead, you “bathe yourself.” It is the same with shaving. You don’t just “shave,” you “shave yourself.”
In Spanish: “Yo me baño en la mañana.”
That means “I take a shower in the morning,” but it really translates to
“I bathe myself in the morning.”
AHHH! I know, that seems
easy, but that is because that is the only example I really understand. There are SOOO many more!
One of the teachers at CISA, Ana, made a drum for Jaden… She
knows him so well. This is how he
plays with it:
Samia and Freddy celebrated Samia’s birthday party with her
friends at the restaurant. They
started at 10:30 am and did not get home until well after dinner. I am so glad that Samia finally got a
day to just have fun. She is
always working… in fact, I would guess that she even served her friends at her
party. I think she enjoyed her
day!
Bug Bite Update:
more pus and the infection seems to be exiting. The skin around it is not as red and inflamed as it has
been. I am praising God that it is
in a “good” location as opposed to a really “bad” location. Some of the stories I have heard have
been about people having “the same” issue as me but in various awkward
locations. It just gives me one
more reason to be thankful!
Wednesday, November 28
My week was made awesome because I received two messages
from two different girls who were in my small group at Lifepointe Youth! Both messages were so encouraging and a
great reminder that God is at work.
I am thankful for their encouraging words and it just spurs me on to
keep doing what God wants me to do.
Thanks, Girls! (You know
who you are!)
Eddie and I ventured out at 7:00 this morning once again for
our exercise class. I wasn’t sure
what I could do, but I was willing to try. I found out that I could not run or jump, but doing lunges
and ab-work-outs were fine. I was
glad I went! We even did crunches
for a minute straight to see how many we could do. I was going for 90 to beat Eddie, but I only did 70… I don’t
know how he did 84, but I was proud of myself anyway.
We practiced reflexive verbs in class again today, and I
finally feel like I am starting to get it. I still have trouble using them, but I am starting to hear
them and understand them. También, nosotros dibujamos
nuestra mascotas y estamos hablando sobre estos. (We drew our pets and were talking
about them.) My imaginary pet is
named “Diente Dulce”
which means “Sweet Tooth.” She can
walk, fly and swim and she gives me sweets or candy whenever I want them,
especially when I am studying.
Shhhhh… it’s a secret Eddie does not know about. He and Amanda made their own class pet
a few weeks ago and it has two heads and is named “Danector” (it is named after
Daniel and Hector).
After class we rested, ate dinner and then got ready to go
back to CISA for a traditional, weekly Christmas party. Every Wednesday (from now until
Christmas) Hector plans a gathering for the community. As I understand it, they also use it as
a rehearsal for their Annual Christmas Pageant. I think they are performing it on Christmas Eve, so we are
sad we will miss it. Singing
familiar Christmas songs in Spanish was fun, and I love that we get to be a
part of this community outreach.
When we got home, Eddie had to pack his bag for his trip to
Chirripo. The people there are in great
need of ministry and many other things.
They are the indigenous people who live up in the mountains. They are the reason CISA exists. The people of CISA worked for 3 years
just to running water to their village.
I don’t know much about it, but Eddie can share with you more once he
returns. They are only going for
one night, so they will be back Friday afternoon before dark. Please pray for safety and successful
ministry to the people in Chirripo.
Bug Bite Update: It is soooo much better, and I continue
to be thankful that it did not get worse.
It could have been sooo much worse, but God is taking care of me! Right now it looks like a pretty deep
hole in the skin, but I am confident that it will close up just fine as it
heals. I am sure it will be my
permanent souvenir from Costa Rica.
I should tattoo the words “Pura Vida” around it and call it art!
 |
| Headed to Chiripo at 6:00 AM |
 |
| One last glimpse of him for 2 days... |
Eddie and some others headed out this morning around 6:00am
for their trip to “Chirripo” (the indigenous tribe that lives in the mountains).
I wasn’t able to go because I
needed to stay home with Jaden, plus no one wanted me to risk making my
infection worse with the less cleanly conditions of the hike. Eddie was very excited to go, and Rysen
was able to go with him. I can’t
wait to hear all about it when he returns.
Because Rysen and Eddie were not in class today, each of us
girls had our teachers to ourselves.
Also, there was no Bible class or Culture class, so it made for an
easier week.
Sonia and I had fun in class today. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was for
the first month to be the only student in my class. Today I read my first children’s book in Spanish and
understood it (It helped that it was “Goldilocks and the 3 Bears” or “Ricitos
de Oros”). One thing I noticed was
that they do not use quotation marks for dialogue in writing. They use a dash instead to indicate the
beginning of someone’s dialogue. I
asked Sonia about it and she was showing me examples in the Bible. She told me that she never had a
student ask her about that in the past.
Does that make me a nerd, or what?
I was also pretty happy because Sonia decided to borrow Book
3 for me for today because she wanted to teach me one of the chapters from
it. I now understand a little bit
how to use the words “para” and “por” correctly… they both mean “for” and
several other things but they are used in different contexts. We never know which one to use, but now
I at least know the reasons for the different uses (not that I will remember
them when I am using them in conversation, but I can start to listen for them
and understand the reason behind it).
I stayed after school today to help Diana with her
English. She is taking English
classes, but her professor is not good at correct English pronunciation. Diana wants to learn how to say the words she is learning to read, write, and understand. We
practiced pronunciation and reviewed the test she did not do well on. I love getting a chance to help her,
but I really wish that we had more opportunities to help those who are
interested in learning English.
Jaden never napped at school today, so he was so tired as I
carried him home. He fell asleep
in my arms and it was so precious.
My baby is not a baby anymore, but I will take those sweet moments when
I can get them!
Freddy and Samia went out on a date tonight to celebrate her
birthday on Saturday. I am so glad
they got a chance to do that. They
don’t usually get to spend much time together because of work, so it was great
to see them make that effort!
I got a chance to practice my “Skip-Bo” skills tonight. I taught José Pablo, Jimena, and Christy how to
play my favorite childhood game, and José Pablo won both games! He kept telling me he was the new King of Skip-Bo. Really, it is because he had such a
good teacher!
Bug Bite Update:
It is even better today. The hole
is healing up and it is not draining as much anymore. It is starting to itch, so that means it is healing. The skin surrounding it is back to
normal. Don’t get me wrong, it is
still gross inside the “bullet wound” but there is a light at the end of the
tunnel. It is getting better! Praise the Lord!
Also, we have another praise:
To the left is a little better picture of the house we plan to live in starting in January. We were exited to hear this news because we did not know where we would be living for the months of January - March, but now we do. We are going to be so close the the school, we can see it out our windows.
Please continue to pray for us as we seek out opportunities to serve. Deidre and Amanda are in the process of planning a weekly Zumba class as an outreach to the community and as a way to invite people to church. We hope to start those classes next week. We also hope to build connections with the people in our neighborhood and help them get connected to God through CISA.
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