It's My Last Week?

This past weekend me hannah and brady went to the beach. It was so pretty! I had never been to that one before. Brady rented a surf board...so i learned how to surf and we pretty much shared the board all day. IT WAS SO RAD!! Ive wanted to do that foreverrrrrrrr!

The First Pres team came in on Sunday!! I had been counting down the days till they arrived so i was pretty excited to see them. Its like a little piece of home! I'm so excited to work with them this week. And on friday we are all going zip lining and to the hot springs. SUPER STOKED!

On another note...this has been the most life changing 2 months. The amount of spiritual growth has been way more then I could have ever imagined or asked for. Ive learned so much from how to fight to how good God really is. Don't get me wrong... I  don't fully understand it, and I'm not sure that i ever will, but I have come a long way in 2 months. Words can not express how thankful I am for all of the support I have received through you guys. My support system is huge it blows my mind sometimes. I'm having a hard time explaining in full my experiences on here...but i will be more then happy to share some when I get home! I am starting to prepare my self for the reality of coming home. This chapter in my life is coming to a close, but that does not mean I cant take what I have learned with me. I'm SO excited to come home and tell you all everything and to work on things that need worked on. This trip has been a blessing and I wish it was something everyone could experience at least once in their lives (but hey if you are actually interested and are of the college student age they do the internship program every summer :]). 

Even though this will be my last blog post from costa rica (this time at least) I might continue to post a few after I get home. Cause you know...culture shock might be pretty intense.
Once again thank you for all of the support you guys have given me. I wish i could express how thankful i am!
I fly in on sunday...and land at around 9:30 pm...So see you all soon after that

~Alex

So something I haven't really talked about is the children's homes and how they work. The property currently has two children homes with a total of 19 orphans ranging from infant to 12 years old and some are sibling sets of up to 3. They have been taken away from their families because of drug or physical abuse issues. There are some cases that are very difficult and can sometimes take 3 years for the children to be declared abandoned so they can be adopted, especially when other members of the family appeal the case and try to take the kids (which is a current battle). The project has never had to release a kid when they become 18, they have always been adopted before then.

A couple nights a week the interns cook dinner for the kids and the house parents. This is also the majority of bonding time we get with them. Its one of the most rewarding things I have done here. Its reassuring to see their joy and love of God despite their situations. Some of the kids have given their lives to God since they have been in the home. Their joy and laughter is very contagious! Each  night before dinner they pray and thank God for what they have. It is very hard to put into words what one feels when they are in the homes working with the kids. I think its something that everybody should experience at least once in their lives. It makes me realize how much I have and very thankful. I know that God has a plan for each of these kids and we continuously pray they they will get a stable christian home to grow up in.

We fasted again yesterday. It was a lot harder the second time! Hannah and I were fighting headaches and pain  most of the day. Our main focus was praying for the church, children's homes, leadership, and phase 2 of the project.
Some land across the river was recently purchased and we are hoping to build more children's homes (that's what phase 2 is). As they have done with everything, the project is relying on outside support and partnerships to get the money needed in order for this to happen. I'm very excited to keep up with Amy and Jonathan (the intern coordinators) and hear what happens with that.
Well I have a week and a half left! I know there is more i have to do here, but if yall could keep e in your prayers as i get ready to come home that would be much appreciated =]
I know that culture shock will be a big one and I will miss everyone here a ton! But I am VERY excited to see all of you when i get home and share the stories that I have not had time to talk about here.
Thank you for your support it means the world to me! See you guys in a week and a half. I will try to blog again if I get internet
~Alex

110 something degrees with 100% humidity

Hey guys!
Sorry its been so long since my last post...I've been on some crazy adventures as usual. This past week the interns went to Rincon with the team from Kentucky that's here to build a church. The team had started it two or so years ago...but the health department decided it was not safe and that some changes had to be made. The church requested around $10,000 to finish the project. We didnt know for sure if they were going to be able to make it until 2 days before we left (that's a leap of faith on their part right?) God permitting the church got the money and we were able to buy the supplies needed. 
We slept "outside" for the entire week (there was a roof over some concrete). They gave us some foam sleeping pads so it was pretty comfy! Every day it was at least 110 degrees and 100% humidity. I don't think any one had worked or been that sweaty...ever. The work consisted of digging out the rocks and dirt to lower the surface, mixing concrete, poring concrete, painting, and hanging rafters for the ceilings. I pretty much painted the whole time. We painted the rafters, some weird metal things, and benches to go in the church. Doesn't seem like very hard work but when its at least 110 degrees and 100% humidity anything is hard! It tested our relationships and our attitudes, but we made it through and grew along the way. 
While we were there we got to go down to the "beach" because it was about a 5 minute walk. The "beach" is part of the gulf and the land pretty much just meets the water. It looks like a lake because its so calm and does not smell like an ocean at all. its very pretty though! We caught some iguana for dinner! i got to skin it and clean it out so we could eat it. It tastes like chicken with the texture of beef =]
we got to go fishing too! I got 3 fish! it was super fun. Oh and fresh coconut cut from the tree is really good. 
Me and hannah (one of my roommates) had to say goodbye to the rest of the interns today and yesterday...so we are having a rough time. But we get an intern from seattle today named Brady (apparently he came with first pres last summer? i dont know him though). So a new chapter is about to begin and me and hannah are pretty excited! Sorry this post is brief i have limited time as usual.
I will try and post something next week!
Talk to yall later!
~Alex

Manuel Antonio And Homesickness

Hey all!
Over this past weekend the interns ventured to Manuel Antonio national park. It was so pretty! There are wild monkeys and sloths every where and a really nice beach that we went to. I didn't see any sloths though =[ next time!
We stayed in a hostel really close to the park...it didnt have wifi or anything but hey it was a bed and a shower! It was nice and sunny but VERY humid. It didnt even matter if you dried off after going in the water because of how humid it was. The ocean water felt like bath water it was so warm. Each night there were thunder and lightning storms so we got to go on the beach and watch. It was a nice and needed mini vacation.
We finished painting an elementary school last week. It was a lot of work but well worth it. Every day this week we get to work in the day care teaching english lessons and playing games with the kids. This will be interesting considering my Spanish skills...lol. Its getting better though! I can say some words and phrases. I'm thankful that two of my room mates know A LOT of Spanish. They are helping me learn =]
On a less happier note...i'm struggling with home sickness for the first time. Its been pretty bad. Ive been praying about it and hopefully it will get better. I'm missing all of you guys a lot. (so prayers for that would be nice...I'm having issues dealing with it)
God is doing some crazy work in my life though (all for the better). Its hard but good. Im having lots of fun and learning a lot!
Cant wait to see you guys..i miss your faces!

~Alex
aka snort

Costa Rica!!

Hey guys!

Sorry i havent blogged yet! i have had very limited internet time..about one hour a week! I know some of you have been wondering what im up to so here i go!

Im living with 3 other girls. Their names are Bailey, Moriah, and Hanna. They are super awesome and a blessing! Theres two girls to a room and i am with Moriah. Shes a lot like Kirsty =p so that makes it easy. Our host mom is Marealos (pretty sure i spelled that wrong...) thankfully Hanna and Bailey know spanish pretty well..without them i would be in big trouble! We have to communicate with her when we go places and stuff and i would not be able to do that by my self...they are also helping me with my spanish =]  

There are 9 interns in all....and only one is a guy. Poor dude...we give him a hard time hes a trooper.

Im having a hard time with the language barrier...more then i thought. There have been some situations where nonverbal communication has been the only method of communication. Its a good learning experience...just frustrating at times!

I forgot how AMAAAAZING the food here is =] and my host mom is a really good cook...im being very well taken care of! 

Pretty much all I have done so far is paint...i know it sounds boring but they its for a good cause! We painted some of the buildings at the Abraham Project for the first few days. Ive managed to perfect the art of painting my self rather then the wall. :3 were also painting an elementary school all this week. Were painting it pink!! and this weird red color. Its a good bonding experience for all of the interns though. Ive also been working in the childrens homes. A couple nights a week i have to cook for the house kids and the parents with some of the other interns (10 kids and 2 adults). When were not cooking we get to play with the kids. They are SOO CUTE!! they are very sweet and full of joy. Its refreshing to see how joyful they are when they have so little. There's a little girl about 2 years old and she loves to dance with me. She grabs my hands and we dance around in circles. So cute!

Were going on an adventure to the beach this weekend! We have to wake up super early on saturday to catch some busses because its a few hours away. But im super exited. Dad you will be happy to know we are going to be staying in a hostel. Its apparently really nice and only $10 US a night. Anyway i have to get going but i promise i will blog as much as i can! Thank you everybody for your patients, support, and prayers. 

Miss you guys!! 

~Alex

...AKA snort.

Heading off on a crazy adventure!

Hey guys! 
 I will be heading to the airport in an hour or so for Costa Rica!! I just want to thank everybody for the huge amount of support you have given me. Without you guys this trip would not have been possible. Thank you so much for the generous donations and prayer...I don't know how to express how great full I am for my tremendous support system...and getting ready for this trip has reminded me again of how blessed I am. I'm so excited to see what God has planned these next few (ok maybe more then just a few...) weeks! I will be blogging once a week so pop on over to see what I have been doing! 

Thanks again everybody...talk to you soon. 

~Alex