If he could do it, so can I... Once again, I'm inspired.

2 missions groups so far this month. Next group comes this Saturday afternoon- goin out downtown that night with friends to celebrate my friend Daniels birthday; I'm too excited. 
Then the following Sunday another group comes- each staying for a week. 
Around mid-April I'll be hopefully traveling up to Nicaragua for a short vacation with Pastor Ponce and some other guys. I had a blast with the Ponce's earlier this month when we headed up to Liberia and checked out the rodeos and beaches. I'm sure it will be a fun and random adventure in Nicaragua which is supposedly not as safe nor expensive as Costa Rica. But I have always been very distrusting with strangers and traveling around unknown territory. Not enough of a threat to keep me from traveling there with people I know and trust.


I am hoping that time passes quick and that the month of May arrives before I know it... geez, I've never wanted May to come as fast as I do now:) 
Never has anyone traveled to come see me while was away from the States. 
And yet Bethany and my sister are both coming during May to just see me and hangout around my favorite spots in Costa Rica. Though I have traveled to many vacation places in the country with the groups, being with these special girls will definitely make it all memorable to say the least... 
worth the wait. I know it will be worth the wait haha!


And not only that, my 'fratbro' Johnnie will be coming also to intern all summer long with us here at Strong Missions. Strong The Ties.
It's such a huge and much needed blessing to have a brother come and serve with me here. It's a beautiful and amazing thing how being greek seriously has impacted my life so much.


I don't really know what to say. I'm just speechless when I think about how all these things to come in May are what I truly need to keep strong and encouraged.


I'll be waiting.

Do you really want to live forever?

Forever forever?...

Do you really want to live forever?

Forever forever?...

The Suffering; 2Corinthians 12:7-10

Yeah!... I did it.

Did it hurt? not as much as I thought it would have.
Let's just say that my tattoo artist, Bob, was blown away at how I didn't nudge or slow him down while he carved up my right ribcage for two hours.

What is it? Its a personal design that I had already sketched out for a while now.
3 main elements:
The X- a sign of the cross (la cruz de San Andres- my middle name), a sign for past scars, X marks the spot of a sensitive area, that thorn in the flesh that Paul writes about in 2Cor, a target for the enemy.
The Crown of thorns- Christ, His pain and suffering while wearing it throughout His path to the cross, the crown of pain and weakness.
The 3 differently blossomed roses- the love of God that is found when suffering for His sake and glory, growth, beauty, power, hope, the Holy Trinity... and so much more.

Finishing up the time I have off from groups has been kind of a drag honestly. I'm in a small rural town by myself most of the time. no car and not many ppl to hangout with. What else can I say?
I am more thankful for cable TV and for the internet than ever before and especially Skype.
I never really expected this from missions work but I really didn't have prior expectations other than to work and serve... and right now its all mostly need to keep self-motivated to do office work. And today was the first time where I really experienced 'cabin fever' in the little office room where I have been trying to stay focused...

'hurry hurry hurry! before I go insane.
I can't control my fingers.
I can't control my brain.
oh oh oh oh oh OH!'

Seasons of seasons. Life is full of these seasons.I guess I'm thankful that I'm never stuck in a season for too long. I love change and variety. Whether is be the changing weather, a new movie that just came out, or meeting a whole new group of people. I dig change. I need it.
Saturday should be a fun night of going out with friends to a local karaoke bar/club... and without a doubt, I will be looking up those old school love jams and Beatles singles :)

With all of its highs, lows, laughs, and oh no's; life ain't a thing without love. none like the love from God above.

...this be me?
me I am not.

I rarely post a blog entry the day after I have just put one up.
But- I seriously have just spent the best Sunday so far of this year.

So call me simple to please and entertain but spending the day with the Strong Family just hanging out and enjoying some Texas BBQ was priceless. And just like my time with the Ponce family, this group of people had nothing to hide and genuinely accepted me into their home and into their family.
People, relationships, and community are so so vital and I cherish the times that I can be part in all of these things now more than before- when it was so easy and convenient to be with friends.
I don't know why exactly, but I have been seeing more and more that people easily open up to me- not right away, but after having a few good conversations and hangouts. (I have no idea what you would call that ability or personal characteristic- I'm personable, trusting, approachable?...idk) But to hear someone share what's bothering them or random stuff that they wouldn't tell to just anyone- it all makes me feels welcomed into to that persons life and really feel the trust and respect that the give me by putting themselves out there like that.
Honestly, I feel that me being more liberal-minded as a Christian has helped me to interact with people in those vulnerable ways. I never did think of myself as a liberal-minded before; I suppose because before I was surrounded by so many like-minded people.
But seeing the great conservative nature of the church in Costa Rica (for the most part)- I quickly knew that I am a misfit X)... which puts me in an interesting situation in terms of really getting plugged into a church around here. I know I 'should'. But I sometimes wonder how well it would work if the churches nearby are a bit too conservative for me.
I know this much for sure though...my church community is not going to be found inside of a physical church building that congregates on Sundays. Nope. Already in the way that this year has been and will be, I am quite confident that my church community will revolve around a great deal of random interacts and time spent with the different people that I will find myself with throughout my time here. But all the while, I shall hold dear those few tight relationships that I have back on the West Coast.

It is different. And I like that.

I Love You All

.

Getting away from the usual routine. Breaking away from the mundane. Doing things differently. However deep or superficial you want to slice it- it all applies. 
Since almost two weeks ago, I have been taken on an awesome adventure with the most dysfunctional yet loving family. And amidst all the bickering, whining, complaining, and accidents that I witnessed firsthand during that week-long vacation trip, I felt the love and felt welcomed in as part of the Ponce familia. One of the greatest things that I learned to love about them all was their transparent and genuine attitude that was not focused on trying to make everything look alright and pretty. It was crystal clear that they, just like any 'normal' family, has their issues and problems. They were upfront about it all and honest to tell me how despite all their problems they deeply loved and cared for each other...Legitimate. 
I respect that attitude... simply because that is how I look at it. Being a transparent person is a blessing that I have in my life and can't think of putting up a front to make others think that I am something that I am not. I prefer to be raw rather than part of the typical...too bad there is not a greater majority of people that can say the same thing. 
History is made when you do something different. All the ppl and events in the history of man that standout from the rest because of the very fact that they were all different and left an impact. I want my history to be one where I make an impact on other people because I did things differently. Like I mentioned already, I'm not a fan of the typical...and I'm not a typical person in many ways.

I'm asking and praying for hope and faith to keep pushing forward. To not hesitate or worry so much. To continue being open to living my life to its fullest; to take risks and to do things I have never done before. To keep loving and learning what it means to love.
And just like I just did a huge recap on the last 7years of my life in the previous posts, I want to look back on the life I lead 10 years from now- and say 'wow, thanks God for always being there and carrying me through'.

No Regrets. None at all.