Vanity

My vanity has served me right. I couldn't stand my hair any longer, so I went to an expensive salon expecting to have a good cut if I paid enough money for it.. I was wrong. Paid 35 American for a hair slaughter. At home usually I pay 50.. but they always do a good job. So.. lesson learned.

On the bright side.. the past 2 weeks have been really nice and relaxing. I've only had ESL class and bible club because the refuge is closed.. so it's been good. On Sunday night I went to a soccer game which was really fun. The team we were cheering for lost.. so apparently I'm bad luck according to my host dad, but that's alright.

We didn't have ESL class yesterday and we're not having it today or Monday or Tuesday, because they are having the clinic in la segunda where we have ESL class because there's 4 doctors here from the US treating patients who don't have "seguro" here.. which is like the health care plan which is pretty expensive.

This coming week we have girls coming to the refuge to register, so that is exciting. We're hoping for quite a few new girls.

Next week I will be heading to Nicaragua with 3 friends, because we all need to renew our visas, so we're going to a place called San Juan del Sur, which will be nice. This time I will wear sunscreen.. =)

Prayer request.. my stomach is doing rather awful today. It was getting better this week, but just is horrible today, so if you could pray I get better, that'd be great!

xoxo

Jaclyn

false alarm

Hey everyone,

So.. I will not be extending my stay here. It's long to explain, so I won't, but just thought I'd let you all know.

On the bright side... I have a story!

Yesterday when I was coming home from Alajuela, I got on the lomas bus (the one that brings me home) and there was a man preaching it up! He was just standing at the front of the bus telling everyone about God and how great God's love is and his forgiveness. It was really cool. I didn't understand the majority of it because he was speaking really fast, but I was just kinda in awe. I felt like I was back in bible times and John the baptist was speaking to the crowds or something.. I don't even know! But it was cool! At the end of his sermon he said that God had put it on his heart that someone on the bus had back pain.. so he asked whoever it was to put their hand up.. but nobody did. So.. he asked again, and this old man put his hand up, and the preacher prayed for him, and the old man said it was better after! Praise God =)

That's all for now!

Hope everyone is doing well!

xo

Jaclyn

You're so vain..

you probably think this song is about you..

So... my parents used to sometimes say.. "don't be so vain, child" and lately I have realized how vain I really am, and how I need to change this. The other day I needed to bring runners to work, but I didn't want to carry them.. and I absolutely could not wear runners with my jeans.. and my friends were like.. Jaclyn.. just wear them with your jeans. So.. I did, and couldn't stop thinking about it the whole way to where we went. (ridiculous.. I know)

And now. I feel the dire need for a hair cut, but am too worried they'll do a hack job here, so I won't go.. but I just want to cut it. but I can't. so. ugh.

Anyways.

This week the refuge is closed, as I said before, so I've just been going to ESL class, and bible club on Wednesday. Yesterday I went to my friend's house in a town called Alajuela and we went to a thing called 'young life' which is kinda like youth group.. but they do skits and play games and then give a 5-10 minute talk about God at the end. As far as I could tell the majority of people that come aren't christians I don't think, so it was cool to go.

Today I walked around Alajuela with her sister, and it was really fun! We met 4 guys who play on one of the big soccer teams here, and we went to the fire station and I went in the fire truck and wore a fireman suit. Definitely a fabulous day.

Not much is new..

I talked to the head honcho about extending my stay and she said she needs to think about it and pray about it, so I'm still waiting to hear about that.. and praying I get the answer I want.

But.. that's about it!

Hope you are all doing well!

Lots of love,

Jaclyn

Unbelievable

I don't really know how to put into words how I am feeling.. I don't know if it's supposed to be describable when it's God. My eyes are tearing up just thinking about this awesome feeling. God is so so close and his love is just pouring out over me and it's incredible! It's crazy and I won't ever understand it.. but this love is never ending. Yesterday I suddenly felt him really close, and then my host mother was praying before dinner, and I just almost started bawling my eyes out because his presence was so strong. I just want more. =)

The past week I have been thinking about extending my trip, because I feel like God wants me to. ESL classes are going so well, and I am building some incredible relationships, and I want more time for guitar classes, so they have more to build off after I leave. The crazy thing about this was that as soon as I started thinking about it I felt amazing peace after feeling a bit stressed about what my plans were for returning. The only thing standing in my way really.. is money.. but even that is already starting to trickle in little by little. Everyone that I have talked to has been incredibly supportive. My mom has told me to hold off in making a decision.. but the more I think about it the more I can't imagine doing anything else.

In 2 weeks the refuge where I work is starting a new semester and new girls will be coming to the program, and we are hoping and praying for a bigger number, so if you could pray for that too, that would be great!

Thank you for your support!

Lots of love,

Jaclyn

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello there!

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying all the pumpkin pie and turkey and stuffing! I enjoyed a nice meal of rice and beans for thanksgiving, and it was delicious, although I am very much looking forward to pumpkin pie when I get home.

Ha. Anyways,

Saturday went incredibly well! I talked about body image, and eating disorders, and the pressure to look a certain way/be a certain way, because the world tells us we should.. but really God says it's not about that how we look, it's about what's inside that counts. Cheesy I know, but the truth. I shared my testimony and ways I have struggled with my body image, and the girls were so silent the entire time and paid attention, and everyone was amazed that the girls were so quiet. Afterwards, Cathy and Marielos came up to me and told me they have never seen the girls pay attention so well, so that was just a huge blessing, and I am sure they got something out of the message, so praise God!

Oh.. funny story! As I am still in the process of learning Spanish.. i had another lovely screw up today. I accidentally told a friend that my family wants to eat me. ha. woops.

I don't really have much to write.. but I have a few prayer requests..

1. if you could pray that my stomach gets better.. it's not handling the food overly well

2. safety

3. That I make wise decisions

4. That I have patience with a few difficult people..

Thanks so much for your continued support!

God bless!

Sending love from CR

Jaclyn

I have the right to be stupid..

Hello everyone,

I do not have a lot to write at the moment I don't think.. but I will try.

You may be wondering why the title of this post is "I have the right to be stupid".. so I will explain.

Today is.. Friday! Definitely one of my favorite days of the week, because they are always quite the fun time. In the morning at the refuge we did pilates.. but we went outside to the upper grass field and ran a bit, so it was a bit less of pilates. Anyways.. We did pilates, and then I went down to Nuevos which is where the guys' program is to play soccer. I hadn't brought my runners with me, so I thought I would just play bare foot, because I have played bare foot before, and was totally fine. Everyone told me I should put shoes on.. but being my very stubborn self, I said no, I want to play bare foot.. so I did. I lasted a grand total of about 5 minutes before my feet absolutely killed, and then I hobbled off the basketball court (yes they play soccer on the basketball court) and didn't move for awhile. I have some beautiful burns on the bottom of my feet, and it hurts. A lot.

Yesterday I had another stupid moment.. which led to a stupid decision. After ESL class on Tuesday and Thursday there is a girl who want to be tutored in English.. but I really didn't want to on Thursday, because it's just too boring for my attention span. So.. Katie stayed and I walked up to La Refugio by myself (sorry mom). As I was walking.. I passed multiple men who all just enjoyed saying "hello precious".. and then this one guy, who was wacked out on drugs.. said "Hola, you speak Spanish?" And I said, "no" and kept walking, so he said "Oh no problem! I speak English!" And I just kept walking.. and then he proceeded to start rapping in English. I ignored him and kept walking, and eventually he went away. About 3 minutes later.. I crossed the street and heard this very high pitched whistle, so I looked over and there were 5 men standing on the corner (opposite me) so I looked away, and they yelled, "Hey you! Venga aqui!" which means.. Come here! SO.. I ignored them and kept walking, and they left me alone.. but I will not be walking alone again.

Another stupid thing.. I left my purse upstairs today while playing soccer, and nobody was upstairs.. and all the little boys of Carpio were playing soccer on the upper field. So.. after awhile Carole and I went to get our purses because we were going to eat lunch, and both our purses were open and our money was gone. So.. I usually don't carry money with me except for bus money, but I had to stop at the bank this morning to get more money for the bus for the next week.. so I had about 14 bucks on me.. which really isn't that much, but is just kind of a nuisance that it was stolen. I couldn't really be mad though, because I know the situations of these kids and that it is out of desperation.. but I will not leave my purse unattended again.

You live and learn right?

But.. anyways!

Good news!

Our ESL classes are getting bigger! Praise God! So awesome. In case you hadn't read previously.. I love ESL class.

I love soccer. Today I spent about an hour and a half playing heads (passing the ball back and forth only using your head) with my amigo.. because we had a goal of 50.. but got 73! Woooo! Next time we're going to get 100. aha.

On Wednesday I taught the kids at bible club this super awesome game called Jockey's up, which I learned doing AIA soccer camps, and it was a HUGE hit, so that was great.

Also.. tomorrow I have the opportunity to speak on body image at the saturday girls program, so I am pretty excited for that!

That is all for now..

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

xo

Jaclyn

CR

Hello!

So.. this week had its ups and downs. I was feeling pretty homesick on Wednesday and Thursday, and I got really frustrated with my host family. Here.. the most important thing is eating. If something hurts.. the cure is to eat more. If you're tired.. eat. If you're sick.. it's because you're not eating enough. So.. Wednesday morning my stomach was rather sore, and I told my host mom that I didn't want to eat breakfast.. (I've done this a few times because I can't handle all the fried food) and she got super offended because she thought I didn't like her food.. but really I just wasn't hungry and didn't want to eat. Anyways.. 10 mins later she had put some bread out and said, here's some bread you can eat! So, I was just annoyed because I had explained to her the reasons for my stomach issues before this, and it didn't seem to matter. It's been dealt with since then.. but that was frustrating. I haven't been sleeping overly well because there is no sound proofing of anything, and I have about 40 mosquito bites on my legs.. so every night I have woken up scratching my legs.

Also, my friend Bianca went back home on Friday. She was here for a month and she was my neighbour and we got pretty close, but I guess that's something you have to get used to when living overseas.

Anyways. Other then that.. things are good! I absolutely love love love teaching ESL. The kids are always so happy and have great attitudes! Also, I went with a lady named Marielos to buy another guitar for "guitar class"... we ended up getting a not so good guitar, because she didn't want to spend very much, and the guitars here are.. interesting. But, I suppose if you are just learning and lots of people are playing the guitar it should be a cheap one.

I had another lovely adventure on Thursday night.. managed to get on the wrong bus again.. but this time I wasn't alone. Bianca, Katie and I were coming back from work, and the bus said lomas.. so we got on the bus and after awhile realized we were not going to the right place.. so when we were the last people on the bus we asked the bus driver where we were.. and he said zone 2.. which is a super sketchy part of town.. so we asked if there was a bus stop nearby for lomas, and he said not to get off there because it's really dangerous so he drove us to where there was a bunch of taxis, and said get in that taxi and don't talk to anyone! So we did.. and got home safe. But.. now my host family wants me to buy a cell phone so that I can tell them where I am, because I've gotten home a bit late a few times.. not late, but I guess later then they thought I was coming home so it'll just be good to have one so I can tell them where I am and stuff without them worrying about me all the time.

Anyways.. that's about all for now!

Love love love!

Xoxo

Jaclyn