Small World

The Instituto de Lengua Espanola is full of missionaries planning to serve in all parts of Central and South American. (And actually one couple going to a spanish speaking area in Africa) Well one of my classmates that I sit next to, and I started talking about where we were going. She told me that she was going to Nicaragua. I asked about what area of Nicaragua and she said it was a little town close to Managua. I told her I had been before and asked what the name of the town was. Guess where she is going??? Diriamba! (For those of you who don't know, that is where Alisha and I went on a mission trip and our Church has a compound down there and it does alot of mission work in that area.) Anyway, Her, her husband and 4 children are going to start a childrens home. Can you believe that? And they are Southern Baptist! It is a small world. Bet she'll know Mama Nubia!

Alisha Vs. The Metric System

Alisha had a "solid" lesson in temperature conversion tonight. She decided to make brownies. She preheated the oven to 300 degrees. What she failed to realize was that our oven is in DEG C not DEG F. Here's the results: (Mom nicknamed it Brownie Puddin')

Junkies Forever

For those of you who don't know it, us extreme Audio Adrenaline fans are called Junkies...Adrenaline Junkies. One of the things we do for each other is share concert experiences. Last night AA played in Muscle Shoals, AL. I received a very special call w/ voicemail from a very good friend of mine, Leslie Morris during that concert. I now have on voicemail AA singing Hands and Feet. Thank You Leslie, it meant so much! Hope you didn't use too much duct tape last night.

Jaco

Jaco is the name of the beach that we went to yesterday. It is pronouced "haCO". It is a Black Sand Beach made when hot lava enters the cold water. For $13 our whole family was able to take a 2.5 hour bus trip over to the Pacific. We went with Howard, an IMB missionary headed for Argentina and two tico Gentlemen. We were able to practice much Spanish with them on the trip. Susie made friends with an 8 year old girl who knew some English. She and Susie quizzed each other for a while. It still blows my mind that we went to the beach in January. Of course I could not get my arm wet due to the injury.

Sharp as a tack!

To all of those concerned for our safety, you will hopefully be placed to rest to know that our apartment compound (not complex) is surrounded by not one, but two layers of razor-sharp razor wire. And to those of you still sceptical, Arnold decided to but to rest any concerns that razor-wire can and will definatly do damage to anyone or thing that gets near it.

The kids had accidentally kicked the soccer ball on top of the garage, so it was Dad to the rescue. Being the smart guy that he is, he hiked himself onto the Concrete wall that surrounds our compound (that has 2 layers of razor-wire on it..remember this fact, because apparently he forgot). He got the ball and threw it down and then proceeded to climb down. Before he knew it, he had sliced his arm and was bleeding pretty bad. He ran in the house and we applied pressure and once the bleeding had stopped we placed a bandaid on it. About 5 minutes later, he noticed a HUGE knot of blood forming inside his arm, right above the cut. Needless to say, this afternoon we took our 2nd trip to the emergency room in 3 weeks. The Clinica Biblica (hospital) Emergency Room saw him immediately. They sent him to an Orthopedic Surgeon. After x-rays, the Doctor proceeded to clean out the wound with a HUGE nail like object. I knew we were in for some blood when he brought over a large metal bucket and placed Arnold's arm on it. At one point the blood shot out like a fountain all over the nice Doctor. The Doctor said that Arnold had severed his muscle. He has to go back tomorrow to have the Doctor look at it again to see if they need to do a little work inside the arm. While Arnold was laying there being worked on, I called out his Spanish verbs to get his mind off of things....it was funny because the Doctor started answering the questions before Arnold could. Just another day in sunny Costa Rica.

International Worship Service

My men's Bible study called me tonight from Baton Rouge. I captured this video tonight. I was able to sing "How great is our God" with them. Thank you guys for making my day. I needed the late night break from homework. The prayers from you guys is a powerful force in our lives.

STOP THIEF!

I was very proud of myself today after completing my first "on my own" shopping experience. I rode to the super market with some girls from school, when we arrived, we all went our own separate ways. Feeling very confident, I found everything on my list and a few other odds and ends and made my way to the cashier. As I was placing my items on the belt, a young guy approached me and asked me something that I had no clue what he was talking about. I thought he was someone wanting a little money to help me with my groceries but I didn't have any loose change so I said "no, gracious". Well, he ended up being the store's baggy boy. He spoke to me several times and with me not understanding I assumed he wanted to help me out with my groceries, so I again declined since I did not have money for a tip. Walking tall and proud I made haste to the van because I did not want the group waiting on me. All at once I realized that the same guy was running after me, hollaring something that I still had no idea what he was saying. Apparently my dear friends forgot to tell me that under no circumstances do you take a buggy out of this particular store! So I was stealing the buggy! Well I guess I could have used it to tote my books to and from school.
Gotta Laugh at yourself ! (Or me!)
Susie

Downtown

Saturday, our family and neighbors took the bus to downtown San Jose. The downtown area has bricked streets with department stores and speciality shops on each side. You can find Levi's, Nike, Jansport, etc. (probably alot of knock off stuff) But it is alot more expensive than back home.
Just looking at it you wouldn't believe that we were in a third world country. But then you see the beggars lying in the middle of the walkways, dirty men and women pleading for money, women with their children coming up to you asking for you to help them. This definatly isn't North America.
It seemed like so many people were immune to the whole senario.......all I kept thinking was Matthew 25:31-46. (For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.') I was truly surrounded by "the least of these".

Lunch is on me!

Ha! Ha! I just got a great email. My friend and co-worker, Shanni Bananni, from ProSys emailed me and said that she had recieved a phone call for me this morning. It was from 96.1 The Bridge (Our Baton Rouge Christian radio station). I had entered the office in one of those radio contest drawings many, many, many months ago (maybe even a year ago). Well, today I won! Even though I no longer work there, the office gets lunch brought to them today for 10-12 people from TJ Ribs (an excellent restuarant). Isn't that funny! Hope your lunch was yummy~
Today is the end of our 3rd week at the Instituto de Lengua Espanola. It has been a challenging 3 weeks, but we are indeed seeing progress. We are able to understand so much more and also are able to speak a little more fluently than....milk, cup, please.
Please continue to pray that we will enter each day with a deliberate determination to learn to communicate effectively so we can glorify the Lord with each breath. Please also pray that we will find a church home soon, so that we can get connected and make some new relationships.
God Bless! We love you all!
Susie
(Dessert is at mi casa if you are in the neighorborhood!)

Adios

I can finally share something that's been heavy on my heart for some time now.

Audio Adrenaline Says "Adios"...
After Three Million Albums Sold, 18 No. 1 Radio Hits, GRAMMY/Dove Trophies, 15-Years of Sold Out Concerts, AudioA Prepares 2006 Farewell Album, Live Events

Nashville, Tenn., (January 18, 2006) – One of the industries top bands, Audio Adrenaline announces that it will add a final chapter to its substantial career with Adios, slated to release later this year. After 15-years of music and mission, Audio Adrenaline is choosing to say "adios," offering one more nod to its considerable fan base with the album and select live events.

After years of giving his all on stage and in the studio, Audio Adrenaline frontman Mark Stuart is experiencing ongoing vocal challenges. After consulting with doctors, it is clear the toll his voice has taken will prevent his ability to continue a consistent live performance schedule.

More info is located on audioa.com

Whispers on the Wind

I never quite understood when Susie would wake up in the middle of the night inspired to write poetry. Last night, I had the same experience. Here's the result.

Whispers on the Wind

Thunderclouds form announcing the approaching storm.
Lightening bolts fork across the mid-day sky.
Adrift in a sea of selfishness, I brace the mounting surge.
The thunder rumbles all the more often as
Sheets of rain drown me in my pride.
With storm raging on, a gentle breeze forms.
Over and over the wind whispers unrelentingly, “Go.”
Once again the roaring sea engulfs me as
The thunder proclaims its fierce anthem.
The tempest attacks mightily in a final battle
For another egocentric life.
The wind persists. The storm subsides.
I find myself lying upon a distant shore.
I rise to find the waves gently erasing
The impression of Hands and Feet.
Not mine, but God's.

Arnold Austin
2006 January 17

This poem accentuates the moment I accepted my call to international missions. It occured during the Audio Adrenaline concert in Chattanooga, TN on June 5, 2004. Not only does the poem symbolize my feelings within, but it also depicts the drums, lighting effects and crowd of which I was amidst.

Shocking!!!

In our sweet little kitchen we have a cute little stove in which we call the Barbie stove. It is just big enough to take care of our cooking needs and we are very thankful for it. BUT, every now and then if you aren't wearing your shoes and happen to be stirring something that is cooking in a pot...yeow...it shocks the daylights out of you. Hopefully it will be fixed soon, until then, I'll be wearing my shoes while cooking.
Another thing that is shocking, is that all these textbooks of mine are only in Spanish! Today it is just getting on my nerves!!!!! I have to look up almost every other word, if not every word. ARGHH! Slowly but surely I will get it. I have to admit that I pulled out my textbook from our summer Spanish course and it all made so much more sense, so it must be working. Please pray for me as I try to understand and speak this beautiful language. The communication is becoming easier and I can actually understand quite a bit of what people are saying to me....now if only I could respond.
Miss you all!
Susie

Groceries

I was afraid we couldn't swing the cost of Carlotta, our empleada, in our home three days a week, six hours a day. After all, I could never had afforded one on my Engineering salary back in the states. It seems crazy that I could on a Missionary salary now.

Last night, it was all put into perspective for me. We went grocery shopping (a three hour ordeal here) and spent $120 for what we believe to be a week or two worth of groceries. There was a huge line of people at the bank inside our grocery store depositing their weekly pay. As I checked out, I thought about Carlotta and it being her pay day, as well. We gave her what amounts to $30 for the week. I sunk low when I thought that she could not take what I pay her in a month and buy the groceries that I deemed necessary for my family for a week or two.

It makes you stop and think about what is truely a need and what is not. Somehow Carlotta's family makes it on far less than I do.

Susie is in TROUBLE!!!

OK, here I sat all ready and prepared in my Phonics class when Harold (our teacher) asks to see our homework....my mind went blank...."What homework?" I had done all of my oral practices with Arnold over and over again. But I froze when I realized that I had forgotten to do my written homework. I just sank down in my seat and had to say "lo seinto, no tarea" which means " I am sorry, I have no homework" ARGHHH! I guess I need to learn how to say the dog ate my homework in Spanish!!!!
Anyway, Harold was very forgiving but the worst thing was, I had really picked on my friend Miquel for forgetting his the day before so he laughed and laughed and laughed at me!
Oh well, at least it is the weekend! One week down!
Love you all!
Susie

Tickle Me!

OK, when learning a new language there will be many, many, many mistakes. Kinda like when we were walking around a shopping area and I asked the man about his fish in his fishtank. The word is NOT pescado (that is dead fish) He was quick to tell me that they were indeed alive. Arnold just laughed at me.
Well, beginning class, we have been reviewing some things that I already know since we took the Spanish course in BTR. But, for some people this is their first attempt. It is important to be kind and patient with those like me that have trouble grasping the right sound. But I had to laugh big inside when we were going over....What is your name? Como se llama? (kinda sounds like zyah-mah) I expected to hear the typical llama answer (The big hairy animal from S. America) but I got so tickled when the guy said (trying as hard as he could to say it) "Como say ELMO". It's gonna be a fun year. Wonder what people are gonna blog about me!
Getting ready for day 3. Pray for us! It's not easy, but it's good!

Love you all!
Susie

Pineapples, Rainbows and Sunsets

Our big brother and sister took us Saturday to the la ferria (an outdoor fruit and vegetable market) We had been told that they had a wide variety of fruits and veggies and that the prices were better than in the store. They were right, we came home with so much stuff (about 4 bags of stuff) and we only spent about 2,000 colones which ends up being roughly $4.
Why I decided to blog about this was because tonight I just had the very best slice of pineapple that I have ever had! I have had pineapple in the states and even in Hawaii and it was delicious but let me tell you that I have never ever had a pineapple like today! Thank you Lord for Costa Rican pineapples!
Also, we have only been here for 9 days and we have seen 2 rainbows. I stood outside on our balcony tonight after I was called out to see the rainbow and watched the clouds roll over the mountains as the sun is going down. It painted a beautiful picture right in front of me. I am just amazed at how each moment the painting changed, but in awe of how the painter never changes! How many times have I been too busy and have missed those rainbow, those sunrise and sunset canvases? How many times have I been too busy to hear His voice as He whispers my name. And yet He is still so patient and time and time again He paints another picture, and time and time again, He gently calls my name until I finally stop and pay attention. May I strive to be a better listener daily as I watch Him paint my path.
Love you all! Wish you could have stood with me tonight, watched the beauty and had a piece of my amazing pineapple!
Dios te bendiga!
Susie

School Daze!

Today Arnold and I began our first day of Language school at the Instituto de Lengua Espanola. We were both relieved to find that neither one of us had any classes together. (I tend to compare myself too much to him so this was an answer to prayers). We were both a little anxious but excited to begin and we had a great day! Each grammer class has about 10 people, but in our phoenics and conversation classes we only have 5 people in each. The teachers only speak in Spanish, which can be kind of difficult at times, but I actually felt like I kept up and knew what was going on. The kids have school now too and we are working out some issues with Alisha's high school credits. It looks like since she has taken so many of her 9th grade classes that she will have to do some independent studies. Patrick and Ben both have Spanish for 2 hours so they will be fluent in no time at all. 1 class down 99 more to go! Please pray that the Lord blesses us with the gift of Spanish. It has already begun to open doors to new relationships.
Dios te bendiga!
Susie

Empanada Y Empleada

This week we hired our new house helper or Empleada as they are called in Costa Rica. Her name is Carlotta and we will call her Carla. She will start on Monday and be here 3 days a week for about 6 hours a day. Clean floors are very important to Costa Ricans so she will be cleaning the floors, laundry, and other cleaning but most importantly cooking. She will cook mostly Tico foods (Costa Rican foods) and has agreed to teach me how to cook Tico. Several things she cooks are Arroz con Pollo, Gallo Pinto, a Tico Spaghetti and Empanadas. I am very excited about learning how to cook Tico. She is to help me because I will need lots of study time and time to go out and be with the locals. She will also be a great help to us with our studies. The time that we have spent with her has proven that she will help us with our conversation. Please pray that Carla will ease into our family life and that she will be a great asset to us. Also, pray that we will be able to build a relationship with her and that she will come to know Christ as her personal Lord and Savior.
Miss you all! Call us on our skype phone number, it works!
In His love,
Susie

Speaking the Language

Well, yesterday was an adventure. It was the Austin family conquering the Spanish language for the first time alone. We had to go get passport copies and have them laminated, go to the Police Station to be fingerprinted and had to ride the bus for the first time. We did all this with much success.
We even made a friend that only speaks Spanish that wants us to come back and practice with him (We think! ha!) He worked in a copy shop and I noticed that he was listening to Christian Rock. How cool is that! I tried to ask him about his music and that began a whole converstation. He was very patient with us!
Then, Alisha and I had a unique experience. About 9:30 pm we got in from dinner etc and Alisha was here (she had gone out with some friends) she had fallen off a skateboard about a week before we left the States and had hurt her head. When we arrived, she had a huge knot where there had not been one before and it kept growing and turning blue. We went to the emergency room with a neighbor and she had x-rays and the doctor said that it was a hematoma and gave her some anti-inflamatory drugs and told her to put ice on it. While sitting waiting, I was trying to figure out how to tell the dr what was wrong in Spanish without Alisha getting her tonsils or appendix out on accident. As he walked in I immediately said "un pocito espanol" (little Spanish) so he said "Well, lets speak English then" It was very comforting to know that when I needed it, the Lord sent me a personal translator. Alisha is feeling much better this morning.

Oh what a BEAUTIFUL Morning!

I woke up this morning in rather a panic. Arnold had a meeting at 9am and I thought for sure he had missed it because it was extremely bright outside. Arnold jumped up and it was about 5am. Duh! We are so close to the equator that the sun rises early!!! That will take some getting use to.

So, I as I lay in bed before drifting off to sleep I listened to so many different birds just singing their morning melodies. When I finally got up, I looked out our window to see our new "world view" and let me tell you it is beautiful!!!! From our windows all we see are mountains above the housetops (and a volcano). From my bedroom window alone, I counted 8 different flowering trees...Purple, red, yellow, pink and orange.
Thank you Father for this beautiful morning!
Wish you all were here!
Susie

Our address

In a previous post, we told you an adress to send snail mail. What we didn't say is that that was actually a PO Box at the school. STILL USE THAT ADDRESS.

Our actual address is:

San Francisco de Dos Rios
Bomba Shell
25 metros este
150 metros sur
Apartmentos crema con parton verde #4

For those who don't know Spanish (me), it's directions from the nearest Shell gas station to my creme house with green roof/eves. The streets here are not named. No wonder our mail is collected at the school.

The Austin's have landed!

We began this day many, many, many hours ago! When we arrived to the BTR airport this morning. Arnold and I got out to go get some luggage carts. While walking down the hallway, we saw someone crouching at a corner and then all at once this person lunged at us hollaring. It was Kim Babin. Her, Gerald and the kids along with Shay and Kam came to send us off at 3:30 am! guys, that meant so much to us! I love you all! Thanks for the signs, the cookies and the love!

Well, we officially LIVE in Costa Rica. We made it here about 3:00 and took forever going through customs and immigration but we made it to our sweet little apartment and have moved in. We met our downstairs neighbors. They had some things fixed up in the kitchen for us when we got here, had beautiful banners made by the kids and flowers. Then they took us out to eat and we had a wonderful evening. Just so happens that their kids are our kids ages! Tomorrow we will go shopping. I am worn out!
Love you all!

Pretty Feet

It's 2am. We are up and at it-loading the SUV. Our next post will be from Costa Rica. Thank you for your constant support of God's mission through our lives. It's time to let these feet do what they were created for.

Tomorrow is only 2 hours away!!!!

Well, here we go. In 5 hours we leave for the airport. We are suppose to check in at 3:30am and leave BTR airport at 5:30am. By the afternoon we will be in our new home. Please pray for us as we embark on this journey.
Please call us on our BTR number 225-341-3383 and it will ring in Costa Rica. We would love to hear from you. Also, email us and keep up with us on the Blog.
Much love to all of you.
God Bless!
Susie