SonicFlood

Ok, so this is the 2nd "other band" post in a row. Tonight I started a string of LIVE concert interviews with SonicFlood, a christian rock group. They are working with the IMB to get youth involved in Short Term missions. I cast the vision for filling the MANY positions for short term work with ReapSouth. This show was in Philly. The next one I do is in Ruston, LA.

Shine

Don't ever repeat this to ANY Adrenaline Junkie, but I'm a fan of one of Newsboys songs. It's called Shine. I knew it well, but when I heard it just before quitting my engineering job, it struck a chord. It's who I am. For those of you who don't know it, here's the lyrics. I hope you catch the spirit within it, whether your mission field is Peru, South America or Polaski, TN you gotta get out and shine.

Dull as dirt, you can't assert
the kinda light that might persuade
a strict dictator to retire, fire the army,
teach the poor origami

the truth is in, the proof is when
you hear your heart start asking
What's my motivation?
And try as you may, there isn't a way
to explain the kinda change
that would make an eskimo renounce fur
that would make a vegetarian barbeque hamster
unless you can trace, this about-face to a certain sign

shine
make em wonder whatcha got
make em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored
shine
let it shine before all men
let em see good works and then
let em glorify the lord

Out of the shaker and onto the plate
it isn't karma, it sure ain't fate
that would make a deadhead sell his van
that would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah freaks and science seeks
a rationale that shall excuse this strange behavior
when you let it shine you will inspire
the kind of entire turnaround
that would make a bouncer take ballet
even bouncers who arent happy
but out of the glare with nowhere to turn
you ain't gonna learn it on "What's my Line?"

Shine
make em wonder whatcha got
make em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored
shine
let it shine before all men
let em see good works and then
let em glorify the lord

Hi, my name is Susie. What is your name?

I have said this phrase over 50 times today! Tonight was the first real teaching session of our ESL class (English as a second language). I twisted Arnold's arm and he decided to give in and come and help (actually he jumped at the chance). I must say that I was a little intimidated looking out into the crowd of 22. (Especially when I saw the guy who owns the gym that we go to and told him "I like ice cream. What do you like?" OOPS! Guess I should have said "I like exercising and sweating." But too late now, he knows!
Arnold did teach them "I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream" They loved it! ( except the guy from the gym! Just kidding!)
Anyway, it went really well and I was surprised at how excited they all were. One session down, 7 to go.
I am going to list their names below. I am asking for you to pray for these precious people. That they not only learn english but that as they hear the gospel presentation each week that they will come to know about the greatest love of all! You may want to pray for the group as a whole or pick one name to concentrate your prayers on. I know that the Lord has specifically hand selected each person in this group to be a part. Please join us with your prayers. I will update you each week on our progress.

Veronica, Viviana, Kembly, Ransrio, Carla (my empleada), Ivonne, Jose, Magdiel, Maria, Marta(our temp empleada), Josue, Angela, Mauricio, Tomas, Luzbi (our gym guy), Luisa, Olga, Fressia, Ruth, Ana, Marlene, Edwin

We love you bunches. Thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement. Please know that each of you are on this journey with us. Always know how much we appreciate it!
Dios Los Bendiga!
His.
Susie (ZuSu)

Hola Zu Su!

Today as I was walking home past the kinder area at the school, I heard a precious voice call "hola Zu Su!" I looked around and it was my sweet Nathan. Nathan is one of my babies here along with his brother Benjamin. Benjamin always makes me smile and always has a "sugar" for me or at least tries to find one for me (in his pocket, etc). These are the dear children of some of our dearest friends the Rains.
When we met the Rains and I saw those two cutie pies (In Florida at our commissioning), I just fell in love with them. Even though Nathan was just a little thing, I tried to teach him to say "Su Su". Well today he finally did! He has said things similar but today he did it and it made me so happy . He even talked to me on the phone and said it today. And I am constantly amazed by his spanish!
It makes me really sad to think that even though one day we will be in the same city of Arequipa (Lord Willing!) in 4 or so years, that I will have to miss seeing my sweeties growing up. But for today, I will relish in the thought that my sweetie Nathan finally said my name! What a great day!
His.
Zu Su!

Video Adrenaline - Part 3

Patrick Speaks

ESL Classes

What? I thought I signed up to help teach English as a Southern Language, not English as a second language! Well whatever it is, I am beginning to teach english tonight to a group of beginners. They expect about 40 beginners and I will have 1/2 of them. Please pray for me. It is mostly conversational english but we are beginning with just the basics so if I mess up, they mess up! Before you know it, there will be ticos all around Costa Rica saying "Hey ya'll" or my favorite saying from Nicaragua "Susie is GROOOVY!"
No really please do pray that God will bless this time. I will have at least 20 people with which I have complete confidence in that God has already chosen to be in my group. Please pray that throughout this that I may show His love and concern for these people and that I will be able to present not only just english but more importantly, the gospel in such a manner that will intrigue them and that they can't wait to learn more. When I get my group, I will take some pictures and tell you thier names so you can pray specifically for each of them!
Love ya'll! Dios los bendiga!
His.
Susie

Everyone knows it's Wendy's!

Sunday we made a trip down to downtown San Jose Costa Rica to eat at the newly opened Wendy's. The place was packed and the funny thing is, When we got there, we saw a whole table full of gringos (northamericans). Even though the line was so long, we were impressed by how fast they got us through. It was so nice to have a NORMAL tasting hamburger for a change! (The ground meat here tastes a little funny to me!) And of course, we all had frosty's! YUMMM! We were asked on our way out by the restuarant manager if it was comparable to back home. I almost told him "no, it was 10 times better here" because it just tasted so much better here after not having one for so long.
It's funny how little things like a meal at Wendy's made us feel like we were back home! Miss you all!
(Rumor has it that a Dunkin Donuts is opening soon! If only it were Krispy Kreme!)

It's a small odd world!

This afternoon as Arnold and I were on our way out our door going to a meeting, a man ran our gate bell. I looked out and knew that I recognized him and immediately figured he was from our church coming to visit. As I drew nearer to the gate, I realized that I did recognize him but it wasn't from the church but I couldn't pinpoint exactly where from.
The gentlemen knew both of our names and was very friendly but I still couldn't figure out where I knew him from. As we opened the gate, he asked if we remembered him and I said yes, but couldn't remember from where. He said "from Limon" Well, as soon as he said that of course I remembered but I was still shocked and puzzled. His name is Juan Carlos and was our waiter at the hotel that we stayed at about a month ago. Limon is about 4 hours away!!! (We made friends with him after eating there 3 meals a day (since there were no other places to eat for mile.) I had remembered that his baby daughter lived here with her mom in our area but the thing that still puzzles me is....How did he find us? We must've made SOME impression! Since we were on our way to a meeting, he said he would stop back by one day. What a small ODD world!

No tan humorí­stico historia del Baño

(not so funny bathroom story)

Susie did not end up with an infection, so they sent her to the hospital for an ultrasound...Stop that line of thought right there, it would take just as big a miracle for a pregnancy in this family.

The good news is that Susie doesn't have kidney stones, gall stones, or rolling stones for that matter. She does have an inflamed colon. It causes here a good bit of pain, but not all the time. She is on an anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce the swelling.

Humor del Baño (Bathroom Humor)

If you don't appreciate bathroom humor, quit reading and come back tomorrow....

I have a problem, I cannot order anything in español. When I want to order something, it always comes out that I want to pee. You see, my tongue hasn't found the difference between Ordenar (to order) and Orinar (to pee). The problem is the rolling of the "r" is a little difficult for me and my tongue doesn't move into the "d" sound quick enough (which is actually pronounced "th"). This problem is also seen in words like ordination (ordinación).

If you are still reading, I have some serious questions about how you spend your free time.

Yesterday, Susie thought she had a bladder infection and had to give a urine sample at the lab, so as you might expect, she looked in the kitchen cabinets and found something like an old sour cream container and headed down the street to do her thing. In case you're lost, she had to bring her own sample container. She used the small tub, which we have come to know as "missionary tupperware". The laboratory assistant was delighted at the selection she had made. Hind sight, Micheal Rains told her that she should be glad that she hadn't selected an old yogart container. she could have had some active bacteria attributed to her unrinary tract that was actually the yogart culture. To top it off, she had to "use" her container in the dark. The electricity was off, she might have needed the larger tub! Such is the life in Costa Rica!

A First!

Today was a first. Now let me say, I am still shocked upon completion of homework to see a whole page of spanish words that I have written. I am even ever more so shocked that I can understand what they mean! Well today, our grammer teacher Graziella, gave us an assignment to WRITE A POEM! IN SPANISH!

Now that is right up my alley, I love writing poetry and devotionals but truly, this scared the beegeebees outta me. I had never ever even read a poem in spanish before today!

Well I have it done. I am sure that there needs to be LOTS of tweeking and maybe even a full overhaul but hey, it's a a first! I can honestly say that I have written una poema en español.

Love you all!
Dios los bendiga!
His.
Susie

Video Adrenaline - Part 2

Alisha's turn

Is that light I see???

Yep, I think it just might be the light at the end of the tunnel. They told me I would one day see it and I believe I am well on my way out of this tunnel! Today marks our 100 day countdown. Now when some of our friends had a 100 day countdown last timester, I thought,Hello... Hey guys that is still a long time!!! But now I see the significance. We actually only have ONE HUNDRED DAYS left in Costa Rica. After years of waiting, anticipating, and knowing about a place,about a country that we have been called to go, now I can see that place is at the end of this 100 day journey. YIPPEE!

Please pray for us during these last 100 days here, that we will gain so much more knowledge of the spanish language and that we can fit it all together into what the Lord wants us to do.

Our Peru Visa paperwork has just started processing (as well as the Rains) please be in prayer for all of our visas to go through without any problems. Please pray that those who handle these papers will show all of us favor.

Dios los bendiga y Vamos a Peru despues de 100 dias.
His.
Susie

Austin/Cruz - Election 2006

So you think you know me? I surprise myself half the time! This time it was a submission of my name as candidate for Presidnecy of the Student Council. This type of position has never been my choice, but as you know, God is leading me in new directions:

To know more about what I do or for a good laugh at my picure click on "president" in the following link:

Click here

You can click "Main Page" to see/learn about our Language School.

Labor day / School Day

We had a BBQ on Labor Day. We celebrated with the Rains and the Gradys, both bound for Peru, as well as our empleada, Carla, our tutor, Harold, and our favorite business owner, Claudio Otero. We had plenty of food and fun.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take any photos. I guess you'll have to wait for the next video blog to see us again.


We started school again today. It's hard to believe that there is only a few weeks (15) before we leave this place. Tomorrow I chair my first student council meeting as President. I've never been into things like this, but with my new career comes directions. I need exercise my leadership skills more these days.

Video Adrenaline

Thought you would like to see each of us this week. Susie is first.