..and the celebration continues!

Just when I thought my celebration was over, the CINCEL staff surprised me! Every Wednesday we have Spanish chapel. The first Wednesday chapel of each new trimestre is dedicated to learning some tidbits about Costa Rican culture. The teachers are the actresses! They teach by acting out some very important details so the missionaries don't stick there foot in their mouth when it comes to etiquette and behavior.

We were all in the chapel and the academic assistant began by talking about honoring someone who has reached an accomplishment in their lives and I was just listening, thinking to myself, this is so nice that they would recognize someone and all of a sudden she said my name! As you can see I wasn't expecting to hear my name!

She had me come forward and presented me with a certificate and a gorgeous calla lily. I was so surprised.

Then to top it all off, one of our missionary students made cake! My classmate Jennifer. She is just the best and I will miss her family so much when they leave for Ecuador June 13. So this was a really fun chapel needless to say!

We arrived home just in time to welcome the new students to CINCEL

We arrived home on Tuesday night and was back at the airport on Wednesday morning! It's a very fun life!!

New students arrived, we got them settled into their apartments, had orientation and a pizza lunch as well as an evening cookout. They have learned the bus system, where to shop, how to get to the market for fruits and veggies. One family has children, so they have put them on the bus, went to their school, and have them all settled in! Tomorrow they will get acquainted with church and then will start a Missiology class on Monday.

My special journey!

When the opportunity came for me to graduate, I told Denn I want to walk the line! He said, OF COURSE you will walk the line!
If my final project was submitted by April 25th I would be able to do so. We booked the airline tickets in faith before the submission date!

We left San Jose on Tuesday, April 29th, arrived after dark and settled into our friends house in Springfield, Missouri. On Wednesday I had my hair and nails done. On Thursday Denn took me to Branson to shop the outlets, On Friday we had dress rehearsal and some time with my friend Cheri. On Saturday the graduation took place and then our friends treated us to a graduation lunch, then we drove on to Lawrence Kansas for Sunday Mornings service. On Monday I was able to visit AGWM and visit with my friends! On Tuesday we flew back to San Jose! What a whirlwind, awesome in every way! God is so faithful and so very good.

Don't be so sad it's over, be soooo happy it happened!

Thinking about last week and everything that happened in my life makes me really sad that it's over, but as Dr. Seuss said, don't be sad, be happy it happened! I choose to be happy although I really want to do it all over again!

When the opportunity arrived at my doorstep to finish my master's degree I was more than excited! When I passed through deep waters in 2005 I had to drop out of AGTS. We couldn't financially handle the expense. Dropping out devastated me needless to say and it has been up unto this point unfinished business in my life. When ever the topic came up in conversation, deep sadness would settle in on my spirit, but I cast those thoughts down and would keep moving on, basically with the feeling, oh well, I can't change the past, and I refuse to dwell on it so not completing the degree is just one of those life things that happen.

Last September the opportunity arose to finish and it came as such a shock that I could only be reminded of God's intimate care in my life and that He did have my life in the palm of His hand and that He did remember me. I worked very hard to finish my last class and my final project. I was very proud of my work, all the while being a Spanish student in CINCEL as well. The workload was great but never for one moment did I begrudge the fact that I was overwhelmed with work. I was simply overjoyed to take care of old business and be done with bad memories! God is so good. I am so grateful. I am indebted to AGTS, the professors and staff, Denn, my editor for all my work. God blessed me all the way!