Hey Hey Hey!!!

Hey Everyone,

So we just finished another amazing week with a team from Clarksville, TN. They were truly a blessing to me this week. I have several adoptive grandma's after this week. They are even helping me mend and sew a few things that need fixing, in addition to offering me encouragement and some great hugs. They are off ziplining right now and enjoying the Costa Rican rain forest.

Today I am spending a little time resting and relaxing. I'm looking forward to a night with all the interns. Yeah my family!

I'll be putting some more pictures up on facebook sometime very soon so be looking for those. We have accomplished so much on the Coronado Children's Home. The roof is beginning to go on, the floors are completely poured. Finishing work is beginning as well. This unfortunately was my last week working there. I'm glad I haven't had to say goodbye to all the wonderful workers and Carmen, Jose, Darwin, Danni, Silvia, Lady, or Hilary yet. I am definitely not looking forward to that goodbye at all. They have become such a special part of my life. Next week we're heading up to Puerto Viejo to work with a youth team from Highland Park, TX, but I'll get to return to say some goodbyes after that.

Alli, the girls and I got to make a cake for David's birthday. Boy, were there a ton of laughs, then we felt like secret agents on a mission when we were transporting the cake from the kitchen to where we ate so as no to be seen. I love building these memories with them and I will cherish these little moments forever. Last weekend David and I got to spend the night at their house and enjoy Friday evening until Saturday midday with them to celebrate David's birthday. In case any of y'all were wondering when playing Uno, you still say it in Spanish even though we are speaking Spanish here. Hehe! I love getting so many hugs from Silvia, Lady, and Hilary! They are absolutely precious and just make me feel so special.

Please be praying for me. It is tough being so far away from home right now, but I know God is with me here! Hope you are doing well! Miss you all! can't wait to share more with you in person soon!

Brittany :-Ds

A little update....

Wow, so it has definitely been a while. I feel so special though that a few of you emailed me or told me somehow that you missed my updates on life down with the Ticos.

Life continues to be great down here. I'm not going to lie, it has been a little tough on some days and absolutely amazing other days. I have really been praying quite a bit lately that the Lord would pour out His unquenchable joy on me. It is hard not to let our bodies or feelings dictate how we relate to God, and I consider myself no exception to that tendency. My body is tired. My mind often gets pretty tired too from constantly switching back and forth from English to Spanish and vice versa. I do love being down here, but I am having to learn how to trust God to be faithful even when I don't "feel" Him. Today was wonderful, He taught me that I can see Him even when He doesn't scream my name or flash neon signs in my direction. It is a choice to depend on Him. I need to be content and realize that I too need to be faithful to God, I can't expect Him to keep showing up in crazy ways when I don't really appreciate or see the little things

Last week we were in Puerto Viejo with a great team from Rock Spring in Georgia. That group was a vibrant group of mostly high schoolers who were on fire for Jesus. They were so fun to be around and proved to be a huge encouragement for me. I got to enjoy a River Boat tour of the Rio Sarapiqui with them. We saw howler monkeys, a caiman, beautiful birds, and tons of iguanas (similar to the ones we have in the Keys... ugly and dinosaur-like...can you tell I love them?). We got to work on some of the finishing work for the Children's Worship center turned multipurpose church/community building as well as the new Clinic right next door. I loved working on the medical clinic and hearing how God has orchestrated everything so perfectly. It is soooooo cool! I would love to return here someday for a little while. I just get so excited thinking about the potential to help heal people physically as well as in so many other ways.

Last week, we also had an amazing game night/ 4th of July party on the 2nd of July with the Tatums. It was amazing and such a blessing to be able to get to know them all a little better so we can better pray for them as they prepare their hearts and lives to be the house parents in Coronado.

Right now I am with Alli's home church's team. It is fun to have been adopted by her mom, dad, and best friend as well as the other great members of their team. We have had a wonderful and productive week even despite some pretty rainy days. I have been so blessed by each team. We went and saw the La Paz waterfalls on Sunday afternoon. Wow, it was absolutely gorgeous and so incredible.

Thanks for journeying with me this summer! I miss you all and can't wait to give you a huge hug when I get back.
:-D