March is the start of classes in Give Dignity! We prepped all of February and have had classes underway now and just about finished placement tests and the beginning of the year sort of stuff with all the kids. Our classes are all full again this year! Also, some of my advanced students had the opportunity to help the younger kids with their English homework and this was a really cool opportunity to see the older kids giving back and helping as they have been helped. It reminds me of this verse, Luke 6:31: "Do to others as you would have them do to you".

I was also able to go to Washington State for 2 weeks and visit my family for my cousin's wedding! It was a great time of catching up with everyone and I got to relax before the craziness of the year started! 

Something exciting to announce is I am doing a FUNDRAISER this month for some items that are necessary but that I don't have enough money within my budget to purchase! I am in need of a few things and looking to raise money to purchase whatever the Lord provides! I have included about what the cost of each one is. 

• Lawn Mower $145
• Refridgerator $450
• Tools $70
• Chairs $54 per chair

​If you would like to donate here is the link to my donation account!! Shoot me a message and just let me know which item you would like the money to go toward! Remember that what I do can't be done without YOU! 

January and February here is "summer" break where we don't have classes during that time. In January I helped with another camp for a ministry called "Las Gradas" I worked with this ministry last year and this year I was able to participate and lead so much better given I can speak Spanish so much better! This was a very fruitful time, many of these kids have been through a lot of abuse and trauma and the focus of the camp was for the kids to heal from these things and find hope in Christ. I had a cabin with 9 girls ages 10-11 years old. Several of them opened up and shared some very difficult things but within that we saw God working as they asked then to accept Jesus and follow Him. Sometimes, there may not be hope of a better future in this life, BUT there is always the hope of eternal life in heaven with Jesus. This is the hope we give to the kids because we can't always change thier physical circumstances. By the last day 16 girls placed their trust in Jesus and accepted Him!

We also got to celebrate the wedding of Jonathan and Colleen!! Some of my closest friends here and it was one of the most beautiful weddings i've ever seen! 

I START classes in March, please be in prayer that everything goes well and that I am able to have patience and love toward the children and that they would understand God's love for them as well!! I COULD NOT do everything I do without your continued support!

Financially, I am getting low on funds. In donations I currently recieve $415 monthly but I need $900-$1,000 per month to survive with the bare minimum. I work 3 other jobs in addition to the one at the ministry to supplement the donations. I currently make $300-$400 monthly with my other 3 jobs. I am also working on applying for residency in Costa Rica and my passport expires this year so I am working to renew that. ALL of this costs a lot of money as you could imagine!! If you are able and would like to help, please consider donating. The money goes toward my basic living expenses and being able to pour more into the kids. 

If you would like to donate you can click here and donate to the "ESL Program" fund. This is all tax deductable.

Well 2024 has been a great year! We have accomplished so much, but overall God has been so good! Classes finished at the end of November and we have seen a lot of progresss with the kids in the English class. But not only that we have seen the kids grow in their curiosity about Jesus and growth in their faith. The 1-3rd graders did their presentation for their parents and we had a great turn out of 60 parents! 

We just got back from Youth Camp with 46 campers and 12 leaders! It was a blast getting to do fun but also having serious conversations and intentional time. This time is so good for the kids as they are able to get away into a beautiful area and away from some of the difficulties of life to be a kid for a few days without any worries. But it also promotes growth as they feel comfortable to talk with us. Our theme was growth and being a disciple and follower of Jesus. The kids on the last night were asked to come forward if they need to confess something and we saw many of the kids respond in order to heal relationships and walk in the path that God has for them. It was very moving to see the kids that I have worked with and prayed for this whole year to confess sins and accept Jesus. 

I am overwhelmed by what God did at this camp in the lives of these kids. I have particpated in camps in the past, but this was very special as it was the kids I have labored, worked with, and built relationships with over this past year and a half. 27 of the kids in this photo are in my English classes.

Please consider a year end gift or donating monthly so I can continue this work. Jesus is always faithful to provide. Specifically, I am in need of an additional $400 per month. God has blessed me with some extra work teaching private English classes as well as English classes online. But I can't make all the money necessary if I want to work at the ministry in the same capacity. Please consider partnering with me to further the work of building relationships and growth in Jesus. I can't do it without your support and prayers. 

Thank you to all who support me. By supporting me you are really supporting these kids. They appreciate it so much and have many opportunites because of your generosity. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

-The youth would grow in their relationship with Jesus
-They would be able to forgive past hurts
-Wisdom and discernment in how to help them
-Financial provision for me in this next year
-God would be the center of all my decisions. 

And last but not least, our team chant!

Where to even begin. First, it is important to remember all the things that God has blessed you with. I think it can be so easy to forget everything we are blessed with and think about only the things we don't have. I have learned to live contently with the things I have and to use what God has given me wisely. I encourage you to meditate on this verse: 

Remember to be thankful and content with what God has given you as earthly possessions will all fade away one day. It reminds me of my grandparents who had a LOT of things in their house. When my grandpa died my grandma had to move, but she had to leave behind nearly everything. They had spent a lifetime stocking stuff up, but in the end my grandpa didn't take anything with him and my grandma lost all of those earlthy possessions. However, what we gain is relationships and connection with other people. When we are so focused on things we often neglect relationships and people. Proritize what really matters and is important. RELATIONSHIPS. 

Teaching has been GREAT! The kids have been learning more Bible stories in English and having more conversation! I am so proud of all of their hard work and also their curiosity when it comes to Jesus! My 1-3rd graders are working on a presentation for their parents for the end of the school year and my 4-6th graders are preparing for their final exams! 

Here is a preview of what Bible stories the kids have been learning! These videos are funny, short, but great for conversations! 

This past month has been busy! Continued with lots of English classes, youth group, and I have started practice for a skit for camp! The first picture is a sweet group of kids, they completed all their work so to celebrate Ainara's birthday (girl in the pink pants) we made cookies together! They all really enjoyed this activity and was fun to see them all so happy! 

To give you an idea I have 6 classes a week of 4-6, 2 classes a week of 1-3rd, and 3 classes a week for high school. I also teach online about 8 hours in the week and have an adult class with 2 of my co-workers for 4 hours out of the week.  All that to say, my schedule is very busy! 

I have still been battling sickness. So I'd really appreciate prayers for good health! 

My International church also came to the ministry to help with our high school English students. They had conversation in English and played board games. Alejandro (the leader of the group) also shared about God and got to continue to pour into and teach the kiddos about Jesus. The kids were talking with me after about how much they enjoyed the time and I could tell it was really meaningful to many of them as they all walked away with smiles on their faces! 

I have been able to enjoy a few fun things in the month of August as well! My friend Kimberly came to visit for a week and we got to see some incredible waterfalls. And I went on a hike with Beto and some of his family! The nature of Costa Rica is truly breath taking and I am so blessed to live here. 

Hello all! I can't believe over half the year is gone already! Also, yesterday marked my 1 year of living in Costa Rica!! YAY!! I still remember the day a year ago when I quit my job, sold my stuff, and got on an airplane to move to a foreign place. I remember going back and forth with "I'M SO EXCITED!!" and "Oh my gosh, what have I done?!" haha But I knew that God had something for me here and really He did. My co-workers were my first friends and truly they were so amazing and welcoming that very seldom did I feel alone. Soon after I got involved in both of my churches and started developing more friendships. 

Wow, really so much of my life has changed, I have a new apartment, new co-workings, new students, 2 new churches, a boyfriend, new friends, i've tried new foods, been to new places, experienced new cultural things, and yet the one constant is God, He still remains the same through all of the changes and different experiences. He knows no bounds to culture, country, or people. He is the same God yesterday today and forever. 

In the beginning of July a group of missionaries came down from Idaho to do VBS camps and minister to us. It was really an encouraging time, but also a great time with the kids where we were able to foster more relationship building and share more about Jesus. We did songs, games, stories, crafts, and spent time together.  We also took the high schoolers to the park and did several really fun activities!  I also had an incredible intern that came from Honduras to help me with English classes for a whole month! 

On top of all that, my parents also came for a week in the middle of July and it was fun spending time with them but also they were able to help for a day in my classes! 

URGENT PRAYER: I am very much in need of more support. I currently only receive $360 monthly per donations. I have 2 other online jobs that I earn about another $400 per month. But that leaves me still short about $400. I know God is a faithful provider as recently some co-workers are going to pay me for some private English classes which will help. But to continue in the ministry working with these kids I need more support. I have the ability to make my own money, I just don't have the time. I can't work 2 full time jobs. Please consider supporting me as you can. Truly i'm in need of consistent monthly supporters. 

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." – 2 Peter 1:3

​Thank you all for your consistent love and support, please reach out with prayer requests! 

Hello all! So sorry for the delay in posting! I have had a lot going on in the months of May and June! 
​
For most of the month of May I was sick. I didn't get over my sickness for 3.5 weeks so it was brutal. But in all of that my job and students were very understanding as I had to cancel several classes while I was recovering. 

Classes have been great for the month of June, my students are making great progress and I am also building great relationships with them. Recently too, one of my most advanced high school students, Siany has helped in the 1-3rd grade classes helping to teach the younger kids. I really love that the ministry encourages the kids to give back to the ministry as they can!

I also got to go back to Texas for 4 days and surprise my parents!! Here are some videos of JuJu and I surprising them! It was a great time to see my friends and spend some time with my family. 

Please continue to pray for me and the ministry. I am still in need of an additonal $400 per month to continue to stay here and work for the ministry! I continue to trust God in this and that He will provide! Thank you for all of your continued support!! 

SO much has happened and I have just been trying to keep up with everything in life. Thank you guys all so much for your continued support. April was a very full month, I had more friends come to visit, classes are in full course and I have been able to work on building relationships more with my students as I become more involved in youth group.  

It's the little things in class sometimes. The little hugs that my students give, hand picked flowers, small candies, and compliments. My students may not have much to give materially, but they have so much talent, love, and care for others and for their teachers. And I absolutely love the thought that they put into the gifts they give me.

Youth group has been so much fun! I enjoy getting to know my students outside of classes and get to invest in them on a personal level. It is also fun to see their personalities come alive! We did skits a few weeks ago and it was so fun to see really quiet students be dramatic. My students have so many sides to their personalities and you don't always get to see those other aspects outside of class. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to invest in these teens. Please continue to pray God works in their hearts. <3

God has been really teaching me to be more selfless and to think of others more than myself. It really brings to mind the scripture: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 I have really been learning to lay down my life for others and for my friends. To think of what is best for the other person and to rid myself of my own selfish desires. This is a continual process but God has been highlighting this to me. 

I have been teaching my students different songs to learn English, this is a video of the song we worked on for the month of April. My students worked to memorize this song and the verse that goes with it is, “In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

Something else new in my life is I have a boyfriend named Beto and he is truly such a selfless individual and demonstrates what it is to truly love someone and to put aside your own desires for the other person. I would also appreciate prayers in the direction of our relationship but I am very happy and can't wait to see what God has in store. 

Classes started up again in March and it has been great, but also really challening. Creating the student's schedules has proved to be very difficult and time consuming. But now I have my classes set and I am excited for this next year with my students. I am already seeing progress from last year and can see so many of them motivated and working hard. 

My schedule is very full with three classes of 4-6th, four classes of 1-3rd, and 2 high school classes. All of these classes meet multiple times a week and we have been able to accept more students into the English program than ever before! Thanks to all of you for your support to allow me to continue to do the job God has placed before me. 

I also had some friends come and visit! It was great to see Esther, Malitnay, and Amanda! 

Please continue to pray for God to provide and for each of my students that they would know God in a deeper way. Our youth group started small groups that meet once a month to build deeper relationships with the teenagers. Please pray God gives me wisdom with Spanish and that He will work in the hearts of the teens in my group. Many of these kids are also in my English classes. 

Please contact me with any questions or ways you can help! I am still looking for monthly supports so I can stay here and continue to serve these kids! Happy Resurrection Sunday! 

I can't believe a month has already flown by and we are only 2 weeks out from starting up classes again. In the month of December we had vacation Bible school for the kids and teenagers. This was a fun time to get to do more than just academics with the kids and spend time with them outside of school. We did crafts, games, and stories! 

I was also able to do a number of fun this in January such as celebrating my birthday, spending time with friends, and I also attended a young adults retreat through my international church! 

Please continue to pray for me in this next year as I continue to build relationships with the kids and teach English. I am really excited for what God has in store for this next year!