Missionary Life as a language Student

We have been here for a month and have been telling ourselves we need to write our first blog so here we go.  Since we spend a lot of time in school, studying and doing homework, our minds often need a break, and if you have ever been to language school you would understand what a break actually means. Lol

We left New York for San Jose Costa Rica on September 10th, and arrived at our new house the same night.  It doesn’t matter how many times you come and go you must give your heart and mind to missions and again realize that your life will dramatically change. This includes cultural things and habitual things as well. One thing I can say for sure is that the Lord has gone before Steve and I, and he is so faithful to always pave the way. Long before we ever felt the call to missions the Lord knew exactly what was going to happen and he has had the plan the whole time. Back to us arriving in Costa Rica on September 10, The Lord has blessed us along this road with a very nice house in a good neighborhood a few miles outside the city of San Jose.  We actually have 3 embassies on our road, each embassy has a little security booths outside, which isn’t something we even knew coming to our house, obviously this is a very good security system as these men are there 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Our house came equipped with everything we need, sofas, beds, TV, Wi-Fi, and a full kitchen a washer and dryer, more than we could have ever prayed for or even asked. God is able to immeasurably more than we could ever ask for or even imagine, According to his power that is at work in us.  Ephesians 3:20

Our house is 1.4 miles from our school considering that we do not have a car we walk every day. (Great exercise) We leave our house every morning around 6:45 for 25 minutes to walk to school and then a 25-30 minute walk back home.  The mornings are so beautiful; in front of our walk each morning are the mountains, when the sky is clear it is an amazing view of nothing but green mountains. Most mornings are very nice and are usually sunny until the afternoon. This is the rainy season, so each day around 12 or 1 we have torrential rain, it could last for a couple of hours or it could last for the rest of the night. Praise God for the sun in the morning that brightens our day after many hours of rain. At times while walking home we get caught in the rain, this is something I have learned to enjoy and appreciate. We have had to rely on Uber more than we would like during the rainy seasons and in the night when it is not safe to walk home from events at the school we again have to take uber. I have the privilege and honor of starting a ladies bible study; this has been an amazing blessing to me, for the Lord to use me right where I am.  Steve and I have been able make many friendships, ones that I know will be for the rest of our lives. School is about 4 hours; it starts at 7:30 and ends around 12:10 every day.  2 days a week we also have tutoring from 12:30 to 2:30; at times the days are long but, I know we are more than conquerors with the help of the Lord and the great cloud of witnesses around us. We are in complete and total awe of how fast we are learning of Spanish.

Our grammar part of class is hard for me but it is the same with every situation in life.  If I give up and don’t speak the word of God over my life, well then I have failed the true purpose of all that the Lord has placed upon our lives. Homework, well that is another story this usually takes us about 2 hours of homework and studying every day.

We quickly realized that learning Spanish is going to take the main part of our lives here in Costa Rica and a true dedication to the purpose placed before us.

This is a much different experience than our time in Nicaragua.  San Jose has all the amenities of the US.  They have all the same fast food restaurants, a Starbucks down the road, (thank you Lord) Walmart, Pricemart (costco) and many others.  However everything is much more expensive than the US.  We heard it was expensive but we did not realize how much, we actually think it cost more to live here then Long Island (Food, clothing, etc.)

Our main idea here is to stay focused on the purpose and not veer off course, we are servants at heart and so we want to get involved in so many ministries, but we must remind ourselves that we are here to learn Spanish and not get burnt out with doing many ministries.

We are involved in 2 ministries.  The first ministry is an ESL program.  A couple rents a local community house and they have about 40 Ticos come every Tuesday to learn English.  It’s about 2 hours and in the middle we have a small time of worship and a bible story. The students are split up into different classes based on their level, and we both love the people and the classes we teach.

The other ministry that we are really enjoying is working with a missionary in a poorer area with a children's ministry.  We are in charge of games and we give bible lessons to the children; one important part of this ministry and like any ministry is to join those around you, encourage them and love them. Life in general was never called to be an easy one, but one that if we would keep the focus on the end result we would go after it with everything in us and work for it like it will save our lives. (And it will).  

Proverbs 2:-1-5 Store up the commands of the Lord within you, turn your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding. Indeed if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for all of this like your searching for silver or Gold as a hidden treasure, then and only then will you understand the fear of the Lord and you will find the knowledge of God.

I want to share a few things about the life of a missionary, 1. Bugs become your friends, because they usually eat something that could be more dangerous to us. 2. Toilet paper is a commodity, one that we have no idea what thickness means, here in Costa Rica toilet paper is thin, it’s kind of like using none. (This makes it easy to flush, or throw in the waste basket. 3. The volcano seems to errupt more often then not so the Dirt and dust is part of my DNA now, it resides in my nostrils all the time. 4. People stare at us everywhere, so to break it up I just yell loud BUENAS DIAS OR TARDE) this always breaks the stare and makes me feel better about myself.

Those are the funny things about being a missionary, now to the life of a language student. 1. When we say our head is full, it really feels literally like nothing else can squeeze in there. 2. I cry at least 2-3 times a week because I feel that I can’t learn anything and that my mind can’t handle it and my brain is going to explode. 3. You learn to rely on the love of those around you. 4. Ministries are very hard as a language student because right now our ministry is to school and the hours it takes to learn another language. 4. Coffee and chocolate are a blessing from the Lord. 5. If we think for one moment that we are only here to learn Spanish we are Surley mistaken.  This is the purpose, but the main purpose is to equip us with a language to go out and teach, preach and share the word of God in a language not known as our first. We have learned to trust in the Lord, not just for the language but also for his guidance, comfort and power of the Holy Spirit. If the presence of the Lord does not go with us, we don’t want any part of it. We have found the most amazing friends here, ones that understand and are going through the same struggles that we are, one who can sympathize with our pain and struggle of a new language and a new culture. Oh how each day we are in awe of Gods power at work in our life and in the life of those around us here at language school.

What a beautiful example of many different denominations coming together for one purpose, that purpose as spoken in Mark 16:15; Go into all the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Amen)

Today I was also reminded that many are called but few will listen and head to Gods calling on their life. Steve and I have stepped out in faith and the call that the Lord has given, we will be obedient and we are answering the call along with all of the beautiful people here at language school.  One thing I know for sure that he who started the good work in us, will continue it to the final day that the Lord will return. (Oh what a glorious day that will be). 

We all have struggles and hard times, but I want to encourage you that you are not alone; you do not have to fight alone. The Lord has a long arm and he stretches it across the church and those who he has called, we are the body and we are to help each other. 

We together are called to help one another and lift each other up in prayer. I want to do that more and more as I realize how important it is even in my own life. We are here learning and waiting on the Lord for the exact location for us to be in after this time here. Steve and I have ears wide open to where ever the Lord calls us. Thank you for your prayers, there are why we have been able to make it this far. We will continue to seek the Lord for strength, guidance and a clean heart that is prostrate before the Almighty King of Kings.

We are praying for a revival everywhere, not just in this country but in all the countries around. May you to seek the face of the Lord for the places your feet touch, that no one else may ever be BUT YOU.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Amen.

Call upon the name of the Lord, humble yourself and pray in every and any situation you have. We must turn from the ways we know, stop following the easy path, then and only then will we hear from heaven and the Lord almighty will heal our lands. We can’t wait to share so much more, please keep us in your prayers until we all meet again.

All for the purpose of the one who has called us, who really sacrificed it all.

Steve and Crystal Paskiewicz