ONE YEAR IN COSTA RICA: An Interview

Cowboy, PHD in barking and play.
Loves Spencer and Kendra.

Hello and welcome! Thank you for being here with me, I am Professor Cowboy_Yeehaw and today I will be interviewing two of my favorite people.  Spencer and Kendra Thomas will answer my questions, together and individually, about their first year as full time missionaries in Costa Rica. Let's get started!

Let's bark! ... I mean, go!

Question-

How long have you been married, and when/why did you move to Costa Rica?

Answer- 

Married January 3, 2015.  We started praying about Costa Rica in February of 2015.  We knew, just by looking at each other, that Costa Rica was where we needed to be.  Why did we move? Because we were invited.  Seeking God's will is the only way a person can find peace.  

Question-

What is your mission field? 

Answer-

Our mission field is Colegio Metodista.  It is a private school with students from pre-k to high school graduation.  We primarily spend time with grades 7-11 (there is no 12th, they graduate at 11th).  We have spent the last year starting bible study small groups.  The purpose of these groups is for students to become Disciples of Jesus through meaningful Christ-centered relationships.  

Question-

What are some things you didn't expect to encounter after moving to Costa Rica?

Answer-

     Kendra: "I didn't expect a lot of things.  Principally, communication is difficult. Not just a language barrier, but a way of thinking that was different than mine. When I prepare for a meeting or event I am obnoxiously early. My coach always said '10 minutes early is on time.' As we learn Spanish one thing sticks out to me. 'I am early/late' does not translate. A person may say 'it is early.' However, that is quite different. Perhaps it is not the largest hurdle we have had, but this has proved to be the greatest learning experience. Although living with the Turrialba Volcano has also made life more interesting. With it's most active year in a long time, we now know the varied pleasures of regular ash fall."

     Spencer: "This is going to sound really dumb... but the food.  There's no tex-mex.  I was really excited when someone told me Costa Ricans do tamales.  Costa Rican tamales are not Mexican tamales, not even close.  In my mind I associated Latin America with Mexico and Mexican food.  So when we got here and I asked 'Where can a gringo get some tacos?' and they told me Taco Bell, I wasn't expecting that."

Question-

Looking back over your year, what has been the most difficult part of moving to another country"

Answer-

     Kendra: "Being away from family.  Our family is particularly close. We were so fortunate to be together for the Christmas Season, but missing my grandparent's Memorial Day BBQ and Mother's Day or the crazy annual Pumpkin Patch my mom's youth do every year is hard on the heart. Those times when the family comes together to celebrate and sometimes even argue, but then everyone takes a nap and feels better... those are the times you miss."

     Spencer: "Family, also.  On Kendra's side we have 6 nephews/nieces and on my side we have 3 boys.  So only getting to see them a few times is hard.  It's strange but true, I miss not being able to see how much they've grown.  Every time I see my nephews, they are noticeably bigger/stronger and harder to wrestle.




Question-
What gives you the most joy?

Answer-
     Kendra:  "Seeing the spark in a student's eye as they become excited to talk about the Lord and their faith. Being friends with these students, mentoring them, walking beside them as they discover what it means for Jesus to be Lord of their life, is the greatest joys.
     Spencer: "Seeing our students start to seek the Lord and take personal responsibility for their faith.  The absolute biggest blessing has been getting to share the gospel with someone who has never heard or opened the bible before."




Question-
What things do you miss most?

Answer-
     Kendra:   "The food! I miss sausage gravy, Whataburger, and Tex-Mex. Good Texas food with family and friends."
     Spencer: "Whataburger. Fishing.  Kayak.  The river.  But family most of all.  My mom and dad and my sisters family.  QUESO cheese dip!"




Question-
What is something you'd like to share that you've learned over the last year?

Answer-
     Kendra:   "Aside from some new cooking skills, I've learned to communicate better. As I said earlier, it is a struggle. I always took advantage of the whole English language to tell people about my faith, but when English is someone's second language, or if you are speaking in a new language, it is of the utmost importance you be clear with that message. The one thing we cannot afford to get wrong is sharing the Truth.
     Spencer: "Throw away all your pride.  It won't help you.  It will only hurt you and the people around you.  Having to be right or heard, because of pride, will not lead anyone to the Cross of Christ.  There is nothing I can do to change a persons heart.  Get rid of pride and make more room for the Holy Spirit."




Question-
Being your dog, I see you leave me at home every day... Where are some of the cool adventures you've been on?

Answer-
     Kendra:   "White water rafting and hiking through the rainforest have been my favorites! Beautiful views and fast paced fun!"
     Spencer: "Beaches, volcanos, and Panama.  But my favorite place in Costa Rica is Rio Tarcoles. It's know as 'The Crocodile Bridge' and it does not disappoint.   It was something I watched on the Discovery Channel as a kid and dreamed about seeing in person."

Crocodile Bridge

Manuel Antonio National Park

"I'm ready... take me with you" -Cowboy

Thank you for your prayers and support.  We are grateful for you. 

- Spencer, Kendra, and Cowboy Thomas

November in Costa Rica

Thanksgiving

"We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is "good," because it is good, if "bad" because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country."
-C.S. Lewis

     Kendra and I are feeling more at home in Costa Rica.  We've learned a lot, and will continue to learn, as we survive and thrive in the jungle (we aren't in the jungle, we live in the city).  Here are a few of the silly adventures we have faced this month.  

-Our electricity was shut off because the family renting the house before us didn't pay their last bill before moving out. 

-Going to church and accidentally joining a parade on the way.

-Finding a dinosaur inside of our house... It was a moth about 5 inches across.  It had a look in its eyes that said it was out for blood.  I saved Kendra's life by slaying the foul beast.  Our dog, Cowboy, helped me.  

The list could go on and on.  Every 24 hours is a new"Adventura".  We praise God for all of it.  A thankful heart isn't something brought about by good fortune or fine sailing. A thankful heart is a response to the eternal goodness of God.  Therefore, if our thanks is a response to the eternal, we celebrate and rejoice through all things (good or bad).  

     Celebrating Thanksgiving in Costa Rica was amazing.  We gathered with others at Casa del Zirkel to eat and fellowship.  Lydia is an amazing cook... There were multiple turkeys, green bean casserole, dressing/stuffing, pie, pie, and more pie.  We called our families and shared our thanks for one another.  Kendra and I are beginning to miss our families more and more.  Spending our first thanksgiving together as a married couple away from family was hard.  So, we rejoice with thankful hearts! We rejoice for the growth in our marriage, the ministry we are privileged to be a part of, and that we will see our families soon when we visit Texas.  

     

     We continually find ourselves thankful for the Zirkel family.  Their answering of God's call to Costa Rica 20 years ago has made our obedience in answering His call easier. One person's obedience to the Lord makes the obedience of others easier. One person's disobedience makes the disobediences of others easier.  This is observed throughout the Bible.  Adam and Eve didn't fully understand the consequences of their sin until their son was murdered.  Likewise, Jesus' obedience to God cultivated in the disciples an obedient heart.  Jesus discipled 12 people through obedience to the Lord and because of that, you and I know Jesus. Amen, praise the Lord.  

     Costa Rica doesn't have winter, fall, summer, spring.  Costa Rica has rainy and dry season.  The school calendar year ends in November.  We experienced the highs and lows with students as they were tested and received their grades.  Our small group leadership class also had a final exam covering the things we've discussed since september, and we are very excited for the new school year in 2016 because there will be student leaders developing small groups of their own!  HALLELUJAH! Kendra and I have each been leading our own small group.  Kendra with the ladies and myself with the hombres.  Picnic lunches, after school movies, games, and bible study; all held together with fellowship.  

     As you have probably noticed, I have incorporated a few words from the spanish language into this post.  That's because we are learning spanish and it is exciting! We meet with a tutor multiple times a week.  Sometimes spanish makes sense, other times it makes no sense at all.  However, we can tell that spanish is being learned and progress is being made.  For instance, I let Cowboy out to potty one evening, and had a nice chat with the gate guard about a rabbit, and about a cat that kept setting off the alarm by sitting atop the complex's fence.  

     I think of my simple family down here in Central America and am blown away by the love and support we have received.  When I saw Kendra at summer camp for the first time, I told my youth director "Beth Palmer, I'm gonna marry that girl".  When Kendra and I were engaged I thought to myself... "I've never loved another person this much in my entire life.".  Then when we were married I thought, "I love her so much more than when we were first engaged. I didn't know it was possible to love someone so much".  Everyday I fall more and more in love with my wife.  Every day I marvel at the fact that tomorrow I will love her even more.  Then everything zooms out, and I realize that we are the bride of Christ.  If I feel this way towards Kendra, how much greater must Christ feel towards His bride, the church.  My God loves me so much.  Since before there was a yesterday my Creator has loved me.  And after their is no tomorrow He will still love me. 

2 Samuel 7:18

 "Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"

     Thank you for your support and prayers.  We would like to request you speak with God on these things:

•Our small groups and small group leaders in 2016. That the time spent from now till then would be with God and in His word.

•Learning Spanish.  "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ".  

•Time spent in fellowship with students during their break

•That creation would be reconciled to Creator.  "For God so loved the world..." Which world? This one. 

Habakkuk 1:5
-Spencer, Kendra, and Cowboy Thomas