I was reminded...

The other day I was talking with another student. She is 72 years old and is the oldest student in the history of the language institute but she doesn't like that claim to fame. We were talking about understanding the pastor's sermons at church. I told her when I was a journeyman in Guatemala I went to church one Sunday and I said Lord I really want to understand the pastor's sermon today....Well, I got to church and I understood every word. How? There was a missionary lady sitting beside me who translated every word of the sermon for me. As I thought about it later I had to laugh because I understood but not in the way I thought I would.

Grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich

The other day before my tutor came I was enjoying a grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich. For those who don't know you make it like a pb and banana sandwich and then you grill it like a grilled cheese. I thought I'm going to make one for my tutor, she has probably never had one. So I did and she loved it! She said I'm going to make one for my daughter tonight, her daughter is 10 or 12 years old. I shared some of the good creamy Jif peanut butter with her. The next day she said that her daughter loved it especially the creamy peanut butter. I think I introduced them to some good American food!

Romans 16 greetings

Romans 16 Carol’s version.
The other day I was really having a friend/home sick time…I wanted to go to lunch with my friend who I used to meet up with in NC when I was there. I wanted to do other things but none of the things were possible. One of my leadership people had encouraged me to read the book of Romans during June so that’s what I’ve been doing. I read the Romans 16 part where Paul is sending greetings to different people. Based on that idea I wrote my version of Romans 16.
-Greet my family without whom I wouldn’t have the support which I do and who love me unconditionally.
-Greet my sister who loves zip lining and other adventurous activities that I don’t.
-Greet Cindi who has become like a sister to me.
-Greet my friends, Noemi and Daphne, who have become like family to me.
-Greet Vikki who as my lifecoach opened my minds to ideas such as this and who reminds me to reward myself.
-Greet Gwen who I know prays for me without ceasing and has a great interest in all that I do.
-Greet Vivian who I just feel blessed to know.
-Greet Maxine who I know always has an encouraging word for me.
-Green Linda who is my email buddy and who I can still see standing up for Jesus during the song at church.
-Greet the people at Fork, Stoney Ridge, Stanleyville, Quaker Gap, and many other churches who are faithfully praying for me.
-Greet my friends in Guatemala who are anxiously anticipating my arrival.
-Greet the university students who have feelings of loneliness, being left out and who are searching for something more.
-Greet the Costa Rican people that don’t want me to leave.
-Greet Henrietta and Shelley my seminary buddies who I remember with great love and fondness.
-Greet Chele my friend who is truly in love with Jesus.
-Greet Rebecca, Tammy and Kristen my camp buddies who helped me pursue my dream.
-Greet the singles group as they continue to support one another.
--Greet my new friends at the language institute.
-Greet my WeighDown friends, Monica, Connie, Maxine and Joanie as we are all in different walks of life.
-Greet my New Tribe friends who I am so thankful that I got to know in Mozambique. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t had the opportunity to meet them.
-Greet all my Mozambican friends who I will see in heaven one day.
-Greet the missionary community in Nampula. May they remain strong and thriving in community.
-Greet my WBFJ friends who I remember with fondness and I can clearly picture in my friend.
-Greet the many more friends who I haven’t mentioned by name but I know they are faithfully praying for me and supporting me.
-Thanks be to God for the friends and support that I have. May He bless each one of you this day.

Update June 10, 2009

June 2009
Hello friends,

I wanted to take a minute and send an update to you. The first picture above was taken at one of the prettiest beaches in Costa Rica, called Manuel Antonio. I hope to go back there again before I leave in August. The second picture was taken at a rocking chair factory. The chairs are made of leather and are really comfortable. I’m glad to say that I have one waiting for me in Guatemala. I was able to send it ahead with some missionaries who were going to Guatemala and were willing to transport it for me.

It’s hard to believe that I have been here for almost a year. I’m enjoying being in Costa Rica but I must say I’ll be glad when I don’t have to study for exams. Of course then my true exams will be each day when I walk out of my house in Guatemala and communicate with people. It will still be tests but it will be tests of a different kind.

I’ve had the opportunity to see and do a lot in the time I’ve been here in Costa Rica such as attend the wedding of my Costa Rican “brother”, ride a horse for the first time in my life, eat lots of rice, eat cow tongue and like it, use buses, taxis and walking as my main forms of transportation, go to a birthday party for a dog, get soaking wet from walking in the rain, meet some great people, have some great visitors, and many other things.

I had a great birthday on June 7. I received many cards and greetings from friends. I am so blessed to have so many friends throughout the world. For my birthday I decided I wanted to cook a birthday lunch and invite some of my friends so that is what I did. I made some of my favorite foods including lasagna, pineapple casserole, biscuits, and red velvet cake.

Spanish learning is definitely challenging. Learning another language no matter what language is not an easy task. I know I couldn’t be doing it without God’s guidance and help. I am participating in a program where I go out in the streets and talk to people as a part of my learning. I have 8 people that I go talk to twice a week. I have questions/topics written out and I ask them questions and then I write up reports about what they said. It is a definitely a good way to learn different accents of people and different ways people have to say things. For instance last week one of my topics was the subject of God and the Bible. I asked what you think about God, who wrote the Bible and other questions. I enjoy this program, too, because I am learning a lot about the culture as I talk to people.

At the beginning of May I moved from the Costa Rican family’s house where I was living to an apartment. I was very blessed to have a good situation with the family that I lived with, but I have thoroughly enjoyed being on my own again. I have had the most fun washing my clothes, cleaning the apartment, lying on the couch, cooking and just relaxing. (and of course studying too..) Almost every day I say thank you Lord for allowing me to have my own place again.

I’m looking at wrapping things up here in San Jose. August 14th I’ll graduate from the Spanish language institute but I know my learning will still continue every day. August 15th I’ll fly to Guatemala. I do have a house where I’ll live for the first 6 months I’m in Guatemala. There is a family who will be going on furlough and they have asked if I want to stay in their house while they are gone. That will give me time to get adjusted to Guatemala City and life there.
God has blessed me in many ways and each day I am reminded of His blessings. One of the great blessings which He has worked out is that I have been able to send a lot of my stuff ahead to Guatemala with different people who were willing to take items. With so many luggage restrictions on the airplanes now that is a great blessing.

I thank you for your prayers, cards, notes of encouragement and many other ways you have remembered me as I’ve been here in Costa Rica. You can rest assured that your prayers are felt and they do make a difference.

Along with that your continuing giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering allows me (and many other IMB missionaries) to continue learning Spanish and to be able to do what God has called us to do. There are cutbacks being made in the IMB family because of the economic crisis and not as many funds coming in. I know the economic crisis is hard but I also know that God is faithful and He will provide the funds for the IMB missionaries to continue going and doing what God has called them to do. And He will bless your giving.

Thanks again for your prayers, your support, your giving, your encouragement and all that you do!

Love,Carol Wilkinson

USA-Costa Rica soccer game

It was definitely a fun cultural experience going to the USA-Costa Rica soccer game last week. Here's some photos from it.

The birthday continues...

Today I had another birthday lunch and it was good. I enjoyed panckes, muffins and pie with friends.

Terra Mall

Terra Mall is a nice mall to go walk around in. I went Saturday afternoon with some friends to just enjoy getting out of town.

Taco Bell & KFC

Saturday afternoon I went to the mall with some friends. We ate at the food court and we enjoyed sharing food from Taco Bell and KFC. It was the best of both worlds. We had the Big Box combo from Taco Bell and popcorn chicken from KFC. If you can't make up your mind between the two, this is the way to do it, share with others.

I just liked this picture..

Travis and Danielle and others came over to help me celebrate my birthday. I neglected to get a picture of the whole group. It started raining right before Travis and Danielle were leaving so they were getting their umbrella ready to go out in the rain.

Cake and ice cream

A birthday isn't complete without cake and ice cream. The candles are 4 in one part of the cake 1 in the other part in honor of my being 41. It was red velvet cake and strawberry ice cream. I remember when we were growing up it was always fun when mom and/or I would make red velvet cake and when you would flip the cake out of the container there was all the good part left in the pan that mom and I always liked to eat. That's part of the fun of making the cake. And if you are smiling when you read this then you understand what I mean...

Birthday mail

Thanks for the cards you sent to me for my birthday! I saved them and opened them on my birthday, I had 30 cards to open. The mail lady at school couldn't believe that I wasn't opening the cards immediately. She said you are really saving them until your birthday to open? I said yes I am...