It's rainy season here in Costa Rica--it has been since April. However, we are just starting to actually see the rain falling. It has been raining basically the entire weekend almost non stop, and apparently it has been raining for the past 5 days on the Carribean side. These are some pictures that were taken yesterday....I was on my way to the Carribean side with a friend-- we were trying to make a quick "visa" trip to Panama....(MY LAST ONE!) ...but couldn't make it ....due to the roads being shut down! This isn't even the worst of it.
As I look at these pictures....though, I am reminded of how I am covered...in HIS grace. His grace falls on me...like the rain, freely. He is faithful...looking at these pictures and hearing the rain fall down, I am reminded of my NEED for HIM...I am reminded of the grace that He gives me ever so freely and oh so daily.

Thank you Jesus. for loving me. and for covering me with your grace.....and your MERCY!

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:) Hello friends and family <3 It's been a about a month since I have given a real update! There has been so much that has happened in the last month or two! As some of you know, I am now working part time as an English teacher in the evenings to supplement for my needs (as I was running out of what I had.) It was truly a door opened directly by God. I know that! Also, confirmation that this is where I am supposed to be right now--He always provides ...somehow, someway! (My dad always used to say that ...somehow, someway it will all work out!) Not only, is it helping supplement but this also is providing my VISA so I shouldn't have to leave the country every 3 months any more! God is so good!

A few posts ago...I mentioned about an interaction I had with a 3 year old boy that impacted me so deeply and that I was going to share with you about what happened...so here I go! I had the opportunity to serve for a week in one of the largest most dangerous slums in Costa Rica for one week straight with a team of women that was visiting from the USA. I was there to help with translating ..however there was this one little boy that was running around crazy--and he just caught my eye. Nobody could really calm him down, he was playing wild like an animal, ha! I picked up this smelly little boy in the midst of his running around and just embraced him in my arms. It was amazing what happened...he just fell in my arms. had his head on my shoulder and went to sleep for about an hour. This little boy hungers for attention...and wants to feel love...He loved being held...it was a powerful moment as people walked by that normally work there and said that they never really see him that calm. :) Jesus was loving on Him through me. That's pretty cool! You see, many times when you grow up in a place like this babies are forced and treated older than they are. They don't get to just be kids and have someone carry them and tell them that they are loved, important and special. So, next time you interact with someone, young or old and you don't understand their crazy actions or unkind words--remember that maybe all they need is a hug, or pray for them that God would show them HIS perfect love.

Right now, there is a guy from my church in Canada that is here on a one week mission trip so I have been busy planning for that. I am still working at the day care and the soup kitchen but am probably going to switch a day that I am at the day care to work with the kids in Guarari (the place I just mentioned above) giving them English classes and loving on them.

OH....and I moved to another part of town! :) More central -- less time on the bus! Thank you Jesus for always providing!

Please let me know if you have any questions! I will try and write more often but remember that you can always contact me by email or face book! melissaalicewood1@gmail.com

⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. JN 10:9-10

Melis

No weapon forged against you will stand or prosper.  The Lord your God fights for you!  He is your Vindicator and He upholds His people- He allows the righteousness of their cause to shine like the noonday sun. 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2

I love Costa Rica....I love getting to teach, sing, play and just simply live life with the people here. As much as things have not exactly been turning out the way that I had expected or even hoped for them to be....as much as I miss my family....I know God has brought me here---for as such a time as this.....and for Him I will stay and continue to push through and I will choose to be joyful even in hard times and even when things do not turn out the way that I hope that they do. Because, I know that He is in control. Regardless. He is my reason.

I am volunteering at a day care that has kids from low income families ...when I am there it gives the director a break and the ability to work on other things...initially I was the "English teacher" now..When I have the freedom to do what I want with the kids while I am there....song time, stories, games, etc. It is a wonderful gift. I also have continued to work at the Kids Soup Kitchen...I have continued helping out with the Kids Club but have also started my very own English classes: Clase de Ingles con Meli.....all the kids know me....it’s such a beautiful feeling to arrive in this neighbourhood and have kids run and give me hugs and be excited to for me to be there...I also am so excited to be there and see them. I asked permission from the owner of the soup kitchen if I could use the location for my classes and then we announced it at kids club and I also stopped at some of  their homes to talk to some of the parents...it is so cool. Many of these kids come from places where they do not receive attention that they deserve or have any idea of how special they are...so it is great that I can help them learn some English but more than that I get the opportunity to love on them and they get to hopefully be an influence for Christ in their lives. <3
I had the opportunity to help out with a short term mission team of adult women a few weeks ago....it was soooooooo COOL! I was asked to help translate for their team.... (My very first time to do that!!!) ...we were working in Guarari de Heredia which is a large slum......we did a week long bible study on Esther with the women and the last day was a spa with the ladies......it was a way to just love on them....in an area where there is a lot of abuse...they came and rested and learned in peace! We taught them to make bracelets and earrings as well..... (Some who might be able to sell them to earn money!), and of course there were many little kiddies....so there was lots of playing and loving on those kiddies! (A special story to come about a beautiful experience that I had with one little toddler!)
Well, I know I haven't written in a long time, I just wanted to send a quick update...and to tell you THANK YOU so much for supporting me ....we are in this together.

LOVE,

Melissa

Hi friends and family! I am sorry for the delay in writing to you! I arrived to Costa Rica a little over a month ago and am finally settling into life here! J I always think that it will be a quick adjustment when moving into a new place but the reality is that it takes a while and it is different for each person.  

I truly feel the Lord guiding my steps here in Costa Rica and am so thankful for the friendship and leadership of GOD in my life! One of the coolest things the Lord has blessed me with is a loving home to live in.... it is undeniably from the Lord. I am living with the grandparents of some friends of mine, just outside of San Jose. I LOVE IT! It is perfect and it is exactly what I need...they have taken me in as one of their own and made me feel a part of their family. I am so thankful –it is more than I could ask for...the home is filled with LOVE and that is the most important thing. You could live in the most beautiful house in the world but there may not be peace in the home....but where I live...I come home and feel such peace and love...there is no other place I would rather be. THANK YOU JESUS....You know exactly what we need!

So what does my life look like right now?? I am working a few days a week at a ministry day care ...what do I do? I love on kids all day through teaching English, song time, games and etc..., I also help out a local missionary family some with homeschooling their kids, I attend a KIDS CLUB (usually on Saturdays.) we teach bible lesson, play games and sing songs! Once a month in Jaco there is a BEAUTIFUL event as an outreach to love on the 300-600 people who work in prostitution that walk on the streets of Jaco each day... so last Friday night I joined up with a church in Jaco –We set up tables in the park and offered hand massages and then let them pick a bottle of lotion of lip gloss to take them along with some literature. While we massaged their hands we conversed with them and we offered to see if there was anything that we could pray for them....If you are in North America and are reading this ...you may thing that this event would not be productive...but the reality is this type of event in Costa Rica is a huge success....it fits right in with the culture..They LOVE it!! J and I LOVE it..I love getting to share Christ’s love!

There is always an opportunity to share Christ’s love wherever you are! ....I ride the bus for at least 1hr some days 3 hours every day to get back and forth where I go...What about the person sitting next to me? Sometimes I go to a cafe to use the internet......what about the person that attends to me?  What about you? Who are the people in your surroundings that you can love on? Love boldly ...whatever that looks like...a smile, a hug, a word, your time, a prayer, a gift, a listening ear, all....etc!

I will be posting pictures soon....

Please let me know if you have any questions or prayer request. Thank you for supporting me in this!

LOVE,

JMelissa W

PS...been praying this SONG: soooooo good!!! :) sooooo true!!!! :)

CLICK to listen: Break Every Chain- Jesus Culture