Saying Goodbye

The Johnson Family: Ready for Mexico

Well, it's hard to believe, but our time in Costa Rica has drawn to a close.  When we came here in December, the end of language school seemed impossibly far away, and we had no idea what to expect.  When you don't know the language, the culture, any people, or have any idea what our time here would be like.  Would we learn the language quickly, or struggle all year?  Would we ever make heads or tails out of the neighborhood and culture that we suddenly found ourselves in?  After living and working in Wyoming our whole lives, what would it be like for us to suddenly be so far away in every possible way from all that we were used to?  How would we make the transition from being close to our family and friends?

The last day of Nick's Grammar Class this Trimester

The answer through all of this was: God.  He has helped us, sustained us, renewed us, given us grace in many forms (comforting grace, empowering grace, etc), and has brought us to the end, of this part of our lives at least.  We met amazing friends here (both among the missionary families and among the Ticos here in Costa Rica).  Not only did we adapt to the culture and the neighborhood, but we came to love it.  We learned some Spanish, and the learned that we'd still be learning years from now.  But, we leave here feeling more solid in the language, the Latin American culture, and in our ability to live away from home and on the mission field.  There have been some challenging times, and we still have much to learn, but we can't thank God enough for the time that we've had here.

Walking at graduation last week carrying the flag for Mexico.

Last week, we finished up classes, walked in our graduation ceremony last Friday, and said some hard goodbyes.  Many of our friends have already left Costa Rica, on their way to Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, and the United States.  Others, we'll be leaving behind in just a few days.  This weekend, we said more goodbyes, this time to our Tico friends that we've met here in the community, and in the church that we've been blessed to attend this year.  In the next two days, we'll say more goodbyes, this time to the student families that we've become closest to.

With our friends the Darnell family, another Global Outreach missionary family, of the way to Ecuador.

Good byes are hard.  Tonight, I laid in bed with Caitlynn, who couldn't stop crying.  When I finally was able to get her to calm down so I could ask her what was wrong, she said, "We have to leave here and it makes me sad."  How real kids are sometimes, willing to show out in the open what many of us only feel and hide on the inside.  I was able to tell her that it is sad, that we'll be leaving behind some wonderful friends, and that it even makes me sad.  However, then I was able to talk to her about the future, and the things that are coming that we have t look forward to:  seeing our family in the United States, visiting our home church and seeing our friends.  We talked about living in Mexico, and making friends there that we wouldn't have to leave so quickly.  Finally, we talked about God, who has promised to never leave us or forsake us, who is there at the top of the highest mountains, and at the bottom of the sea, and how there is nowhere we can go in all of creation where He will not be.  Caitlynn loved the idea, in the midst of hard goodbyes, of a God who never leaves us, who never says goodbye.  And, I love the idea too!

Dinner with Mayela and her family, just some of the amazing Tico friends that we've made here in Costa Rica this year.

Keep us in your prayers over the next few days as we pack, prepare, and say those hard goodbyes.  Ask God to strengthen us and encourage us in Him, that we might find our joy, peace, and direction in Him.  Pray specifically for the kids, especially Zoe and Caitlynn, as they struggle with their goodbyes here.  I will write again in a few days to let you know what the next few months looks like, and how you can pray and be a part of it all.  For now, we love you all, thank you for your prayers and encouragement, and we can't wait to see and hear from all of you as we're back in the States for a few months!

Saying goodbye to Esteban, one of the young men that I'm going to miss here in Costa Rica.

The worship team from the church, over at our house for lunch one last time before we leave this Wednesday for a few months in the United States.

The Test

This past week, I had two very intense tests to prepare for.  The first one was last Friday, and was a 30-minute oral exam.  There wasn't much I could do to prepare for it, because no one knew what the questions would be.  I just showed up, and started talking, answering questions with the teacher as I went, and hopefully showing fluency  in Spanish.  In order to pass the oral test, I needed to achieve an 'advance' rating on my speaking abilities. (One teacher told me that an 'advanced' level is when a Spanish speaker who has never talked to a gringo before can walk up to me and hold a conversation, and I can understand and make myself understood.)  Considering that I came to Costa Rica to study Spanish only 7 months ago, and that I came in with almost no Spanish, getting an advanced rating would be pretty huge for me after only two trimesters at the school.

The second test was last Tuesday, and was a comprehensive, 3 hour, 300 point written exam.  It covered everything: present tense, past tense, future tense, subjunctives, parifrases, comparatives, quoting people... everything!  In order to pass the written test, I need at least a 70% as a final score.  Most students take both exams after their third semester at the school, but since we are leaving in less that two weeks, I decided to take them now.  I took them for two big reasons:  First, I wanted to graduate here with the diploma (in order to graduate with the diploma, you have to pass BOTH tests first!).  Second, since we are leaving early, I wanted to confirmation that my Spanish had grown to the level where I'd be able to converse well when we get to Mexico.  I was hoping that these tests would assure me that I have everything that I need to serve and minister in Mexico.

However, as I've been waiting for the results, I realized something: I was looking for something from these tests that should only come from God!  There is NOTHING in this world that can make me a competent minister of the Gospel apart from the Lord, no classes, no tests, no human confirmation or adulation.  Nothing makes me 'good enough' or 'equipped enough' except God.  I was reminded of what God told the prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 1:



      Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
                  and before you were born I consecrated you;
                  I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me,

                  “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
                  for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
                  and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
            8    Do not be afraid of them,
                  for I am with you to deliver you,
                  declares the LORD.”

9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me,

                  “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
            10  See, I have set you this day kover nations and over kingdoms,
                  to pluck up and to break down,
                  to destroy and to overthrow,
                  to build and to plant.”


The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Je 1:5–10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

God was well aware of my deficiencies when He chose me.  He was aware of my sin when He saved me.  He knew about my pride and my struggles when He began to sanctify me.  He knew of my terrible Spanish when He called me to serve and share and minister in Mexico.  God knew!  And not only did He know, He called me anyways!!  I don't need a test or a class or a piece of paper to tell me that I have what it takes to serve in Mexico, because God has already confirmed this in me!

So, I'm going to go receive my scores in about 5 minutes.  I'll be excited if I pass, and I'll be disappointed if I fail, but I will remember that neither one defines who I am or my ability to serve God, because it is God who is doing the work in me, and it is He who will see it through to the day of completion.  May I never build up something else to have the significance in my life that only God deserves, because if my God is for me, then who (or what) shall be against me? (and that includes my terrible Spanish!).  May you also find yourself justified and covered today with all that you need in Christ, because He is more than enough for us!