Wow, time flies! I can't believe it has been almost 2 weeks since our last post! We are so busy every day and by the time we sit down to write a week has gone by. We are also trying to get used to being 2 hours behind our family and friends on the East Coast because of the time change last week. Costa Rica does not change times so in the Spring we are 2 hours behind and in the Fall we are only 1 hour behind. We are slowly adjusting...
Anyway, for some time now Daniel and I have really been praying about language school and staying for another trimester (3 1/2 months). We originally had planned to be here until the end of April and then we were going to move to Jacó at that time. As we have been in school for these last 3 months we have learned alot but still have ALOT to learn! Most people in school are staying closer to a year (3 trimesters) so we began praying about what we should do. We want to be as prepared as the Lord wants us to be for the ministry has called us to here in Costa Rica. This has been a really difficult thing for us to pray about because our hearts are already in Jacó and ready to begin ministry there. As we have been praying, the Lord has shown us very clearly through His Word, through our mentors and through His provision that He wants us to stay here until mid-August. He has clearly shown us how sometimes the preparation for His work is more extensive than the work itself and all we desire to do is what He wants us to do. The Lord knew that He wanted us to stay until August even before we left....He had already provided the money for another semester of school in our "extra" outgoing support and we did not know at the time what it is was for. He has been so faithful to us as we have sought to follow Him every step of the way. His Word says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (Psalm 32:8) Again, this has been so difficult to obey and stay another semester, but we know the Lord desires this for us. So now we look forward to what the Lord has for us here in the next few months. We pray for more and more opportunities to serve others in need and to love them with the love of Christ.
We would really appreciate your prayers as we stay another trimester here at language school. Please pray for patience--that we would not be anxious to go--but that we would take advantage of every opportunity while we are here.
The Barretts in Costa Rica: Language School
Barrett Missionary Page
