An overdue update

Hello!  It has been almost four months since I've posted on here, oops.  It seems that the craziness of life caught me off guard.  I know you all are just dying to read about my life and have been refreshing your news feeds waiting for a new post from me, so this one is for you.  Here is a little update on what's been happening in the land of Costa.  It's all very exciting/thrilling so you may want to sit down while you read.  

• Young Life.  This semester is in full swing.  We are continuing with club on Fridays where we share a meal with our friends, talk about Jesus, and play some games (mostly Uno, which I'm thankful for because there is no strategy involved).  Coming up, we have YL Service Project, which is our version of YL camp here.  We will be headed to serve one of the indigenous villages of Costa Rica by building something long lasting for their community.  This provides an opportunity for our high school friends to work really hard and serve others while learning more about Jesus.  I can't wait.  There has also been a lot happening with the national ministry here that we've had the chance to be a part of.  In January, my fellow interns and I served on work crew for the national camp here.  It was incredibly different than a stateside camping experience.  There was no ropes course or fancy cabins or blob, but the campers legitimately had the best week of their lives.  They were engaged in everything that was happening and it was evident that they truly respected and admired their leaders; I truly respect and admire their leaders.  I walked away from camp exhausted, with much more knowledge on how to chop vegetables, and with an extremely full heart.  Young lives/Vida Jovenes is a part of the ministry that reaches teen moms.  They will be going to camp in just a few weeks and my team and I will be there serving as childcare.  I'm stoked to hold some babies for 2 straight days.  Yesterday we had a Mega Fiesta that brought together all of the YL clubs of Costa Rica.  They danced and I "danced" and laughed at myself a lot (my hips lie).  It was a blast.  I'm learning more and more every week about what it means to be a YL leader but mostly what it means to be a follower of Jesus.  He is good and I am forever grateful to be a part of this ministry. Below are some pics from Young life club, work crew, and the Mega fiesta last night!

       

       

• Community.  One of the many things I've learned in my time here is that ministry can't exist without community.  What good would we be if we stayed in our little YL bubble and never invited others into the work God is letting us do.  We are broadening our horizons and not just trying to reach high school kids, but also reach their parents and teachers and administrators.  These relationships matter.  People matter.  With that being said, our hope this semester is to build a solid community, or at least start that process, relationships take time.  We are looking for opportunities to just know people.  No angles, no agendas.  One thing I'm really excited about is the possibility of "working" (actually volunteering, legally I can't paid) at a coffee shop in the city I live in.  Even if just for a short period of time, I think it would be a great way to serve while also meeting people within the community.  And I'm over the moon about being able to make coffee again, truly.  I've missed my hair smelling like espresso everyday.  

• Life.  If I'm being completely honest, this season of life has probably been the weirdest, most confusing, challenging season thus far in my short 22 years.  I have no clue what I'm doing when I leave Costa Rica.  And it terrifies me.  I also tend to focus so much on what's next that I lose sight of all thats happening right now, today.  I want so badly to say with 100 percent certainty that I am A-okay with not knowing what I'm doing with my life, or tomorrow.  And that Jesus loves me so thats enough.  And that since I have carpe diem tattooed on my wrist (a tattoo that some of my friends **cough cough Hayley Schaefer** make fun of me for), I'm going to do just that; seize every moment and live in the now.  But if I'm continuing on this honesty train, I say thats all a bunch of crap.  Life is hard.  Period.  It's confusing, and frustrating and scary.  I feel under qualified for any and every job.  I feel like I'm not good enough.  I feel like I have no sense of direction and I don't know what I want to do or what I'm passionate about anymore.  I feel a lot of things, let me tell you.  I am overwhelmed by these feelings.  But I am also encouraged.  I'm encouraged by my friends and family speaking words of life into me.  I'm encouraged by the immense amount of hope we find in Jesus.  And I'm encouraged by the fact that life is hard to endure but not impossible, and feelings WILL pass.  I don't have any answers to my major life questions, but Jesus does.  So I'm learning how to listen to His voice and not the voice of fear.  I'm learning what true, confident faith is.  And I'm learning that you can't have faith with a but.  "I have faith that Jesus is going to show up in my life, but."  No no no, thats not how it works.  There is no but.  That completely rejects the whole essence of what faith is.  So I will continue to learn these things and try hard to listen to Jesus and not fear.  But that doesn't mean its gonna be easy.  

If you've made it this far, it means you've made through my ranting and also that you really love me.  Thank you for reading this and loving me and laughing with me/at me.  I am, as I like to say, hasthtag blessed.  

Forever Grateful,
Becca

Forever Afraid

Recently, I've noticed a pattern in my conversations with people from back home.  Its a combination of "I miss you", "I can't wait to see you", or "Only (x) days until I'm home".  It dawned on me a few days ago, that this is the reality of a life abroad.  Days strung together with a million 'I miss yous' in between until I get to see my people face to face again.  Sure, I'm having the adventure of a lifetime.  But back home, the world is still spinning and its a world that I'm not in.  This realization brought about a feeling that has been present for a while now.  F E A R. 

From the moment I got to Costa Rica, I feel like I've been fighting to be here and be there.  It seems silly, really.  That for months I pushed hard to leave Phoenix.  Then I get here, and all I can think about is the people I left behind.  No, I'm not homesick.  I’m afraid.  

And if I’m being honest, I'm afraid all the time.  I’m afraid of what I will be or what I won't.  I'm afraid of pursing a life abroad and I'm afraid at the thought of moving back to the states.  I’m afraid to follow my passions and I fear a life without them.  And if we’re all being honest, I think we are ALL afraid ALL the time.

The Bible talks about fear a lot.  Take for instance, Jesus walking on water.  Its just before dawn and Jesus heads out to his disciples boat.  And in typical Jesus style, He walks on the water towards the boat.  When the disciples see him they think its a ghost.  So naturally, they are afraid.  But Jesus sees their fear and quickly calls out, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  And being the smart alec disciple he was, Peter responds, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  Jesus says, “Come.”  So Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk towards Jesus (No big deal).  And then the bible says this, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!” 

I will be the first to admit, I am totally Peter.  I easily see the adventure in what Jesus is calling me to until it gets scary.  Then I sink.  But when I look up, Jesus is there to save me.  Always.        

This past weekend I had the privilege of hearing a very wise man speak.  He also happens to be the Vice President of Young Life International and a good family friend.  He said this,

“Jesus leads fearful people to take courageous actions” -Marty Caldwell

Isn't this the truth?  This world we live in, its scary.  And most of the time it sucks.  It feeds a lot of my fears.  But Jesus, He loves us so much.  And he has prosperous plans for our lives.  It says so in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  The fear, it will probably always linger.  But it certainly won't stop me.

I wish I could say that I have all the answers.  That this post could be titled “10 ways to not be afraid”.  But this isn’t just another link on your Facebook timeline and it wouldn’t be the truth. 

 
So here is my very jumbled conclusion.  Walk on water. Have a little Faith.  Fix your Eyes on Jesus.  Allow Him to give you Courage and the ability to be Bold.  It is OK to be afraid.  But don’t give it the power to cripple you.  We are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made.  So lets start living like we have a creator who loves us so much He sent His son to die for us. 

 
"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."

The List

Everybody likes lists right?  If you don't, then this isn't the post for you (sorry bout it).  Here is a compilation of my top moments so far in Costa Rica.  The good, the bad, and the flat out strange.  Let's start with the good...

TOP 3 FAVORITE THINGS:                                                                                 

Seriously beautiful!

• Tres Cruces Hike:  This past monday, we were able to ditch the city life for a bit and venture into the mountains.  We normally have team meetings on Mondays at the Young Life office.  But this week our team leaders decided we could all use a day in nature instead (bless them).  And oh man, did my heart need this.  The hike took us about five hours and had the most gorgeous views.  By the time we got back to the car I could barely stand up and my forehead was swollen from a spider bite, but it was SO worth it.  Hands down one of my favorite experiences in Costa Rica.  

   

Just some awesome YL chicas

•  Young Life:  In all honesty, I had no idea what to expect when it came to Young Life here.  We do a thing called "Bring A Plate".  So the leaders cook dinner and we invite kids to come hang out, eat, and hear about who Jesus is.  If you know anything about Young Life in the states, this is a very different format.  Young Life club in the states usually consists of crazy games, singing songs, leader skits (where we make complete fools of ourselves), and a message about Jesus at the end.  Club here is so different than what I'm used to, but so great!  It is a really sweet time that I sincerely cherish.  Also, it has forced me out of my comfort zone.  I'm learning new ways to do Young Life.  There isn't just one way to reach high school kids and that's ok.  Jesus is rad and Young Life is my favorite.

An intense game of pictionary telephone

• The Hamptons:  Sounds fancy right?  Thats because it is.  But its probably not the Hamptons you're thinking of.  The Hamptons are a family that are on Young Life staff here in Costa Rica.  They moved here from Austin, TX earlier this year and are seriously the coolest people.  They have three hilarious children and their house is amazing.  Every time I go there I feel like I'm on vacation.  And they are so generous with everything they have.  A few weeks after being here, they gave each of us a key to their guest house and told us we were welcome anytime, SO sweet!  Every other Wednesday our team heads over to their house and they cook us dinner, we all hang out together, and then we stay the night.  Even while going to language school full time, taking care of their awesome kids, and oh yeah, figuring out life in a foreign country, they still find time to love us and serve us so well!  Thank you Jeannie and Jimmy for all you do for us, y'all are the best! 

Top 3 Least Favorite Things: 

• The Noise:  If you know me well, you probably know that I sleep with earplugs every night.  If you know me super well, then you might know that in high school I would keep my earplugs in until I left for school and often times would wear them on my drive to school.  Why you may ask?  Loud noises really tick me off, especially in the morning when I'm tired (I'm not anything close to a morning person if you haven't already guessed).  Here in Costa Rica, quietness doesn't exist... anywhere.  People here really like to honk, and the bus horns sound more like train horns.  Dirt bikes without mufflers are a very common form of transportation.  Needless to say, its loud all the time and my sensitive ears are struggling.  Head phones and an excessive use of earplugs are becoming my safe haven.  Oh and I forget to mention that Costa Ricans REALLY like fireworks, especially at 5am.  So not only do I wake up annoyed but I also think the city is being bombed.  Not my favorite.

At least I got a good picture

• Nearly Drowning:  Let me just preface this by saying, though I joke about this story and make light of it, it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life in all seriousness (but its funny now so you can laugh).  About a month ago, a friend and I decided we wanted to go surfing.  I've surfed quite a bit before, I'm no expert but I'm decent.  We made our way down to a sleepy little beach town, rented some boards and prepared for a day full of surf.  Little did we know, there had been a storm down the Pacific Coast which was causing the waves to do some crazy things.  Also, the beach we went to is known for surfing which actually means "if you're not an experienced surfer you're going to be in trouble".  We got out in the water and before I could even process what was happening, I found myself in the middle of ten foot waves.  As I rolled over them it was like I was standing on top of a two story building.  It was certainly one of those "OH SH...OOT" moments.  The only way out of this is in.  So I did exactly what you're not supposed to do, I panicked.  I got knocked off my board (by the biggest wave I've ever seen) and was getting tossed back and forth underneath the water in the swell of the wave.  Then I came up gasping for air just to have another ginormous wave break on my head.  After about five minutes of this, I finally got to a place where I could stand and practically crawled to shore.  And surprisingly my swimsuit was still in tact, thankful for that.  At least now I know, Costa Rican waves are no joke.  Lesson learned.

Early morning bus ride to language school

• Transportation: Buses, taxis, walking.  These are my main modes of transportation these days.  Coming from the states, I was unaware of how much I valued the convenience of being able to go where I wanted whenever I wanted.  Life becomes a different ballgame when it takes an hour (or two) to get where you need to be.  I'm definitely learning that I may need to give myself extra time because there might be traffic.  And lets be honest, there is ALWAYS traffic in Costa Rica, and the drivers here are cray.  Being flexible and timely are two things that the Lord has been teaching me a lot about here.  And its not always fun or comfortable for me, but poco a poco it gets easier everyday.  However, one thing I will never get used to is the amount of people they squeeze on each bus.  I don't think there is a limit.  When I'm headed home in the early evening I have to mentally prepare myself for the process of getting off at my stop.  Crowd surfing is usually my best option for exiting.  Claustrophobia at its finest y'all. 

Here in the land of culture shock, we say that things are not weird but different. So...

Top 3 Not Weird But Different Things:

• Toilet Paper: I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but Costa Ricans don't flush their toilet paper.  The sewage systems here aren't quite up to par, therefore, toliet paper gets thrown in the trash.  It probably sounds really disgusting and strange.  And it sort of is.  But it also becomes normal after a while.  Well I should say mostly normal.  I think it will never be something I'm completely used to, but I think I'll survive.  

• Salsa Rosado: Ooooo fancy, right.  WRONG.  This is just the proper term for ketchup and mayonnaise mixed together.  They put it on everything here.  Sandwiches, burritos, popcorn.  Yeah you read that right, popcorn.  Why God, WHY.  It severely grosses me out, can you tell?

• Directions: Oh you wanna know my address?  Ok, its 100 meters up the main road and then turn left at the supermarket and then go 300 meters north and then its the green gate.  This is the case for everyone here.  No one has a cut and dry address.  All directions are given based on landmarks.  So if you don't know the landmark... well, good luck finding it then.  Its so confusing, not even google maps can help me.  I'm becoming much more in touch with my inner compass.  

Well there it is, the joy, the discomforts, and the "cultural differences".  Thank y'all for following my journey, loving me, and supporting me.  I'm living my dreams and I am forever grateful for those who have helped me get here.

Pura Vida,

Becca  

Poco a Poco

Six weeks down, a lifetime to go...

Its hard for me to believe that just six weeks ago I left home.  It feels like I have been gone much longer than that, in a good way.  Yes, I do miss home.  But mostly I miss the people, not the place.  Living in Costa Rica has been the greatest adventure for me.  Everyday I learn a little more about myself.  Being here has helped me to see just how much I'm capable of.  I think that America can sometimes disable us.  We're constantly being fed ideas about who would should be, that we forgot who we are and how much potential we have.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love my country (Home of the brave, land of the free, etc. etc. all that jazz).  Costa Rica has just been a breath of fresh air for me.

The hardest thing about living in this country is not speaking the language.  And while I'm more aware of what I am capable of, not speaking Spanish makes me feel incredibly incapable of doing anything for myself and everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) becomes a challenge.  Ordering at a restaurant, hard.  Taking a taxi, hard.  Communicating with anyone really, hard.  It makes my adventurous independent soul want to crawl into bed and hide from all the awkwardness and tension that comes as a side order with a language barrier entree.  However, wallowing in my fears is just not an option.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and Courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."- Joshua 1:9

Forgive me for sounding dramatic before.  Life CAN be really difficult here, but only if I ALLOW it to be.  Thankfully though, Jesus gave me a pretty great sense of humor.  And I've been able to (more like have had to) laugh at myself A LOT.  This has truly been one of the most helpful things.  Without it, I'm pretty sure I would just stay in bed all day and watch Netflix.  But fortunately that's not the case.  I go out into the loud, scary spanish speaking streets and seek JOY... and laugh at myself a whole lot.

For the last six weeks, I have been taking language classes.  Friday was my last day of classes.  No, I'm not fluent but I'm working on it.  I can't tell you how many days I left class horribly frustrated.  Often times it felt like my teacher was teaching me Japanese and not Spanish.  But let me just tell you about my teacher.  He is honestly one of the most interesting people I've ever met.  The man told the most incredible stories.  Ashley and I joked that he was less our Spanish teacher and more our Costa Rican life guide.  Who knows, maybe he was just a really good story teller.  Nonetheless, we thoroughly enjoyed learning from him.

Abraham the Great

Many days, he would be teaching us something, and I would get frustrated and blurt out something like "Ughhhh I just want to speak spanish already!" (This usually happened when we were learning about the difference between Ser and Estar).  Abraham would always reply, "Tranquila Becca, Poco a Poco." Meaning, Calm down, little by little.

LITTLE BY LITTLE.  This phrase has not left my mind since the day he first said it to me.  We are a generation consumed by instant gratification.  But there is so much beauty in the process, and we're all missing it.  Sure, it would be great to take a pill and suddenly be fluent in Spanish.  But this is not the reality of life.  We can't have what we want when we want it all the time.  Change takes time.  Little by Little we Learn, we grow, we change.

So, Little by Little I am learning what following Jesus means.  Little by Little, I am learning how to love better and laugh harder.  And Little by Little, I am learning how to speak Spanish!

xoxo
Becca

Love the Love

**Please be forewarned, I may use the word LOVE excessively in this post.  But sometimes a synonym just won't suffice**

I have been living in Costa Rica for a little over three weeks now.  Since I've been here, I have eaten entirely too much rice.... and beans.  My brain has been overloaded with Spanish.  I have asked the question daily or even hourly, "Are we going the right way?"  I have done Zumba three times, each time very very poorly.  I have gotten locked out of my house.  I have fulfilled entirely too many American stereotypes.  I have walked more in one week here than I have in the past year.  I have experienced more rain in one HOUR here than I have in the past year.  I have seen some of the most beautiful scenery and of course pictures never do it justice.  And my love for coffee hasn't changed one bit.

Yet the thing that has stood out to me the most is the Love, the Joy, the Kindness.  Maybe it just takes leaving America to notice it.  But man oh man, let me tell you, these people love each other real well.  Neighbors take care of neighbors, and strangers are kind and helpful.  Like when I locked myself out of my house, yelled "Help"once, and the neighbors came to my rescue within minutes.  Or when, on multiple occasions, I've seen people give up their seat on the bus for a mother and her baby or an elderly person.  Or when Ashley (one of the other interns) and I got on the wrong bus, and the bus driver as well as 7 other people helped direct us to the right one.  Or how my host mom did all my laundry for me when I simply asked her if I could just wash my towels later.  Or even when people laugh with me for my terrible spanish rather than at me.

Sure, it's not all unicorns and rainbows all the time.  There's crime and poverty and sadness too.  But I'm learning that if we only focus on the bad things, it robs us of our joy.  I am thankful that the blinders are off and I'm beginning to see all the love around me.  Selfless love.  A kind of love that doesn't have an agenda or a price tag.  Just love.  And I love it.  

And No, I can't say I have truly loved everything in my time here.  Like the second degree burn I got from 2 hours at the beach or choking down rubbery cheese. But overall, this experience has been the greatest adventure and that, I have loved.  This place culture has taught me so much about myself in the last few weeks.  It has challenged me, stretched me, and put me in some rather uncomfortable situations.  And that's the thing, I think sometimes we forget that its OK to be uncomfortable.

"The Ways of the Lord are not comfortable, but we were not created for comfort, but for greatness, for good" ~ Pope Benedict XVI

I'm not saying you need to move to a foreign country, start an orphanage and live in a hut.  But find what challenges YOU and go there.

xoxo
Becca

I just LOVE this place... see what I did there. 

Beauty everywhere 

Ginger probz.

Costa Rican Living

I’m here, I’m here, I’m here!

Yes its true, I am officially here in Costa Rica.  Currently I am sitting at a coffee shop, eating chocolate cake, and loving life.  I have been here a total of four full days so I’m basically a local.  But actually culture shock is much more real and apparent than I ever could have imagined it would be.  I often have felt like a baby deer in headlights, especially when people speak Spanish to me.  Smiling and nodding has become a very common part of my daily life here (while most of my thoughts consist of “slow down homegirl, I don’t speak Spanish).  Culture shock aside, I have loved every minute here in Costa Rica thus far.  My brain is filled with so many memories I want to share and its only been four days!  But here is a little overview of what my life here looks like.

Living Situation:

I live in Escazu Centro which is in San Jose (this is equivalent to Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, etc. Within Phoenix, but on a much smaller scale).  I live with a host family or I should say host mom.  Dona (proper term, such as mrs or mr) Cecilia is an absolute gem.  Though we don’t understand much of what each other says, I can tell she is such a kind, gentle person with a great sense of humor.  I have my own room and we share a bathroom.  Fun fact about Costa Rica, we don’t flush the toilet paper here.  Its not as gross as it sounds, but its definitely something to get used to.  Also, shoes are worn in the house ALWAYS.  Costa Ricans think their floors are dirty so walking around barefoot is not an option.  We pretty much walk everywhere we can, and then take buses or taxis everywhere else.  No time like the present to get used to using public transportation. 

Food:

So far, the food situation has been much more normal than I expected.  My Host mom cooks breakfast and dinner for me.  I’ve had things like spaghetti, chicken and rice, eggs and toast.  Nothing really out of my comfort zone.  However, today I had my first unfortunate food experience.  My host mom made me a sandwich for breakfast.  It had ham, butter, mayo, and cheese.  Doesn’t sound too scary, right?  WRONG.  The cheese was not normal american cheese and was very thick and had an incredibly awful rubbery texture.  You may think I’m being dramatic, but this was the first thing here I’ve had to physically and mentally force myself to eat while gagging.  I’m preparing myself for much more of this in the next year, since its rude not eat all the food on your plate here.  On the opposite side of things, my favorite thing I’ve tried is called patacones.  These are fried plantains and you top them with avocado, beans, and cheese. So. Delicious.  

Daily Life:

My day to day life here is pretty flexible, which I love.  Starting Monday, I will be in language school 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.  I actually can’t wait to start school because that means I can start communicating, Yay!  Aside from that, my schedule looks similar to that a full-time Young Life leader.  I will be leading Young Life at the international high school in Escazu.  The school is english speaking and our clubs are also in english.  So there will be contact work, club, campaigners, etc. each week, but most days won’t ever look the same.  Aside from Young Life, we take part in different Costa rican holidays and events, spend time with our host families, and explore the country too!  For instance, Ashley (one of the other interns) and I went to Zumba in the park the other night.  We we’re expecting maybe 50 people to be there.  Nope.  We were the only gringos (what they call white people here) in a crowd of about 200 ticos (what they call locals here).  It was such a blast and also hilarious.  

I am so grateful for this experience and to finally be here.  Though their have been moments of discomfort, I have genuinely loved and embraced each part of this journey so far.  The Young Life community here is incredible and I am super stoked I get to be a part of it.  The people I get to work with are so passionately pursing Jesus.  It is so encouraging!  I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for me in this next year!

Buenos Tardes!

Becca

Vida Joven

Holla!

This time last year I was nearing the end of a summer internship at SeaWorld, what I thought for so long was my dream.  And part of it was.  I embarked on my adventure last summer to find that Florida was much more humid than I ever could have imagined and Shamu's tank was entirely too small.  You see, a lot of times our adventures and dreams turn out to be false pictures painted by society to look greater than they actually are.  Now, don't be mistaken, whales are still one of my absolute most favorite things in the world.  But I left my internship at SeaWorld feeling emptier and more disappointed than I had in a long time.  The entire summer, what I thought was my dream actually turned out to be pushing buttons on a kiddie roller coaster and working for a company that I actually didn't like that much.  Though it doesn't sound very intriguing, my summer internship did teach me one very very important thing: SeaWorld was not my dream.

So you might be thinking, "Becca, why are you so caught up on dreams? Just get a job, settle down, be normal."  But here's the thing, my life will never be normal.  My life has been radically and forever changed by the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.  It has taken me a long time to truly understand that (21 years to be exact) and I'm still learning.  And I believe that Jesus gives us each different desires that we get the opportunity to pursue.  A very wise woman once shared this quote with me,

"Remember, a dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream." 

I think often times we have to really fight for what we believe in and what we want in this life.  And when it seems like were doing the opposite of what everyone else thinks, we're probably doing something right.  It is OKAY to be BOLD. 

After graduating college in December, I was suddenly a young adult with absolutely no direction of what I wanted in life, or so I thought.  But the last six months have turned out to be a really sweet time where Jesus has revealed to me so much about who I am and where I'm going, it just took a little... okay a lot of patience.  I realized how much I adore the ministry of Young Life and that I wanted to find a way to make that a bigger part of my life.  I also have always had a desire to travel, but that desire became so much more pressing in the last few months.  Then this opportunity fell into my lap, as they tend to do, and suddenly I'm moving to Costa Rica in August to intern with Young Life for a year. Ummmmm, CRAZY right.  It is the perfect combination of everything I've been searching for, Thanks Jesus!

Costa Rica Here I Come!

Whether I'm ready or not, I leave for Costa Rica in less than a month.  While I'm there, I will be living in San Jose with a host family.  I will be enrolled in language school and hopefully be somewhat fluent in Spanish by the time I come home (if I come home, sorry mom and dad).  And I will be leading Young Life at an international school in the westside of San Jose.  To be honest, there is a lot of unknown things about the next year.  But it is so thrilling to me.  I am certain that this is where Jesus is calling me right now and I am so excited to live life alongside the folks of Costa Rica.  My hope is that International Young Life could become more of a long term thing for me and I am praying that this year would reveal that!

I am currently fundraising 11,750 dollars for this journey!  This money will cover all my costs for the year.  And if I'm being completely honest, raising this much money seems daunting to me and I've often been discouraged in this process.  It is hard to ask people for money!  But I am relying on the Lord and resting in Him knowing that this is what He wants and He will see me through this!  I am also reminded that I am not just asking people for money.  But asking people to be a part of this journey and this ministry with me.  If this sounds like something you want to be a part of there is link on here with instructions on how you can give!  But seriously, I'm grateful for the fact that you're even reading this!

I have been blown away by the generosity of my family and friends and even people who barely know me.  I am so thankful for everyone who has supported and encouraged me in this adventure so far.  I have learned so much about who I am and who Jesus is and heck, I'm not even in Costa Rica yet.  How cool is that?  So thank you for adventuring alongside me even if just by reading my incredibly long, sappy blog post.  I will be posting updates and such on here, so follow along if you want! Goodnight for now!

Buenas Noches,

Becca

  

Adventure Is Out There!

Though I am aware that this post is long overdue, I felt it was only fair I shared the adventure it took getting to Orlando.  Let me start by saying this summer WOULD NOT have been possible without my parents (Tim and Connie, if you don't know them you should).  I'm sure it can't be easy raising a daughter who loves whales but they are just as invested in my dreams as I am.  Pretty cool if you ask me.

So, with my gratitude aside, here is a look at our trip!

Our journey began on a Tuesday where Tim and I departed after breakfast at iHop with my sister and mom (I know what you're thinking, what a classy last meal in Phoenix, it was.)  And Just like that we were on our way.

All packed and ready to go!

Saying goodbye is hard

On the outskirts of Arizona we stopped to see "The Thing", something that even after seeing it I'm not quite sure how to explain it.  By the end of day one we had passed through New Mexico and landed for the night in El Paso, Texas.  As we set off for dinner that night we tragically had the first upset of the trip when my dad left his iPad on the top of my car which we believe fell off somewhere along the freeway access road.  Good news is we probably made some hitchhiker's day, go us! (RIP iPad).

The next day we ventured through the wide open roads of west Texas.  Even though it horribly boring and uneventful, it was kind of peaceful and beautiful in its own special way.  Around dinner time, we reached our second destination; Austin, Texas.  We got to spend that night and the next day there exploring a bit and visiting with old summer staff friends (Kasey, Lauren, Emma, and Joey. So great seeing old friends!)  My dad and I got to witness the thousands of bats that come out from under the bridge downtown at dusk, apparently that's a thing there.  It was a little anti-climactic, however we did make some new friends and got the inside scoop on good places to go in Austin.

Cute Coffee Shop in Austin

Loved seeing Emma and Joey!

Kasey and Lauren too!

Downtown Austin

Waiting for the bats

Southern Dining

My hot date

The last and final stop before Orlando was New Orleans.  This was also where we picked up Connie.  Fun fact about Louisiana: The drivers are absolutely INSANE.  You people think California drivers are bad, the Louisiana drivers are on a whole different level.  After getting my mom from the airport we headed to Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans.  I can easily say that was the most uncomfortable I've ever been with my parents.  Naked people and strip clubs everywhere. The people in New Orleans are cray.  But it was still an adventure nonetheless.  Aside from the craziness of that city, I absolutely fell in love with the character that New Orleans held.  So colorful and alive.

 As quickly as it all began our trip was over!  We ended in Orlando Sunday afternoon just in time to move into my new apartment (but not before passing a dead alligator on the side of the road).  So many fun memories and a wonderful roadtrip!  Once again a big thanks to Tim and Connie for tagging along!  Adventure is out there people!

We did it!

Whale that's a wrap!
xoxo Becks

WHALE FUN FACT:
An average Orca eats an estimated 550 pounds of food each day or more.

FAQ's

Hello All!

Let me just say, the past few weeks have been non-stop chaos.  From packing up my stuff, moving across the country (7 states in 7 days I might add), having quite the adventure with my parents, moving into a new apartment, starting a new job, and making new friends, I can honestly say that I'm a bit tuckered out.  However, I thought I would take the time to just give a little update on what I've been doing and answer some things that a lot of people have been asking.  So here we go!

 Q: What will you be doing?

A: So, while at SeaWorld I will be taking part in the Theme Park Track of the internship.  More specifically I will be working in the Operations department on Rides at Shamu's Happy Harbor.  Though many may have thought I would be working with the animals (Luke LePage and Anneka Hokanson... cough cough), I will not! For now, I have the opportunity to get my foot in the door through this internship and hopefully gain some valuable knowledge and connections to be one step closer to my dream job.  

Here is a little preview of the Happy Harbor, right next to the Shamu stadium! Bonus!!

 Q: Where will you be living?

A: The internship partners with a temporary housing company, so they set us up with a fully furnished, all inclusive, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment.  The complex is brand new (opened in February) and is just three miles from SeaWorld.  There are four of us in the apartment so it kind of feels like being in a dorm only its super nice and we have a kitchen.  Here are a few pics for ya!

So Nice!! I can't handle it!

Q: How long is the internship?

A: The internship officially began on May 20th and it runs until August 9th.  Don't worry mom, I'm not moving away and never coming home!

Q: Your interning at the one in San Diego right?

A: Heck No! It may seem crazy that I'm still answering this question but I can't tell you how many people have just assumed that I'm working at SeaWorld San Diego.  Though, this explains why I got so many weird looks when I said my parents wouldn't let me drive alone. This currently makes me a temporary Florida resident soaking up the Orlando sun, humidity and thunderstorms!

FUN FACTS:  

• I learned during orientation that there were over a thousand applicants for this summer internship and I was picked to be 1 of 120!  Hold on one second while I brush the dirt off my shoulders.  Just kidding, but really.
• While I'm here I get to take part in different behind the scenes tours, seminars, and classes. Hopefully meet a whale (fingers crossed).
• My uniform might be the most unflattering thing I've ever worn besides footsie pajamas.  Here's a sneak peak of my summer attire.

  

  Don't hate me cause you ain't me.

   

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

Training starts tomorrow and goes through Monday so hopefully I can master pushing the start button on the roller coaster by then!  Sweet dreams from Shamu land y'all!

Whale that's a wrap!
xoxo Becks

WHALE FUN FACT:

Orcas have the second-heaviest brains in the marine mammal world

And so it begins...

Weeks ago, I was going about my day just like any other when my phone rang.  Casually answering the call from an unknown number, I literally almost pooped my pants when I discovered it was SeaWorld on the other line... yeah that's right, SEAWORLD.  Even if you barely know me, you probably know that I am obsessed with whales, particularly Orcas.  Not to mention that working at SeaWorld had only been a dream of mine since I was a chubby middle schooler with a mouth full of braces (we all remember those awkward years).

After nearly having an accident, I started to pay attention to what the chipper SeaWorld employee (Bruce, great guy) was saying to me.  Basically, they wanted to interview me for their college internship program that would take place in Orlando and last the whole summer. HOLY CRAP.  I was in utter disbelief.


 Oh, by the way, here's pretty much what I looked like as soon as I got off the phone.  But they were happy tears, don't worry.

The next day I interviewed with SeaWorld via phone.  They asked me four rather strange questions and that was it.  I was told that I would be contacted either way but there was no specific time frame

After waiting, and waiting... and then some more waiting, I received an email from SeaWorld congratulating me on being accepted into the Summer 2013 College Experience Internship Program!  Again, HOLY CRAP.  In even more shock than the first time, I called/texted just about everyone I knew and let them know.  My mom thought someone died because I called her sobbing (sorry Connie).

So, here we are!  In just 5 short days, I will be venturing across the country with my adorable parents and moving to Orlando for the entire summer!  I have no clue what to expect but man oh man am I overjoyed for this opportunity! Stay tuned for the adventures of Becca and Shamu!


Whale that's a wrap!
xoxo Becks

 

 

WHALE FUN FACT:   

A killer whale can't smile because the blubber in its head keeps its face muscles from reaching the surface.