God uses pizza in cool ways..

this was our first week back on matías, and it was so cool! the Lord moved in really sweet ways, and we got to see some great things happen..

there were about four days between getting back from costa rica and the new ciclo (semester) at matías, so potter and i declared that time a 'planning retreat'.. we developed a schedule, what crucial things needed to be discussed and planned, and how they were to be executed, and spent those four days preparing for the new ciclo! honestly, our team came through in flying colors.. everyone stepped up to the plate, pushed themselves, and worked so hard to make everything come together! because we were really starting brand new on this campus, especially with all ten of us finally working together, we wanted to introduce students to a group that was real, and legitimate.. previously we were just a couple gringos walking around talking about Jesus (which isnt necessarily bad) but we really wanted to present ourselves as a sweet new group on campus, focused on sharing Christ and having community.. here is a short list of some sweet things that happened, just to give you the smallest taste of how the Lord moved:

- lauren designed a completely new and awesome logo for Vida Estudiantil! we had posters, banners, flyers, t-shirts.. all with a sweet new logo to draw attention and lend some credibility to our movement.. here is the logo on a quarter-sheet flyer..

in spanish it says, 'to grow in Christ and a community of change'

- on the other side of this flyer, we had a five-week calendar of all the events we have planned through february: a pizza party (ill get to that shortly); a Super Bowl party; a movie night; a valentines day outreach called Amor Real; a dessert night at the girls house; and an English club meeting..

- we were very blessed by the administration! the Lord used them to provide us with an information table near the cafeteria, where we could sit and talk with any students who were interested, provide them with all our information and invite them to the friday pizza party and raffle.. you might have an image of the first week of classes at most universities in the states, where the main plaza is packed with booths and free food and craziness and fun.. we were the only table! student groups and clubs here are extremely uncommon, practically non existent.. we definitely generated a lot of interest!

- on friday we had a pizza party and raffle! the ticket for the raffle was a short spiritual survey and contact/interest card.. we handed out over two hundred slices of free pizza! free food here is something that rarely ever happens, and the students were so excited to be blessed with a free lunch.. thanks for your support, you made it happen! we got to connect with so many freshman students who were experiencing their first week of college, and present ourselves as a service and spiritual resource to the entire university! we ended up collecting about 150 contact cards! so many students seemed genuinely interested in being a part of Vida Estudiantil!

it was such an exciting week.. thank you all so much for your prayers.. please pray that the Lord will continue to use us to reach lost students with the Gospel, especially as we follow up with all the students who filled out contact cards! we have a lot of work ahead of us, but it is good work, and so much fun! pray that our motivation will continue, and that we will continue to take big steps of faith! here are some pictures of the first week and the pizza party; many more on the gallery page!

wouldnt you want to get information from these lovely ladies?

a couple freshman guys filling out cards and getting a little more information..

pizza party! we ordered twenty seven medium pizzas from pizza hut, and every last slice got demolished! its incredible how much the students here like pizza hut.. and free food..


clean up..

the rich coast

we just got back from costa rica! i know i know.. i told you i was going to belize.. well we ended up getting a really good deal on a flight to costa rica, and some sweet accommodations, so we booked it and didnt look back.. i actually kinda looked back; i still really wanna go to belize.. maybe it will happen..

anyways, it was a really great week! we stayed at some sweet bungalows right on the beach and did a lot of relaxing.. costa rica is actually quite a bit different than el salvador.. for one thing, we werent in the city at all, so everything was much more laid back and there was more.. nature.. everything was green and blue and gorgeous.. it was a very nice contrast to the typical muted tones and blaring horns and stress of the city..

i dont really have too much to say about this time, because really not too much happened: surfing, swimming, reading, relaxing, cooking and eating together as a big happy family.. one of our days, we got to take a little adventure and go to manuel antonio national park, which has been featured in the book, '1000 places to see before you die' or something like that.. it was definitely gorgeous, but i think i had too high of expectations.. it must have been toward the bottom of that list of 1000, if i had to guess.. but it was a great adventure!

so yeah.. i will let the pictures speak for themselves (and the captions under them..)

our bungalow, about twenty yards from the sand..

this is franklin.. he hung out with us for like an hour.. i really like this shot..


gorgeous costa rican sunset, as seen from our porch.. that almendro tree is supposed to mark one of the best breaks on our stretch of beach..


this dog was the most fun nuisance ive ever had.. he was a stray, as far as we know, but was in really good shape and just kinda lazed around.. really good natured and mellow.. he made me miss my dog oreo..

more pictures at the gallery..

sad day!

well, i guess not that sad when you put it in proper perspective.. there are a lot of things in the world that cause more sadness than what happened to me today..

my laptop charger is taking a vacation.. well, i guess you could say it retired.. the little charger light on it faded about a month ago and i didnt think anything of it.. then today, sitting at viva espresso, with ambitious plans of getting my blog completely up to date.. it quit on me.. no warning, just a 'hey, guess what? im outta here..' and he was gone..

so now, with about twenty minutes of battery power remaining, i am forced to postpone my blog updates yet again, faithful readers.. i will be visiting the apple store in the next couple days, and hopefully getting a replacement for my deadbeat charger, and then i will be back in business! if they are unable to simply give me a replacement, then i will have to wait for one to be shipped to my dad, and then shipped to me.. i am really hoping to get everything up to date before our costa rican vacation!

love you all, pray for success at the apple store!

happy new year! and Christmas.. and my birthday.. and thanksgiving..

man.. i dont even know what to say, friends.. i think i will start with the sincerest of apologies..

life has been hectic, and the first thing to go was my blog.. if you know me at all, you should have seen this coming haha.. i tend to have good intentions in starting big projects, and i can be consistent for some time, but eventually i hit a wall where it feels like a drag, and i have to push through it, and i often times dont push through.. i just kinda let it die.. so i owe an apology to all of you who read my blog consistently, and have been wondering where i went (did he die? is he still there? if he isnt there anymore, then why am i still sending him money every month?) all valid questions..

well im back on track! a lot has happened that i would love to let you guys know about.. some are just fun, some are serious.. but i will put them in on or around the dates they happened, for the sake of chronology and clarity.. i think it would be helpful to read it as a story.. i will be working hard for the next few days to get this blog whipped back into shape.. he has slacked off for long enough, and its time to work off all the 'holiday weight' he has gained..

thank you all for your patience and grace!

much love,

trev