First week update.

This is a picture of the house where I live here in San José, Cost Rica. I am living with a tico family (tico a word Costa Ricans use to refer to themselves). Roberto and Marilys Ramirez are a couple with three children: Samuel, 10; Daniel, 5; and Raquel, 4. They are a great family, and I am learning much Spanish by living with them. My room is small, but I have a private bathroom. Here is a picture of my room. Marilys and Roberto can speak English very well and have helped me with my Spanish. The oldest son know English pretty well, but still struggles a little. I have had most of my meals with my tico family. The food has been muy rico. In fact, I have yet to have any American food since I have been here. It has all been Costa Rican food and a few times, Chinese food.

Every morning, I have a Spanish class which uses a barefoot method. We all meet at the Grumble's house at 7:30 and have devotions. The class begins at 8:00. Our teacher uses only Spanish as she teaches. At the end of the class, she gives us assignments to go to a store are mall to practice our Spanish. The next day, the teacher will begin by asking us about our experience practicing Spanish.

We are at the end of the rainy season, so it has been raining a lot. When it is not raining, the weather has been quite nice. In about two week, the dry season begins.

Yesterday, I discovered a Hipermás, a store very much like Walmart. I got some Dr. Pepper, Guaraná, and a telephone with a cord. (I have a magicjack phone set up which works through the Internet. The signal from the cordless phone I had was interfering with the wireless signal. Getting a phone with a cord remedied the problem.)

Tomorrow, I am going to explore the city a little more through the guidance of Ryan Buttes, a student at the Spanish Language Institute.

Thanks for your prayers. Pray especially for language and cultural acquisition.

I'm in Costa Rica

I am now in Costa Rica. My plane left Nashville early yesterday morning. I had a two hour lay over in Atlanta. In Atlanta, I met up with four other families who are also going to the Spanish Language Institute. By 11:45 am CST, we were in San José. All of my luggage made it. After going through immigration and customs, we were each taken to our new homes. I am staying with the Ramirez's, a local family. They are a young couple with three children. After dropping off my things , I went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. I then went back to the house to unpack and visit more with the Ramirez's. I am having a little difficulty setting up my phone, but hopefully I will have it set up soon.

One Week to Go!

Thank you for you prayers; they are greatly appreciated.

Here is a quick up date. A couple of weeks ago, I completed field personnel orientation in Virginia. I had a great time at FPO. I went through many hours of sessions about church planting movements, spiritual warfare, doctrine, principles of language study, legal and financial stuff, ESL training, and more. I had about six immunizations. Moreover, I now have many new friends. I am now back in Alabama. Next Thursday at 5:40 AM, I will be flying out bound for San José, Costa Rica for language study. Please, continue in your prayers for me.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you pray for me:

• Visa stuff
• Preparation during this final week before I leave the States
• Safety in travel on October 23
• Smooth transition after I arrive in Costa Rica
• Language and cultural acquisition during my time in language school so that I can proclaim the gospel of Christ with clarity
• Dependence upon God
• Wisdom that comes from above
• The supremacy of Christ in all of life
• Boldness as God opens doors for the gospel
• Guidance by the Spirit
• Devotion to prayer and the Word
• That the Spirit go before me, preparing the hearts of the people to hear the gospel, convicting them of the sinfulness of their sin, regenerating their hearts, and pointing them to Christ and the cross



Isaiah 43:6b-7 — Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name and whom I have created for My glory whom I have formed, even whom I have made.

Grateful and Blessed

I've made it to the International Learning Center (ILC). Since it is over a twelve hour drive from the Shoals and my having to arrive at ILC prior to 5 PM, I decided to split up the drive. I left Alabama on Sunday right after the morning service at Grace Life and arrived at Ninth & O Baptist Church (where I was a member while at Southern Seminary) just in time for the evening service. I had planned to leave for ILC yesterday morning, but God had other plans in mind and had me stay in Louisville for a day. Indeed, though a man plans his ways, the Lord directs his steps (Prov 16:9). While pulling in the parking lot of Ninth & O, my front tire blew out. I am grateful to God that it happened where it did instead of on the interstate at 70 mph. Moreover, I was able to see more of my friends, particular Chris Mitchell who helped me get a new tire. I left early this morning and made it to Rockville without any trouble. For most of the trip, I listened to the book The Shadow of the Almighty on my mp3 player which was a blessing. I am looking forward to finishing it this week should time permit. I may listen to it again on my return trip in a couple of months. Thank you for your prayers.

In His Abundant Grace,
Kenan