I've never had a blog before but I figured that living in a foreign country is a good reason to start one. We are three weeks into my third year down here in Costa Rica serving in the GAP Year Program as a Student Life Director. My position this year is filled with all kinds of new responsibilities and with a lot of life on life connections with both Tico's (Costa Ricans) and GAP students.

The GAP Year Program is a nine month program where students from all over the States (and one Canadian this year) come down to Costa Rica with the focus on learning Spanish, having Bible classes, and getting involved in the local community. I was a GAP student two years ago, last year I was a GAP intern and this year I'm serving in the role of Student Life Director.

Each year being down here is different in many ways. Basically the students are the determining factor as to how the year is going to flow. We're only about three weeks in at this point but with the attitudes of the students it looks to be a promising year. Their desire to want to learn Spanish and their passion to serve should make for a good year.

My ministry this year is serving in a poor city Tirrases with 5 of our students. We're helping out a local missionary named Jairo while serving in Tirrasis. Each week about 40 kids come out and we hang out, play games, do life, and give a Bible lesson for them. These kids come from really rough backgrounds. A lot of their parents are involved with drugs or alcohol so our goal is to basically love on them and show them there's alternatives to that life style by portraying Jesus in our words and actions.

Prayer Requests:
- that God would break and mold the hearts of both the students down here along with the Costa Rican's
- building relationships with the local Tico's
- I'm starting a Spanish Small Group so I'm going to need prayer for grace with the language and for the hearts of people that will be coming out
-for the kids of Tirrases

Praises:
-God's opened up doors and helped me build relationships enough to lead both an english and spanish small group
-for the attitudes of the students so far
-for the growth of our english church that we have down here and the community within

                                                 GAP class of 2013-2014

                                       GAP Students that serve in Tirasses

                                         The full team that serves in Tirasses

Special Thanks to those of you that have financially supported me being down here. I wouldn't be able to be down here if it wasn't for you guys. If you feel led to want to give you can click here. http://www.scoreintl.org/donate/gap-student/