So this was my post from yesterday.....
I am in Costa Rica!! It is beautiful and I am so excited to explore! However, on this blog I am going to be completely honest and vulnerable with you guys…

So, I had a very hard time saying goodbye to my family and friends yesterday morning. I sobbed. The flights were great, I got to the Villa, unpacked and met more of the people I will be spending the next 9 months with. Since I woke up at 2:50 yesterday and there is a two hour time difference, I was exhausted pretty early last night. I came in my room, and sobbed again. Crying out to God for strength to get through these few days of settling in and the next 4 months without seeing my family. Having internet for an hour or two a day to talk to your family and friends, is definitely going to take some getting used to.

I woke up at 5 this morning and I’m pretty sure I was the only one awake in the Villa. I spent some time with God. I have a journal that has little verses on every page and the verse of today was Psalm 91:2. So I opened my Bible and read Psalm 91.

Verse 2: “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’”

Verse 4: “He shall cover you with His feathers,  and under His wings you shall take refuge.”

It was like getting hit with a ton of bricks. God showed me this morning that He does not want me to be comfortable. When we are comfortable and mediocre, we are not growing. God is taking me to the end of myself so that I will rely completely on Him. He is allowing me to come to Him, broken so that He can rebuild me into the person He wants me to be.

And my post for today....
God is so good! I am making friends that I know will last a life time! He is strengthening me and changing me already. I am so excited to see what's to come. Missing home, my family, friends & Caleb! <3 you guys! Thank you for praying!!!!!!!

Tomorrow!!!!

Hey guys! Just wanted to inform you all of a few things.... 

I am leaving tomorrow at 6:15 am! And landing in Costa Rica around 12 (which is 2 pm NY time) So please be praying for safety if you think of me during that time! 

There are also some "Gappers" traveling today!

I would also ask that you'd pray for the "goodbyes" or "see you laters" that are going to take place today and tomorrow. That God would strengthen me, and give my family members and friends peace!

Also, If you would like to contact me directly while I'm down there, you can Facebook me or my e-mail is kgoldcca2013@gmail.com. I also have an address to the villa that I can receive letters to. If you would like the address you can e-mail me, and I will send it to you! 

God is AMAZING! I cannot wait to get down there and start learning, ministering, growing and serving! I have been so encouraged already by the other Gappers and my roommates! I am SO excited to meet, learn, share and grow with these guys for the next 9 months! It is going to be life-changing!!!

One last thing that God has taught me the past few days as I have been saying some goodbyes: Missing people means that there was and/or is something, a bond or love, between the two that makes you miss them. So, my perspective on missing people or being missed has been changed a little.... God has shown me that I am so blessed to have so many people that I love, and that love me; there are so many people in our lost and dying world without that love from other people. So in the midst of my tears, God has opened my eyes and I am overwhelmingly THANKFUL for the amazing people He placed in my life!

Thank you Thank you Thank you for YOUR love, support and prayers! May the God who holds all things bless you more than you could ever ask or imagine!  I will update this when I can! I cannot thank you enough! Love you! 

Kelsey :)

Pre-Costa Rica thoughts

Friends, Family, Supporters and Prayer Warriors!

Thank you so much for your support and prayers! I ask that you would continue to pray for me. I will be posting on this blog as much as I can, Lord willing. I pray that you will be encouraged, blessed and that your walks with Christ might be strengthened by the things I learn that I can hopefully share with you!

Right now, God is teaching, breaking, molding, and testing me to trust.
Trust.
Ahhh It makes me cringe sometimes. I am definitely a people person, I love easily. However, trust does not come naturally for me.
Surrender.
This is what I am learning to do. FULLY surrender my fears, struggles, short-commings, worries, nerves and lack of trust.... giving all of these things to the One, the only One who is worthy of all our trust. The One who will never let us down. Never leave us, nor will He ever forsake us. NOTHING can snatch us out of the grip of our Heavenly Father.
How comforting and assuring is that?
We just have to knock down our walls, take that step (or leap) of faith and give it all to Him.
Easier said than done...
We can try all we want to depend on others, especially depending on ourselves; but we will fail. Time and time again, we will fail and get hurt when we don't allow God to control our lives and be the Center of it ALL!
I need to trust Him to protect and provide for the people I am leaving here in the states while I'm gone. This is just some of the stuff God is teaching me before I even get on the plane.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me and reading this! I would like to ask for your continuous prayers while I am gone. Some things off the top of my head which I will continue to inform you on while in CR:

-Safety
-That God would give me peace beyond what I can imagine
-For my family, that they would trust God with me and they would grow closer to Him as a result
-That God would expand my learning abilities and take me out of my comfort zone and be able to become FLUENT in Spanish
-God will have His way in me, and I would not let my flesh get in the way or distract me

I could not possibly thank you enough! God bless you! I love you and thank God for you!
I will talk to you soon! :)
Kelsey Gold