Goodbye Little Blue House

Today we leave Costa Rica.  This house has been a haven in a huge transition.  It's blue cement walls, two palm trees in front, termites and cockroaches will be missed...well, at least some of it will be missed.  We didn't have matching plates or many comforts but it was our home.

Packed up are our 8 checked bags and 4 carry-ons.  We travel with the basics and will set up another home in Ecuador.  

It feels really nice to have so little with so much to look forward to.  

Patience Is A Virtue...

Visas are a reality of living abroad.  We received 1 out of 4 visas in Costa Rica. Each application was identical but 1 was approved and 3 denied.  Thankfully "being in process" is enough to stay in the country legally. This is how things go...  

Now, we are working to acquire our Ecuadorian visas and have an amazing lawyer to help with the process.  We did not want to hit any unnecessary glitches and lose time and money.  Still, much of our time as of late has been spent in government offices, on websites, phone calls and scanning and emailing document after document AND the process is expensive!

Even after all this, we charge ahead incredibly excited to have visas in Ecuador.  We are trusting His perfect timing for receipt of these visas (we can't leave Costa Rica until we have them in hand) and, in faith, have booked airline tickets for an August 3rd departure. 

Our last visit to a government office was to have our fingerprints taken.  This process took almost 5 hours!  Lots of waiting without explanation, paying for somethings that seemed a little "off" and PATIENCE.  It's amazing how this process is like a boot camp of holiness and dependency on God.  May we go deeper still in our trust in Him and live joyfully in the midst of the refining fire.

Nate Saint - A fixed part of our life from now on...

The Nate Saint School will be Georgia and Reese's school in the fall.  Before we visited Ecuador in 2012 the name Nate Saint was that of a missionary hero we read about in books and thought about infrequently but with utmost admiration. Beginning in August, as we walk through the town center of Shell a replica of his yellow airplane will hover over us. The girls will benefit from his vision of a school in Shell, Ecuador for missionary kids like ours. And, God willing, we will be working with leaders that have risen up because of Nate Saint's sacrifice to reach the lost at all costs, even death. 

God has the craziest way of bringing the imposible and unbelievable to reality.  Frequently we are caught in a daze wondering how in the world we ended up learning Spanish in Costa Rica to live in a jungle town in Ecuador.  Humbly we look forward knowing for darn sure that none of "our plan" is possible without God's providence (foreseeing care and direction) and provision.  

Exodus 14:14 - "God will fight for you, you need only be still."

We read the books...now we know they are right.

As of today we've completed 9 months of living abroad, submerged in Latin culture and away from the place we called home.

We have researched and prepared for this change of reality and cultural shock.  You can't prevent it, really, but it's served us well to be able to identify the struggles and growing pains as we weather them.

We are already processing that "home" is something we may never feel again. And, to be honest, we love this and we hate this.  The truth is if we are Believers we are aliens in this world. (I Peter 2:11-12) The sense of belonging we felt in the US very well could have been a product of complacency and distraction from how different we are as followers of Christ.

The flip side?  Now we talk with Georgia and Reese about our many "homes"; our many places that we feel comfortable and surrounded by people we love and that love us right back.  Now this list includes - Denver, Winter Park, Costa Rica...and soon to be added to the list, we are sure...Ecuador.

Shall we talk about money? And faith?

Lately I (Chris) have been overwhelmed with a feeling of encouragement knowing how many people are supporting us (both financially, prayerfully, and in moral support).  As a missionary, living far away from daily interaction with so many we love this is a HUGE encouragement.  I also have been thinking of the fact that this consistency is a symptom of our supporter's faith in God and desire to live sacrificially for Him.  This is just where we want to be and we are spurred on knowing that our supporters desire to be in this same place.  This is made evident by their consistent giving, praying and reaching out. 

Learning to live off the "support of others" is an act of faith for us.  It is truly counter-culture, as a man, to surrender one's provision for his family to faith.  I know this is what God wants of us (no matter if we are missionaries or not) but right now the rubber is meeting the road in my belief that God will provide for all our needs.  He IS providing and he IS building my faith in the process.  

So, as you are reading this I hope and pray that you see that stepping out in faith (in everything -- but finances is often the toughest surrender) is a step worth taking.  As God calls, He always provides and then builds our faith for the next, often bigger, step.

To our supporters - 
Whether you know it or not, you are part of our faith walk and an incredible encouragement to us.  Your constancy blows us away and makes us thankful for so many deep and significant relationships with each of you.  Please know you are valued and that we are together, desiring to live lives of sacrifice for God's glory and so that all the world will hear the name of Jesus and be discipled to walk in His ways. 

How Do I Feel? By golly I have no idea!!!

Lately, the question, "How are you doing?" or, "How do you feel?" has been the dreaded, unanswerable question.  You see, we have lived in Costa Rica for 8 months now and will be leaving to move to our final place of ministry, Ecuador, in August.  

Thus far we have adjusted well but are now entering the "end of the honeymoon" phase of living abroad while looking forward to another big change...moving to Ecuador!  

Emotions are running high in the Ferry house.  This exhibits in tears, frustration, fear, hope, grief, excitement, anger, a desire to withdraw oneself socially and much more.  

Each member of our family has been struggling to put words to and order these many emotions.  So, we posted a key to help us identify our current state and communicate said state with our understanding (and albeit often confused or bewildered) family members. 

Although this phase can be difficult we are increasingly thankful for this opportunity to dig deeper as a family and learn more together. We are learning more about daily walking in the Spirit, not allowing our emotions to rule our behaviours and extending grace at every opportunity.  

Philippians 1:6 ...he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion...

Work it out!

We've always been an active family but moving to a city in Costa Rica took some adjustment.  Our first 3 months in Costa Rica were during the peak of the rainy season so we took to having indoor dance parties, indoor jump roping contests and, true confession, gained a few pounds...

Chasing away the blues to day
the Davis family left CR

A little 6am snorkel action!

Then, we got our feet under us, the rain stopped dumping and we began to take on exercise in the city - Ferry style! Now we play soccer, basketball, go running, have dance and lip-sync competitions, jump rope and more...



We've become even more convinced that breaking a sweat can chase away the blues, bring clarity, stress relief and giggles. And, counting sit ups and push-ups in Spanish can really improve your numerical vocab...