Hola! :o)

I am sorry I haven't updated my blog for so long though so many things happened since my last update! Partly because I was saying lots of goodbyes :( and also last couple days I wasn't able to get on here and write a new post. But it's all good now!

Before I got to Costa Rica

Leaving was very difficult - more difficult than any other times before! And you know I've done some travelling! It might be the age ;) or the fact that Bristol felt like home to me! I enjoyed my job, loved 'my house' and all my friends and church family! But I knew that this was what God has called me to do and I trusted him in these sad but exciting moments. I have to say that those 4 years and 9 months in Bristol have been nothing but a blessing to me!

Journey to Costa Rica

My journey was long but pretty much without any problems. I started my first flight by reading all your cards and praise the Lord that there was no one sitting next to me! :) I think it was God's providence that I left a letter from my friend Jen at the end. It was full of interesting facts about Costa Rica and that helped me to look forward rather than back! Then I tried to watch some cheerful movies :) When I got to Newark, I was a little worried - there was a long queue for passport control waiting for me and I had less than 2 hours till my next flight. I was even told that there is no way I could make it! Thanks Mr Officer! :) But I did make it and even ended up waiting as my next flight was delayed! Thank you Lord! Then it was only 5 hours till San Jose where my coordinator Bridget was waiting for me.

Day #1

I have to say that I woke up way too early! But I blame it on jet lag :) Later on I went to visit my language school where I will start studying Spanish from Monday onwards. Afterwards I visited the centre of San Jose (sorry no pictures yet - I didn't want to look like a tourist on my first day! :)) and had a typical Costa Rican meal that of course contained rice and beans and my favourite plantains :)

In the evening we had a Latin Link meeting with all the missionaries who work here in San Jose. Thank you for a warm welcome!

 Day #2

In the afternoon I joined Veronique (also a Strider with Latin Link) and helped her with preparation for kids day camp in Los Guido (a poor part of San Jose). It was fun as I got to know more people and got to speak Spanish a little bit.

 

Day #3 (Today)

 

Today was quite an exciting day! In the morning I went to the office of Students International (the organisation I will be working with) in Desamparados (a part of San Jose) and met my new colleagues. Natalie (another Strider with Latin Link) gave me a little tour of Desamparados  and then I walked by myself to the area called San Francisco de Dos Rios - that's where I am staying right now. On the way I stopped in the supermarket and did shopping by myself. It was so much fun to walk through the supermarket and try to find the things I needed. I had to ask twice and the first time I knew the answer to my question if they had a risotto rice was no but I didn't really get anything from what the gentleman was telling me. Then I asked other lady where I could find something like a double cream - I had to explain what I would use it for as I didn't know how it's called. Thankfully she got it and showed it to me.

 

It's hard to believe that I've been here only 3 days because so much happened since I left UK - a long journey, new environment, meeting new people, new language! I haven't felt this way since my arrival to Bristol and that was still easier as I could speak English (though not British English and not Bristolian! :)). These first few days remind me of my first days/weeks in Greece in 2005 - I never quite got what the purpose of those 5 months there was but now I feel that besides other things God was preparing me for Costa Rica.

 

More to come soon :)

The Light of the world

 

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

 

Merry Christmas to you all! May this Light fill your hearts now and always!

Merry Christmas and more!

"The Lord will guide you always;

 He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

 and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail."

Isaiah 58:11





What a great promise! These verses were mentioned at some point during my orientation at All Nations College and really encouraged me! Just to know that God will go with me to Costa Rica (even before me!) and will guide me through everything. And not just in Costa Rica...

 

But before I look into future, I would like to go back to this past month and presence. At the end of November I said bye to my colleagues at the Bristol Marriott Royal and to my job that I truly enjoyed! (our office Christmas buffet lunch the day before I left (bring & share) - on the left, Manu, Marco, Rafel just before I left) 

 

 

 I also waved bye to my church family and church Pip'n'Jay - this was even more difficult in this time of  year as I love celebrating Christmas there! But I am happy that I will get to see everyone one more time before I leave for CR in January. On first advent Sunday we made Christingles - I couldn't believe that this was the first time I made a Christingle in my life and in my 4.5 years of living in England!

 

 

I will rather skip talking about my stressful packing! :) I hope I don't ever have to do double or triple packing at the same time again - packing 4.5 years of my Bristol life into a limited number of suitcases - Costa Rica/Slovakia/What's left??? And I came to Bristol with one suitcase that weighted 15kg! Never mind!:)

Let's move on to a happier topic! On Tuesday 3rd December I started my one week orientation at All Nations College. Let me tell ya! What a great week it was! I learnt so much about God, myself, mission and Latin America! A week full of knowledge, closeness to God, new friendships and lots of encouragement! Praise the Lord! I was going to tell you more about what I had learnt but it's so much to share - this post would be very looong!

Right after the orientation I flew back home to spend Christmas and NYE with my family and friends in Slovakia. I haven't been home for Christmas for 4 years so it's good to be reminded of my own Christmas traditions :) So far I got a chance to enjoy Christmas markets in my hometown Trnava, then Bratislava and also in Budapest. It's been much colder here than in England but we haven't had any snow yet. And it looks like we won't have white Christmas this year either.

 



I've got my plane tickets!:)...Really?!!

I've got my plane tickets to Costa Rica and that means I have my departure day!!!

 

13th January 2014 it is!!!

 

Still hard to believe!!!

 

I think I am not fully getting it but that's probably a blessing! Otherwise I would either lose my focus on what I still need to do before I leave because of excitement or spend the rest of my time crying and thinking about whom and what I am going to miss!

 

My last day at work is 29th November - THIS MONTH!!! Again, hard to believe! 4.5 years at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel!

 

Then going to one week orientation at the beginning of December and then flying to Slovakia for Christmas and NYE! Finally after 4 years I will have a proper fried carp and potato salad and maybe a little bit of medovina (a honey liqueur) at Christmas markets! And hopefully white Christmas!

 

Then back to Bristol to say 'see you in 2 years! byes' to everyone at the beginning of January and then off to Costa Rica! 

 

Crazy! Thank you Lord that I can completely trust you and that your plans for me are good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trusting God

So many times I thank God that He is in control and not me! That He can see the bigger picture and knows what is best. Being a planner, I find difficult when my plans suddenly change and I have to adjust to new plans. This is something that I am still learning...

At the beginning of September I was supposed to go to my one week orientation for Costa Rica taking place near London. Less than one week before I found out that my grandma would be having a risky surgery that week. Couple weeks before she had been diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 82 and this surgery was necessary for her to live. Therefore I decided to go home and cancel the orientation. This postponed my departure for Costa Rica as I now will be attending the orientation in December and therefore leaving after Christmas/New Year's Eve. Looking at it now I am glad that I won't be leaving next month because it means that I can stay here little bit longer, go to Slovakia for some time before I leave and also it gives me more time to raise my support. So praise the Lord that He knows me so well and knows what is better for me.

Besides the departure time nothing else has changed. I have attached some pictures of the ministry in Costa Rica that I will be involved in. When I received them, I got really excited. I've also given notice at work, effective on 29th November - this made it feel really real! And also the fact that I have already raised little bit over 50% of my support! God is good and faithful!

Please let me know (via email - jana.laukova@yahoo.com or Facebook message) if you would like to know more about my ministry work in Costa Rica or if you want me to send you updates via email once I am there. Also, if you feel like donating and partnering with me, you can still do it through Latin Link website (www.latinlink.org.uk/donate) or I can give you my personal bank account information. If you choose the first option, please select my name under 'Start typing name to find person'.

There are few things that I would love you to pray for if you can:
- my grandma
- next few months when I will be preparing to leave - all the practicalities + spiritual preparation
- my new home, church family, new language, new culture

Thank you all for reading my blog and your support & prayers! :)

Time to update!

I am glad to be back with a little bit of update! I can now tell you where and what I will be doing in

the near future :) 

As I previously mentioned I will be going to Costa Rica for two years! I will be working in the Women's Social Work/Microbusiness ministry run by Students International (www.stint.com/si-ministry/countries/costa-rica). Their vision is to see lives and families transformed as women discover their value and identity in Christ, receive love and support as they reach personal and business goals. This ministry takes place in three poor communities of San Jose - Los Guido, La Capri, and Las Fuentes.

I will be helping women in these communities with their microenterprises, teaching them basic business principles such as writing a business plan, writing and keeping a budget, accounting, marketing, etc. This ministry also includes English classes, baking and cooking classes (yay!:)), support group for teenage girls and providing discipleship.

I am hoping to leave in October. But it all depends on how my support raising is going. As a missionary, I won't be paid while I am there. Therefore I need to raise enough money now in order to cover all my living costs once I'm there.

At this point I would like to ask you for your prayers (if you believe in the power of prayer). This is completely new experience for me. Since 18 I've always been dependent on myself (with some help of parents at the beginning) and had paid jobs. Next two years I will depend on God and His provision through His people. I am sure it will teach me lots of humbleness and gratefulness... Also please pray for the coming months as I will be preparing to leave that God will prepare my heart for what I am about to face and experience - new culture, people, language, work environment, new challenges... I'm looking forward to what God will teach me through this all. Though at the same time I know that it won't be easy to leave Bristol when the time comes. Please also pray for my financial support and all the other details such as my accommodation, protection and health, for all the paper work, etc. I could go on and on :)

If you would like to become part of my prayer support team or just would like to hear about my life in Costa Rica, please let me know and I will make sure that you receive my updates on regular basis. If you would like to partner with me and give financially (either one time or monthly), visit www.latinlink.org.uk/donate and type my name in ‘Start typing name to find person or project’ and follow the rest of instructions.

Either in the form of prayers or giving, I will be very grateful for your support. I am fully aware that I cannot do this on my own.

If you have any questions, please ask! Either grab me when you see me and we can arrange to go for a cup of coffee or as English people say for a cuppa!:) Or email me on jana.laukova@yahoo.com. I am looking forward to all the questions!:)

That's all for now. Though more details coming soon.

And thank you so much for reading my blog! :)

 

Latin Link

I thought I would tell you a little bit more about Latin Link - the organization that I will be going to Latin America with.

Latin Link is a Christian mission organisation with a passion for Latin America. Most of its members work in Latin America or with Latin Americans in other parts of the world. They bring their gifts, knowledge and skills in order to meet needs. They work in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Spain, Germany, UK, Ireland and Switzerland.

I really like their mission- here it is:
"Our mission is to evangelise, to teach and equip, to prepare people for life and work, to develop their God-given potential and help them grow in the service of others. In Christian terms, Latin Link is about whole-life discipleship which we believe to be God’s heart for every person and every community." (taken from Latin Link website - http://www.latinlink.org.uk)

There are many ways how one can be involved with Latin Link in Latin America or here. One of the ways is to send people out there in the form of short-term mission trips (Step teams), individual placements (Stride - from 6 months to 2 years - that's what I will be doing :)) or longer, on-going service (Stay).

I heard of this organization for the first time almost one year ago. My friend mentioned it while we were having a cup of coffee (Starbucks of course :)) When I got home, I immediately went to check it out online and I suddenly felt this excitement in my heart (that didn't happen when I was looking into other organizations online). Couple months later (after lots of praying) I went to see their Roadshow in London. There I found out a little bit more about what they do. I could also see that they were really into Jesus! Praise the Lord! I saw this video there and it touched my heart (and still does every time I see it). Please watch it if you have a moment...

 

 

If you want to know more, please visit Latin Link website - http://www.latinlink.org.uk.

 

Talk to you soon! :)