Hey everyone,

   We head down to Panama and then to South America in a few days! I don't know how to express my excitement. God has done so much in these last few months. He's awesome and I love Him. 

   I thought since this is my last blog before we leave I should explain a little more of what it is that God has been doing from the beginning. It's been a growing experience for me since the beginning. I was in Germany when It all started. I had a few weeks before we left to the Philippines and I was praying and walking through the woods. That's when He told me about it. He called it a "faith journey". It consisted of a small group of people who are really hungry for more of God and are wanting and willing to serve and love the people around us. Trusting in God to provide, guide and take care of us. Taking advantage of every moment to tell others about God. To be changed and challenged in new ways. To grow in Christ and see others grow as well.  I decided to wait until I got back to Germany from the Philippines before I really said anything about it, I had told a few people but for me at that time it was just a thought in the back of my head that(I thought) would never happen. I left to the Philippines for two months thinking that through the excitement of a new country I would forget or not be as excited about this "faith journey". But I was wrong. I got back to Germany with even more excitement about it than when I had left. I had a strong desire to see it happen but I didn't know where or how to start. Right before I left Germany to go to Florida I had my first team member. It happened through a series of random events but long story short I had my first recruit. Now at this point I hadn't told my parents yet. I had a few days left in Germany and then ten days in Florida visiting my grandparents. I wanted to tell my parents face to face. I knew it would be hard for them to let me go again especially considering that it's not through an organization or church but it's something that I am starting/organizing myself. So I asked God that If this was really something from Him and not from my own head that my parents would back me up 100% no questions.  I wanted to wait till I saw them before I told them but little did I know that God didn't want me to wait. I was skyping my dad one morning during the first few days in Florida and before I knew it I had told him all about it. I was scared at first thinking he might reject the idea of it but to my surprise my dad was all for it. That was when I realized that it was really going to happen. It was no longer just a thought in my head but it was about to become a reality. I returned home to Costa Rica and started the preparation. Of course I had no idea how or what to prepare but I knew that praying was a good way to start. I sent out a letter. Nothing happened. It was the end of April and I only had one person coming. There were a couple of people that said they were thinking of it or they might come but in the end there was still no one else. I decided to take 2 weeks to fast and pray for the trip. Those two weeks were one of the most difficult times while preparing for this trip. I can't explain what it was that was happening because even now I don't understand what was going on I just know it was very difficult in those days physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. But every time I wanted to give up God brought me back up again. He gave me the hope to keep going. And by the end of May I had three others. One of them being my sister. You would think it would all get easier from there but in reality it didn't. Plans were constantly being changed. It was still very difficult but God never let me stay down, He always helped me back up to keep going. Things eventually got more organized. Plans started coming together. In June more people signed up for the trip. Contacts were made in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. More people were supporting our trip. Everything was going great or at least I thought so. Even though it all looked as if it were going smoothly from the outside I was still being stretched and challenged in so many ways on the inside. Eventually it could be seen. People started leaving the team for various reasons two weeks before it was time to leave. It was chaos. I had to make some really hard decisions and take some very difficult actions. But I knew and still know that it has all been in obedience to God. God is so good and faithful! We are so privileged to serve such a wonderful God.  We are now four that are going(unless God says otherwise): Vanessa, Khori, Sam and myself. Khori and Sam have been in Costa Rica for a week now and we have been praying and preparing for the trip. We will be on our way to Panama tomorrow. Thank you so much to all of you who have joined us in our trip in some way wether it be through giving, praying, going or encouraging. I am so thankful. Please continue to pray for each one of us as we take the next step. I love you all so much. 

And to my family I want to say an even greater thanks. They have seen all the good and the bad. They have walked through it with me. God has blessed me with a wonderful family. 

  God bless each and every one of you.  

      With much love, 

              Chrystel

 Ps. Can someone from Costa Rica make sure you read this to Aunt Ruth? I know she wants to know what is going on.