Resilience in the midst of Life
29 MaySome of my friends know that I began this life resilient–born at 28 weeks gestation, weighing two pounds, 13 ounces, and hospitalized for six months– I amazed the doctors when I survived, actually learned to walk and talk, completed two bachelors’ degrees and a master’s degree! As Mac Donald explained in his book A Resilient Life, however, the first half of life is the easy part!
I completed my Master’s degree at age 43, simply because I wanted to do more for Christ and His Kingdom (and secretly I want to complete a Ph.D in Public Health whenever it fits into our life). However, living here in Costa Rica, is where that intentionally sought-after resilience has been most tested–and where a hint of quitter’s gene appeared. Why? Because we’ve experienced things never even on the radar in the US–learning a new language and culture after 40, two car accidents in the first year(never had one in the first 24 yrs of marriage), robbery, vandalism, theft, declining economy and rock bottom support and the list could probably include a few more!
But the final laps of the laps are still ahead and I want to make my most valuable contributions to the Kingdom in midlife and following. God has brought people to our front gate who not only need their next meal, but the love of Jesus Christ, and the assurance of eternal life. He has met our every need in His exact time, and provided our daily bread in some interesting ways- from our panaderia (without cost) since October ’08 and the opportunity to share Christ, a Bible and daily conversation with my Tica friend Ruth, the shop’s owner.
Right now, in this weary state, I want to trust God to instill this resiliency, enabling me to pursue personal growth, intentionally desiring to know God and His purposes more personally each day–to live life in such a way that the indelible impression /fragrance of Christ is imprinted on other missionaries, , our children(and our future grandchildren) our colleagues in the secular and the Christian workforce, and the Ruth’s and Ana’s of Latin America, so that my resilience may be multiplied in others in their first half of life, so that they too may finish the race resilient!
It’s official….Keri’s a Class of 2009 graduate!
22 May
Keri is officially graduated! It’s been a month since the official countdown, which began with “Keri Duggan Day” followed by a graduation party in Costa Rica, recognition at church, several dinners, and culminated in a cap and 
gown ceremony last Sunday! Of course, one of the most significant events was the North Carolina DMV giving our grad her NC driver’s license! Way to go, Keriboo!
Keri graduation slideshow
21 MayWe celebrated Keri’s high school graduation with five other homeschoolers and several hundred people in attendance. Each graduate had a four minute video followed by their parents words and a diploma. We are very proud of our wonderful daughter.
Another one leaving the nest
8 May
This week Keri finally decided to go through her things to figure out what she would take with her this summer and off to college. Anna was a big winner of course, transferring Keri’s no-longer-needed treasures to her own domain. As the empty suitcases went in and the full ones came out we all participated in remembering stories that came with each newly rediscovered item. This has been a challenging year for Keri since most of her friends graduated or moved to other Latin American countries at the end of last summer. Now it is her turn to become more independent and seek her own adventures. She will be graduating with some of her homeschool friends in Charlotte on May 17 then will move to New Orleans for the summer. She will be living with some wonderful friends who direct the TouchGlobal Crisis Response team. This means she will be working with short-term teams that come down to work both in New Orleans and Galveston. Her work will include construction, watching kids, cooking, visiting people still reeling from crisis, and traveling. We are praying it will be a tremendous growing experience for her.
Temor de cerdo…Fear of pigs
28 Apr
Our Latin America area of the mission has the dubius distinction of being ground zero for this little flu virus problem. We have missionaries in Mexico and have put contingency plans in place. Please be in prayer for our missionaries both in Mexico City as well as northern Mexico. Fortuneately, Mexico has reacted quickly to this threat and has closed almost all public gatherings where the virus could spread. That basically means our missionaries are in temporary lock-down, giving them lots of time to think, pray and do other holy activities, as evidenced by this photo doctored by one of our missionaries with too much time on her hands.
Bethany…
27 Apr
Bethany is our newest missionary on the field here in Latin America, and the first we were privileged to welcome to Costa Rica for a trimester of language school. Today she leaves to visit with family for a few days, repack her suitcases, and to drink a Starbucks in our honor. Next week she will join her teammates in Tarma, Peru, and adapt to both a new culture, Spanish with a different cadence and vocabulary, and start the adventure many American twenty-somethings never envision– The bittersweet tears I shed with goodbye, were worth loving this precious one well . Fortunately, Skype and Communicator keep her as close as a cell phone or land line. Missing you, but praying for you now and in the days and months ahead.
Bethany graduates
24 Apr
The first language school graduate since we came to this leadership role, Bethany Kerr, graduated today and will be headed to Peru to join our Church Planter Coaching team. Pray that God will bless her week in Dallas before moving to Peru and beginning her two year work in Tarma.
TeamDuggan 
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