Hi! My name is Maria, and I am from New Jersey. And no, I have never seen the “Jersey Shore” and am genuinely thankful they went to Italy. I am from a small town called Kinnelon which is in Morris County, in Northern Jersey. I currently reside however in the fine, yet slightly hazardous city of San Francisco, in San Jose, Costa Rica. I’m doing some mission work with Christ for the Cities International in La Carpio and in a few other places. It’s great, you know, having authentic community, feeling God, doing the good stuff He told me to do, basically living out the Christian faith. I don’t know what the future will bring necessarily, and I don’t think I will make San Jose my home, but I am grateful for every moment and relationship here. Talk about real life. I can’t wait for India.

Ok back story. My dad is a pastor and my mom a teacher. My dad was originally an opera singer, and my mom a dancer, but things change. So I have a very musical house. Let me tell you, my study time is either extremely epic or humorous, with “Nessun Dorma” playing live in the background. I have three brothers, Trey, Marc, and Matt who are respectively 29, 28, and 27. Thanks to them, we are also a military family. I’m super close with my family, particularly my brothers, even though they generally leave me out of everything because I’m their ‘little sister’. I get over these things however, and make my own fun.

I am currently in limbo when it comes to academics. I went to high school and was a nerd. I plan to go to college after this year. I would love to go to Duke, however it’s absurdly expensive. I have a solid option with The College of New Jersey as well. I’ll decide later. I plan on studying anthropology and history, although I also have my eye on cognitive science. I would like to learn Arabic and Hindi at some point.

I don’t work a job currently that I get paid for. I do pay to work though. Awesome, right? My job’s really cool though, so I don’t mind. I teach children from the slums English and also tutor in other subjects, and then when we’re done we play around. I used to work part time as a volleyball ref, store shift manager, and coach. I was very invested in my volleyball club organization.

I like to read, draw, paint, write, climb things, play volleyball (that really should be first), cook cool cuisines, make fires, play piano (and that should be second), help friends with homework, eat smores, make guacamole, chill at cafes, make tea, hang with friends, play taboo, play cranium, play oblivion, play call of duty, play halo, sing, act, laugh, go on adventures, hike, you get the gist.

Hmm talents and abilities. Ok so I’m not good at a lot of things, but this is what I am good at/am. I’m academic, athletic, artistic, adventurous, and inquisitive. I can speak well (although I do not enjoy it) and I listen well. I am a strategist and a rationalist. So if you need to solve a problem or make decision, I’m your girl.

Ooh since Nick mentioned tattoos, I want one. Possibly more than one. But definitely one on the back of my neck that says Emmaus Road. That verse changed my life. I didn’t actually know that God could burn my heart, and there it happened. Awesome. Hmm ok random important stuff. I am absolutely admittedly horrendous at foosball and frisbe. I am an awesome libero, watch yourself (volleyball position).  No man should hate broccoli. It’s a beautiful little green thing that looks like trees. My biggest wish is that I could chill with God/Jesus. I could time travel back and be like James or John or someone. Maybe Martha. Then I could stay a girl. Also I’m usually not this umm surfer or ‘lax’. I just happened to have a bible study with surfer people. And it altered my syntax. There you go. That’s more me. Altered. Syntax. Home sweet home.

I’m in Costa Rica for three months doing the whole children thing. The idea of leaving is actually upsetting, come to think about it. There are people here that I know won’t be going back with me, and that’s hard. I’ve never had a group of real Christian friends who love God and want to know Him and live for Him. And that is just amazing. So I’m really excited for the India trip for that reason (not only, but one of). Here, in La Carpio and San Jose, we are all in different places, some staying, some going. Although I’m part of it all, I’m also independent, alone. With this trip, we are all going as one unit, and we will hopefully be experiencing everything as one. And that is really cool. I’m sincerely sorry for blabbing on. I never know what to do for these about you things. So there ya have it. 

Oh I have blogs, which you may peruse. My personal one catchingfireflies.wordpress.com and my trip updates one dailygap.wordpress.com, just in case you haven't heard too much already :)