The First Post in 6 Years...

So it's been 6 years since the last time I posted something.

But that doesn't stop me from beginning again.

So here it is:

The My Life In a Nut Shell (Susie 101) Blog,

and

The Ultimate Costa Rican Portantorchas Bible School  Blog,

Written by Susie Bissett.

I have an AMAZING, magnifico familia.

There's Mom:

Her name is Linda. She is the most beautiful, fun loving, relaxed, caring and magnificent mother, and I love her with unbelievable amounts of love.

There's Pops:

He's Bruce. He's the smartest, most talented, most wonderful, most enjoyable, most awesomest Daddy ever whom I love with an indescribable amount of love.

There's my brother:

His name is Ben. He is the funniest, laid back, coolest, best hockey player, best skateboarding brother anyone could ever wish for and I love him more than he even knows.

There's the other two dogs:

Doodle Bug:

  And Zoe:

They are the craziest, most adorable little pooches there are out there.

So that's my family.

We are Christians:

We believe that God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ to the earth to serve and to die on the cross for the sins of the world. We believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead 3 days later. We believe that He healed the sick, gave life the to dead, made the blind see, and we believe that He forgives sins. We believe that Jesus Christ is one in the Father. We believe that to know Jesus Christ is to know the Father. We believe that there is only one way to enjoy eternal life with the most beautiful sacrificial lamb and the most sovereign, merciful God. We believe you must accept that Jesus is God, you must ask the Holy Spirit (who is also God) to come into your life and you must accept the unconditional love of an all-powerful Father. That is it. No "good deeds", no "reaching a certain level of perfection"; Just acceptance of the most captivating, glamorous, free gift ever to be offered in the history of creation.

That is what we believe.

That is also why I go to a Bible College called Portantorchas.

I spent last semester in San Jose, Costa Rica as well, and God changed my heart and brought me to a deeper understanding of His love, His grace and what it means to have Faith.

Here are some pictures from last semester to catch you up on what has happened so far:

I made some awesome new friends: Damian, Amy, and Krista.

I milked a Costa Rican goat, or cabra.

We had Club Biblico for the neighborhood kids. This kid's name is Kivan.

I went to Santa Teresa beach with Rachel and Amy. B-e-a-utiful.

Then we went to Arenal Volcano.

We also had a ministry for the teenage girls of the neigborhood to come and have a devotional and play games. This is Katy Spence playing "Un-tie the Knot" with some of the girls.

And in October we went to Panama for a week. We saw dolphins, gigantic star fish, and swam in the warmest waters I've ever been in. 

Oh, and laid around in some hammocks on the beaches of Panama!

I shared some priceless moments with my small group girls: Becca, an amazing small group leader, Rachel, and Adri.

Then I went white water rafting on the Pacuare River with Kara Bentley's family. What a blast!

And then we visited a beach named Punta Leona with Kara's family. I saw some amazing sunsets while down there.

And at the end of the semester we all dressed up for graduation. Here I am with my family group: Katja, Kara, Me, Katy, Krista, Tobyn, and our awesome parents Tom and Sara!

So that is the update on the last 6 months of my life.

I am excited to see transformations in my heart this semester. I am excited to trust my future to God. I am excited to get to know Jesus better as my friend and as my Lord. I am excited to live the life God gave me.

The first Bible verse I am sharing with you all has been my favorite verse since I first went to Christian Camp 10 years ago. My dad gave this verse to me when I was going to camp because I was nervous about leaving home for 2 days. But now look what God has done with my life. I am in college more than 2,500 miles away from home, in a different country, emerged in a different language. And yet, this verse still applies, and I still use it. When I am anxious, I remember that God has promised those who have faith in Him that He will deliver them since Adam and Eve. He brought the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land of Canan. He led them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He gave Esther the authority to save the entire Jewish race from king Ahasuerus and Haman. And then He sent His very own Son, part of Himself, to hang on a cross with his body weight hanging from nails driven through the center of both hands and both feet. To save us, we who belive in Him, we unrighteous sinners, from a Hell that we so rightly deserve. 

So if He did all that, for ME, why should I not trust Him with my future? Why should I not trust Him with my relationships? Why should I not trust Him with my schooling? Why should I not trust Him with my life?

The answer is simple:

I have no reason not to trust Him.

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." -Isaiah 41:10