In the states

Well I'm back in the states. I had a great year in Costa Rica. I learned so much. It's a little hard to be back though. I start back to work on August 8th. I'm sure that will help. I'm trying to get moved into my new place. I miss everyone in CR very much. I'm planning a trip in December. We have two of our beca girls that will graduate this year so I definitely have to be there for that. I would also love to be there to help with Christmas again too. Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible to be in Costa Rica.

Pictures

Here are some photos from my trip to the states.

Miraculous Healing

I should have posted this a month ago but of course I'm always behind. While a team from Atlanta was here we had the opportunity to witness a healing in the precario. In our ladies bible study is a lady who has a 8 year old daughter named Cindy. Cindy's grandmother also comes to our bible study as is very much part of Cindy's life. Cindy had been bitten by a mosquito, which had somehow placed a worm of some kind in her arm. The worm was some kind of flesh eating parasite. Another lady at the bible study told us about it to see if we could help. We took her to our doctor that helps us in the precario. He said that he thought that was probably what it was too but to be sure she would need a culture. The treatment would be injections directly into the site of the wound for 14 days. The medication was very expensive and there were only two packets of it in the WHOLE country! We were to take her to the clinic on Monday for a culture. In the meantime we had a team come in from Atlanta. While we were walking through the precario with this team we saw Cindy sitting and crying. Her arm looked TERRIBLE! There was a large hole that was full of infection and bleeding. We stopped to pray for her and her mother. Our plan was still to take her to the clinic on Monday and this was Saturday. We were back in the precario the next day and Lucia, Cindy's grandmother told us about the miracle. Right after we left she and Cindy were listening to the radio. There was a preacher on speaking about faith and healing. Lucia asked Cindy if she believed that the LORD could heal her. Cindy said yes. Lucia told her to touch the radio and they prayed together. Immediately the wound stopped bleeding! We were in awe! God is so great! We had Cindy come by on Monday to see her and the wound was already starting to heal. Two months later it's completely gone. There's a scar but I think that's to help her share her testimony.

Back in Costa Rica

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this. We were very busy moving and then I went to the states for Phil and Jill's wedding. I spent lots of time in the car. We made it back to Costa Rica on Tuesday afternoon. We had Beca on Wednesday. The kids were glad we were back. Thursday we went book shopping for the kids, grocery shopping because of course there was no food in this house and I would like to add not one clean towel. What's up with that?! We had ladies bible study today. It looks like most of our thieves are back in Nicaragua. We don't know exactly what happened, but the ladies said it's been pretty quiet. We are busy preparing for our next team. They will be here on Friday evening. We also have 5 baby baskets to deliver while we are getting ready for the team. It's good to be back.

Beca

We took three days to get the kids their uniforms. They used to take all of them at once. I don't think so! So we took 3 small groups. It was definitely easier. The girls of course took the longest to pick their things. It really wasn't that bad though. Jen and I have been packing up their supplies in their backpacks. The first night for them to be with us is the 13th. We will get a book list then. The kids here have to buy their books for school. That's part of why it's so expensive for them to go. There are lots and lots of kids that can't afford to go that's why this program is so good.

We've also been busy trying to move. The rent for the ministry house was going to be raised so we are moving into a new place. We still have lots to do. The sorting and purging has to be done by Phil. No one else can do it. We just have to convince him of that. The new house is a little smaller but it will work out really well for the Beca. Here's some new pictures.
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGHo

New School Year

Well we have been preparing for the new school year. We have been trying to decide which kids should be included in the Beca program. That is always a hard thing. You want them all to be in it but there just isn't enough room or money for that. We have our first meeting on Saturday. We meet with the kids and their parents to go over the program, answer questions, take pictures, schedule shopping trips. We take the kids to buy their uniforms and shoes. That should be lots of fun. After the kids get their list of books, we get to go shopping for them. Of course none of the books from last year will work so we will be buying new ones. It's crazy!

Happy New Year

Here's some pictures for December.
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGHb