Feria

Jennifer, Juliana, and I went to the feria today. The feria is an open air market. It's very Costa Rican. People go every Saturday morning to buy all of their fruits and vegetables for the week. I drank from a coconut while I was there. I wouldn't say it's my favorite but it was ok and it was definitely an experience to watch them chop the top off with a machete! I also ate a fruit I've never seen before. Juli said it was a manzana agua. Water apple is how it translates. It was very good. It was sour which is something I like. We also bought a few other things I have never tried before and Juliana is preparing dinner with them. I'll have to let you know how that goes. So far it smells wonderful!

Pictures

While the team from Life Connections International were here there were lots of pictures taken. I have put a few in an album and would like to share them.
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGIn

LCI Team

The team from LA came to visit. They were with Life Connections International. We have a very excited time with them. They were here for a little over a week. They helped us of course with our "Beca" program. We worked in the precario, had a cook out and all that fun stuff. They also helped us move our things from our storage into our new place. While we were there the van got filled with bees! It was a little crazy. We drove with the back door open for a little ways but they refused to leave. Phil had to get out and use a branch to swat them away. Then on Friday that week we had a flood in the house! We had gone to ladies bible study in the precario and when we got home there was at least 3 inches of water everywhere! Shoes were floating, everything was wet and had to be washed. Luckily we have ceramic floors throughout the house so everything got really clean by the time we were done. To finish up the time the team had here we went to the beach. It was beautiful of course. I actually got to see monkeys in the wild. It was pretty amazing.

So the ministry is already beginning to change. One of our beca students is at a huge crossroads at her life and needs a place to stay. We are praying about this situation right now. Our heart is that we have her move in here with us. It will be a big change for her as well as us. We are looking forward to the learning process that we will go through with this new program.

Our first team arrived this afternoon. We are on our way to the beca program. I can't wait to see the kids! I have missed them terribly. We got a report that they are doing very well. For the most part everyone's grades are up. That is great!

Back in Costa Rica

I made it! I am traveling with another girl from Stevens Creek. We had our flight to Miami cancelled before we go to the airport in Atlanta. We found out we would be routed through Dallas which meant there was a possiblity of meeting up with Phil who is the founder of our ministry. Anyway that did happen and we were going to be on his flight. While we were waiting they asked for volunteers to take a later flight. They gave us $500 flight vouchers, hotel accommodations, and food vouchers. Isn't God great! Now I will have enough to make another flight back and forth to the states. Yeah!!! But it gets better. They also bumped us up to business class. I've never flown this before. The seats are much larger, they serve you a drink as soon as you sit down. Dinner was a three course meal with real glass ware and real linens. Unbelievable! I felt a little bad for the people in the back. So we got in late Thursday instead of Wednesday which means we lost a work day.

We made up for that yesterday though. We have lots of work to get ready for our first team that's coming from LA. They get here Monday. I was able to get to the precario yesterday. The ladies were having bible study. They were all very excited to see me and even more so when I told them I was here to stay not just for a visit this time. The babies are not babies anymore. Well speaking of lots of work, I need to get started on some.

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

Gifts

The gifts have started to come in. It's really funny actually. Jennifer and I were talking and we were just saying that it didn't really seem like Christmas, then Phil and Russ pulled up with a van full of presents! It turned things around pretty quickly. It's definitely starting to feel like Christmas. We have lots of work though. We have to sort, label, and bag almost 500 gifts! We will have help with the sorting. It may just be the three of us on delivery day though. It will be lots of work but lots of fun too. I'm so glad I got to be here last year for this. It was awesome! I'll be sure to get lots of pictures

On my own

Well I feel like I don't have much to write about. I guess I should have been writing about my experiences while I was here alone. Phil, Josh, Russ, and Jen all went to the states and left me here. It really wasn't that bad. I went a few places by myself and bought some stuff I needed. I just looked up what I needed to say on the internet ahead of time. I understand most of what's being said to me it's just being able to talk back that's trouble for me. My Thanksgiving was spent at the beach. Which is great for me, I love the beach! The ladies at bible study were very sweet to me while Jen was gone. They made sure they were there on time and wouldn't leave until they were sure I had a ride to get home. They didn't want to leave me alone. I continued with Beca as well. It went well. A couple of the girls speak English pretty well so they were a big help. I was definitely glad for Russ and Jen to be back though. Things are winding down here for the year. I'll try to be better about keeping you posted. I do have some new pictures. Here they are....http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGHK

Protection

Well Russ and Jen are in the States. Becky and I have decided to continue ladies bible study on Friday by ourselves. It went pretty well. I think the dictionary will be my best friend now that Jen isn't around. I tried to speak to the ladies and the kids as much as I could. They told my I had 3 weeks to learn. I think it will take more than that. After the study a couple of that ladies wouldn't leave until Andrew got there to pick us up. I think they were worried about us. It's funny they walk all over all alone but they didn't want to leave the two of us by ourselves. It was really sweet.

Pictures

Here's some new picture's from the last month or so. Enjoy!
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGG9

Children's Home

We were able to visit a children's home this week. It was pretty amazing. It's in the mountains with an incredible view. They have 75 children right now. They take children that are being abused or maybe their family just can't care for them right now. The maximum amount of time that they spend there is usually 2 years. They then are returned home if the situation has improved there. They take kids from age 2 to 12. There is a school on the grounds. They also take children from a nearby town. They have one class that is devoted to children with special needs. There are 8 houses with house parents, each house with approximately 10 kids, not including any of their own that they may have. We were able to visit a class and have lunch with the kids as well.

The Boda

I had the opportunity to go to a Costa Rican wedding. It was not typical tico. The bride is Costa Rican but the groom was American. I've been told that most weddings take up to 3 hours. There is a complete church service that includes praise and worship. This one was only about 30 minutes but it was beautiful! It was to be held in a garden but we have been having so much rain that it had to be moved indoors. It was still very nice. Phil and his band performed at the reception. I have several pictures from the reception. I will get them downloaded soon.

Electricity

Things have been a little different around here. The man that collects for the electric bill in the precario ran off with all the money. (about $4000) So now one section doesn't have power. It's our section of course! We haven't had power for about two weeks. We are hoping that it will be turned back on today. Because there hasn't been lights we haven't been able to have English or computer classes. Everyone is asking when they will start again. Computer classes will have to wait but Jennifer has decided that if it's not back on soon we'll just move the classes close to the front of the rancho and make them earlier in the day so we can use as much natural light as we can. We have also been contemplating buying a generator, but they are very expensive. So who knows what will happen. We are going to do a clothes outreach this week. I'll let you know how that goes.

Driving

Well my latest adventure has been driving here in Costa Rica. I had the opportunity to drive the 15 passenger van to pick up the team from SCCC. Keep in mind that Jennifer has been here 5 years and still will not drive the van! Anyway, back to the story. All went smoothly until we picked the guys up. No accidents but I'm sure everyone was out to get me! A GIGANTIC bus decided that it wanted in my lane while there was a van in the next lane leaving me no where to go. We made it and the truck stayed where it was. Then on the way to the precario a rather large truck tried the same move. But I held my ground and we made it through. My next experience was driving alone. Phil had to take Josh to the doctor and I had to get the van back to the Precario to pick everyone up. Yeah right! No I did make it. I think I made an illegal turn along the way. Who knows. Besides the rules of the road are just suggestions here. (Gene, just to let you know. Jen didn't yell at me once!) I've since been taking Phil to the precario in the evenings so he can spend the night in the rancho. I even pull in the yard with very little difficulty. Now Jen says I get to teach her how to drive the van. I'll let you know how that goes.

Here are some new photos. Keep in touch!
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGGs