Sunday, May 10, 2015

Sabbath Update

What a fantastic way to conclude our project! A high Sabbath indeed. Church was very warm, downright hot, hard for some of us to stay awake. Brenda did another fine job of translating. We were honored with parting gifts of locally carved maracas.

Didn't have contact information for churches, but Brenda managed to get ahold of Spanish Church and patch us through.

Had a much appreciated rest time in the afternoon, then joined most of the youth and several families at a lookout over looking the gulf. Enjoyed a beautiful sunset vespers there.

Then it was time for "mehenga", soccer. We first played some social games, then a round robin series of 5 on 5 culminating with a final Costa Rica vs USA game. After our lead of 3 - 0, they brought in sub's to slowly take the lead. We ended losing 5 to 6, but had a great night of soccer.

Headed back north, so this will likely be the last entry. Have so enjoyed our time here. Sad to be leaving, but looking forward to being with family again. Though at least one has made plans to stay here - has a wife picked out and everything😏

See you soon. Pura Vida.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Thursday and Friday update

Two packed days back to back. Yesterday we did the canopy tour, zipping through the jungle canopy was a blast. Then completed our floor project - got to experience mixing cement by hand! In the afternoon we again helped out with the police program for the community. Supper was hosted by a church member and we had loads of fun playing games, my favorite was "telephone", alternating Spanish and English words.

Today we started out with a few hours at the beach. Boogie boarded waves that were around 10 feet, even managed to ride out a couple myself. On our way back we looped down to Panama to buy more building supplies. Had a few of our kids " hop" the boarder. Ask them about it when we get back. Managed to purchase insulation for the classroom roof. But got hammered by another tropical down pour. A big thank you to all who have donated funds, you are helping this community as well as our own!

Spent the evening with our host families. The ladies and I were offered a treat of Golfito's finest pizza.

So sad to think about tomorrow being our last full day with this family. Can't wait for Heaven when we do not have to say goodbye.

See you all soon. Pura Vida.

P.S. sorry no pictures. For some great shots from today check out Jenny Reyes' Facebook page.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Wednesday Update

Almost! That's the word for today. Our plan was to finish two projects today. Mission accomplished on the painting project! Miscalculation on the floor project. Ran out of sand/gravel. Will be done with an hour or two of work tomorrow.

After lunch we headed to a protected area (refuge/park) with a group of college students studying English. Had a nice walk and talk with them.

Then before supper we joined forces with a local tae kwan doe group and the county police to share a message against domestic violence and school drop outs. 

Another lovely supper of empenadas. I, and perhaps a student or two will likely gain weight this trip. End the day with a fun game of soccer with several of the church family.

Tomorrow is the canopy tour! Zip lining through the jungle. 

Pura Vida.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Tuesday Update

Sorry folks, not much to report today. Pretty much just worked all day. About 3/4 of the floor is done. Will finish that up tomorrow. A big thank you to Mrs. Reyes for just about finishing up project number two. All windows and doors will also be painted with two coats tomorrow.

Unfortunately I have no pictures for you all today. Did not take my tablet to work. For great pictures check out Jenny Reyes Facebook page.

Till tomorrow, pura Vida.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Monday Update

Busy day. Fun day. Spent this morning at HIS Academy, had a great time with the kids. 

Got a lot of work done on site. Rebar almost ready. Wall mistake from last year fixed. Windows and doors primed and ready to paint.

Tomorrow we spend all day at the work site making up for lost rain time.

Soccer game after supper! I am tired and it's late. Good night all. Pura Vida.

Check the new pics.

Sunday Update

A day of extremes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Robertson family. We are sorry we could not be there in person, but know that we were there in spirit. 

Had a very active morning. Took a "5 minute" hike to a gorgeous set of water falls. Did some cliff jumping, Tarzan swinging, zip lining into a pool of water, and rappelling through a water fall. 

Back at the project, all set to work preparing for rebar, and about an hour in the rains start. Not your gentle Oregon rain mind you, a real to life tropical down pour! For almost 4 hours. Very little work got done😔

Spent the afternoon talking, napping, and playing games, getting to know some of the community children better.

Hoping for better weather today. Pura Vida.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Sabbath Update

A truly high Sabbath today. Had a fun and fantastic day building community with the La Mona church members. For Sabbath School we joined them in passing out literature to the community and praying with them in their homes. Our seniors were very involved in the church service, Ben and Mabel helping out at the start of church, Kyle telling the children's story, and Brenda doing a superb job of translating. Church was followed by an amazing potluck, even ice cream cones!

We had 2 to 3 hours of relaxation time, dependent on weather. Ben chose to get in some Sabbath rest. While everyone else followed Fernando on a hike up his back yard in search of poison dart frogs. 5 minutes in, literally, not Sequeira 5 minutes, our weather let loose giving us the 3 hours instead of 2. Everyone got to experience a tropical down pour! Within seconds it felt like we had stepped into a shower on full blast. We also got to see one frog.

The rest of the afternoon we spent at church with our new church family singing and playing games. Yummy empenadas for supper. Then headed to the soccer complex where Mabel was invited to play in a league game. The rest either watched, did each others hair, or played rousing games of pool.

Headed to bed early for a full day tomorrow. Pura Vida!

Check the photo page for more photos.

Photos

If you would like to see photos of the trip you can click on the photos page in the right column or here is the link : Photos.

Friday Update

Have had a super start to our mission trip. Sunrise is right around 5:30, and we started our day at 5:45. At least that was the plan. Everyone had there alarms set for the right time, we just had a few who didn't change their clocks to Costa Rica time. All on the same time now👍

After worship and a breakfast of rice and beans we got right to work. Two tasks completed, moving our sand pile closer to the site and leveling the floor area preparing for rebar and cement.

Being May 1, Labor Day here, we had many of the church members helping us out. After lunch we joined them on a wonderful afternoon at the beach. Only a few got sun kissed (sunburn, and not too bad) as we played in the surf and enjoyed a rousing game of beach soccer - Costa Rica 6, USA 8⚽

Ready for a beautiful Sabbath!