Invitation Work and the Memorial

This has been an exciting month for us here. It's extremely hot right now (average temp 100 degrees), we can't wait until the rainy season starts. Needless to say long days in service seem very long, at home when we put in a longer day and stay out until 2:30 it doesn't seem the same, here by 1:00 I feel like I have been hit by a train, we are covered in dirt from the dry dusty roads and sweaty beyond belief, however its still surprisingly amazing and we all love it. The kids are putting in just as many hours as us and doing great. Of course they still have their moments.



Monday we rented a friends car and we put in a long day to try to find our call that we had not been able to reach home, one last chance to give them an invitation to the Memorial and finish up mapping of 3 territories we had to get done. We started in San Fernando then to Estrada on to Samara then headed to do some of our calls up in Pelada the furthest north of our territories. When we needed a break we headed up to Ostional, this is about 7 km north of Pelada. All the rivers were dry on the way here but I had to take pics of all the walking bridges to this town, I could never leave if I lived here in the rainy season. We'd never been to Ostional and so we got to check out the beautiful beach and had a bite to eat. When we were sitting there an English speaking tico started talking to us about our kids so we told him that we were handing out invitations and offered him one as well as the truth tract and some English magazines, he was so excited and told us he was on vacation from San Jose for the holy week. (a week long celebration for Costa Ricans) When we showed him the truth tract he was really interested in learning more about "what happens to us when we die?".He said "oh yes that's a good one I'm scared of dying", so we told him we would come back in a couple days to answer that question for him. So today we returned to bring him the bible teach book and discuss that subject. We went over the first 8 paragraphs in chapter 6, it was great! He wants us to come back friday for another study before he leaves, we also told him there is a English speaking congregation in Belen close to where he lives and he wanted to know how to get there and was happy to hear about it.



Memorial was beautiful, the sisters had flowers from their yards that were along the stage and I must say the cleaning and paint really showed, it looked great! We had 133 in attendance (we only have around 35 to 40 publishers) and lots unloaded out of backs of trucks, it was so great to see. Unfortunately none of our calls came, even though we offered rides and called to try to get them to come after they said they would, I guess that was the common thread with lots of ones calls, so I didn't feel too bad. One poor girl in the front row got served the bread 1st and started to grab it to take a bite, everyone around her was like "no no put it back", poor thing she just didn't know not to eat it, she looked puzzled like huh we just pass it... It was so hot we couldn't wait to get out of the hall, we didn't really think about it before that we were going to walk home and I was wearing heals, stupid. Well we made it, good thing the moon was so bright and that we roasted in the hall cause it made it feel cool outside.

Two more months to Go....

I just wanted to post some pic's. Its been really hot (may have to give in and buy a fan)and we have been walking a ton, I wanted to show you all the trail we take to get down to the hall, its not to bad but they just barb wired it! Thanks a lot, that's fun to crawl under in a skirt. I make the group drive off before I crawl, just to make sure not to give any one a show!

We are painting the hall this week getting it all pretty for the memorial. I'll post pics of that soon.

I really miss all my friends and family and cant wait to come home! Some times its so hard down here, we have been fighting parasites and yesterday had no water or power for most of the day, some times the heat is just to hard to deal with, and the 3 showers in a day just don't cool you off enough, but I know its something we'll never regret. We are happy to be able to have had this chance to come here to Costa Rica, and we'll take with us, and I know it help us endure other trails we may face. Thank you all for your emails. It helps with the home sickness!

Nicaragua Trip

Last Tuesday the 8 of us (Us and the Housdens)piled in the pathfinder and headed for Nicaragua. Since we're not residence of the country (Costa Rica)and staying here for longer than 3 months we had to do an exit trip to Nicaragua in order to legally stay in the country.

So we chose Granada, an old colonial city near the border of Nicaragua/Costa Rica. In fact it's the oldest city in all of Central America and has quite a bit of interesting history. We've never been to a city quite like it before. They still have horse drawn buggies, some for tourism and some just simply to get around. The people are very poor and for some of them this is the only means of transportation.
Because of it's uniqueness, history dating back to the 1500's, and culture Granada thrives on tourism. So we saw many things that we havent seen in Costa Rica, like Children/sometimes adults begging for money or food (many times they just want the leftovers on your plate) as well as many different street vendors trying to sell you there local items from sunglasses to hammocks. They bombard you from morning till night.

However, we still enjoyed our stay very much and even embraced some of the street children and one guy who sold us about 5 pairs of sunglasses. We also loved the hotel that we found, it was sooooo tranquilo. It was an original colonial building like all the buildings in Granada and had a beautiful courtyard with a nice little pool for the kids to play in. As well as Air conditioning, hot water, internet and maid service all things we wont be enjoying for quite some time. One other nice benefit about staying in Granada was we got to take a break from all the nasty bugs that we battle on a daily/nightly basis in Costa Rica.

The first picture you see is of an old hospital that was ruined by one of the wars in the last century. You see this type of thing alot in Granada. The picture of the kids is in the center of town where there is a huge church and a beautiful park where everyone hangs out to get shade and socialize during the day. The picture of the old colonial buildings is near the park and you will find buildings like this all over the city. The picture of the street is an area about 5 or 6 blocks from the park where all the local "Nica's" do there shopping and selling of there goods. When we got to this area we realized we were not in Costa Rica let alone the states anymore. We cant wait till we get home so we can share more of our 108 pics that we took and the whole Nicaragua experience that we enjoyed.

A weak moment!

So its been hard to blog or email cause we don't have Internet at all now at our house, however we are in Nicaragua right now doing our exit trip (That will be a later post) and have it (internet) so I'm going to try to fill you all in on a few things.
So we have all had hard days in service but last Saturday seamed to be my hardest yet, it was hot of course and ruby mostly rides on my back and it was the 1st day of the invitation work, needless to say I was really excited, However when we got to our st. to work I didn't realize we had to cross a river, no biggie we cross them all the time in a car and some times on foot, however this river had a walking bridge... Funny
All that know me well know I don't do bridges, let alone ones that are small, old, and scary, Anita walked ahead of me and jumped in the middle a few times and said oh yeah its great feels strong! Still its high up for me. I didn't want to look like a wimp so I started to get close and really wanted to face my fears and go over it, but I started tearing up out of my control, then I looked to the young tica sister I was with and she was also! Yes! I am not the only one scared of heights! When I saw her it made me more freaked out I started totally crying and said I cant do it.
Anita felt bad not realizing how frozen in fear I was. Oh well it was refreshing to walk through the river and meet the sisters on the side.
I can now kill scorpions with ease and let the tarantulas crawl in and out of my house with out screaming. I know, I know, bridges I stop there!
We got to a small little town and left people with the invitation track for Jesus Memorial. I talked to one old woman on her porch in my spanish presentation. We only got 5 invites per person to give out, I hope all that got more realize what a privilege it is to share these and in other lands its not so easy to come by.
I have lots more to share! We love all your comments, Thanks so much for all your support!
(Too see the pictures better, click to enlarge)

English Assembly Costa Rica

Wow guys, this was an amazing weekend just what we needed, its funny cause a few people have said "we already had that assembly" well we did too but I am so so glad we made the effort to go. Almost all the parts were done by need greaters or missionary's,bethelites, special pioneers and experiences of people doing the same thing we are.
After being in my really home sick stage of the trip this hit at just the right time. One of the prayers a brother gave put me strait into tears, he was praising everyone for being here in Costa Rica to help cause there is such a need, and said even though it is hard and people left behind family and friends...(ball ball ball sob sob sob)....ok and that was just a prayer, it gets worse.
Another part from a brother serving here in Limon Costa Rica had some great points, Limon is on the carribean side some pople have a nagative view of this area and one's have even warned others not to go there saying its violent... well he said if Jehovah has sent us there to help should one's really be saying we shouldnt go or that people there shouldnt be told about our God Jehovah? It hit hard, what a good point, and he continued, for that matter what if others get sent to Haiti or now Chile to help should we tell them not to go because its dangerous.
What a great family he has too. He and his wife and two boys moved from Washington DC to help in Limon for 5 years.There cong. has 100 bible studys. Noah and the boys hit it off great and there family invited us to come see the other side of Costa Rica and stay with them. Side note DeJaun the dad, said you guys got the beans and rice there too?... uhh, I was like eye roll yeah, like this guy must really like them! Well there beans and rice they do with jerk meat and coconut! What!! when I heard of this I felt like we have been not eating nearly as good, hello same country we can make that here too, right? So I need to go, if for nothing else but to see abot this yummie sounding food.
David and I really enjoyed another brothers part, he was being interviewed. He was asked what got him hear to Costa Rica, well he was tellling there circuit overseer back home they really wanted to come and help, the c.o. said when are you going the brother was saying well some time in the next year. The c.o. then told him with out a date its just a dream, so he went home talked to his wife and booked the trip, then everything that could have got in the way happened, mountain like obstacles but they continued to put there reliance in Jehovah and by the time there date came it all worked out and he said Jehovah opened up doors he never imagined he would so now he his wife and three kids are here serving in C.R.. David and I looked at each other wow this brothers excperience was much like ours. Test and see that Jehovah is good.
We also met some wonderful missionary couples here, one coulpe that sat close by us Alister and Jenifer he is from England and she is from Scotland they are serving near Volcano Arenal. He is one of only two elders in there cong. they have 25 bible studys between them and didnt know any spanish upon moving here a little over a year ago, they share there small missionary home with another missonary couple he said there living area is about the size of half the back room in the hall. He said this is mostly hard for his wife but some days he says man this just isnt going to work we cant do it any more but then he say's they give it a week and see how they feel and it always changes there thinking. he is coming to Buena Vista English group in May to give a talk and they may stay with us, what a privlage to meet this couple that is sacrificing so much all for Jehovah.
So all in all totally worth the long drive and fighting traffick getting completely turned around in San Jose. To hear the admiration of the brothers, telling us what a good job we are doinging and they know its hard, most people there like us sold there house's there nice car's cut back on all the extras like new out fits or cute things for the house, all to help serve jehovah more fully!
Jehovah is already blessing us! Our brotherhood is amazing to know it truly is earth wide.

Guess Who's Potty Trained!!!!

After seven years with kids in daipers and a small fortune, I am free!!! Wahoo she is officialy potty trained! This is a great thing. I am finally done.