Last Day in Costa Rica

The Brat Pack

So tonight we leave at 3:30 am to the airport. This trip has gone by so fast! The English CO is here today through Wednesday and I just got home from service. I'm very interested to see what happens with the English group here, I think the next few months will be very important. I did get a very good English call though 2 weeks ago, she's from Hood River! She took the Teach book and said that her and her daughter would be open to studying the Bible. She has to go back to Oregon in a few months because she is going through a divorce and we are going to meet for lunch. I can't wait to hear if she makes progress!

So the last few weeks have been all about service and cook outs on the beach, my two favorite things in the world! We have loved our time here and are excited to see what happens next year. I hope everyone has enjoyed reading about our experience. I'm posting a few more pictures of the highlights.

English Congregation Bible study

marshmallow time!

Going away party for Jair and Karina and Engagement Party for Claudia!

The wild monkeys

Jair, Karina and Marilyn

Last night the Spanish Congregation had a party for Jair and Karina both Special Pioneers serving in Buena Vista Spanish. I wrote about them last year because they are so inspirational and young. Jair is 26 and is also the Coordinator. Last Thursday one of the local brothers was appointed as an elder and that same week Jair and Karina were given a new assignment. They have been assigned to serve in a small town on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. They have been here with Buena Vista for almost 4 years.Claudia is a pioneer sister who has been serving here for about 1 1/2 years now. She just got engaged to a local brother who is serving with a Spanish group in Coco Beach. He is also a special pioneer and they are planning on serving wherever the branch places them. They are getting married in April and we are all so happy for her!

Claudia and Andres

Las chicas bonitas

Todos los muchachos

I also have a few pictures from service the other day. We worked a beautiful area on the beach called Playa Pelada

Finn and Cailyn

English Circuit Assembly

Part of the English Buena Vista Group

This weekend was our English Circuit Assembly in San Jose. We left Friday morning because the English CO gave me permission to attend the Pioneer Meeting Friday Afternoon. Here I found out that there is now 5 English Congregations in Costa Rica and 3 groups. Five years ago there was one congregation with 44 publishers, now there is 250 publishers and 70 pioneers in English. This isn't counting the need greaters that come for a limited amount of time.

The NW very own Jeff Snethen gave a Bible reading on Saturday and a demonstration on Sunday, it was great to see him get used so much here in Costa Rica.

There was little over 500 in attendance both days and the English Circuit is the whole country. Then on Sunday our English CO Brother Barnett gave the "Needs of the Circuit" discourse. This was a very emotional talk for me. He talked about how many need greaters were in the audience and how much they appreciated all their efforts to help with the Foreign Language field of English. Then  he made a plea to everyone in the audience to find a way to stay permanent. He was very blunt by saying that English in Costa Rica had the greatest need of any language and that if the Buena Vista Group in Samara didn't get more support that it would be dissolved. He empathized that this area had very high potential and asked everyone to take it to Jehovah in prayer. He said "find a way" and Jehovah would bless your efforts. If you didn't know already, Buena Vista is the group we are a part of, and I was very teary eyed because I feel such a connection to this area and group. We talked to the CO after the program and told him we were in Buena Vista and he whole heartedly thanked us and the other families serving there. He asked if we took to heart his plea and we said we definitely would pray about it. Mom and Larry, perfect place to retire! At least for a year!!! So who knows what will happen, if it's here or somewhere else, we really want to see if we can make it happen, it would be an awesome experience.

Lunch Time

It definitely re inspired us about this area and English because we have had less support this time around. It was exactly what we needed to feel that our efforts were appreciated and needed and that English wasn't a waste of time. So I'll put it out there, who wants to join us?

dinner with new and old friends

Day in the life of Marilyn

On Tuesday I joined Marilyn on her long day of Bible studies. She moved here from San Jose CR and is a regular pioneer. Last time we were here she was having all the gringos help her learn English. I was so amazed when I came back, she was fluent! She is 22 and single and that probably has a lot to do with it. Well anyway, she wanted to show me an authentic day in service working with the locals. That meant that I left the house at 7 am to walk a hour to the service meeting in Samara. By then it's already 90 degrees and I was totally hot and sweaty. I had to cross the river on foot, so at least that cooled me down a little.

First we walked to an area known as Matupalo right on the beach. This is a very traditional neighborhood with loud music playing, kids and chickens running around and very simple concrete houses. Our first study was with a woman who makes whoever is hanging out on her porch when we get there, join in on the study. So this particular time it was her husband and daughter and a neighbor and her daughter. The neighbor was very interested and will join in again next week. After the study they served us "refrescos" a mayonnaise sandwich (yes, that's right) and a drink of fresh orange and brown sugar. I was wondering how many of these mayonnaise sandwiches I was going to have to eat before this day was over!

Next we walked to another study with a young mother and her baby. They had just finished a palm tree thatched cover for the porch, this was exciting because now we didn't have to sit in the sun. An old man in the house told us she would be home in a few minutes and to wait in the shade. We waited and waited and she never showed up so we had to keep moving on.

From there we crossed the dirt road unto the beach and walked across the beach to another town on the other side. This is definitely a shortcut and it is awesome to be walking in the sand getting your feet wet while out in service. This Bible study wasn't home either! So like a hour of walking for nothing. So we took a break, bought a pineapple and rested up. Then we had to jump on the bus and go inland a little up into the low mountains. It was beautiful, very green valleys with palm trees and banana trees and simple little Tico houses. Here we studied with a young woman and her mother. We sat outside and there was a very nice breeze and they picked oranges from the tree for us. Well the study went a little to long and we missed the bus. So we had to wait  1 1/2 hours for the next bus. We just went back to the study and hung out talking and drinking  strawberry kool aid and eating cookies. By the time we made it back to Samara it was 5:40 pm. It gets dark at 6 pm and of course I forgot my flashlight that morning. Marilyn was house sitting in Samara that night so we parted ways and I was going to have to walk alone back to Esterones, the town we live in. The only thing, and it scared me to death, was that I was going to have to cross the river in the dark and that I wouldn't see the huge crocodile before it ate me up. I practically ran to the river so I would a least have a little light before it was pitch black at 6:30 pm. I took off my shoes, said a prayer and crossed at a shallow area that went to just below my knees. Phew, made it in one piece to the other side. There was a herd of cows walking back to Esterones also which was comforting- I knew they knew where they were going in the dark,  and I just walked with them back to the main road.

I finally made it home at 7 pm exhausted. Marty had realized I had forgot a flashlight, so he put Finn on his back and they went looking for me. We walked the rest of the way together and I told them about my exciting day. I cannot wait to do it again!!!

So I guess the purpose of this story is that brothers and sisters in Latin america give new meaning to a long day in service. The self sacrifice involved is inspirational and I promise not to complain about my day in service with a car anymore. What if we had walked all day and none of her calls and studies had been home? They don't give up and they do it all over again the next day. Hopefully I learn something from this and apply it to my own life. Maybe I'll even learn to love mayonnaise sandwiches!

Buena Vista Territory

So there's this little part of our Spanish territory that's pretty remote even by Costa Rican standards. To get to it, the only option you have is to drive through the river or use the walking bridge. The walking bridge is anchored by two huge cement posts and then it's a rope bridge that swings back and forth while you walk across. Well this rainy season from what I hear, was the worst in years. The river got so high and so rough that it overtook the bridge and tore the cement posts right out of the ground.

One sister who lives by the river had 3 feet of water in her house and had to move all her furniture to the second story until the water subsided. Good thing all the houses in the area are made out of cement with cement or tile floors!  The next picture in another type of Tico house in our territory. I know it's hard to see through the trees but this is a wood shack with an outdoor kitchen and dirt floors. The inhabitants are still very happy though and will share with you all that they have. It makes you realize how very little we actually need.

To replace the walking bridge, the locals have created a temporary fix. It is seriously a few bamboo poles and a rope to hang on to to keep your balance. And yes, there are crocodiles in the river!

On Tuesday next week, I have plans to work with a Spanish sister all day going with her on her Bible studies. This doesn't seem like a big deal but it entails about 10 miles of walking through mud, rivers and of course down the beach. I'm really looking forward to it, what an adventure! I'll tell you all about it.

Finn Rides a Horse on the Beach!

So we promised Finn that this time around we would let him ride a horse. He's never been on one before and was very excited. He wanted to make sure that grammie and papa, grandma and grandpa and Lexi and Abby all saw the pictures.

We spent the day at the beach yesterday and it ended up being a really fun day. But now I have a terrible sunburn and service actually hurt today. Oh well, it was worth it! The last picture is Finn and his friend Javan out in service this morning. They are great friends and only a few weeks apart in age.

Our English Group

So things are quite different this year to say the least. Last year the brother sent to be in charge of the English group almost died from hemorrhagic dengue fever and had to go back to the states in July. Since then the English group has had no direction and faded away during the rest of the rainy season. So now it is January, the weather is getting better and more English speaking visitors are starting to come. But there still isn't anyone taking the lead at the moment. So....it's been a challenge for us. We had our first English Watchtower Study Saturday night, but no public talk. There were 6 adults and 4 children! I know this is  an awful picture but it's the only one I have. So the key is to study very well, we all have to answer about 10-20 times! Even Finn gave like 5 comments last night. We kinda knew what we were getting ourselves into this time so we prepared ourselves. If we go out in English service, we definitely have to make arrangements ahead of time and rent a car. Our closest English territory is about a half hour drive down a bumpy dirt road. But our car group had some nice calls Saturday morning. Everyone at least let us read a scripture and took the Truth Tract. Marty and I will rent a car on Wednesdays and Fridays and make plans with our small English group to work a specific English area. On Tuesdays and possibly Thursdays, I'll join the Spanish Congregation with their local territory. I wish, I wish I kept up with my Spanish lessons when I got home last year!! I can get by though, if I go on a study, I practice reading a few shorter paragraphs and I have a presentation prepared for the Truth Tract-my go to for everyone. Oh yah, we took this picture yesterday of the bee hive connected to the outside of our house! Someone is coming tomorrow to remove it.  It's pretty cool!