Those of you who know us well probably knew it wouldn't take us long to find pets down here. INTRODUCING...MAXI and BELLE!
The latest addition to our family are these two little baby turtles we found at market for 4,000 colones (~$8).
Because of our temperate climate, we can keep them on our back patio where they can get natural sunlight (not reproduced by UV bulbs). The razor wire and bars protecting our patio from thieves protects them from natural predators.
We used a storage box with half the lid for their habitat with some rocks we collected from the river bank. The rocks that stick out of the water provide their "basking" area where they like to warm up in the sun, and the covered side provides shade and a spot to cool down when they need to. They eat lettuce and a variety of other veggies and only a tiny amount of inexpensive store bought vitamins each day. All in all, not a bad deal, especially considering the smiles on our kids faces...now that's priceless!
Click play to view the slideshow
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Marathon Training!
Hebrews 12:1-3
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...so that we will not grow weary and lose heart."
We are starting to feel like we're training for a marathon. Up at the crack of dawn, pushing yourself through the training, stretching, refueling. Get some sleep... and do it all over again tomorrow! Our brains are so overloaded with language learning we come home exhausted and honestly, we get drained emotionally and spiritually too. All endurance athletes know that you have to consume carbs to have enough fuel to not "bonk" out. We desperately crave that "refueling" time each day and it causes us to be so entirely dependent on the Lord to sustain us! You know how food just tastes better when your body is depleted? It's the same with the spirit. The word of God is like a warm plate of delicious home cooked food, and the Holy Spirit is a refreshing gulp of crystal clear water. Even though it's exhausting...it's a very good place to be.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Independence Day Costa Rican Style
Click on the slideshow to view larger pics
Today we celebrated Costa Rica's Dia de Independencia at school. All the kids were decked out in rojo, blanca, y azul and marched in a parade around the campus banging on drums, triangles, and waving little flags. It was adorable.
We adults got a special chapel time and education about the history behind Costa Rica's independence.
Then we got to make our very own "faroles" (lanterns), for the Parade of Faroles that takes place Sunday night. At 6pm the entire country comes to a halt as all TV and radio stations broadcast the national anthem. Then sirens announce the beginning of the parade where children carry homemade lanterns symbolizing the historical "freedom" torch that originally was carried from border to border from Nicaragua to Panama notifying people of their liberation.
Today we celebrated Costa Rica's Dia de Independencia at school. All the kids were decked out in rojo, blanca, y azul and marched in a parade around the campus banging on drums, triangles, and waving little flags. It was adorable.
We adults got a special chapel time and education about the history behind Costa Rica's independence.
Then we got to make our very own "faroles" (lanterns), for the Parade of Faroles that takes place Sunday night. At 6pm the entire country comes to a halt as all TV and radio stations broadcast the national anthem. Then sirens announce the beginning of the parade where children carry homemade lanterns symbolizing the historical "freedom" torch that originally was carried from border to border from Nicaragua to Panama notifying people of their liberation.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A day in the life of...
So how do new missionaries in language school spend their time?
Here's a typical day...
4:30 - Caedon wakes up saying "Daaady"
4:32 - Caedon gets milk and morning devotions in Spanish and Greek (with a little help from daddy)
5:30 - Nathan wakes up Jamie, Jamie blindly stumbles to the coffee pot.
7:00 - We're out the door, with a few trips back in for things we forgot.
7:25 - Drop off the kids at school and walk to our classrooms.
7:30 - Classes begin.
We have 4 hours of classes: 2 for Gramatica, 1 for Lenguaje, and 1 for Fonetica with a 1 hour free period for chapel, meetings, prayer, or study depending on the day.
1:00 - Pick up Caedon and head to the Terraza -- the student area on campus to eat, study, socialize, or just stare into space for a brain break.
2:30 - Pick up Kendyl and head home in the timely downpour (you could set your watch by it!)
2:50 - Get home, strip off and hang up our soaking wet clothes, plop on the couch and dream about pizza for dinner.
4 or 5 - Cook rice and beans for dinner. Eat. Clean up. Family time.
6:30 - Check the clock and say, "Is it only 6:30?"
7:00 - Bedtime stories, tuck the kids in bed, resist the temptation to fall asleep too.
7-9 - Study, veg out, and try to stay awake until an acceptable grown-up bedtime.
9:30 - Prayer time and Lights Out!
Here's a typical day...
4:30 - Caedon wakes up saying "Daaady"
4:32 - Caedon gets milk and morning devotions in Spanish and Greek (with a little help from daddy)
5:30 - Nathan wakes up Jamie, Jamie blindly stumbles to the coffee pot.
7:00 - We're out the door, with a few trips back in for things we forgot.
7:25 - Drop off the kids at school and walk to our classrooms.
7:30 - Classes begin.
We have 4 hours of classes: 2 for Gramatica, 1 for Lenguaje, and 1 for Fonetica with a 1 hour free period for chapel, meetings, prayer, or study depending on the day.
1:00 - Pick up Caedon and head to the Terraza -- the student area on campus to eat, study, socialize, or just stare into space for a brain break.
2:30 - Pick up Kendyl and head home in the timely downpour (you could set your watch by it!)
2:50 - Get home, strip off and hang up our soaking wet clothes, plop on the couch and dream about pizza for dinner.
4 or 5 - Cook rice and beans for dinner. Eat. Clean up. Family time.
6:30 - Check the clock and say, "Is it only 6:30?"
7:00 - Bedtime stories, tuck the kids in bed, resist the temptation to fall asleep too.
7-9 - Study, veg out, and try to stay awake until an acceptable grown-up bedtime.
9:30 - Prayer time and Lights Out!
Our Kendyl is Back!
Thank you all for your many prayers for Kendyl and her struggles transitioning to school here. We are happy to report that the bouncy, happy, Kendyl that loves going to school IS BACK! Monday she didn't cry at all, Tuesday she ran the last few blocks to school holding hands with a little friend, and today she was fully herself again! She was excited to go, saying, "Hello...Hi Friend...Good Morning..." as she walked up to her class. She has even been repeating some of the Spanish words and phrases she has learned. We know she was lifted up in prayer by all of you and we are so thankful! Praise the Lord!
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