"Dia de Ninos" y "Dia de Independencia" - A week of Celebrations!

I think I mentioned last week that this past Tuesday was "Dia de Ninos" or "Children's Day". This is a big celebration here in Costa Rica. While the children do not have off from school; they do get to have a very special day in school with most all classrooms planning a special day of activities, like going on class field trips, playing games throughout the day, having class picnics with ice-cream. Most special is that they do not have to wear school uniforms on this day and are allowed to wear jeans or shorts for the day of activities!

This next week in Costa Rica we also celebrate "Dia de Independencia" or "Independence Day" and much like the 4th of July in the United States, it is a huge celebration. Everyone has the day off from work and school. There will be fireworks and parades all over the country!

Today in church we celebrated both holidays since this is the only Sunday in between both of these special days. Last year on the blog I posted some pictures of the Youth and Adult Youth Counselors in typical Costa Rican dress and dancing. The dance is very historic and cultural in nature. All of the children are taught how to do these very specific dances in school and they are done in church to honor their country. Below is a picture this year of only Youth Group dancers in typical Costa Rican dress. I guess they figured they didn't need the "old folks" to help them out this year! They did an awesome job!

While we do have a worship leader in our church, rarely do we have leaders in the front doing hand motions or dancing while singing, but because it is "Children's Day" special music is learned by members of the Youth Group and the Children's Ministry Director complete with movements and dance steps. Everyone is encouraged to move up front to participate in the music. As was said this morning, "it doesn't matter if you are an adult, we are all children in spirit".

Here's a very short video of the Youth Group leading some of this music and Jordan participating in one of his favorite celebrations here in Costa Rica! And of course, no celebration here in Costa Rica happens without a pinata. Immediately following the church service which included a very special sermon just for kids, there was a pinata to be broken, ice-cream cones, and every child received a decorated bag filled with candy, just to make the pinata all fair ;)

I've been thinking...Be very afraid!

I am frequently on Facebook to keep in contact with my family and friends. Just a couple of days ago a dear friend posed a question on her Facebook to anyone that would dare answer. See, she is a gifted writer and is praying over a future book or as the Lord directs, possibly writing another Bible study. Here's what she posted: How do we lose our compassion? Become complacent? Sit, rather than move for His kingdom? I must say, as I told her, "could you possibly ask any deeper questions"? I thought for a bit, and I guess I answered as best that I could, assuring her that I didn't know the "right" answer, but was just sharing my personal thoughts. But really, I have to say, that over the last few days those same questions have been burning on my soul. How do we get to this point in our Christian walks? Why is it that my friend is seeking answers to the same concerns that Paul had for the churches back in his days? He (Paul) certainly wrote and warned about being lukewarm. One thing that I very simplistically touched on in my response to her was some of what we are dealing with down here in our churches...the Prosperity Gospel; the "God blessed you, now you bless me gospel" or the "Santa Claus gospel" as our team kindly refers to it; i.e. The, "sure, I'll accept Him, now what's He gonna do for me gospel". Rather than call it any of these, I most often refer to it as the "Satan Factor". Satan was hard at work during the day of Paul and he continues to do a mighty deception within the Body of Christ today. Somewhere along the way, it seems to me that Christianity has been redefined to "fit into" our culture. I found this to be true when we were accepted under Global Outreach Mission to full-time missionary service. Never in my life have I felt more "strange" about my beliefs than in sharing this news with a good Christian friend, when she informed me that my children would never amount to anything by taking them on the mission field. What was already for us a real battle in obedience and surrender; (what we perceived to be authentic Christianity), was frowned down upon and labeled by my friend as "legalistic". I believe that A.W. Tozer hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "That this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of fundamentalist Christians. They are facing both ways, enjoying Christ and the world too." Perhaps, we have settled in our Christian walks and we have compromised. Again, I don't have the answers.

"As Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize". 2 Timothy 2:4-5

Thank you to my dear friend, who has caused me this week to do some soul searching, concentrated praying for myself (it's easiest to pray for everyone else, isn't it?), and to keep in check how I am running and how I might finish the race! Lord, help me not to be disqualified.

Numbers, receipts, expenses...

Taking a very short break from working on "the numbers" with Ken. No, we don't play the lottery! Just doing campground bookkeeping, looking over receipts, numbers, expenses, budgets...all the kind of stuff that after a few hours plain gives you a headache! But, there is a nice, cool rain this afternoon and gentle breeze blowing through the diningroom window near the table we have been sitting at. So, that's how we've been spending today; enjoying each other's company and checking over each other's numbers to submit our August report to the mission. Hope you are having a nice Thursday as well! Oh and last night, El Salvador 1, Costa Rica NADA and out of the run for the play-offs! Ah well! Something to tease Katherine about when she returns on Monday since the United States is still in it :)

Boo!

Mexico 3, Costa Rica NADA!!!

Personal opinion, I think there was some bad refereeing and some "dirty" plays! Of course, when Costa Rica plays Estados Unidos, I still cheer for "home"...Go U.S.A.! (Lo siento mucho, Pastor Mario and Jeffrey)!

A weekend off...AND a Happy Birthday!

For the first time in a very long time, (like so long that I cannot even remember) there is not a weekend rental at the camp! Therefore, we have a weekend off! Besides sleeping in late on a Saturday morning; (when we have a rental group that comes in on Friday night, usually they request the camp to be locked up around midnight and the camp kitchen opened as early as 5 a.m.); this is how we spent the beginning of Saturday afternoon...OFF. Ken and I watched the Syracuse University Football game via laptop on ESPN2. Unfortunately, Syracuse lost, but it is the simple things that we often don't get to see because of time constraints that make life down here a little more "fun"!

Well, the games over and I have a sink full of ripening bananas. Time to get up and make some banana bread!

A "Very Happy Birthday Wish" to my brother, Peter, back in Syracuse, NY. Hope your day with your family is as Special as you are! We love you!

The van...(insert eyeball roll here)

Ergh...Ken just called and is at the side of the highway as the van has broken down. Our insurance does, however, cover free towing. I am frustrated because we had to cancel our dinner plans for tonight. We had been looking forward to it all week long! Since our friends are also missionaries, they are church planters, it is hard in our ministry schedules to get together! We have a lot in common with them and enjoy any time that we get to be together. They also homeschool, love board and card games (very competitive). Sometimes, when we are together, we just sit around and laugh at our stories of adapting to this culture and how things are done! Oh, the stories!

Hopefully, the cost of the repairs won't be too much. That's why I put at the top, "insert eyeball roll here". Somedays, it just feels like you cannot get ahead!

Guess I best get in the kitchen and see what I can come up with for dinner ideas!

P.S. To my brother, your question about which team we will cheer for: We will be supporting Costa Rica because it would be scary to do anything else but that since soccer is taken very seriously here! We will wear red, white and blue since the flag here is the same colors as back home! No wigs!

R&R...just a little

I cannot remember the last time we did not have a rental group at the camp on the weekend! While we enjoy having groups, this weekend and next no one has booked the camp and we will enjoy having some time off, free weekends! Tomorrow night, some missionary friends (Americans) who used to live in San Jose, but have now moved closer to us, have invited us over for dinner with their family. They have three kids, two girls and a boy. On Saturday night of course is the BIG game, soccer, Costa Rica vs. Mexico and the Youth Group will be over at the camp watching that and of course, we might have to "crash" that party! While we miss the interns and the ministry that we have been able to do because we have had more help here; this week I have been able to get "caught up" on some much needed housework. When we have teams, or when we are in "ministry mode" with interns, or on our own, things often times fall to the wayside which after a while drives me nuts! While not all the jobs this week around the house have necessarily been fun, like scrubbing our bedroom walls this morning...okay, I realize some of you are asking why I am doing that! It is rainy season here now and we have no insulation in our home. Literally, our inside wall of our house is also our outside wall. With it raining every day, moisture is beginning to build up on the walls of some of the rooms of the house inside and growing mildew. Having a lull in ministry has allowed me to begin the scrub down! While it isn't the most "exciting" job, it is nice to have the time to be able to get it done and you certainly feel as though you have accomplished something just in the sense that the rooms smell cleaner! So, this week, that is what I have been doing, cleaning, moving beds around, organizing and putting things "back to normal" in our humble abode. I am thankful today for the time to get it done and time to sneak in a little nap besides.

Sorta been down...

Okay, found the camera...PTL! Jordan on the other hand has strep throat and is taking an antibiotic, but not really feeling that well. He has been having dizziness because he has an ear infection which has made him a little scared not having really experienced it (dizziness) before. At the time of this post he will take his third dose of the antibiotic, so hopefully tomorrow he will feel better. I didn't find the camera in time to take any pictures of the football tournament.

The last couple of days I have been feeling kind of down myself, and the distance from here in Costa Rica to my family feels huge at this time. Thankfully, I feel better today. I think it is just part of the grieving process and the fact that last week would have been Mom's birthday. Though I would have to mail a card weeks in advance, pray, cross my fingers and hold my breath that it would get to her on her birthday in time; I certainly missed the chance to call home, which is what I have always done on her birthday even when we lived in the States, and say Happy Birthday and remind her how much I loved her!

One thing she did always teach us kids when we have faced difficult situations is to always focus ourselves "up", so I have been spending a lot of time focusing on Him, who is able! I've spent more time in prayer, reading the Bible, listening to music and instead of focusing on something that makes me feel sad, focusing on something that makes me feel happy. Oddly, it is the one thing that my Mom and I had most in common, cooking and baking, though she would tell you, "I don't know where Sherri learned to cook because she never wanted to spend time with me in the kitchen when I wanted to teach her". That is true! But, what she didn't know is that I did spend time watching her! Yesterday, I spent the entire day cooking and baking for my family which brings them as well as me a lot of pleasure.

Here is a verse of a song that echo'd in my mind as I played worship music in my kitchen yesterday while I was cooking and baking.

"These sufferings,
This passing tide.
Under your wings,
I will abide.
And every enemy,
shall flee.
You are my Hope and Victory"!

He continues to work in my life and without Him, I am nothing.

How time flies...

when you are busy! Lynae got off last Sunday morning, early, to return home. On Monday morning at 3 a.m. we took the other four interns to the beach. We wanted to take Lynae also, but it just didn't work into the schedule before she left. On Thursday morning, the Delamonts returned to the States. Yesterday and today there have been people in and out of the camp as the Youth Group's annual soccer tournament fundraiser is tomorrow all day. Katherine is taking the two interns, Amy & Kelly with her very early tomorrow morning, 2 or 3 a.m. to serve with God Festival (see previous posts to understand this partnership) at Jaco Beach. David is actually gone from the neighborhood serving with another team here in Costa Rica from North Carolina as their interpreter with Pastor Jose & Pastor Tony. Ken & I will be at the camp all day tomorrow keeping an eye on things as various Youth Groups will be coming in to play during the tournament. Heather & Kyle will be working during the tournament with other youth group members cooking food, etc. Jordan signed up to play on this year's Youth Group team! On Monday morning our last two missionary interns leave to head back to the States. Things will certainly seem very quiet and strange around the camp with no guests. And if all of this weren't exciting in itself, someone in our little family has misplaced the camera AGAIN. So, I am off to see if I can find it! Hopefully, over the weekend I can post some pictures of the much anticipated Tournament de Futbol! Until then, thanks for reading, thanks for praying!

Family Outreach Tonight

It's already been a busy last couple of days here at the camp since returning from the U.S. On Friday, we began the preparations for the Family Outreach in the Celebration Center. Here the tables are set up, though not covered, balloons are being blown up and string tied to the ceiling to suspend the balloons from.

Tonight, I snapped this picture of Ken and Heather serving of "second" helpings of rice and chili, coleslaw and brownies that we had for dinner. In the background during dinner another missionary, but a dear friend, Pastor Cameron Woolford is delivering a message on the role of parents in the family unit!

Soon after people began to trickle in, I happened to see this woman sitting at the table reading the Book of Luke in Spanish. We handed these out when people came in and it was exciting to see someone reading.

This is the whole group who attended tonight, 81 people...Praise the Lord! We started off the evening with "family-type" games, bobbing for apples, musical chairs, etc. We then served dinner and had live worship music, a guest speaker, who addressed the importance of spending time together as a family too, and then finished the evening with pinatas, of course. We had a lot of families thank us for opening up the camp for this outreach! Please continue to pray that "seeds" were planted this evening.

Safe and Sound, but needing prayer

I arrived back in Costa Rica safe and sound yesterday afternoon. It was fun to come home and have "Kooky" the stray dog waiting at the door of the house for me! She was so happy to see me and I was just as happy to see her too! Today, I made a special trip into the grocery store in Orosi to load up on some dog food for her. This morning we were at the camp by 9 a.m. blowing up balloons and preparing for an outreach that we will be doing tomorrow evening at the camp. It will include dinner and is geared to minister to families. Right now we have received reservations for 50 people to attend. Please keep our team in your prayers tomorrow. On Sunday in church, our ministry partner, Katherine, will be speaking and myself, Heather and the missionary interns will be doing a mime routine during the service. Lynae, see previous posts, will be leaving on Sunday morning to return to the States after being here serving with us for two months. Please pray for her safe travels back to Canada and her family. Well, after being away from the blog for three weeks, I'm back, so check in and I will be posting new ministry pictures soon! God bless and thank you for your prayers!

The waves

I guess I feel like I am riding a wave. My sister described it to me as most of the time you are fine, but then someone says something or a memory pops into your head and you start to cry. Most of the time, I don't feel particularly sad over my Mom, and in fact, I know that she is no longer struggling; no longer confused, disoriented, no loss of memory. Her Alzheimer's disease and its progression was an ugly thing. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Then, there are times when I am just sad. I just plain miss her! Today, our family will be gathering together for the first time since her passing. We are having dinner at my sister's home, and reviewing the memorial service and receiving our last instructions before the service tomorrow. I am feeling a little anxious about tomorrow's service, not having ever had to do this before, and I am not a fan of crowds. With no calling hours, there will be a reception immediately following the memorial service in the church's fellowship hall to greet family members. I am really not looking forward to that. Yesterday, Ken, Brad and Danielle helped me order flowers for my Mom's memorial from our family. It was nice to have their personal inputs and not do it alone. I know that ALL things work together for good, that God's timing is always perfect. I believe this will all my heart. I just miss her touch and wish I could have had one more hug. It's early and I am praying that people's advice is true...that time does heal.

In the States

My Mom passed away last Friday night at 7:55 p.m. I was with Brad and Danielle heading back to our home in N.C. when I got the news from my family. Since I couldn't make it home to NY to say good bye to my Mom in time, I decided to stay in N.C. over the weekend and go to our home church, Hickory Grove, to get some "LOVE" before making the trip up North to be with my family. I'm glad I did that! We arrived safely at my Mom and Dad's home on Monday night. It has been very hard to be at home, but not have my Mom with us in the house. Yesterday, my oldest brother, Dick and his wife, Susan, arrived home safely from the mission field of Scotland. Today, I went to the airport to get Ken, Heather, Kyle and Jordan when they arrived home from Costa Rica. More family is arriving tonight and tomorrow leading up to my Mom's memorial service on Saturday, though I believe it would better be called a "Celebration of Life" service. I sat with my Dad, sister and brother today as they discussed the service and made final plans. We were interrupted so many times with condolence phone calls it was amazing to me, and a real blessing to be reminded of how many people care for our family! Tonight, we are just a couple miles down the road from my Mom and Dad's home, staying at Ken's sister's home so that other family members can stay with my Dad. Ken's parents are also here at his sister's for the summer, so that is nice for us to be able to be with them too. Please continue to pray for our family, as members continue to travel, but pray for the service on Saturday at 1 p.m. that God would be glorified and my Mom honored.

My Mom...

My Mom has been running a fever of 102+ and has not drank anything since July 22nd while in the nursing home. She has been having a problem with her heart and the doctor has said she is acutely ill having only a few days to possibly a full week to live. He asked my Dad to let the family know. So many things run through your mind during times such as these; so many scriptures that bring comfort, so many memories that can never be taken away. Still, there is the human side of letting go and the spiritual side of releasing her back to God with thanksgiving for the time that He allowed us to have her on "loan". There have been a few times in my life when music has been a huge comfort to me! This is one of those times when a particular song just keeps returning to my mind. I've been listening to the Chris Tomlin CD, "Hello Love" for a few weeks now off and on. Not ironically, the Lord, I believe, has been preparing me for the days that lie ahead with my mother's apparent death and using "I Will Rise" to minister to me! I'm not sure if my Mom has ever heard this song, but I know if it weren't for the fact that she is in a coma-like state right now; surely she would remind her children of the scriptural promises within the words of this song.

"There's a peace I've come to know,
though my heart and flesh may fail.
There's an anchor for my soul,
I can say, "it is well".

Chorus:
"Jesus, has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed.
The victory is won.
He is risen from the dead.
And I will rise, when He calls my name.
No more sorrow, no more pain.
I will rise, on eagle's wings,
before my God, fall on my knee,
and rise, I will rise".

"There's a day that's drawing near,
when this darkness breaks to light.
And the shadows disappear,
and my faith shall be my eyes".

Repeat chorus

Thanks be to God! I love you, Mom!

Missionary Intern Tsunami!!!

Lynae is still here as one of our missionary interns. Tomorrow evening we pick up the Delamont's from the airport. They will be interning for the month of August. On Saturday, we pick up an 8-person construction team that we will be hosting at the camp through Global Outreach Mission for one week. On Sunday, we pick up Amy R., who is another intern for the month of August. She is returning to us having interned under us last summer, so we are all so excited! The kids will be accompanying us to the airport to get her since they are so very excited that she is coming back! A week from this Sunday, the construction team leaves and we go to the airport a week from this Monday to get our last August intern. Having five interns for one month should be very interesting, but really help us to get things accomplished around the campground and in ministry! Busy days ahead! Please keep us in your prayers and be checking back for updates frequently.

Wednesday's ministry with the Orphan Home, kids accept the Lord!

As with a lot of the things that we do at the camp, there are always "behind the scenes" activities that no one hears about or realizes go on. Here's a picture of Ken, the Grill Master, cooking hot dogs for all of the kids and the entire team of workers! This was a repeat performance from Saturday's ministry at the camp with the orphans, but I forgot to get a picture of him. I wanted to give credit where credit is due! Thank you to my husband, Ken, who cooks the "perfect" hot dog and for making sure all of us got fed on time!

Here is "Willy" the clown, a friend from "God Festival" one of our partnerships! I realized that I have never seen "Willy" without make-up until he came to the camp on Wednesday and I walked right by him not knowing who he was! How embarassing! He is a wonderful Christian with an awesome testimony. He drove over two hours to come and donate his time and bring with him some other volunteers to help us make this day very special for the kids! He played Christian music for the kids, made popcorn and cotton candy, made balloon animals, had a team who did face painting and did some comedy tricks with the kids. They absolutely loved him and he had their full attention!

These are two of the orphan home Mom's who are enjoying their day off. They accompanied the kids to the camp, but once they arrived, we took over their care and treated the Mom's to coffee, special breads and a day to walk around the camp together, talk and just relax. Here they are enjoying some cotton candy!

With 28 kids in all, we had to break them down into smaller, manageable groups to oversee them in the pool. Here are a small group of the younger kids who have swam and are now taking a break to make some foam sun visors!

Here's Heather and one of our Christian neighbor's, Ivan, taking a much needed rest, legs up after helping with ALL of the day's activities. Without Heather and Kyle and some good Christian neighbor's, we would not have been able to watch all these kids ourselves. They too, enjoyed "Willy's" whimsical balloon creations!

Well, I had to have some fun too!!!! The face painting techniques that are used here are really different than at home. I took this picture for my brother, Peter, since I thought it might interest him, my favorite artist! Their face paint is much more of a powder make-up that is applied with sponges and then the actual painting is only done of the lines of detail. Up close when finished the face has a very soft, powder, more like make-up foundation look to it. Of course, here, you can't see the glitter that they have added. This sweet lady was my face painter!

At the close of Wednesday's activities, Lynae sang and shared her testimony with the kids. Ken wrapped it all up with an explanation of the plan of salvation and an invitation to accept the Lord. We had three Youth, (the kids who attended were from ages 4-18), accept the Lord today!

Please continue to pray for them and for us as we follow up with them through our continued ministry at the Orphan Home!

The Orphans at the camp and a prayer request!!

After almost a year of working in a partnership with Pueblito de Costa Rica (the orphan home); some of the kids were allowed to come and use the camp for the day on Saturday. And, as usual, God had even better plans than ours! While we had the entire day planned with activities, one of the churches in our denominition here in Costa Rica had a group of Americans visiting and serving with them, yet their ministry plans for Saturday fell through and they were looking for another place in which to serve. We got a phone call, "could we help you? We have clowns, puppets, mime, etc." and so, the group of 18 Americans showed up in the afternoon for about two hours to help serve alongside us! This first picture is the group of 30 orphans who came to us on Saturday. Heather in the green T-shirt in the middle leading the "Octopus" game.

Katherine practicing her facepainting "skills" on Jordan first!

Just three of the clowns performing an act. They are part of the Christian Youth Group that volunteered to help us! They were awesome and their message was clear!

The Youth Group's puppet ministry in action!

This was when they first arrived and Heather began the festivities with an entire group game, though here Katherine is helping one little lady who is very shy and kind of lost about how to play, but that's okay!

**PLEASE PRAY**: With the extension of the kids vacation to include next week, the Director of the Orphan Home has asked if we would be willing to host another group of 30 children from the orphanage on Wednesday. The orphanage houses a total of about 123 children. We said that we would be more than happy too! Please pray as we have invited five youth from the Youth Group to join with us in this ministry on Wednesday. Our desire here is to lead by example, and in asking them to help us, we pray that it will develop servant hearts within them. We have another partnership which we have formed with "God Festival" and they will be sending us "Willy" their clown and a few of their professional face painter's for Wednesday as well. They also already sent down an industrial popcorn machine to use and their cotton candy machine. Please pray for their safety as they travel through San Jose on Wednesday morning to come to the camp! Pray for the children and for us as we attempt to bring them Jesus, in how we live and through what we teach!

**PRAISE**: A week and a half ago we had the Youth Group at the camp from Michigan (see previous posts and pictures) rental. We found out today that two Costa Rican kids were saved during their ministry at the camp! PTL!!!

Quick post - Ministry Update

A "fly-by" post as it's been a busy week. I've got some pictures to post of a group that came in Wednesday from the States through another missionary agency to use the camp for ministry. We got the last group out on Monday, cleaned and the decoration team for this group arrived on Tuesday. The rest of the group arrived on Wednesday and they also invited four area churches to participate in children/youth ministry with them as the last group from the States did. So around 65 people leave today at 2 p.m., and then we go in and begin preparations for a Fun Day we have planned for 30 kids from the orphanage who are coming to the camp tomorrow!

I will post pictures over the weekend!

Things often get worse before they get better!

I've been sick since Friday afternoon. It all started with a runny nose, but by Saturday morning I could hardly walk. My hips hurts, my legs, elbows, even the creases of my arms, fingers. Of course, it had rained quite hard and I am still having problems with bone pain since my surgery. Seemed like the high-dose calcium that my physician put me on was helping with that some. Sunday, I felt like I would have felt better if someone laid me in the road and ran over me! Well, I have strep throat, a double ear infection and one of my ear drums has already ruptured. Sinuses are all clogged up. I got started on some antibiotics, but the strep plaques overnight continued their progression and are now on top of my mouth and on my gums causing even more swelling. I think some of the kids at the orphan home are sick and maybe I should have taken better precautions!

This is the second week of "winter" break here for the kids. Yes, it is July, but yes, it is considered winter in Costa Rica. It's hard to adjust to that mindset when it's 78 degrees outside! Actually, we don't technically have "seasons" here they say, like summer, winter, spring and fall. Just dry and wet season and it is wet season now. On the news last night they announced the kids will also have an extended week off next week due to the flu!

So, this week, I won't be ministering back up at the orphan house because my own health is already too compromised and all the little hugs are nice, but giving the kids the "Cooties" wouldn't be!

(Mama Isa did bring over sopa de pollo and arroz con leche, though! She said, "eat lots, you will feel better".....OKAY)!!! :)

Ministering to the Orphans and a full day!

This is Kimberly. I found out quickly today that she LOVES to work with beads! It was interesting to see her gently touch the beads and look them over as she carefully "chose" which ones she might use. Very politely, she asked if she could make another bracelet today. She doesn't like to have her picture taken and it is hard to get her to smile. I talked with Kimberly today about not knowing my biological mother and being dropped off at social services and my adoption. That's when this smile crossed her face. Today, I got a big hug when she left and I feel like we made a connection.

This is Onry. After our Bible lesson today he asked if I had anything to color. I happened to bring some Bible story coloring books with me as gifts for our music students today. He was so content to sit alone with me since none of the other music students had arrived yet for their lessons; to color and not have to share the crayons of have anyone to pull his book away from him. He is the sweetest boy.

This is our intern, Lynae. She is teaching Steven to "count" out measures by clapping his hands for "notes" and to stop clapping for "rests". Steven was so embarrassed that I was taking his picture. He beams when he gets to the hold the guitar and strum away.

Here is Luis practicing finger placement with Lynae. Today, they worked on "A" and "D" note finger placements. Music seems to come pretty easily to Luis and he really settles down to enjoy his lesson. We sometimes have a difficult time with him since he is kind of rough around the edges...aren't we all?

This is Daniela. Hmmm...I wonder why I might like her name! She is in the morning classes since she is younger. She's a bit shy, but has a huge, beaming smile. She is a graceful young lady and is new to the orphan home just over the past couple of months. She is just one of those kids that when you see her in a place like this you wonder, "why"? But God knows and in Daniela, I believe He has big plans!

We worked with the children today from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. I had made a commitment to be back at the campground at 3:30 and was late in getting back because we took the bus back. Once there, I helped set up and cook dinner for around 50 Youth Group kids. The American group is still here and today through Saturday morning they are hosting four other local, national, church Youth Groups at the camp. They are all spending the next two nights with the American Youth Group. Heather and Kyle have been at the camp since 9 a.m. working with the small groups as interpreters. They seemed to be having a good time with all the other Youth. They were invited to spend the night at the campground too! It's been a busy day today, but a lot of fun! Days like these I just go to bed at night exhausted, but thankful for the really fun and enjoyable ministry that we often get to be a part of with children and Youth! It makes me so happy!

Orphan Home Ministry-Prayer Requests

Yesterday, and yes, I forgot the camera again (sorry); we went to the Orphan Home to do an all day ministry. I mentioned before about a new intern we received last week. Her name is Lynae. Lynae is a professional music teacher when she is back in Canada. Yesterday, she taught four hours of guitar lessons at the Orphan Home. In the morning, she did two hours of classes, a half hour each to four students. The Orphan Home was gracious enough to serve us lunch and we spent about an hour eating and chatting with the Orphan Home staff. Then, in the afternoon she did another two hours of lessons, a half hour again to four more students. During the time that she was teaching, Heather and I had the children in a "holding" room awaiting their class time. We did children's ministry with those students; a Bible story, crafts, games and memory verses. This time with the kids in children's ministry has been awesome. Usually when we are there at the Orphan Home ministering we are working with the "masses", large groups of children of all ages. The way that their Educational Director set up the lessons is that in the morning we have a group of younger children and in the afternoons we have older children, more youth group-aged.

PRAYER NEEDS:
Please pray for us as we have made a commitment to minister at the Orphan Home every Tuesday and Thursday for the next five weeks. Pray for Lynae as she teaches music; guitar and piano lessons. Pray for Heather & I as we teach to these small groups of children, but at a much more intensive level than we have ever had the opportunity to before. Pray for discernment as we are already working on next week's lessons. Pray for the children's hearts to be open and receptive. Pray for good behavior, it can be kind of rough!

I'll try and get some pictures tomorrow as we minister and post them on the blog before the end of the week.

The "benefits" of a relationship with God/PRAYER REQUEST

Tonight I was reading in the Book of Psalms. I love Psalm 103. I keep this one close when I'm going through "stuff" in my life. Stuff like missing my family, thinking about my Mom or when we have a particularly frustrating day with the ministry. I find that when I make an effort to focus on Him it minimizes the pains of my heart and a sense of healing pours over me.

I really don't have anything "new" to post today. Scripturally, I thought I'd share this Psalm. It ignites my soul! I hope that it does yours as well.

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our inquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him"...

**EDIT: I noticed that when I began this post I said I didn't have anything "new" to report tonight. In the middle of writing this, I got a phone call from Ken asking me to run up the road to Katherine and David's home (our ministry partners). Heather was in their house alone babysitting Alianna, their 18-month-old baby. She called her father crying because she heard voices outside their house and someone was trying to break into their house from the outside. (Katherine and Kyle are with Ken. Kyle took a good slice out of his finger tonight and Ken needed to take him to the hospital emergency room for stitches. Katherine went along to help with Spanish). Heather didn't want to call me because I was home alone with Jordan. Needless to say, Ken called me and I ran to the camp, got three of the guys who are staying there this week with the short-term team, and we went to the house. Heather had activated Katherine and David's alarm system from within the house and scared the people off. PRAY for Heather tonight who has really been shaken up by all of this and in all honesty, I have been too. I needed to come home and use an inhaler for my asthma. I may be a missionary, but I was a Momma first! And, PRAISE Him that our child remained safe**

Youth Groups...American and Tico

For the next week and a half we are hosting a short-term American Youth Group at the camp from Michigan. Some of the kids are pictured here, granted their backs are to you. Standing up in the foreground is Heather translating into English for the American Youth Group the directions to a game that she will be leading. There are 14 kids from States and the rest of the kids are from our church Youth Group. The groups met for the first time tonight and next weekend the American Youth Group will be hosting a Youth Retreat in which they have invited four area church Youth Groups to attend at the campground.

Here's a picture of "almost" the entire group together. There was a total of about 60 kids in attendance tonight. Afterwards, the Tico Youth Group treated the American Youth Group to fireworks since they wanted to honor their Independence Day in the United States. After Bible Study, games and dessert the two groups hung out together until about 10:30 p.m. playing indoor tag, indoor hockey and just talking. We all had a lot of fun! Happy 4th of July!

A new missionary intern

This morning began early with us leaving for the airport at 4:30 am to pick up our newest intern from Canada, Lynae. Lynae is 29 years old. One of our "other" ministries through Global Outreach Mission is to use the campground as a "hub" so to speak, where people who are interested in spending a bit longer period of time, (other than being on a short-term team of one or two weeks) on the mission field can go and be exposed to the culture of the country, and experience missionary life firsthand. Lynae will be with us for two months. She will be learning basic Spanish from Katherine, our ministry partner, living in the home of Gloria, our camp assistant cook and baker. Lynae's gifts are with children and she is educated in the field of music. Next week, she will be going with us to the orphanage just to play with the kids and get to know them and allow them to feel more comfortable with her. Then in July she will begin teaching keyboard lessons at the orphanage to some of the kids.

So, over the next two months, please keep Lynae in your prayers as she serves here in Costa Rica along with us. Pray for her safety, her health, being away from her family, as we work as a team, the adjustments to the culture and food here. Pray that God would use her mightily for His kingdom!

Ministering at the camp

One part of our ministry involves being a conduit for groups to use the campground facility through rentals. This is this weekend's rental group at the camp. A Youth Group from an evangelical church in Cartago, a nearby town, about a half hour from the camp. Today, we did a lot of "behind the scenes" ministry; washing dishes, helping our camp cook with food preparation, running the camp store, working on a clogged kitchen sink. I found a little break in today's schedule to take some pictures of the kids as they had a time of praise and worship. For me, I really enjoy this part of our ministry. Today, I got a chance to participate in the audience and sing along. Mostly, I enjoy praying as we do the behind the scenes work of the campground so that God can work through others. My prayer today was that hearts and minds were open to be changed for His glory!

Welcome Home!

This is "Tiquita". Her name is pronounced Tea-Key-Tah and in Spanish it means, "little Costa Rican girl". We call her "Tiqui" (Tea-Key) for short. She is the newest addition to our family from the animal shelter. We got her on Tuesday. Tiquita has replaced our dogs, Luna & Otis. We found a nice home for them on a farm where they were allowed to stay together in January. Our neighbor's husband works at night and sleeps during the day. Luna & Otis were not any different from any other dogs, they barked on occasion when someone came to the door, protecting their house and the kids. However, our neighbor's wife would not stop complaining about the occasional barking from our dogs, though her sister next door has four dogs who wake us up at night, every night. We decided to take the "upper road" and find a home for the dogs since we are the "visitors" in this culture much to our neighbor's delight, but sadly for our kids. We took Tuesday OFF from ministry since our weekends are booked here at the camp until mid-August, and we ventured out to the pet shelter. Heather was designated ahead of time to pick the perfect kitty which we think that she did! Tiquita is two months old and much to our surprise had already been "fixed" that morning when we found her. Ken thinks they operate on the animals so early just to hopefully find homes for them. Tiquita had a rough go of it on Tuesday night and Wednesday we think just because she is so young. She is doing much better now doing the "normal" kitty kinds of things, hiding behind furniture and jumping out at us, running through the house as if something is after her. She is recovering well and she is a sweet girl. The kids are enjoying having a "pet" of their own! Welcome home, our barkless friend!

Saturday catch-up

Saturday is usually a catch-up day in our home. A day to do laundry, clean the house, clean through the refrigerator, try and catch-up on emails, etc. I've not been sleeping well as of late. While I was gone in the States our neighbor added a fourth dog to his entourage! Somehow, Ken has adjusted to the neighborhood "noises" of chickens, turkeys and dogs and sleeps pretty well with the exception of his sleep being interrupted due to robberies. Again, last night someone was in the camp even with renters on the grounds. They broke into one of the cars parked inside the closed gates. As soon as the car alarm went off they fled the campground. Ken was up until 1:30 a.m. with police filing reports. Well, while I feel like going back to bed already; I suppose that there is much that I could be doing here on behalf of our family. Maybe tomorrow I can sneak in a nap!

Always exciting and always a challenge!

Today has been interesting to get much of anything done, around the house, at the camp. First, we lost power. Then, the community turned the water off for a good portion of the day. It's funny how often I go to the sink and turn on the faucet expecting water to come out. Right now, the power has come back on, so I am boiling water to do the morning and noontime dishes. We never really know what to expect here in our little neck of the woods with regard to ammenities. It makes it all a challenge and kind of fun!

Just a pretty picture

This is our daughter, Heather, on the boat headed back from Tortuga Island. Not sure what she is thinking, if anything, probably just relaxing. She's just a sweet girl and she helps us so much in ministry!

Team PBA-Part II

This was the second scorpion I saw on Chira Island. The first was in the shower stall and this was the second by the water tank. He didn't last long!

This was the church building and I am helping some of the other ladies set up their tents. When ours finally dried out the second day it found its way up to the stage in the church.

Here's one of the showers of two for 38 people for four days. There was no hot water, of course, but I didn't find it very cold since the temperatures were oppressive.

This was on Thursday in a medical clinic we did in Cartago, much closer to home, in a church. Even Jordan helped out in the pharmacy counting vitamins.

This is Tortuga Island, not the one from Pirate's of the Carribbean, sorry, but even so it was beautiful. We spent one day here with the team as their "free day" and they more than enjoyed laying around on the beach!

Back at Chira Island, this was the stove behind the church kitchen where our food was cooked for us.

This was a school we got into on Chira Island and did some children's ministry while the rest of the team was back at the clinic. We are working on some beaded bracelets.

This was in Cartago, not far from home, in the church's school room where we set up for children's ministry. Lots of kids and lots of fun.

A puppet show!

Ministry on Chira Island-Team PBA

Here is "most" of the team from Palm Beach Atlantic University sitting down for a meal at the camp, though there are a couple of empty spots on the benches. The team consisted of 30 pharmacy school students, two pharmacists and Dean Mary Ferrill, one of their teachers.

To get to Chira Island we got up and departed from the camp at 2:30 a.m. last Saturday morning, traveled four hours by bus to the port where we loaded down one boat with the mobile pharmacy, tents and children's ministry supplies. The other boat carried all of the team and their personal belongings. The boat ride was 45 minutes long to get to the port on the island.

Once there, we quickly loaded our belongings on to a truck off of the boats and then we loaded a school bus (the public transportation system for the island) to get to this church where we quickly got settled in and set up. This is the patient waiting area.

Here are some of the pharmacy students, Elizabeth on the left, Alba on the right standing in the tan shirt, Jason in the back checking patients in to the Triage area where they have their vital signs taken and wait to see a physician.

Here we have set up physician examining rooms, not quite like the States. Elizabeth is escorting the patient into a "consult room" to see the doctor on the patient's right, Dr. Manuel.

While the doctor's see patient's, outside more are lining up in the patient waiting area. To calm fears and to begin to prepare hearts, Laurence, Heather and Elizabeth are singing worship songs in Spanish.

While all of the above is going on, underneath a tree, the Gospel has been shared by Amir, second to the left in the red shirt to a couple of patients in the circle. Kyle (you can just see his blonde hair in the background) has interpreted Amir's message into Spanish. Some of the other students who are on the evangelistic team have joined in praying for these who are accepting the Lord.

We spent our nights on the island inside the church buildings in tents. Initially, our family wanted to sleep outside in the church yard. We got the tent all set up in the yard, sleeping bags inside, suitcases, pillows and went in the church's fellowship building to have dinner. However, during dinner, it began to pour outside. Ken jumped up to check on our tent and not only was there standing water inside, but it looked like a mud slide went through our tent. This is the next morning, our clothes hanging out to dry on the fence.

Children's ministry is always a challenge with mobile set ups. This is the next day after it rained and a group of the "guys" decided to play some soccer with the kids, puddles and all.

In this picture, the team brought down lots of hygiene items that had been donated to them; new toothbrushes, shampoo and perfume samples, trial-sized toothpaste, lotions and conditioners, Q-tips and just a slew of things. Here, we are filling lunch bags with some of these items for all the cooks and volunteers from the church who fed us our meals and helped us with support staff. Katie and I are giggling because the camera was not working properly when someone was trying to take this picture and this was the third attempt.

Busy...even on a free day

Today was busy! After breakfast this morning we took the team out souvenir shopping in a town called Moravia, to lunch at an a la lena which is personally my favorite roasted chicken and then we brought them back to the camp to prepare dinner for the homeless shelter which was an American spaghetti supper which the ladies and gentlemen there love which is so much fun! Tonight, the team is packing, those that are not at the homeless shelter serving dinner and preparing for the rest of the team to return. I am feeling a little more than exhausted and decided to some home from the camp and check email, Skype voicemails, etc. and just lay down for a bit. I'm finding that while I am doing much better with regard to fatigue from the surgery; I still have just a little recovering to do the doctor says and just being able to lay down for a short time and rest works wonders. Right now, I cannot locate the camera, otherwise, I would be posting some pictures! Last night, we had a great night of devotions and for the first I really shared some things on my heart with the team, though I have shared some thoughts here and there with individuals who have sought counsel from me. This team has had a real heart for evangelism. It has absolutely been amazing to see this group of young people share with the Costa Rican people and some have made first commitments to the Lord! Continue to pray for this team as they return home. It doesn't have to end here in Costa Rica and it shouldn't.

Home on the Range

We just arrived back safely at the Camp. It's 12:52 a.m. I am posting this for any family members of the Palm Beach team who read this. Tomorrow, it is devotions at 7:30 a.m., departure from the camp for a one-day medical clinic in Cartago and return for dinner at the camp. Maybe, tomorrow I can post some pictures in the evening. Thanks to all who prayed for our safety and the needs I posted. We had somed "Divine" appointments and we had people accept the Lord as their personal Savior which is always so encouraging! Please continue to pray for Isla de Chira and Pastor Pedro as he follows up on this contacts.

Team Palm Beach has arrived

Palm Beach arrived safely to the camp this afternoon. Tonight, David & I did orientation, we have sorted medicines for the clinic and packed them and shortly we will have dessert and call it a short night before we load the buses at 2:30 to begin our travel to the island. Thanks for all those who prayed for their safe arrival. Continue to keep us in your prayers as we minister here in Costa Rica.

Prayer Requests

The team from PBA arrives tomorrow. Today is the last day of preparations consisting of grocery shopping for a team of merely 30, our biggest team yet, preparing the finances for Ken to "pay as we go" this next week and then preparing at home, laundry and securing the house as we go out the next few days to the island and minister alongside the team. Today, I also have a doctor's appointment to have repeat biopsies for my uterine cancer, but I trust that God is in control of those results already!

Isla de Chira, where we will first be ministering with the team is a remote island off the Western coast of the country reachable only by boat. We will get up Saturday morning at 2 a.m. and drive a little over four hours by bus to get the team there, unpack the bus of our supplies and load our supplies on to boats, travel the channel by boat to the island, unpack the boats and then pack trucks with our supplies to travel to the church where we will set up our clinics that we will hold over three days. The majority of the people on the island have never been able to travel off the island themselves because the boat ride is $30 one way. It s a very poor area. We will bring in fruits and vegetables to help nutritionally meet the needs of the people there. The conditions will be very hot this time of year and we will sleep in tents on concrete flooring inside the church building. It will be much like missionary service from "days of old".

How you can pray:
1. Pray for the team coming from PBA as they travel to Costa Rica tomorrow for safety.
2. Pray for the physicians who are volunteering their time to work with us.
3. Pray for Ken, David & Katherine and myself as we work together and do final preparations today for this team.
4. Pray for the people of Isla de Chira that have physical as well as spiritual needs; that the physicians that we bring with us will be able to meet medical needs and that the Lord will prepare the way for us to minister to spiritual needs.
5. Pray for the medical clinic on Wednesday in a church in Cartago.
6. Pray for the team's free day and souvenir shopping day; that they will have fun and get some rest.
7. Pray for the team as they travel back to Florida next Friday.

Congratulations, Danielle!

Danielle called us in Costa Rica today to inform us that she has passed her N.C. State Board Examination for Cosmetology. Therefore, she is now a licensed hairstylist! Yoo-Who! She is already working at "Headquarters" in a full-time position as the scheduling secretary, but they will be advertising for someone to replace her in that position and she will be crossing over to a full-time hairstylist in the salon! We wanted to tell you, Danielle, that we are very proud of your accomplishments and are very excited for you, as you pursue your new career! We love you! Love, Dad & Mom

A random post of nonnecessity

This is not my salad bowl, but it is the beginning of salad preparations for dinner. Here in Costa Rica we soak our vegetables in a water and bleach bath for roughly twenty minutes just to make sure all the cooties are off before consumption. It takes a little getting back into the "groove" of things now that we have just come back from the U.S. and enjoyed "bagged" salad for a few weeks. You don't really realize how long things take until you get to visit back home.

This picture is for my sister, Wendy. This is Kooky, and where we found her when we returned home....hanging out on our front door step! This amuses us because Kooky, as hard as we have tried to lure her away from her owners, remains loyal to them, though they pay little attention to her. Dogs here are not considered "pets" and Kooky has lost quite a bit of weight since I have been gone in the States. Yesterday, she sat under our seats in church and we have heard stories of here hanging out at our house, leaning against the front door and setting off our home alarm system. Kooky is a very smart dog and while some may not think she is "cute", my sister would argue with you, that she is "cute" in her own right. You just have to be around her to understand! I think it's all in her personality and how she strolls the streets like "she is it". Short-term teams after all have Kodak Share Picture files on the internet with her name as their password. Well, I guess she really did miss us while we were gone. Needless to say, Kooky had a hot dog fiesta last night which she rightfully thoroughly enjoyed!

Earthly Pulls

This week has been a somewhat difficult one with arriving home on Tuesday afternoon and receiving a phone call from Ken's Mom to call home on Wednesday morning. We found out the results of his Dad's bone marrow biopsy that he had taken a week before the wedding, and he has multiple myeloma. We have been busy this week making contacts with pharmacists here in Costa Rica, since while drugs are not cheap, they tend to run more inexpensive than in the U.S. in an effort to try and help them keep the cost down for his treatment. Yesterday, his Mom called and the American Cancer Society has made contact with them and is helping them also pursue other avenues to receive his medication (100 pills are $23,900). We are waiting to hear back from her meetings with them.

This is perhaps the most difficult part of living away from family during times as these. His parents continue to ask us to remain in Costa Rica and serve the people here, but there are days when it is emotional for us since both of our parents are having difficulties at this time.

Please continue to pray for Ken's Dad, Richard, and for my Mom, Ginny. Pray for us, that the Lord would give us His strength daily to continue on in obedience to His service.

Adjustments, adjustments, adjustments....

We've been feeling a little bit "under the weather" as we adjust back into our Costa Rican lifestyle and food. We definitely overindulged while in the U.S. because of missing so many different types of foods and are paying the price now, feeling a little queasy. Jordan has had a difficult time adjusting back to the "no toilet paper in the toilet" routine and keeps his Dad busy unclogging the septic system. We miss daylight savings time and are having a hard time adjusting back to it being dark here at 5:30 p.m. and then of course, the U.S. is two hours ahead of us, and we are adjusting back to a different time zone altogether (we were all in bed at 7:30 last night, though our bodies told us it was 9:30). Other than that, we have been working on the finances of the team that arrives next Friday for a week of medical ministry and thankfully we have no rental group for this weekend. Much to ask you to pray for:

1. Our continuing adjustments.
2. The safe arrival of the team of 30 from Palm Beach Atlantic University next Friday.
3. For the medical clinics that we will be doing on the remote Chira Island where there is much poverty.

Thanks for praying!

We're back....in Costa Rica

Congratulations to the brand new Mr. & Mrs. (our daughter, Danielle) Towle! If you haven't seen Jordan lately, he's the miniature groom in the picture. Heather is to the right of the groom and Kyle is the blonde young man second to the right of the groom. I can't say as I have ever felt more tired in my life with all of the traveling we have done in the past three and a half weeks doing fundraising presentations and wedding preparations. I will try and update more in the next couple of days, but for now, I am off to bed to get some much needed sleep!