You pick apples, we pick...

Coffee! It's that time of year! While we read Facebook entries about you picking apples, here it is harvest time for the coffee beans! I had Kyle take this picture across the road from the entrance to the camp. The coffee beans are called "cherries" and the red ones are now ready to be picked. As you can see there are still many cherries which are green. Picking coffee beans will last through January and IF the weather cooperates in that the harvest is good, picking can last as late as February. Picking here in our area is still done by hand; almost exactly the same way apples were picked while I was growing up as a child. Right now there are many new people walking the streets in our area, immigrant workers who reside in the area only during harvesting time. The air here in Orosi often times smells of a pungent, bitter odor; okay to be totally honest, everyone in our family says, "it stinks like cow poop"! Thankfully, there is no coffee processing plant on this side of the river. The smell comes from the plants drying out the coffee beans. Honestly, I drink coffee and if I had to smell that in my neighborhood all day I wouldn't be drinking any longer! What does a person earn for picking coffee? 800 colones for what amounts to about a gallon container OR in American $1.50 for the container. That's a lot of picking and a lot of teeny-tiny coffee beans! In Costa Rica, every single coffee plantation grows the same exact plant or type of coffee bean. It is the law! Seems to make things pretty fair. Hope this post makes your cup of Joe today even more enjoyable :)

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!

Typical Costa Rican dress

With permission, this is a picture of Siday (the Youth Pastor's wife) holding Alianna (David & Katherine's daughter) after church yesterday. This is the typical dress that you would see children and women wear for celebrations such as Independence Day and at Christmas. Yesterday, Siday (who heads up Children's Ministry) at our church dedicated the entire service to the children. Last week, we celebrated "Children's Day" and this week was of course their national holiday, Independence Day. She did a small sermon on Samuel, but also incorporated children's day dancing and the typical dance that is done in celebration of Independence Day with the help of the Youth from the church. Of course, no children's celebration in Costa Rica is complete without a cake or a pinata! Jordan was chosen to whack at the pinata a few times which was special for him since he has never had a pinata at a party before. We had a lot of fun attending the parade today and together with David & Katherine we had a family picnic!

Happy Independence Day Costa Rica!

Today, is Independence Day in Costa Rica. Right now, there is a truck just a few feet from our house blocking our small road and blaring pre-recorded Marachi band music (it's good stuff). There are two ponies outside our gate chewing on grass and the neighbors are beginning to line the street on this Sunday morning. I expect that in a few minutes the neighborhood school will be having their parade and that is what everyone is waiting for. Tomorrow is the "BIG" festivities, parades all over the country. We hope to be able to attend one with David & Katherine for the cultural experience. Today in church most people will wear traditional clothing in the colors of red, white and blue. Not sure that my red "Carolina Hurricanes" pajama pants meets the standard. Well, I guess it's time to step outside and enjoy the celebration!