Day 3

Day 3 began with breakfast in the hotel and our first sign of sunshine.  We went to church at LA Vina and sang along in Spanish and English and listened to David preach about doubting Thomas.  We then ate lunch and took a bus ride to downtown San Jose where we walked down a long road of shops, stores and street vendors until we reached our destination of a flea market type place where locals sold their goods and begged us to enter their small shops with enticements of, "I make good deal to you." or "To look is free."  or "My friend, my fiend, special price for you."  Most of us bought some things we probably don't need, at a higher price than we should have paid, but the experience was fun nonetheless.

After the bus ride back to Anonos, we ate dinner and then Tammy Busby led a basic sewing class while the rest of the team watched a few kids.  I, Brett, was late due to washing dishes with Hutch "Dwayne", and I happened to walk in on the sewing class and was dragged in to participating.  Soon I dubbed myself, "Soy El Capitan DE Costura." (The captain of sewing).  In all reality is was quite fun and I learned something new, while most of the other men present just laughed at me.  David Jimenez participated as well, but he did not live up to El Capitan status.

We cleaned up and came back to the hotel where we are off to bed soon.

Tomorrow starts our adventures in painting inside a house which is built high up on the side of a hill.  Pictures of that will come tomorrow.

The students have done a great job and have jumped in and helped without complaining.  They have been on time and an enormous help and all of the little local kids love them.  It is a pleasure serving alongside them.  I love my job.

until tomorrow...
Brett

Day 2

Today was a great day helping to be a part of an 8 hour long party with 60 or so kids 5-14 years old.  Apparently in Costa Rica, turning 50 is a big deal, so a very rich costa Rican man, who turned 50, decided to pay for all the kids in Los Anonos to have a party with clowns, jugglers, music, cake, candy, inflatables, more candy, icees, carnival type game, face painting, prayer...yes, prayer at a party, more sugar etc... This was most likely the most fun these kids have had in a long time.

Our group manned the inflatables, wrangled kids who ran everywhere for hours, gave multiple piggy back rides, attempted to communicate in English and Spanish, cleaned spilled drinks, started a face painting craze, prayed for kids, ate too much sugar along with the kids, and enjoyed two bus rides through some of the narrowest roads, sharpest turns, and steepest hills you would ever want to be a part of riding in a charter bus.

We ended our night in a room with about 25 people singing praises to God in both languages, reading scripture and praying for one another.  It was a refreshing end to a very busy day.

We learned that love is a universal language, God does not get confused by hearing his people sing to him in many languages, and that we have brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world.  We were also challenged to surrender completely to the Lord and not fear what he may have in store for us.

One fun little tidbit is that I, Brett, found out that one of my childhood friends I grew up with in church is also a missionary in Costa Rica about 20 minutes away from Los Anonos. He came to our worship night tonight and we were able to reconnect.  What a small world and how encouraging how the Lord works those things out.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control. 1st Tim 1:7

Until tomorrow.