Pages

Search This Blog

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Weary

To be honest, I've been posting pics of the kids and cute animals instead of Mark and me in language school because I think that's what readers prefer.  But, we really are hard at work each week in twenty hours of class and even more hours studying and practicing.  We both have a heart to share the wonderful news of Jesus with the people of Uruguay and this is where we must begin.

We just had very encouraging mid term reviews with our teachers.  Mark and I are in the same classes and our grades in each class vary by only one point!  We are getting comfortable with the new routine, but the classes, especially grammar, are intensifying.  The test we took on Friday was 2 hours long.

Just living here, which is more time consuming and more physically demanding than our life in California, takes up the rest of the the time.  The greatest challenges are: living w/o a vehicle, leaks in the ceiling that lead to mold growing on the walls, carrying groceries home, keeping tile floors clean when it rains every day, staying positive despite the ever incessant rain, and helping four kids study for tests when we also have tests.

But we are also relishing the blessings: swapping kids with other families that live close by, new friends, a spanish church family, new foods, a variety of birds, fresh pineapple every week, walking and talking with our children.

Thanks so much for your love and support!  We need it!

Rainforest Green and Ocean Blue

Manuel Antonio

City living in the capital of a country makes me green anemic.  And because the buildings tightly line the sidewalk, the best view of the mountains is most often found when standing in the middle of the street.  And that's not the place to stop and gaze since cars have the right of way.  The park is just a short walk away, but the afternoon rain keeps us inside on most days.  There's only one cure.

Escaping to one of the most beautiful places on earth was well worth the long, hot, twisty turny bus ride and hostel simplicity.  Strange, different, exciting, it felt like something I'd do in college, but here we were with the kids hanging out on the patio of Manuel Antonio Backpacker's Hostel with the rain coming down in torrents and the dark rainforest just feet away.  


At times, the deafening roar of rain on the tin roof made conversation impossible.  So we sat together at the picnic tables, recently covered with wood colored contact paper, or wandered over to sit on the damp, musty sofas.  Several languages floated past our ears since all of us backpackers preferred mixing in the common area over squatting on metal bunkbeds in the semi private rooms.

I recharge when alone.  And I found that time by waking at 5am, after the rain had finally ceased, and walking into the rainforest to listen to the wildlife wake.  But I also enjoyed the bond of mutual trust necessary to share our 4 bunkbed room with others and make pancakes with strangers in the common kitchen.

When we arrived at Manuel Antonio National Park, I was breathless at the sheer height of the dense, tangled jungle wall rising on either side of the path.  Tarzan tendrils hung from the trees, and giant royal palms took center stage.  The magnitude of the plant life made the giant spider on the information sign look tiny.  We opted out of a tour and soaked in the experience at our own pace. 

We took note of the places the other guides stopped, to see if we could see what they were observing through their special equipment.  After one small group moved on with their guide, I stood still for another 20 minutes, watching and photographing a sloth as it emmerged from behind the leaves and slowly made its way from one tree limb to another. 

Isaiah and Julia seemed to spot the greatest number of creatures and pointed out the red crabs before they disappeared, scuttling into their holes.  The monkeys on the white, sandy beach were the most entertaining.  One of them stole a shirt left on a beach blanket, ran up high into the trees, and then tried to put it on.  He didn't make much progress and left it hanging on a branch.  Observing all of these creatures in their natural habitat was better than any trip to the zoo. 
The water turns silver in the afternoon sun

The water was a perfect temperature, with different sized waves depending on the beach.  We explored another private cove in the afternoon, but the sun was starting to set, turning the blue water to silver, and we needed to head back to the hostel.

After just one full day of green, blue, and white, I was ready to ride the public bus back into downtown San Jose.  In four or five weeks, I'll be due for another dose.

Julia swings on the hostel's tarzan rope


Saturday, October 1, 2011

Joshua's First Communion, Twice

After missionary training in Colorado, Mark stepped back into his "pastor" shoes and led Joshua through his membership vows on August 7, 2011.  On that same day, Joshua took his first communion with the friends and families he'd grown up with.  Ironically, it was his last Sunday morning with them before our family left for the mission field.

Sovereign Grace has been Joshua's home church since the day he was born.  In fact, he came into the world just hours after Mark was ordained as the pastor.  Everyone at the service knew I was in labor, thanks to a well intentioned announcement, and I pasted on a smile for most of the evening.  Early the next morning, Joshua was born into a quiet, semi-lit hospital room to the sound of Mark lovingly singing my favorite hymns.  At one point during labor, a nurse came in to check on us and said she felt like she was interupting something sacred. 

Eleven years later, Joshua professed his faith and joined the church on our last day of worship at SGCC.   Just a few weeks ago, he participated in his second communion, "La Santa Cena," this time in a Spanish speaking church here in Costa Rica.  The glass cups filled with grape juice (vino) and sweet flat bread (pan) was different and yet the same.  On the cement wall, the pastor projected the Scripture, illustrated with photos, so we could all easily follow along in the service.

One in English, one in Espanol, a first communion, twice.