Are we there yet? Not yet!

In class, the teacher was talking about the New Testament. She asked me to give the name of "un milagro de Jesús" (a miracle of Jesus). One quickly came to mind-- the feeding of the 5,000, so I responded, "Cuando Jesús..." I had to reach into my bag of words and pull out my verb related to food. The verb I needed was alimentar, to feed. Did it come to mind? Nope! The other verb did. So I said, "Cuando Jesús comió a los cinco mil personas" translated "When Jesús ATE the 5000." The sideways look on my maestra's face let me know that there is work yet to be done! Verdad!

You know it's third tri...

Yep, you know it's third trimester when you get these kinds of tests:

This past Friday, we had a lenguaje test - 10 dictated questions (that to me was enough of a test!) each which we had to answer in essay form.
1. Explain 5 acts of crimes committed in Central America.
2. What are the causes of crime and violence?(5 things)
3. Discuss 3 counsels you would give for the prevention of assaults.
4. What are the effects of crime and violence? (5 things)
5. What laws would help prevent crime?
6. What does the Bible say about what we should see?
7. What happened to the restrictions that were on movies?
8. What would you recommend to youth when they want to watch a movie?
9. How do movies and television influence the conduct of people in general?
10. What did you like most about the movie The Ultimate Gift?

Just wondering, how would you respond in English? Now, add in all Spanish grammar rules and verb conjugations. Yes, it was a quite a test - two hours of writing!

Then today, we had a grammar test on rules 6 and 7 in the use of subjunctivos. It was only 4 sections, a total of about 35 questions but then the added joy of being called, one at a time, to answer 5 questions orally.

Ok, maybe by the end of the trimester that won't seem so difficult but somehow I really doubt it.

So now you know how to pray for us - pray for ability to reason and transpose that reasoning into Spanish using correct grammar and vocabulary. And for us to not lose sight of the fact that the purpose of learning all this is to be able to share the Gospel and to speak in defence of the faith.

Well, back to this week's study...contamination.

It's a Party...Why?

A. It's my birthday!
B. It is Friday!!!
C. It's somebody else's birthday!

Well, it is Friday and that is reason to celebrate, but really it was Anthony and Kimberly's birthdays. They are the grandchildren of Daisy and Rodolfo and they both celebrated their birthdays on Wednesday - he turned 14 and she turned 12. Yep, they are not the children in the first pictures, are they? These were some precious little ones who came to visit.

So what else do you do on a birthday but eat cake and ice cream?! By the way, if your birthday has been this week...we hope you had a special day too.







Jimena, Daisy and Rodolfo's youngest grandchild, loves her cousin, Kimberly, very much.



For whatever reason you celebrated this week, I hope you enjoyed the cake and ice cream (or chocolate or pizza or ???) that accompanied your celebration!

You know, these are great celebrations down here, but one day...WOW! what a CELEBRATION that will be when we gather around the throne of God and bow in adoration and praise to the King of all the Ages. Will we see you there?

BUSY first week...

It's late and I am ready for bed but want to update with a couple of things about this week.

First, it has been a very BUSY week as we returned to classes. That first day is always so diffiuclt as all the teachers seem to think we are fluent Spanish speakers - huh, no, if we were we wouldn't still be here, right?! So when they began speaking like a house afire we had that "deer in the headlights look." Things are beginning to settle down some but still I still get that glazed look every now and then. Will it ever become easy?!

Homework level is tremendously high right now too. Glynis has had to write a movie reviews - storyline, characters, summary, and personal analysis - on the most recent movie we have seen (Australia); read and translate a two page article on movie ratings; prepare a 15 minute Bible study (ran out of time in class to present this so will do so on Monday); watch "The Ultimate Gift" in English with Spanish subtitles in class and write a full movie review on it. And that is just lenguaje.

David is not taking lengauje but rather doing a program called FARO in which he will interview and converse with 7 people on a specific route 2-3 a week, write a report on the interviews, complete a project regarding the topic for the week and meet one on one with the teacher for evaluation. This week, he has had to plan all 22 topics, 15 projects, and establish his route and begin a simple interview with the 7 people. Yep, this is just one class too. So we have been busy! In it all, the Lord is so faithful to assure us that this is His plan for us right now, that he is sufficient in all things, that he is the giver of strength and wisdom...and on and on the list goes of His confirmations. What joy we find walking in His plans!

We begin our Sunday afternoon Bible Study tomorrow.
Pray for us as we lead in this study; we have 3 first trimester students assisting.
Pray particularly for David tomorrow as he leads and teaches in Spanish.
Pray for the growth of the lady in whose home we hold the study.
Pray for her husband's salvation.
Pray for others to join the study and receive the message of salvation and spiritual maturity.

We pray that as you worship tomorrow God will open your eyes to new and precious truths about Himself. May your church proclaim the Gospel clearly so that others can hear and receive salvation. Happy Sunday!

Another first...

I had another first this evening. Daisy taught me to prepare flour tortillas. Brenda, the wife of the missionary couple who lived here before us, loved to cook and prepared many mexican dishes. His mother had taught Brenda delicious recipes and in turn, she taught Daisy many. Then tonight the cycle continued as Daisy taught me how to prepare flour tortillas...really pie crust recipe, rolled very thin, and cooked in a skillet(an iron griddle if you had one).

Don't you wish you had one too?








It was big stack...




Daisy prepared "gringo" chili to enjoy with them.


Daisy and Rodolfo...

Yes, it really was an earthquake...

Yes, indeed, today, we experienced a 6.2 earthquake. Things around us are fine, folks were just a little shaken as it was the strongest earthquake felt in over 30 years. Some folks were killed, others are missing, and hundresd of homes are destroyed. Pray for those who lives have been deeply affected. May this provide opportunities for the spread of the Gospel.

Goodbye Kim!

Today is another goodbye...Kim is returning to North Carolina. Kim is the sister of fellow missionary language student, Carol Wilkerson. She is a media specialist in elementary education. We had a great time together!

Kim, you and Carol are part of the fam now 'cause you know too many family secrets! We love you and can't wait for you to visit in Guatemala!

Click on the link below for a quick view of some special shared times! Click on the album, Goodbye Kim!, then click on the first picture to follow both the pictures and captions.

Snapfish:Library:Shared

Christmas Chronicles

Well, I have finally finished updating the blog with the week of fun with our children. If you skip down 9 posts and read back up the blog posts you will be able to follow our journey with them.

We have had a blessed time this past month and a half as we have "lived on our own" in the house of some special friends who had to return to the states for surgery for their daughter (she is doing great, PRAISE THE LORD!). It was indeed a blessing to be able to rest, relax, entertain, and enjoy our kids in a HOME! They had prayed that God would bless their home while they were away and what a blessing it was!!

We are now at home again. It is such a blessing to live with Daisy and Rodolfo, especially when we are in school - think no laundry, no cooking, no cleaning - as we are able to solely concentrate on studies. God has given us a special gift of love as we enjoy friendship with them. They welcomed us home as family when we returned Monday.

School begins next Monday...we are spending this week finishing some relaxing journies around town and reviewing before we bring our FINAL trimester of language study! Now is NOT the time to slack up in praying for us...we still have MUCH to learn and bring together in our minds and tongues.

Please pray for absorbant minds with just the right amount of pressure to make our tongues fluid! We are down to less than FOUR months!! Guatemala is just around the bend...

And then there were only two...

After returning back to the house and running some errands, we collapsed for an hour or so...just us two.




And then the pace increased...our little sibs (new IBM missionaries, Travis and Danielle Rann headed to Mexico City) arrived. We prepared lunch for them and several others who arrived without the priviledge of lunch on the flight. Saturday, we treated them to a tour of San Francisco and Zapote - welcome to the new mode of transportation...




Sunday they and another new IBM couple joined us for worship at church before joining us for lunch with last tri's little sib and her sister who is visiting. I prepared my first ever pecan pie...totally from scratch - crust and all. Thanks Ruth for the pecans.





Monday we returned home to Daisy and Rodolfo's and added some new decor that Rebecca brought from Stephen...remember when he ran for city council?






While unpacking and reorganizing we found this pic too funny to resist...



We have told you that we spend ALOT of time in class and in our office studying. Well, it's way too much time...David has literally worn holes in the seat of his pants!

San Jose and final goodbyes...

For the first time in our lives, New Year's Day was spent WITHOUT watching football games! Just to clarify, we could have watched those DAWGS bring in the victory, but there was still places to go and things to see! We spent the day visiting more sights in downtown San Jose...

we took a tourist train to see some interesting sights...









did some silly things...



We finished with more typical food...


and the real way to enjoy coffee...


Too early the next morning came time to say our final goodbyes.







We can hardly wait until they all come for a visit in Guatemala!

Goodbyes, bullfighting, and Feliz Año...

Thursday brought goodbyes, which aren't any easier the longer you are apart...





In the afternoon, we went to the fiesta in Zapote and to the "bullfight." Actually we called it "running from the bulls." Costa Rica is the only country where no matter what the bull does the person can't hurt the bull!




A girl bull rider entertained the crowd for awhile...she was really good and dismounted herself, without the "aid" of the bull :)!



Now this part is what we called..."Can you say ESTUPIDO?" Four guys sat on drink crates and waited for the bull to enter the ring...



after he entered the ring...



yep, he is knocked out cold. Both guys had to be removed on stretchers to the red cross area. Anyone else ready to give it a try?!

When we exited the ring, we were greeted with a traditional parade - dancing masks...


complete with their own band.



And then the new year was brought in with a BANG...literally..from about 10 pm to the GRAND finale at 11:45 until 12:30! Feliz Año!




May this year be the best you have ever experienced as you discover and walk in the will of God for your life!

Coffee and ox carts and shopping...

Tuesday was off to Doka coffee plantation...



seeing coffee growing...


sun drying...


and getting ready to be shipped...


(over 80% of the coffee from this finca is sent to the US, with Starbucks receiving the majority. Starbucks sells it as "Costa Rica" and also uses it in their special blends.)

doing a little tasting...



and shopping...David D's next Christmas gift?



Then to Sarchi, home of the world's largest ox cart...





Bananas anyone?

Zipping in the afternoon...

Monday afternoon brought ZIP LINING!!!

Mike...


Miriam...


Rebecca...


and David, trying not to spin...



Now for me...sitting on the porch sipping a Coca Cola Light, watching the stream roll along, photographing some beautiful flowers, reading a book and waiting for their return was all the adrenaline rush that I needed!


One of the flower arrangements in the restaurant...


Zinnas, my favorite flower...