Too, too fast.

In my lifetime, I'm sure I've said it over 100 times. February is too short. I've never liked the fact that there are the least amount of days in my birthday month. Now that I am here in Rica, I dislike it even more.

This week was amazing. They have all been amazing. There has been unbelievable progress on Humberto's house, and substantial growth in my family. There is a kind of routine when groups come on this trip (and it may be universal), where the most work gets done on Monday. As the week goes on, there is less working, more talking. Talking to fellow gringos and also to the Ticos. I've observed this with every team so far this month and now I see myself doing it.

Now that I am 3/4 of the way through this journey, I find myself clinging to conversations with the people in La Bonita. Like today. In between breakfast and lunch I basically sat and talked with Pastor Humberto. That's all. No stucco, no sweeping the floor, no watering the cement (which I didn't even know was a thing). Maybe this is why Wil keeps firing me. Anyways, we helped each other through language confusion and taught each other new words. We talked about many things and I wouldn't trade that time for anything.

I have a feeling this week will be more of the same. The fact that my last week here is about to start is setting in. I'll be doing things for the last time. Eating with the new team, taking communion with mis hermanos in La Bonita, sweeping the daggum floor. These are all things that are creating a sinking feeling in my stomach...already. I can't even imagine what next Thursday/weekend are even going to be like.

The only light of it is that I know I carry these people with me, always. Every time I take communion I'll be taking it with all of them; Daniel & Ana, Henry, Pastor Humberto, Amber & Juanito from Mississippi, my dear friends from Fort Lauderdale that found me at the airport, my CRMP family and every other person that I've had the pleasure of meeting.

Tonight I am staying with Wil's mom, Ginna, who has an adorable little house right down the hill from Wil. Wil & Yolanda aren't home because they are in San Jose. This past Tuesday, Yolanda's nephew was diagnosed with Leukemia. He's 11. Wil left La Bonita Wednesday night after church to join Yola at the Children's Hospital. The doctors seem to think that they have caught it early enough for a positive outcome, but the road will be rough. Andre, the boy, will recieve treatments for 15 days straight. But in between those treatments, he cannot go home. He has to live in a clean environment and his family's house isn't good enough. His father own a butcher shop. So, when he is not staying at the hospital, he and Yola's sister, Katia, will live at Wil's.

It is a hard time for the family. I'm looking for prayer soilders to keep them in your daily prayers as they begain this difficult journey.

Dios les bendiga. God Bless you all
:)

More pictures!!

Last Friday (the day after my birthday), Wil and Yolanda and I traveled Manuel Anitonio. It is a beach/ national park about an hour from San Isidro. The plan was to spend the day there with the Mississippi team and the I would ride back to Alajuela with them on the bus.

We had a great time. That beach is so beautiful, some of my friends that came on this trip in 2010 will remember. It was also relaxing to be in Alajuela. I know.that sounds weird, but there is this great hotel there that the group was staying at. Daniel and I stayed there too. We hung out until about noon Saturday to pick up the new team.

Yola and I at lunch at the beach :)


In Alajuela, I was also lucky enough to meet up with my friend Leccy. We met her last summer when we worked in Alajuela. Knowing I had a few hours to kill, I contacted her through Facebook. The power of technology, I'm telling you. Just the fact that it all worked out amazes me. Here we are :

Another week is upon is upon us my friends. This group is a hybrid. Part from California, the LA area and the rest from Virginia, Fredricksburg. They just happened to work together on a mission trip in the past and liked each other so much they wanted to do it again. How POWERFUL is that?! I'm excited.

Until next week!
RAGU

The fastest blog ever.

So, I'm sorry. There is much to share about last week but I have to unpack and repack my stuff before going to bed tonight. Therefore, this will be a pictorial view of last week.

The team from Mississippi was amazing. I feel honered to know them and be a member of their family. I was invited to their devotions each night and was sad to see them go this morning.

This is the front of our church in La Bonita.

This is the eating area with the kitchen in the background. This area is behind the sanctuary.

Here is the project. This is the parsonage where pastor Humberto will live! Thank goodness it has a roof. No more sunburn for this chica.

This is the back of the house. Those Mississippians are sitting back there watching....

....this sunset. This was Valentine's Day actually.

This was the sunset in La Bonita on my birthday. As you can tell, there are no shortages of beautiful sunsets here. My birthday was very fun and I got sung to a lot. After traveling back to San Isidro, there was a cake waiting for me. I shared with the group and the CRMP. Team and Daniel, all my friends!!

One more thing....

For those of you with Facebook, the best way to keep up with Costa Rica Mission Projects is to "like" their page. Wil has been compiling videos of each group and posting the there.

For those of you without Facebook, you can check the link below weekly if you are interested

http://vimeo.com/36454387


Thank you so much for reading :)

Glorious weekend.

Within CRMP, the weekends are for resting and preparing. There really isn't a full day off in between teams going and coming, but in between loads of laudry and packing and repacking, relaxation is found.

Yesterday; Wil, Yolanda Pedro, Pedro's cousin Andres and I all went to a local river for a swim and cool down. Some friends of theirs have a river basically in their backyard and they've created a sort of swimming pool by moving rocks and logs so that water accumulates. It was very fun, but I got even more sunburn!

The new team that arrived tonight is from Brandon, Mississippi. I have a feeling I'll be saying y'all on the regular by the end of the week. Wil and I went to dinner with them tonight and I can already feel it rubbing off on me. Southern drawl...Spanish....I'm gong to be all confused.

I am a little surprised that I am so ready to get back to the worksite. Maybe the fact that there are fresh new faces ready to work is a factor. It cant be that I want to lay MORE concrete. There are 9 new people here for me to get to know. I cant wait to see La Bonita through their eyes- especially the newcomers on their team.

Now that I have replenished my sunscreen supply, I'm ready for week 2!!

PS. My Haiti team will appreciate this..the water up on the mountain in La Bonita is some of the cleanest water in the country. I wish my water people were here to test it :)

(Tonight's sunset)

I made it!

Sorry it has taken me a while to update, I don't have much access to wifi!

Coming to Costa Rica is similar to coming home for me. I feel like I am where I am supposed to be, and it is a great, great feeling.

After finally finding Daniel and the team from Ft. Lauderdale outside the airport, the home feeling settled in. I've never really had that feeling in a place so far from my actual home. Its an interesting sensation.

We are working on a parsonage in a village called La Bonita. For those of you that know Spanish, believe it. Translated, bonita means beautiful. I knew we were going to a place with this name, but I didn't fully understand the name until we headed up the windy, steep, mountain road up to the village. The village is surrounded by green mountain views and lush areas of plant and animal life.

The people in La Bonita match the name as well. They are so wonderful and inviting. They don't hesitate to invite you into their lives even though they have never met you and there is a language barrier. Although my Spanish has already gotten better!!

I'm thankful for the opportunity this trip presents for many reasons, but one of those reasons is the fact that I am meeting so many new people. Not only the Costa Ricans in La Bonita and elsewhere, but the teams from the States. We are all here to be the hands and feet and arms and muscles (some sore ones that I didn't even know I had) of Jesus, why not do it together? Its amazing what the love of Christ does for individuals to make up mission groups. Never ceases to amaze :)

I'll write when I can! Goodnight from San Isidro!!

PS. 6 days until my birthday! You love it, I know.
PPS. RAGU!

Support!

This week has been full of support. I have seen many people in the week leading up to my trip, and I must say. I feel completely engulfed in love-- wrapped up in the arms of everyone who loves me. Special thanks to the following:

Sally Block for making me a birthday cake and putting ALL 24 candles on it. And for hugging me for like 15 minutes before I was allowed to leave her house.

Jay, Sheri, Melissa and the rest of my Haiti team (I mean family- let's be honest) for the goodies and GADGETS for me to take on the trip. For the support and prayers. OOPPS! I mean simply, RAGU!!

Katy & Justin for dinner last night and for the hugs to last me ALL of birthday month <3

To the best coworkers a girl could ask for....Kelly, Stephanie, Calvin & Semisi. Thank you for the goodies and for lunch today. I'm going to update as much as I possibly can!

My mom, for picking things up at Target and the grocery store and various other places that I didn't have time to do. I need that stuff! :)

 Off to do my packing...not the last minute kind...all of it!

Testing 1...2...

You know me, trying to be prepared. Gotta make this blog look right before I leave :)

1 1/2 days!!