Safe Arrivals and First Impressions

I have now been in Costa Rica four full days. We are starting to adjust to the schedule and discovering what we will be doing.  The weather is very hot and humid and of these four days, including our arrival day, it has rained three of them, although not all day.

On plane from Newark to Liberia

My last Dunkin Donuts Hazelnut Iced Coffee for a while and my Devotional

Beautiful Islands from the plane

Arriving in Costa Rica

Proof I am here!

I arrived at the airport in Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica on Tuesday, October 9, about an hour after Sydnie and Emily had arrived. At the airport, they were given 90 day visas. It is unclear to me what purpose the Lord may have in that I only got a 60 day visa, but I am sure that the Lord will make it clear.  Betty was already here and when we arrived, the meeting was such a sweet blessing! It is awesome to be together as a whole team, although Betty will be leaving in two weeks to return to Montana and, ultimately Uganda, where she lives and serves.  She will be sorely missed come that time.

We are in Villa Real and our closest town is Tamarindo. We are living in two of a set of three apartments, with a fellow missionary working with the local Calvary Chapel in the third one.  The apartments have one room, bath, kitchen and a dining/living room. They are very quaint and nice.  We share a roofed porch with rocking chairs to sit out in cooler breeze.  The owner's house is right across the lawn and we have two dogs that guard the property.

The primary ministry involves the Potter's Field Kids or "Manos del Alfarero" (literally Hands of the Potter) and the Bible Club. The PFK program is an after school program where kids register to come for the year. They are provided with Bible Classes, help with their homework, games, sometimes ballet for girls and wrestling for boys, art class and a hot meal for dinner.  The PFK program is Monday-Wednesday. The Bible Club is Thursday nights and it is open for all the kids in the community. We have songs, games, skits to share the gospel, Bible Study, help with homework and snacks. I will be teaching the Bible Study for the kids club in Spanish. I am also anticipating translating the Children's Bible Curriculum from English to Spanish.  All of these take place at the Calvary Chapel Villa Real facility, so during the day, we also help with cleaning, organizing and preparations for the program.

The Church Entrance

Introducing us the first PFK day!

Helping some kids with Studying for a Test

Kids in PFK (Potter's Field Kids) Program

A sign outside of the church.  A quote from Isaiah 45:22

Other areas to minister in include calling and visiting the kids in the program, babysitting for Pastor Phil and Rebecca or Matt and Brooke, translating for fellow interns that don't speak Spanish (and potentially visitors, as it is a tourist area) and communicating with Potter's Field Ministries staff about how things are going with the kids program.  Sydnie and I are learning some songs and practicing with the worship team and in about 3 weeks, we might be doing worship for the church services.

The apartments are on the same dirt road as the church at about a 5 minute walk.
About 5 more minutes is the plaza where we have a "feria" or market with fresh fruits and vegetables to buy at great prices twice a week. We went today and got great vegetables (and greens, Pastor Donathan) for a couple of days! We already have some fruit! The pineapples and avocados are the best!  Yesterday, with the plantain we bought, I made "tostones" (twice-fried plantain crisps) with chicken Sydnie made. It was a hit!

Our first meal ... we had salad the next meal, Pastor Donathan!!!

Saturday, we went to the beach... Yeah, I know, suffering for Christ ... Ha ha ha ha. It was really nice. I was blessed to buy a really cool Jesus fishy hat that says "Dios es fiel" (God is faithful) on the bill. At the same shop where I bought it, the owner was a believer and after talking about what we are doing in Costa Rica, the after school program and the Bible Club, she expressed interest in sending her granddaughter to the Bible Club! She lives in the same town and knows the church! Lord willing, she will be there next Thursday!

We could definitely use prayer for our involvement with the kids and getting to know them. We want to establish good relationships with them to most effectively minister to them.

For more photos see:
Goggle Costa Rica Album