Feliz el dia de accio'n de gracias

I think that's the way the Tico's were saying it! Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Just incase you're wondering, *Tico* is how the Costa Ricans refer to themselves.
School was out at 11:00 today. The Costa Rican SCORE missionaries, and some of the pastoral staff at the church El Lugar, hosted a Turkey dinner for us at the SCORE villa.
Tim and Evelyn, another couple Jason and Valerie, a single student, Tracy and Bob and I along with about 25 Ticos shared a nice feast.
Yes, the Ticos made a turkey (a first for them) along with a big pan of mashed potatoes, and because they're Tico's, there was also a pan of hot rice. We also had gravy, salad, cornbread and greenbean casserole. Los Estadosunidenses (that's what the Ticos call us) provided the dessert. We had apple crisp, apple pie, and pineapple upsidedown cake. Not necessarily traditional American Thanksgiving fare, but it was a wonderful time.
As we gathered in the large dining room, Jose' opened it with a time of many people sharing what they were thankful for en espanol y ingles. Maybe we didn't all understand each other or every word, but their was an understanding anyway.
Jose' read some Scripture and then we had a brief *breaking of bread* service before we began our meal. What a blessed time!
We sort of confiscated the TV remote for a short time. It's tradition! We had to watch the Detroit Lions lose on Thanksiving again!
Near the end I was in the kitchen with three of the Tico ladies. All three of them speak English quite well. Veronica (Argentinian) taught herself English just in the past year from listening to people talk! Anyway, as we talked in the kitchen, Veronica suddenly said "Hey wait! Why are you speaking English? You need to be talking in Spanish." It was said very nicely, but it was an encouragment to use my Spanish. So I did! and, wonders of wonders, they understood me! YES! and I didn't *baby talk* .... I used past tense and perifrases. If you've read any of my past postings, you'll remember perifrases caused my earlier meltdown en el classe de grammatica, but we've sense become friends. Yes, I made mistakes, but they gently corrected me. It was actually fun!
Turned out one of the ladies teaches Spanish to some other *los estadosunidenses* and she gave me much encouragment on my progress! PTL! The time was a special blessing as I realized what the LORD has allowed me to accomplish in just 2 1/2 months. That is definitely something to be thankful for!

Yes, we are still here and not totally buried in Spanish.

We're past the half way point and heading towards finals. That's hard to believe!

I feel like I have learned so much, and yet at the same time, I wonder if I'll ever really understand Spanish!

I have approx. 2 hours of *grammatica* starting at 7:30 Monday-Friday. My teacher, Ana, reminds me so much of ~d ( and that is meant as a compliment). She is very thorough, and an excellent teacher! But she is tough....I am amazed at how much material we cover in one week just in that class. But Ana gives us uch encouragement as we attempt new things.

This class is followed by a 45 minute break---on Tuesday's and Thursday's this is chapel time. Yesterday I gave my testimony in chapel.

This is followed by Lenguaje....Monday Hilda introduces the new vocabulary; Tuesday we have to report on a newspaper article on the theme for the week; Wednesday we make a presentation (dialogue); Thursday's we either give a 10-15 minute Bible study or recite a Bible verse (Yes, both are in Spanish but we alternate weeks--tomorrow I'm reciting I Juan 3:23), Friday is "question day" Every Friday we have to present 4-5 questions on the current week's theme for the teacher to review. During the week we find a Costa Rican to ask our questions to. Then the following week we present those answers in class, along with our new questions for the coming week.

Lenguaje is followed by Fonetica....this is my fun class! We laugh alot in there while Gabriela instructs the class and we struggle to learn the right sounds, emphasis, accents, inflections, etc.

Gabriela is a joy! This class always brings a smile to my heart!

But it's not all work as Bob and I have had opportunity to take short trips with other students. Because we go as groups we get good discounts on the prices. We've been to El Tortugero on the East Coast where the sea turtles nest. I actually got to help a hatchling into the sea!

One day we went with 2 other couples to an extinct vulcano and peered into the crater filled with bright green water, while shivering in the stiff cold breeze (7,000 ft elevation!)

This weekend had to be the best...we went to Arenal ~~an active volcano. Friday was our 34th anniversary, and the two of us sat in an outdoor jacuzzi (the only 2 in it!) and watched the red hot lava pouring down from the top of Arenal. How do we top that one for next year?

At times during the weekend the volcano was hidden by fog and the only evidence of it being there was the rumbling sounds that could be heard. At times, the clouds dissipated and while the red lava was not visible during the day, we could see puffs on occasion as evidence that a boulder was tumbling down the side. This place was amazing. Our hotel rooms were situated about 1 mile from the volcano.

Sunday morning we all gathered at an observation deck and held a church service. Hearing the volcano rumble thru the fog while we sang "How Great Thou Art" was truly a blessed experience! While I could see and hear the power displayed in this volcano, I was reminded of the power and majesty of the One who created all this!

Please continue to pray for us...we are stretched at every turn. My brain at times seems to rebel ---these classes are truly challenging. But there is also a feeling of accomplishment.

But I know that on my own I could not learn any of this...it is the LORD who is my strength, my Teacher, the one who gives me the ability to learn...and it is for His glory that I am here!

Will try to do a better job of keeping this updated, but no guarantees!