Chattanooga Choo choo

Well here we are at the Marriott Courtyard in Chattanooga, TN. Staff mtgs start in less than an hour. We arrived here last night, and had the morning free. I can think of many words to describe this area where we are....clean, quiet, sunny, beautiful, peaceful....

The hotel is only 1 block from the river. After breakfast, Bob and I walked along it for while, then started to walk to an art museum. Along the way we saw an historic bridge. As we started to walk across, we were stopped by a couple of ladies. They were filming for a local channel, and wanted us to wait a second while the photographer adjusted his camera. Then they filmed us walking across. It will be on their local progam, *First Sunday* this Sunday morning. Alas, we won't get to see it.

We did go to the art museum... a lot of what they call *art* ...well.....it wasn't so pleasing to us. But we did find one section that had old black and white photos done by a man named Hine in the late 1930's. They were of the area where a dam was going to be built. He showed the people that would be affected by the dam construction. It was interesting how it showed his original captions for the photos stating how these people would be displaced. Some were log homes from the Civil War era. But then they showed the caption from the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) stating how these people would now have electricity to power their homes. This part was very sad to see, but obviously very real. The effects of progress.

Well time to get ready for our first meeting. If anyone is actually reading this, hope you have a blessed day serving the LORD however He is leading you to do so today!

back.....and almost gone.......

Well, we are back from our family vacation to the upper peninsula of Michigan. Camping on Lake Superior at the Hurricane River National Campground is a family tradition. But Shan hadn't been there in 17 years, and David in about 8. And this time, we had the joy of introducing all three grandkids to this special place.
Sand, large rocks to climb, rock collecting, hikes, touring an old lighthouse, going to Munising to a combination bookshop/coffee shop, reading and viewing the stars (shooting stars and satellites) were among the fun activities. I was glad that my heals were recovered enough that I could make the 1.5 mile hike to the Au Sable lighthouse with Bob, Lyndie and Stephan on Sunday afternoon. I'm glad we did it early in the week, because as the week progressed my heals really became aggravated. Last year at this time, I wouldn't have even been able to attempt it, so I was thrilled.
The entire group took a much longer hike on Wednesday afternoon, So I took Shiloh into the little town of Grand Marais and we toured the Pickle Barrel House....that was a special time for me to have with Shiloh.
We arrived home Saturday night about 10, tired but giddy. Shan left out early Sunday morning to drive back to Lnchburg. We have all three kids. T say we are tired would be putting it mildly. After all the excitement and adventures the boys had last week, they just needed to crash. I now have a new appreciation for $1 DVD's at Walmart. We did get one sort of educational one put out by National Geographic about 2 men who attempt to get as close as possible to sharks without cages for protection. It kept Stephan, Samuel, Bob and Glen entertained for an hour!
Tomorrow, (Tuesday) I drive to Lynchburg with all three grandkids, while Bob stays in Greenville. He'll travel to Columbus on Wednesday to make a presentation at a hospital. I return on Saturday. Sunday we are at a church in Germantown.
THEN its the Great Darke County Fair!!!!! Hope to see you there!

Maybe in the States?

Well, now that I'm in the States my laptop is actually allowing me to sign on again. For some reason Dominican airwaves and my laptop will not combine to allow me to post to my own blog!
I enjoy reading everyone else's blog, but it is very annoying not being able to respond or post at all.
I have some dvd's we bought in Costa Rica that played well while we were there. They also played in the States, but will not play on my laptop in the DR, but will play on Bob's or the tv/dvd player there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm sitting at Broadway Joe's enjoying my Highlander Grogg and bagel. It's so wonderful to be able to go out by myself and just sit and relax. Something I can never do in the Dominican either.
It was great seeing so many friends at church yesterday...even if I froze during the morning services! I'm much mor accustomed to sitting in a sleeveless dress with fans blowing on me while I drink bottled water~~as opposed to yesterday when I tried to huddle around a cup of hot coffee to absorb the warmth! Then the opportunity to share about our ministry last night and to answer everyone's questions...what a blessing for us. We're still over whelmed by the gift card shower!
WOW! That has blessed us in many ways! God knew our needs and has provided for us thru the saints!
Spent an hour at Family Bazaar this afternoon. $1.00 racks were fun. khaki skirt, white shorts, jean capris, and sleeveless tops! I tried on 3x what I actually bought, but that's part of the fun too! Then free magazines from the library...coming *home* and discovering magazines are $4.99-$7.99 each takes the fun out of buying any...but I did buy some used for 25 cents each on Saturday. They were actually from this year, too!
Well, hopefully I'll be able to repost in a few days again...until then, love you all!

Unbelievable!

Yes, I'm back! I have no idea what happened. But I have been unable to access my blog or post on anyone else's either. You have no idea how frustrating that has been. I've tried everything and it would never recognize me. I dont' know if it was because I was using a laptop at our apartment instead of this desktop at the medical clinic. On my laptop when I bring up anyone;s blogs it's been weird. The blogs are in English, but everything else on the page is in Spanish. But not on this desktop. So, I don't know if that made a difference or what...but I'm back
Nothing much to say...I am just so shocked that I am actually here...Hopefully when I have something prepared to write I'll be able to get back on. Will try visiting some blogs now and see if I can post...I really don't hold out much hope!

My week....

Well let's see...I thought I might share with you my past week. Nothing exciting but still sort of typical (atleast for a week when we don't have a med team here)
Bob had spoken to Joe our landlord about our kitchen counters. They were really in bad shape and were causing water to leak down into the cupboards. So, Joe came up, checked them out and agreed they needed replacing. So last Thursday Joe began. He brought Pabo (caretaker when Joe's back in Canada) and they ripped out the old counter tops. Of course, previous to this I had to empty out the cupboards and remove the drawers. It took them 5 minutes to rip out the old. Then they made a new base out of plywood, got it all installed with the sink reinstalled. This only took about 2 hours max. Then Joe called the guy who was lined up to put the laminate over the plywood. That was Thursday about noon.
Now Joe doesn't like to do any repairs in our apartment unless Bob or I are there. So, I sat home waiting for the laminate guy. Everytime Joe called him, he was going to be over in just a little while. Sunday evening at 6pm he finally arrived and installed the 'butcher block' laminate counter!
Joe came up this morning with the ceramic tile he purchased to finish the wall by the sink. It should look nice when done. With Joe doing it it should be completed soon.
I did get the new curtain panels made for the temporary room dividers Bob had purchased used from a junk yard. These are the to be used for the med clinics in the villages. So my sewing machine and I reconnected after being separated since last April! What joy! sewing!
Then I was able to remake 5 t-shirts. I do NOT like the way t-shirts fit..I really hate t-shirt necklines esp in the heat! I had two new SCORE t-shirts along with 3 I had picked up while gone from the DR. So using my serger I was able to redo the necklines and make them sleeveless, and cut about 8" off the length. Why do they make t-shirts so-o-o-o long? So, after a few trying moments of bad tension (the serger --NOT me!) I reconnected with my serger too.

Then Wayne (SCORE missionary in charge of construction) was here Sunday thru this morning. He took Bob and I out to eat at a place I'd never been to. How do you describe a restaurant that is on the beach with beds in the water, and on the beach that you recline on and eat? We, however, chose the tables on the wooden deck. Had to get our flaslights out to see the menu. Who knows if what I ate is what I ordered, the one little votive on the table didn't illuminate my plate. But it was delicious! And we had a great time with Wayne as we sat and talked for over 2 hours.

Wayne showed Bob a stack of scrap wood that was left from some projects he had completed for SCORE. Bob used some of it today and made three (YES THREE!!!) bookcases for our apartment. One for his little study and two for my sewing room. I had two bookcases in their already, but one only had three shelves and the other is only 3 feet high. My two new ones are each 6 feet tall! Bob is going to take them home in a few minutes. I already have left over paint from some other projects and I will paint them this evening. I am so exceited!!!!! Just last week I was wishing I could have new bookcases, but knew it wasn't in the budget to buy them or the wood to make them. Now I have two and Bob has one also....God is so good! This was just a wish and He still honored it. Maybe it seems silly...but I feel humbled that the God of the universe would still care that I got two bookcases!

Yesterday Bob and I got to go into Santo Domingo. He had to check on some items for an upcoming med team. So we got to spend the afternoon together. Even got to get a slice of pizza and a Coke at Price Smart (their version of Sam's Club).
Oh yes, we left for Sto Domingo AFTER we waited 2 hours for the fumigator to show up. Monday afternoon Bob found a BlackWidow right inside the front door of the clinic. I thought I only had to be on the lookout for tarantulas!

I've been in the morning with my coffee reading a book by Randy Alcorn called "Heaven". I started it before but got side-tracked and never finished it. So I re-started and am really enjoying it. I highly recommend it! Really has made me think about, well, HEAVEN, of course!

So this has been my life...nothing earth shattering...but this was my past week.

love you.....

so, that's the problem.....

Well, yesterday was a gorgeous day at Catalina Island. Bob and I went snorkeling off the boat. It was wonderful, except my mask kept fogging and I swallowed too much salt water. But Bob was ever so patient as he held my hand and pulled me around (even the gentle flipping of the fins aggravates my ankles) But after 45 minutes we were ready to grab two lounge chairs in the shade of a palm tree and relax. After a while we decided to walk out from the beach with our masks on and see what could be discovered right off shore. There was the smallest out cropping of a reef--2 feet high and maybe 8 feet long. It's amazing what was *hidden* there in plain site!

striped fish, bright blue fish, tiny silver fish, etc.

We're not talking one or two, but dozens! We even followed a flounder as it skimmed along the ocean floor. What was nice for me is I could stand in the water when I needed to. I much prefer being able to touch bottom.

After a delicious lunch, we rested and read and talked and rested and read and talked until we went back in the water again.

By the way home I was exhausted and just physically drained again. We came home, took showers before returning to SCORE to eat dinner with the group. Unfortunately, before we left the apartment I was rinsing out our suits, towels, etc from the salt water, when the hose came detached from the washing machine. Would have been better had we discovered it 5 minutes sooner than we did, but I now have a very clean laundry room floor and today I washed all the towels and the two rugs (crocheted with fabric strips) that got soaked.

Got up this morning after 11 hours sleep and felt like I could go right back to sleep. Then the body aches started. We think I picked up a bug, so that would account for much of the exhausted feeling, as that is the way it has hit me before. Body aches pretty much confirm a *bug*. Bob left to go over to the clinic and I went into the bathroom. That's when it hit me! DUH! I forgot that here I canNOT brush my teeth with water right from the tap. Ten months out of the country wiped that intelligent fact from my brain. So for 4 days I've been using Dominican tap water to brush! Praise the LORD for antibiotics.

As I was leaving the ministry center, Joe (landlord) was videoing a nice big tarantula on the otherside of the property wall. Then when I went to open the gate to pull the car out, we noticed a baby tarantula right next to the gate. I HATE tarantulas! YUCK! This is the first that we've seen any near the apartment. I want them to go away. Mama tarantulas only have one baby at a time, right??????

I need rest.....

Well I've been here since Monday afternoon and I am exhausted. I have been away from our apartment for 10 months. Part of that was our furlough and almost 4 months in Costa Rica. But 5 months was in Virginia. Anyway, our apartment was closed up from mid-July thru the end of December. Bob did try doing some cleaning when he returned the end of December but has had to concentrate on the clinic and medteams.
With the heat and amount of dirt that just is always everywhere, the apartment isn't just dirty it actually feels dirty. Monday Bob went to put clean sheets on the bed before I got home. Unfortunately, the replacement sheets were musty when he pulled them out. So he laundered that load before going to the airport. Every piece of clothing has to be washed. They just have either a musty or old smell about them. This includes all sheets, towels, etc. Every surface is coated in grittty grime. Much of our stuff was packed into plastic bins. With being gone that long, we pack things up to protect incase of a leaking roof. So, everything has to be put back in place, so we have a home and don't feel like we are living in a storage unit.
I spent Monday evening cleaning our room. I'm still working on the rest of the apartment. All dishes have to be washed before using too. Only hot water is in the bathroom tub in the showerhead, if I remember to turn on the hot water heater and wait 45 minutes.
I'm physically adjusting to the heat (fortunately, the humidity isn't too bad).
But I think I'm recovering from emotional stress also. My time in Lynchburg was to help Shan with her separation. As a mom it is hard to watch your child suffer and hurt. It's not any easier when that *child* is an adult. I so wanted to protect and shield her. I wanted to be strong for her and take some pressure off from her. I know she's hurting and has a tough time ahead. As much as I wanted to be back here with Bob, leaving her and the grandkids was very difficult.
So, please pray for me as I feel drained. Bob has had a surgical team and a medical team all week, so I've only been able to see him in the evening (with 30 other people around for most of the time) Tomorrow the groups are going to Catalina Island and Bob and I *have* to go to lead the groups. I am so looking forward to the time with my husband and just relaxing. I LOVE the groups...don't get me wrong, but I'm really hoping that tomorrow they can entertain themselves on the boat and the beach and won't need my husband's attention the majority of the time.
Please pray for strength for me---emotional, physical and spiritual. I'm tired!
love to all and enjoy your snow!

Yes, I'mmmmm baaacccckkkk!

It's been a long two months. My attentions and energies were not in posting to my own blog. Sorry but the LORD had other requirements of me.
But today I have time to blog. For some reason when I try to post on ~d, charity's or lyndie's blog it won't let me. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but it's asking for my google account. Anyone know wny? It's frustrating to finally get time to respond and have everything rejected.
~d: your blog is about a movie. I haven't seen it or even heard of it. But I have had the "joy" of watching Disney's Little Mermaid more times than I ever care to again in one week. Actually if I never see the movie again, I would be quite content.
I disliked the movie when it came out while Shan was in high school. Time has not made the heart grow any fonder either.
*16 year old girl longs for things she cannot have
*Father gives her stern warning against going to the surface
*She deliberately disobeys. gets herself involved with a demonic creature (the character actually calls herself a demon/witch)
*Girl makes a pact with this demonic creature.
*"rescued" before she loses her voice permanently
*receives her Father's blessing and gets what she wants in the end. (The rewards of disobedience?)

Is there something in this movie that I am missing? Some *redeeming* quality? Of all the kids movies I have seen over the years, this one has bothered me the most. Am I missing something?

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!

estoy mejor

I don't think I've ever been as happy to come to an end of a week as I was on Friday!

While in the ladies room between classes that day, one of the ladies made the comment:

**TGIF is a restaurant in the States, here it is the truth!!!***

Since our entire class was in the bathroom and the class bell had already rung, I was able to successfully use one of the perifrases when I entered class...."Tenemos que usar el bano"

( : yes, I know it should be stated in the past, but we haven't learned past tense yet :)

~~We take small steps en espanol and are very happy when we are able to do so without falling flat on our faces. ~~

I was very *wisely* told by a student in Bob's class, that since I can only speak in the present tense, I can't worry or be concerned about the past, or what happened last week.

Everything for me is *now* or *current*

I'm sure there's a Biblical principle in that statement ~~~ it just seems like it should have one! If I weren't concentrating so much on my Spanish, I could probably pull it out :)

This week we're doing 'el complemento directo'...and so far, so good. I seem to understand this one, pero debo practicar mas. (Notice the usage of another *perifrase*)

I have a test tomorrow in Fonetica on dipthongs and blends.

I'm also working on memorizing Mateo 11:28-30 en espanol by Thursay morning.

So, please continue to pray!

Hope y'all are having a great week!

"I'm melting...."

Wednesday halfway thru the first session of Grammar I had a meltdown...just broke into tears and that pretty much described the rest of my school day. For some reason, it was as if my brain went into rebellion and refused to release the information that was there. I couldn't understand anything the teacher was saying. Just so you understand, she wasn't speaking English; all the classes are totally in Spanish. It came my turn to respond in class and I started crying and left the class.
Praise the LORD, there were many who rallied around me giving me support. It appears that many students at some point feel overwhelmed, and walking out of class in tears is a normal response. But the teachers are very supportive and understanding. My language teacher during the morning break could tell I was upset, and was so supportive. When we got to class she had us start the class with prayers in English (unheard of!) so that we could fully say what we wanted and not have a language barrier. Another lady, Lydia, is a former counsellor at the school and is now a missionary with her husband, but is filling in while the Student Life Director is out of the country. I haven't seen Lydia in days, and Wednesday there she was in the break room talking to some other students. She saw me and came over and asked if I wanted to talk. We went into another room and talked and prayed. What a blessing!
Then I got to Fonetica class, this is the one that always makes me laugh! I discovered 5 minutes into the class I had forgotten to do an assignment (a first!) and burst into tears again. Gabriela was so understanding....she even told me I didn't have to take the test that was planned for that day. But atleast that was material that I knew, so I did take it.
A student from my grammar class, Marie, is the class *brain*; she's the one that *never* gives a wrong answer. She has rallied along side me in a big way. She came over on Wednesday afternoon and spent 2 hours going over the material. yesterday, she sat next to me in grammar class and made sure I understood and was getting the right answers written down. She is truly a blessing from the LORD! Today at 7:30 we have a test in grammar over the material that caused my *meltdown*, but Marie is meeting me at school early so that we can study again. I am so thankful for this dear sister in Christ!
So, please pray for me for strength and that this will be a discouragement of short duration. It has been frustrating, and at the same time comforting because I have discovered I am not alone with comfort, support and prayers from so many.
Up until Wednesday we had received no mail from anyone. But I check our mail slot faithfully each day hoping. On Wednesday I glanced into our mail slot and lo! and behold! there was mail. A lady (who I don't know) from a church in Virginia that supports us had written a note of encouragement on Friday of last week, sent it right out and it arrived on the day when I needed it most! What a blessing from her and from the LORD!
So, after I finish my coffee, I'm off to study with Marie and then take my test! Please be praying for me even if you receive this after the time of the test.....

You might be a missionary if.....

On the slight possibility that anyone may actually be checking this site at all I thought I would share these *facts* from a missionary magazine i found here at the school.

((By the way Bob and I are both loving our time here...the school is wonderful...teachers are fantastic...fellowship is grand...and our brains are being stretched in many directions!))

So, you might be a missionary if you....

*Read a National Geographic magazine and realize, "I know those people..."

*Have to stop and think about what to do with used toilet paper...

*Keep switching languages when speaking with good friends...

*Can't finish a sentence en un solo idioma.

*Don't know what to say when asked where you are from...

*Have 6 different varieties of ants in your house and you ignore them all....

*Your children think it is acceptabl to kiss strangers...

*Your women's magazines are at least 6 years old, but you still pass them along to friends...

*Are okay driving without brakes, but would never do so without a horn.

*Point with your lips...

*Miss getting junk mail...

*Pull up to a gas station and wait for someone to come out and pump your gas...

*Are surprised when the electricity stays on all day...

*Bring a bag lunch and a novel when you go to the bank...


Hope you all are doing well.....miss you...please write!

But they're so tiny...

Okay, how do I resize those photos? what did i do wrong????

Off to market we go.....

Just thought you might like to see our shopping experience. Every saturday there is a farmer's market about 5 minutes walk from our house. It starts at 5 AM, but when we arrive about 8, there is still a wonderful array to choose from. These pix are from our first trip there with our landlord, Orlando, and his wife, Ivonne. The other lady is Amy and her daughter, Hope, who live in a house right next door to our apartment.








This is my first attempt at adding photos, so hopefully it will work allright. Thanks for the info Lyndie...

Lessons before school starts

Wow! Hard to believe that we arrived two weeks ago yesterday! We are very much enjoying it here. Life is very calm compared to our time in the Dominican Republic. But then our classes haven't started yet.
We've had four days of orientation that we have enjoyed very much.
Other than the basics about school and classes, we've had interviews with various members of the staff so they can get to know us more personally...we're not just a student at their school. There have also been sessions on security, cultural awareness, if you're going to have a maid, and sexual and moral purity among others. The last one covered an entire morning and was very well done. Both joint session and small groups with married men, married women, single men and single ladies. pitfalls, warning signs, cultural, etc. The #2 reason missionaries leave the field is because of sexual immorality! Alot to think and pray about.
We have discovered that the school is very concerned that we do well with learning Spanish, but they are very concerned also that we *succeed* in other areas as well...both here and in our host country. The cultural training was very informative. First there was a skit done by the staff....funny and yet...! Then they had a panel of four Costa Ricans that are not teachers but have been involved with the school. One of the questions asked was "What do we do that you think is the most offensive?" Three answers given "That is not how we do it in the States"
and "We're Americans." --as if they aren't. Yes, they are from Costa Rica, but it is still part of the Americas...we are not the only ones who can call ourselves Americans. Third one was not to tell a native what is wrong with his country or make fun of his country. They may make fun or complain about their country, but it is their country...for us to complain or make fun of it is offensive. Sort of like, when you're little..you may call your brother all sorts of names and think nothing of it, but let someone else call him a name and you're ready to defend your brother to the death! Bob and I know we've been guilty of that in the DR, so we want to be much more careful of that.
Saturday we walked to the farmer's market with John and Katie, newlyweds (3 weeks) that live in our 3rd apartment (Tim and Evelyn in the 1st). After getting our fresh items, including homebaked corn bread for us! We walked to a restaurant and had breakfast...yummy! We will definitely be returning. Bob and I each ordered toast, as we weren't very hungry. Oh my! 8 slices per order of what I think was an egg bread..slices about the size of an English muffin, toasted with butter melted in....we brought almost a whole order home to reheat and enjoy!
That afternoon Sheila, who with her husband Dick are the Student Life Cor-ordinators at the school, dropped off a sewing machine in a cabinet for me to use while here!!!! YES!!!! Okay, so it hadn't been used in atleast 10 years, was dry as a desert, and missing bobbins. I have a sewing machine to use. I walked to the nearby fabric shop bought 3 bobbins, two half yard pieces of fabric and 3 spools of thread for less than $3. But nobody including the hardware store or auto store had any type of oil for a sewing machine 3-in-1 would have been nice to find.
So Bob suggested I call a cab and go to Hypermas (owned by Walmart!). Never having ventured out alone in a cab I was a little nervous. But he called the cab, I had my written instructions for our address (no one here has a street address...it's all by direction and location to other bldgs or landmarks. Ours is San Franciso dos Rios de Lys (antigua Unisys) 100 sur y 50 oeste, mano derecho, palmera al frente. Our 100 sur y 50 oeste refers to a Burger King that is now closed!)
Anyway, cab arrives I get in and proudly state, Hypermas, por favor. and then I realize he is asking "which one?" uh???? All I know is I it is nearby and I don't want to go to the Guadalupe location. So he takes off, but the route is NOT what I am used to...now we're by old facotry bldgs, back roads, etc. getting a little nervous and increasing my prayer life! Turns out I got to go to a Hypermas that Bob's never been to! I went to the Sebastian location. Since then I found out there are a total of 4 locations! who knew? But I made it there, enjoyed my time out, got what I needed to clean, disassemble parts of the sewing machine, oil, etc, hailed a taxi at the front door and gave him the first part of our directions home. When it got closer I just handed him my handwritten directions (I wasn't taking any chances of saying it wrong!)
Tim and Evelyn arrived yesterday and after a very heavy rainstorm, we hailed a taxi and went to a restaurant, we could have walked but it was a little far for my ankles, which decided to act up yesterday and start aching. A total of two tables in this little restaurant...but the food!!!! huge plate of barbq chops, rice, black beans, salad, red cabbage with diced apples, broccoli and fresh mango nectar for $3!
I'm giving up cooking...restaurants are too inexpensive and they're all great cooks!
Better go...first day of classes start in 45 minutes. Please pray for us and write...would love to hear from YOU!

Our God is an awesome God!

"The words of the LORD are pure words
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."

It's Psalm 11:6 and part of what I'm reading this morning.

Yes, I already knew God's word was true, holy and to be trusted. But this verse just hit me with the picture of something being thrown into a fire and yet coming out perfect. Seven times!
To me, it's a reassurance ~not only of His purity~ but also of the strength and power of the LORD and of His Word!

"Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from heaven on high,
with wisdom, power and might.
Our God is an awesome God."

Why do I not always remember this in times of struggle?

As time goes by....

While I love reading everyone else's blogs, I seem to be very lax in updating my own. Not even sure anyone is even checking in to this blog anymore. But on the rare possibility that someone is out there, I will update.

So much has happened since my last posting. I have left Virginia, Bob has come to the States, we have visited David & Lyndie, had a great time with Glen, been back to Virginia and gone camping with Shan and the kids, visited some churches, spent three days at the Great Darke County fair where I had 3 Bowman's tenderloins, 4 cotton candies, Friske's french fries with vinegar and watched the peewee pig showmanship, and arrived in Costa Rica!

Costa Rica is wonderful...once I got over jet lag and adjusted to the 2 hour time difference!
Our apartment here is half the size of what we have in the Dominican, but is very pleasant. Our living room, dining room and kitchen are contained in a 13 foot square. But is very comfortable. But we have wireless internet right in our apartment!

We are 1 block from the language school...we can walk there in less than 2 minutes. The church that we will be attending (another SCORE ministry) is up 1 block and over 1 block from our apartment in the opposite direction of the school. We went to prayer meeting there on Tuesday night. Also went out to the SCORE ministry villa last night for a Thanksgiving service for the end of their season. Beautiful place!

Weather here is so different than the Dominican. It's rained most of today, but it's basically a gengle rain, so it's very relaxing and soothing. Great weather for a cup of coffee and a good book. Wearing long sleeves is a treat we're not used to. However, I do need to remember to bring a jacket or sweater when we go out in the evening. Of course, the fact that there is no hot water tank and the hot water heater on the shower only lasts about 3 minutes, is going to take some getting used to. Washed my hair this morning in water that felt one step away from ice cube status.

Our landlords are wonderful. They picked us up at the airport. Of course, it would have been better if their van hadn't been broken. The wife and daughter came in a small car (about the size of Lyndie's) and had to call a relative to come and bring our luggage. But they took us to a small grocery store that same day, then Orlando, the husband, took us to a larger one yesterday. Saturday we are going to an open air farmer's market.

Orientation for language school starts next week and actual classes the week after that. It will be an interesting and challenging time. But I'm actually looking forward it!

will try to post more often.....but no promises

*rolling hills* and memories

Most of this week we have had heavy rain...not all day every day....but it was the general forecast for the week and it lived up to that forecast.
Yesterday about noon the sun finally came out to stay. The grandkids are back from their two week trip, so yesterday was my first full day with them again. Kept the day pretty low-key and let them re-adjust to being home.
Shan has off work today so after letting the kids sleep in and then running a couple of errands, we took the kids to a park to play and eat lunch. There is a small creek right where we were set-up with our blanket and goodies. I spent part of the time watching Stephan and Samuel playing on the edge of the creek building little dams and diverting the water. Their childish enjoyment of something as simple as water, rocks and mud was so enjoying and calming to watch.
The other night I went over to Liberty University for their 4th of July celebration (actually held on Sunday the 2nd, but that's okay) As I sat in the stands at the football stadium listening to the musicians perform, it was so pleasing to look around and watch families. On the opposite side of the stadium was a small hillside. Through out the evening I watched children rolling down the hill, getting up, running to the top and rolling down again. I sat there remembering what it was like to watch my own children doing that in years past when we lived in Indiana. Then the memory came back of my brother and I doing the same thing in front of my Grandma Jake's farmhouse in Wisconsin many years ago.
What fond memories....I took pictures today of the boys playing without them knowing it, as I didn't want posed pictures...I wanted the *real thing*. More memories to keep for future days!

We went...we drove...we conquored!

This weekend Shan and I got to take our own road trip! Just the two of us. Last weekend we decided that since we would have an entire weekend and she had off from work Thursday evening until 4pm on Sunday we should take a trip.
Our original plan was just to drive an hour or so to Charlottesville and browse antique stores. Well Shan came up with the idea of going to Washington DC, which turns out is only 4 hours from Lynchburg. My first reaction was a fear of driving in the nation's capitol. But we went to Barnes and Noble, read thru the tourist guides and devised our plan. We knew our time was limited and no way could we see it all, so there was no since in making ourselves and each other miserable even trying. We came up with a list of things we wanted to see and then proceeded from there.
That turned out to be quite easy! We both wanted to see Washington's National Cathedral and the Vietnam War Memorial. She wanted to visit the Holocaust Museum but I knew I would have great difficulty getting thru that without Bob with me. But I wanted to go to one part of the Smithsonian.
We got directions off mapquest, packed our bags, had our snacks and got up at 5:30AM on Friday. We were actually on the road by 6:30 and drove right to the National Cathedral without any difficulties. Parked on a side street and then spent almost 7 hours at the museum. Part of the time we were together, and alot of the time we each did our own thing. Ate our sandwiches outside on the lawn on a wooden table with a black squirrel providing entertainment. Turns out squirrels, or at least that one, don't like candied ginger!
My main reason for wanting to go to the museum was for the stained glass windows. Several of the windows were created by Lawrence Saint. He is the father of Nate Saint, who along with Jim Eliott and 3 other missionaries was killed in Ecuador in the 50's. I bought a book in the bookshop when we first got there that described the windows and gave their locations. I walked upstairs trying to get myself orientated. Sat down on a chair and looked up and right straight ahead was the circular window that Lawrence Saint created called "the Last Judment". To say it is beautiful doesn't even do it justice.
I was also able to buy a small pamphlet style biography of Lawrence Saint that was compiled and written by one of his granddaughters. What really impressed me was that Lawrence Saint had a very strong Christian testimony and devoted his life to creating beautiful Christian art; three of his 8 children were missionaries in foreign countries; his son, Nate, and daughter, Rachel, both died on the field; Nate's son, Steve, ("End of the Spear") has gone back and lived with the very natives who killed his father; Steve's children have both lived with and served the Waodani Indians. What a family legacy!
The ironic part of the whole thing...here is this beautiful cathedral, all these stained glass windows, many with Biblical themes, etc. and downstairs in the bookstore were books on mysticism, Buddhism, the Muslim faith, and all sorts of other 'isms';even a book called "The Spirituality of Wine". Not just a book or two, entire bookshelves and displays! But actual Christian books were very sparse.
The last 90 minutes we were there a rehearsal was taking place in the main part of the cathedral. I sat looking up at "the Last Judgment", listening to over 100 teens and an orchestra (with lots of string instruments) singing hymns like "It Is Well With My Soul", etc. i sat there listening to the music, glancing up at the window and reading several Psalms. What a very encouraging and blessed time!
Will write more later....