team projects in Llano Verde:

drilling holes

sanding

look out! she has a crowbar and she's not afraid to use it!

are they making the missionary pull out his hair?!

the right tool for the right job...

carving

sawing

and more sanding

The projects involved framing and installing windows, sawing lumber, sanding boards, restoring a cabinet, creating and carving beautiful wooden signs, some plumbing, some wiring, along with two school programs, which included puppets, a craft, dancing and songs.  We also hosted the village women and pampered them by painting nails and doing hair, washing their feet, and doing a craft with them.  We also went out visiting homes. We did dramas, singing, puppets, dancing, sharing, and just socializing.  We had a few people who spoke some Spanish but I was so proud of the team...EVERYONE tried to speak and learn a little Spanish.  We experienced a jungle walk, a baptism, a pig butchering, the loudest most awesome thunder and lightning storm any of us have ever been in (including our missionary hosts). Yes, it did rain, but we were equipped with fashionable rubber boots.  I know I threw a lot of writing at you, but it was easier than trying to punch it in between photos as blogger has not been very hospitable to me (sorry for always whining about that!).  Til next time... love you ALL! Shari

we had every amenity you could ask for...

It's all a matter of perspective...

costa rican coffee sock

we had a several coffee makers...

Renee Wisdom, missionary extraordinaire...

we had an in-door kitchen...

an indoor shower with refreshingly cold water...

or an open-air option, if you'd like....

fashionable, yet functionally appropriate footwear...

and decorative air conditioning...  may all your needs be so  luxuriously met!  love, Shari

headed out to Llano Verde for a week...

We loaded up in the vehicles but some of the team had to get in their last minute computer time because we were headed out into "unplugged" territory... no internet service, no wifi. O my!!

Robin

We always make a stop at the place where the iguanas hang out, to see what they are up to and take photos of them; especially if we have people who've never seen them before. The restaurant there throws out their scraps, so that's why the iguanas hang out there.

We arrived out in the village late afternoon as the sun was setting faithfully around 6pm, as it does every night. (Yes, I miss our long summer days back home!) We set up our tent villages and then it was time for youth group. Here is some of the team taking in all the newness and listening to people preaching and singing in Spanish, and wishing they could understand it all...

In the background, you can see the team women's tent village, set up inside the church to protect us from the rain. It was definitely the rainy season!!

Sunday morning and it's time for Sunday School...

 The kitchen of the church... I LOVED that it was all open to the jungle view, with breezes blowing in to cool you as you scrubbed pots and pans.  Unfortunately, one of our projects is to install windows all around the building. Nicer for the people of the church, the people of Casa De Emanuel, The House of God.

Carol Chilcote and Stephanie Mitchell

And Monday morning, the work day begins...

Dave Mitchell, Dale, and missionary Clint... "So, Boss, what are the plans for today?"

It was rainy, buggy, muddy and the showers were cold but we were all having such a wonderful time with each other and the people of Llano Verde.  There were moments of sunshine and moments of great storm, sweet worship and singing, exuberant dancing, and every moment of every day rang with laughter.  More pictures tomorrow.  Rice-and-beans-kind-of deliciousness is wished to you today... love, Shari 

at the ferria (the farmers' market)

trip to the farmers' market...  we were divided up into teams, given identical lists of fruits and vegies, and the same amount of money.  first ones back would be the winners.

coconut milk

street musician

 first team back had mistakenly bought plantains instead of bananas. but everyone had a blast shopping for the items on their lists.  Blogger is frustrating me...do i say that everytime?? so I'll close with this picture, my favorite thing to eat down here.  tuity fruity wishes to you all....

product check...

Here we are!!!

Hello, from Costa Rica!! This is my first chance to blog since we arrived here in San Jose. We practically left immediately for the village of Llano Verde up north, just below Nicaragua.  But being OCD like I am, I will start from the beginning, which was over a week ago, and show you what we have been doing here for over a "week. 

the team...waiting...in Acme

Here we are, waiting at the church to load up and head for the airport...a nice warm day (hot, for home).

We loaded into 3 vehicles and were driven to Seatac. Check-in went well, the layover in LA was painless  and short.  The trip from LA seemed so long and cramped but everyone was awesome about everything.

Here we are on the other end, waiting again. Waiting for the missionaries to pick us up from the airport in Costa Rica. The weather was about the same as home but muggier. We got to Wisdoms', our missionary friends down here, about breakfasttime. They had breakfast waiting for us and then we had team devotions and a million chores getting ready to head out to Llano Verde for the coming week.

in Wisdom's back yard

you know you're not at home when you see this growing in the back yard!! bananas with their "flower"...

or this! a coconut fallen on the  ground and a new tree growing out of it... it's not even planted, for heaven's sake!!   Well since blogger is messing with me, that's all the patience I have for today... I'll post some more tomorrow. Our next adventure was shopping at the farmers' market. manana...til tomorrow.

The time is HERE!!!!

The countdown is over and by this time tomorrow, we will be headed to Seattle to catch our flight to Costa Rica.  I'm hoping to let you all know when we arrive but after that, we will be out in the village of Llano Verde for 10 days and will have no access to "technology".  I will blog our village adventures when we return to San Jose.  We covet your prayers!!  Happy July summer to days to you all...

Gettin' Grammy ready...

Hi, Grammy!  Are you ready to go yet? 

Got your sunglasses, Grammy? I hear it's pretty bright and sunshiny there.  And hot!!!  How you gonna stay cool, Grammy?

Got your journal all ready to go, Grammy? I know you've been painting and gluing in it...

Takin'  Papa with you, Grammy?  You better take him. He needs you to take care of him. And you need him to take care of you!!!

Got your devotional book and journal, Grammy? Try to find time to spend with God every day!

Which shoes you gonna take, Grammy?

Just some flip flops? Like these ones? Well... let's get you packed up and ready to go.  You'll miss me, won't you, Grammy? Some day I'm goin' with you, Grammy... some day...