We are almost ready to start our last Trimester of Language School, and we'll be graduating on Dec. 12 , can't wait (to graduate, that is)!
In the meantime, we've had 2 weeks off, and our daughter Charity came to visit us. We rented a car during this time (which makes Roger feel like a real man to drive again:) The day after Charity arrived, we took a drive to the Caribbean coast and visited some friends at the Painted Beach & drove south almost to the Panaman border to Puerto Viejo and saw some monkeys in the wild. Then on Fri, we went to the rainforest and a bird santuary, where Charity petted a Toucan, and a blue Macaw licked Debbi's face and neck, all the while trying to trick her into slealing her glasses off her face!! On Sat, Sun, Mon we drove to the northern Pacific coast to Guanacaste and stayed at Flamingo beach. It was a beautiful drive through the mountains and we had lots of laughs, with Charity and Leslie (a fellow student going back to Colombia). We swam, got burned and ate fish and had lots of fun and saw beautiful sunsets! Then on Monday, Charity talked Leslie and I into white water rafting with her (Roger waited in the car)!! Only these weren't big rafts, they were like canoes with just one person and a guide in each raft! We all got dumped on the waterfalls, and Debbi also got dumped on one of the bigger rapids. We then started driving back south, and found a little "cabina" to sleep in (cost was $12/person!)...filled with gecos and bugs galore, cold showers, etc., but we had a bed (even though Debbi's bed was 1/2 full of water due to raqin pouring in through the wall:)...its all an adventure:) Then Tues., we stopped and saw the huge crocodiles before heading back home to San Jose. We laughed every day almost all day long (Poor Roger), and really enjoyed this time with Charity....memories we'll never forget. Thank you Lord for providing this time of a lifetime with our daughter.
Now its back to real life and studying, studying, studying....and the countdown to Dec. 12 begins!! Lets see....mmm...103 days left!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
July blog...
We are almost finished with the 2nd Trimester here at the language school Costa Rica, which means we're 2/3 of the way done! This semester has been a whirlwind, as Debbi got moved to a higher level class only after weeks into the semester, and so has had to do extra classes to catch up to the new level. But after 3 weeks of tutoring and tons of extra homework every day, she now is where she is supposed to be. Other than that, we really haven't done anything other than walk a mile to and from school each day...and it rains practically every afternoon!
We are now looking forward to our upcoming break in August, as our daughter Charity will be coming to visit for 10 days. We miss our kids so much, but are very thankful for our Vonage phone which has a Texas number, so we can talk to them each day for practically free! If you want to ever call us, our number is: (956)242-7305...its just a call to Texas for you and you can reach us in Costa Rica!!
We are now looking forward to our upcoming break in August, as our daughter Charity will be coming to visit for 10 days. We miss our kids so much, but are very thankful for our Vonage phone which has a Texas number, so we can talk to them each day for practically free! If you want to ever call us, our number is: (956)242-7305...its just a call to Texas for you and you can reach us in Costa Rica!!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
2nd Trimester!
Lots has happened since I last wrote on here. First of all, we finished our 1st Trimester of Language School, which meant that there was a graduation for some, and then a couple weeks off.
Our good friends & next door neighbors, Dave & Debbie Amsler, graduated after a year here, and then left for Guatemala. We really miss then alot. We had many good times, meals, and laughs together (we would leave our apt. doors open, and eat together often), but we are excited for them as they get started on the work that God has called them to in Guatemala. It was with mixed feelings, as they packed up and said goodbye as they left for the airport that early morning a week ago.
Also, 2 of our former staff (and good friends:), Gina and Sarah Rose, came to visit us for a week. We rented a car and took them to Manual Antonio beach..where we saw monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles and various birds in the jungle. We returned and just enjoyed their company and doing some "catching up" with people from back home!
Now we have started our 2nd Trimester of Spanish, but this week we are taking a course on Missiology (in English) before starting language again next week...!
Our good friends & next door neighbors, Dave & Debbie Amsler, graduated after a year here, and then left for Guatemala. We really miss then alot. We had many good times, meals, and laughs together (we would leave our apt. doors open, and eat together often), but we are excited for them as they get started on the work that God has called them to in Guatemala. It was with mixed feelings, as they packed up and said goodbye as they left for the airport that early morning a week ago.
Also, 2 of our former staff (and good friends:), Gina and Sarah Rose, came to visit us for a week. We rented a car and took them to Manual Antonio beach..where we saw monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles and various birds in the jungle. We returned and just enjoyed their company and doing some "catching up" with people from back home!
Now we have started our 2nd Trimester of Spanish, but this week we are taking a course on Missiology (in English) before starting language again next week...!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Semana Santa
We are in the middle of Semana Santa (Holy Week), which is celebrated in Latin America with most people off of work and school, to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which brings us salvation.
On Thursday and Friday, the city of San Jose was almost empty...apparently the buses and taxis don't even go during this time. We are off of school this week, so have been catching up on rest, doing our newsletter and preparing for a 5 page report on "Ethno-Centric Mono-Culturalistic" counseling, due in April for Global University (in English).
Even though, we've still managed to have a few fun days this week so far. We went with our friends to Sarchi, where they are famous for their painted oxcarts and souveniers, and we also took a trip to Jaco Beach on the Pacific Ocean and spent the day in the sun with them. This was our 1st time to the beach, even though its only 2hours from here. Today, we went to see the Volcano Poas, which has a sulfuric lake with gases spewing out...its at about 2400 meters. We also found out today that some other students were robbed a couple nights ago while on vacation at a beach, so we feel that we are blessed to not have encountered any problems, and are also feeling that its a warning to be more careful in all that we do. These 2 young couples and their little ones had someone come into their beachhome at 1am and rob their car keys, wallets, money, credit cards and ID. We are awaiting for their arrival back here (they are about 10 hours from here), as they may need to stay at our home tonight..they are both really great young missionaries heading to the field. We also had another friend here get very sick overnight and went to the hospital this am, he had a bacterial infection from traveling...he was so dehydrated, they had to give him 10 liters of fluid. Please pray for all of these servants of God.
Our spanish classes have been going well, and we can tell that we have both been learning alot, and filling in those gaps and structuring our sentences better. We feel so fortunate to already speak the language, as we see those that are at the very beginning, struggling so hard to make it. Also, for us, since we've lived in Latin America,we aren't facing the cultural shock as others are. We feel at home here, but dearly miss our Monterrey friends and can't wait to get back "home"!
On Thursday and Friday, the city of San Jose was almost empty...apparently the buses and taxis don't even go during this time. We are off of school this week, so have been catching up on rest, doing our newsletter and preparing for a 5 page report on "Ethno-Centric Mono-Culturalistic" counseling, due in April for Global University (in English).
Even though, we've still managed to have a few fun days this week so far. We went with our friends to Sarchi, where they are famous for their painted oxcarts and souveniers, and we also took a trip to Jaco Beach on the Pacific Ocean and spent the day in the sun with them. This was our 1st time to the beach, even though its only 2hours from here. Today, we went to see the Volcano Poas, which has a sulfuric lake with gases spewing out...its at about 2400 meters. We also found out today that some other students were robbed a couple nights ago while on vacation at a beach, so we feel that we are blessed to not have encountered any problems, and are also feeling that its a warning to be more careful in all that we do. These 2 young couples and their little ones had someone come into their beachhome at 1am and rob their car keys, wallets, money, credit cards and ID. We are awaiting for their arrival back here (they are about 10 hours from here), as they may need to stay at our home tonight..they are both really great young missionaries heading to the field. We also had another friend here get very sick overnight and went to the hospital this am, he had a bacterial infection from traveling...he was so dehydrated, they had to give him 10 liters of fluid. Please pray for all of these servants of God.
Our spanish classes have been going well, and we can tell that we have both been learning alot, and filling in those gaps and structuring our sentences better. We feel so fortunate to already speak the language, as we see those that are at the very beginning, struggling so hard to make it. Also, for us, since we've lived in Latin America,we aren't facing the cultural shock as others are. We feel at home here, but dearly miss our Monterrey friends and can't wait to get back "home"!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
4 Angels appeared from under the bridge
On Saturday, we went with some friends high in the rainforest/mountains to visit 5 waterfalls and a bird/butterfly santuary. We had a fun trip with them there, and took our time going through the santuary. We saw many different kinds of animals and birds that are regional here like Toucans, parrots, hummingbirds, monkeys and butterflies (there were snakes too, but I didn't go look at them, yuk!). Then we hiked down a long trail, and many, many, many steps...and went to 5 different waterfalls! They were incredible....
While we were hiking, we got the entire experience of being in the rainforest, as the rain began to fall, but it just made it more beautiful! How can anyone go to an area as beautiful as that, and see those birds with beaks and feathers that blend into the forest, and not see that God created it all, with a stroke of his hand!?!
Well, the adventure continues...when we left there, we were going up and down the mountains (we were at over 4,000 ft) and the clutch went out while we were crossing a bridge. While we were pushing the vehicle off of the road, we began to pray. (It is dangerous to be out on the roads, esp. being gringos...we could've been robbed or who knows?). Well, God answers prayer! Up from under the bridge came 4 guys (we called them angels), who had been swimming, and all 4 were mecanics! They offered to hook us up to their 4x4 SUV and pulled us all the way back to the city, and to their shop, where they will work on it this week. It was a 5-6 hour trip back...being pulled up and down the steep mountains. What a blessing they were! Then they got a van and drove us another hour to our apartments. God sent us 4 angels!!
While we were hiking, we got the entire experience of being in the rainforest, as the rain began to fall, but it just made it more beautiful! How can anyone go to an area as beautiful as that, and see those birds with beaks and feathers that blend into the forest, and not see that God created it all, with a stroke of his hand!?!
Well, the adventure continues...when we left there, we were going up and down the mountains (we were at over 4,000 ft) and the clutch went out while we were crossing a bridge. While we were pushing the vehicle off of the road, we began to pray. (It is dangerous to be out on the roads, esp. being gringos...we could've been robbed or who knows?). Well, God answers prayer! Up from under the bridge came 4 guys (we called them angels), who had been swimming, and all 4 were mecanics! They offered to hook us up to their 4x4 SUV and pulled us all the way back to the city, and to their shop, where they will work on it this week. It was a 5-6 hour trip back...being pulled up and down the steep mountains. What a blessing they were! Then they got a van and drove us another hour to our apartments. God sent us 4 angels!!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
busy February in Costa Rica
We are now halfway through our 1st Trimester of language school here in San Jose, C.R. For me (Debbi), its been like filling in the cracks in a road with a solid foundation, and Roger says for him its been like repairing the missing parts of the road after a disaster!! Every Friday in our Conversation Class (2 hours/day with a crazy fun teacher:), we have to do a 5 minute oral presentation on a different subject that we must investigate (i.e., provinces in Costa Rica, a family member, a scripture devotional, etc). They really stretch us, but its been really good to do.
We have met some really nice friends at the language school here and even our next door neighbors in our apartment (students also). We have lots of laughs with them and other friends...laughter takes away the stress of learning!
Last Friday, the entire school body and teachers went to Cartago (a city near to San Jose), where we visited the Catholic church and learned about their beliefs here....very interesting. We then went to the top of Volcano Irazu, which last erupted the day that President Kennedy arrived to visit Costa Rica, in 1963. There are approx. 35 volcanoes in Costa Rica, as its the area where the plates meet from the Pacific Ocean and the Carribean. When we got to the top of the volcano, we could see down into the crater where there is now a lake of green sulfuric water. We arrived a bit too late in the day, however they say that if you arrive early, before the clouds roll in, you can see both the Carribean and the Pacific Oceans from there. I think we'll go again sometime!
After the volcano, we went to a coffee plantation and had lunch. The coffee here is absolutely incredible, due to the fertile ground from volcanic ash and very high mountains (and pretty cheap here too:). They have little "personal coffee makers" (can't remember what its called, but its a wooden frame with a "sock"...small bag of material, where the coffee goes, then you fill it with hot water and the coffee seeps through the "sock" into your cup underneath. Very tasty! I'll download a photo of it soon.
We have met some really nice friends at the language school here and even our next door neighbors in our apartment (students also). We have lots of laughs with them and other friends...laughter takes away the stress of learning!
Last Friday, the entire school body and teachers went to Cartago (a city near to San Jose), where we visited the Catholic church and learned about their beliefs here....very interesting. We then went to the top of Volcano Irazu, which last erupted the day that President Kennedy arrived to visit Costa Rica, in 1963. There are approx. 35 volcanoes in Costa Rica, as its the area where the plates meet from the Pacific Ocean and the Carribean. When we got to the top of the volcano, we could see down into the crater where there is now a lake of green sulfuric water. We arrived a bit too late in the day, however they say that if you arrive early, before the clouds roll in, you can see both the Carribean and the Pacific Oceans from there. I think we'll go again sometime!
After the volcano, we went to a coffee plantation and had lunch. The coffee here is absolutely incredible, due to the fertile ground from volcanic ash and very high mountains (and pretty cheap here too:). They have little "personal coffee makers" (can't remember what its called, but its a wooden frame with a "sock"...small bag of material, where the coffee goes, then you fill it with hot water and the coffee seeps through the "sock" into your cup underneath. Very tasty! I'll download a photo of it soon.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Lots happening in the last few weeks! Josh is safe!
I (Debbi) had a wonderful birthday surprise a couple weeks ago...our daughter Charity came to visit for a few days. We had a Packer/birthday party and celebrated both of our birthdays (Debbi...1/21 and Charity...1/29) together with some of our fellow students! We had classes while she was here, so couldn't go too far, but it was just good to have here with us! Shes making plans to come during our Trimester break in April, so we can go experience Costa Rica with her then (and hopefully Jeremy, Josh and Albessa can come then too). With her being a flight attendant, its almost free to come here (cost more for the airport exit fee than her flight!).
The week after Charity left, we moved to another apartment, where we are much more comfortable. We live a little closer to school, and next to some fellow students (so its alot more fun), but most of all, we have a bed that we can sleep all night on (we'd wake up at 4am due to such a hard bed in the other place), and a really comfortable couch (the other one was shot...wood with a little material covering it). The first night at our new apartment, both Roger and fell asleep watching tv on the couch (one of my favorite things to do:).
Last night we had a "SuperBowl" party! (Too bad the Packers weren't in it, but oh well, can't win them all!) We opened up our apartment along with the one next door (with the Amslers) and one upstairs (with the Knoodles). Lots of students came over and we had tons of food, and lots of fun with people going from apt. to apt.
Now the best news....Josh is back from Iraq! Thank you so much for praying for him! We know that God's hand of protection was upon him...and he arrived back with his wife in San Antonio on Sat. pm for a month of R & R. He will then go back to his base in Germany for 2 months, then muster out of the military as he's finishes 6 years active duty in April.
The week after Charity left, we moved to another apartment, where we are much more comfortable. We live a little closer to school, and next to some fellow students (so its alot more fun), but most of all, we have a bed that we can sleep all night on (we'd wake up at 4am due to such a hard bed in the other place), and a really comfortable couch (the other one was shot...wood with a little material covering it). The first night at our new apartment, both Roger and fell asleep watching tv on the couch (one of my favorite things to do:).
Last night we had a "SuperBowl" party! (Too bad the Packers weren't in it, but oh well, can't win them all!) We opened up our apartment along with the one next door (with the Amslers) and one upstairs (with the Knoodles). Lots of students came over and we had tons of food, and lots of fun with people going from apt. to apt.
Now the best news....Josh is back from Iraq! Thank you so much for praying for him! We know that God's hand of protection was upon him...and he arrived back with his wife in San Antonio on Sat. pm for a month of R & R. He will then go back to his base in Germany for 2 months, then muster out of the military as he's finishes 6 years active duty in April.
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