Living in Costa Rica Means...

After living in Costa Rica for 9 months, we've come to take for granted what is normal for us now... We've adjusted, in general, to life here. But as we think about preparing to move back to the US, we don't want to forget day-to-day life here. For us, living in Costa Rica means...

• Looking out our window to gorgeous mountains
• Eating fruits and vegetables we've never heard of before
• Having fresh pineapple and mangoes every week at our house
• Seeing men in rubber boots cutting grass with machetes
  
• Watching smoke come out of the top of a volcano
• Driving only an hour and half to the nearest beach and the Pacific Ocean
• Sharing a car, a house, a job and being together 24/7
• Working at an organization that is meeting REAL needs
• Seeing Roblealto's mission through fresh eyes when volunteers come
  
• The sun setting suddenly at 6:00 pm all year long
• The sun directly over head at noon
• Cows living on either side of us
• Eating in open-air restaurants
• Driving by coffee plantations on the way to work
• Walking through rain forests
  
• Baking blackberry pies with berries from our landlord's garden
• Worshiping in Spanish
• Talking to family on skype
• Seeing the most beautiful rainbows
• Throwing used toilet paper in the trash
• Getting hot water from the shower to wash our dishes
• Planning our day around the afternoon rain
• Shooing chickens and dogs out of our kitchen
• Learning how to cook differently
  
• Not being able to find ingredients for recipes we're used to
• Learning to kill really big spiders
  
• A bigger perspective on God's work in the world
• Connecting with people across cultures just because we all love Jesus
• Meeting families struggling in desperate communities
• Falling in love with the children at Roblealto
• Never having to wear a winter jacket or drive in snow
• Learning how to drive defensively, but rarely driving over 45 mph
• Being trusted by the Roblealto staff with real ministry
  
• Reading a psalm in the morning and praying together more consistently
• Relying on friends and family's prayers
• Seeing God's faithfulness over and over
  
• Seeking God's direction for the future

We are indebted to you for your support and prayers that have made this year of service in mission possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.