The Coast!

Hello everyone! We just got back from the most wonderful weekend! To celebrate our first anniversary (on the 8th) we went to Manuel Antonio beach which is on the Pacific Coast. We had a chaotic time getting into San Jose to catch our shuttle (traffic is terrible as you may have gotten by now), but thanks to our dear friends Mike and Kathy, we were able to form a plan to meet up with the shuttle at a later stop. Lesson #1 of the weekend: leave very, very early!

We were very glad we took the shuttle for the 4 hour drive through the mountains so Mark didn't have to drive the windy, bumpy, hilly roads. It was very beautiful and kept getting sunnier and warmer as we approached the coast. It really felt like we were in Costa Rica! To celebrate, Mark made reservations at a fancier hotel called "The Mansion". It was beautiful - with an amazing view of the coast line and wonderful service, very friendly people worked there who Mark befriended practicing his Spanish. We got a cheaper reservation because this is the off-season. Lesson #2 - go to the touristy places in their "winter." We spent the weekend relaxing by and in the pool (it was VERY hot and humid - in the 90s), down by the beach (the water was so warm!), walking through the rain forest (where we saw many monkeys, sloths, iguanas and geckos, a sleeping snake, raccoons and an armadillo!) and just enjoying ourselves! We even got "star" treatment for our anniversary dinner. Initially, we were the only ones in the restaurant so they gave us a special table on our own private deck to celebrate. We felt like we were on "The Bachelor!"

After the wonderful weekend, we were ready to jump into Spanish classes today. We left really early this morning to get tested to see which classes we should be in. We both are very impressed with the program. The classes are very small (6 students or less) and interactive. We are meeting people from around the world who come to learn Spanish. It feels great to be back in school and to learn the language since we have such a "need to know" being in this country. Our classes are an easy drive - about 25 minutes away. On Wednesday we plan to take dancing and cooking classes - a perk to this program.

We plan to do a little visiting of the day care centers this week with Pame, with whom we will be working directly. We have homework each night and got a TV from our landlords so we can keep working on our Spanish (though there are many English-speaking channels). We are also in the process of buying a car with Mike's help. We'd appreciate prayers that we would buy a reliable car that we could resell after our year.

We are adjusting well and though we miss you, friends and family, we have enjoyed hearing from you and, or course, our families are just a skype call or email away - thank goodness! Much love!

End of our first week

We just came back from a great afternoon at Roblealto! We were able to meet with Pamela who we will be working with the International Department. We were able to learn more about Roblealto and some of what our positions may entail. It was great being there and getting to meet some of the staff members and a few of the kids. We even went with Pamela to the supermarket to get food for a small group of volunteers from Minnesota that are coming this weekend. Even though we weren't planning on starting with Roblealto until September it looks like we may be able to spend some afternoons visiting the day care centers in the next couple of weeks, as long as our Spanish classes are in the morning (which we will find out on Monday).

Driving continues to be interesting ... the GPS has become our very best friend. Mark drives and Emily tries to navigate. The problem is, at times, what seems like a road on Genevieve (our GPS) is actually a dirt road to no road at all so that makes it interesting! This morning we headed toward what we thought was Roblealto, but what we had marked incorrectly and ended up in the middle of some random town ... we were able to find our way eventually - only 45 min. late for our meeting with Pamela! Mark's favorite aspect of driving was this afternoon on our way home from Roblealto when I was looking at the GPS and said, "OK, turn right here" and before us was a 55 degree hill that we zoomed up in first gear- crazy! We did find what we think is the best way to Roblealto - it will take about 40 minutes from our house.

Yesterday we also went to where we will take Spanish classes so we could make sure to find it Monday morning. Every little task we accomplish, we feel so proud of ourselves! We made it to the hardware store for a bolt and space heater (it's chilly here!), opened a PO box and found a HiperMas (Wal-mart) close to our classes. So overall, we are figuring it out!

Tomorrow morning we are headed to the beach to celebrate our first anniversary. We can't believe it's been a year since we got married and celebrated with many of you! We are so thankful for a wonderful marriage, a great first year, and the excitement the next year in our new country! We'll post when we get back! Thinking of you all!

Pura Vida! (Pure life)

Hello! Pura Vida! This is what the ticos (Costa Ricans) say all the time. It means life is good. We heard it a lot today from our guide, Warner, in the rain forest! It has been a life-long dream of Emily's to see the rain forest and it was unbelievable! We left early this morning and drove about 45 minutes through the mountains - it was foggy and so very green. We saw lots of little waterfalls as we drove. The driving was precarious with so many huge trucks and cars passing, zooming by - this is the main road that goes to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Our landlord's daughter, Stephanie, had recommended a place to see called the AerialTram. It is a ski-lift-like ride that takes you through all three parts of the rain forest. At times we were just a few feet off the ground. At most we were 120 feet up! It was so amazing! Warner was so knowledgeable about the various plants and animals. We saw a tarantula, a huge walking stick, a poisonous snake, many butterflies and other insects (including the largest ant in the Americas - it was over an inch long! - it's bite can hospitalize a person). We saw beautiful flowers and HUGE plants and one of the highlights was seeing a rare Snow-capped hummingbird, named for it's white head. We've posted some pictures here.
Tonight we talked with an English teacher who is from Tahoe and is working at the school that Wendy, our landlord, started and runs. He's sure that we fall in love with Costa Rica as he has :) We are continuously grateful for Mike and Kathy who brought us to their church yesterday. We enjoyed talking with people there and seeing the large library of English books they have created over the years. This was good news for a bookworm like Emily! We ate lunch with them and good friends of theirs and Mike took us to the equivalent of Wal-mart so we could outfit our home and buy groceries. We didn't know that we could get anything we may need there and all the brands that we are used to including Jiff peanut butter! :)
Tomorrow we plan to go to the Museum of Gold in San Jose... now that our GPS is up and working we feel like we can explore and at least get home! This is a GREAT help! We continue thinking of you. Thanks for your continued prayers!

We are here!

Thank you for all of your prayers! We arrived in San Jose last night with no complications. Emily got to use her Spanish with immigration and convinced the agent that we were OK to enter the country :) We were so happy to see our friends Mike and Kathy on the other side of the door. They brought us to our new home which is BEAUTIFUL! We feel unbelievably blessed. Emily is especially happy with the kitchen which has so many more cupboards than our condo in Edina! Kathy was kind enough to supply us with kitchen essentials, some food and a lovely orchid.
Our morning: We initially woke up to roosters crowing at 4:30 a.m. as well as other birds. We've been assured that we'll get used to that. Later this morning, we looked out the window to see lemon and lime trees in our back yard. Mark proceeded to make fresh lemonade. Emily killed one ginormous spider and we've found many others - a natural part of living in the tropics. We also realized our neighbors have cows, ducks, horses and a turkey! Our landlords also grow eucalyptus, kumquats, mint, huge hydrangeas, sugar cane and blackberries to name a few. We aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto.
We feel very safe and cared for as our landlords (who live next door) speak English and are so helpful and friendly. They know Roblealto mission very well and have invited us to their church. This morning, Mike returned (he's letting us use his car this week) and took us on our tour of the area. Mark got to experience Costa Rican driving (it's incredibly chaotic!) and we ate authentic Costa Rican food for lunch - beans and rice, meat, plantains, yuca (like a potato) and Pepsi, of course - YUM! We were thrilled to drive up to Roblealto and talk to some of the kids and staff there. Emily had tears in her eyes to see this place we've heard so much about and planned for so long to see - especially the buildings that Ridgewood Church has helped repair and build.
As for tonight, we were happy to skype with Mark's parents and so grateful for technology and wireless internet! It was dark by 6 pm so we cooked some comfort food (mac and cheese and hotdogs) and listened to Minnesota Public Radio since we were feeling a little homesick. Please continue praying as we acclimate. We look forward to visiting Mike and Kathy's house church tomorrow. Many adventures lie ahead!

We Leave Tomorrow AM!

We have cleaned, canceled mail, seen friends and family, packed and now we are ready to go! At least, in most aspects we are ready... it doesn't really feel real that tomorrow night we will sleep in our new house in Costa Rica! We have been trying to get emotionally and spiritually ready, asking that God would prepare us. He has been with us in this last week as through this whole process. We'd appreciate prayers for our flight - we leave at 11:15 AM central time and will land at 7:30 PM central time in San Jose. We are thankful that we will stay in the same time zone so no jet lag! Our friends, Mike and Kathy Garrett, will meet us at the airport and take care of us over the weekend - introducing us to new people and showing us around, helping us get adjusted.
We are excited to see Roblealto, our house, our neighborhood, the rainforest and mountains. THANK YOU to all who have helped make this mission year possible! Keep in touch... and the next blog will be from Costa Rica!

We have raised our support!

Praise God for his faithfulness. We have raised all the financial support we need to pursue our year of service in Costa Rica! Thanks to all the friends and family that are supporting us and allowing us to serve God and his people in this next year. We will be busy getting ready to leave in the next couple of weeks. Cancelling things, packing, cleaning... hopefully getting up to the cabin a bit too :) We leave July 31 and can't wait to see our new house and new country!

We have renters for our condo!

It was confirmed tonight that we have renters for our condo. Two married Christian authors from Tulsa are moving here to work on their new books. They will living in our condo! They are giving us a signed copy of their latest book. How nice.