Christ the Light of the World!

God gave us many opportunities to see his light shinning around us this Christmas Season! Bob had a couple of weeks off from school and responded to a request to install windows in a home of a brother of a friend who had just had surgery after being beaten up. Chicho's house only had openings for windows which meant for a draft that was dangerous to his healing. His home is a very small, simply constructed house that had tin panels over the windows. What a blessing to be able to share the light of Christ's love with this family who had just received Christ into their hearts the week before!

We shared the light of Christ when we held a Woman's Christmas Coffee in Los Guido for about 35 women. We had coffee and pastry together as we talked about the real meaning of Christmas. This was meant as an invitation to join us in the new year for a Bible Study in which we will take a look at the issues the women face and what God's Word has to say about them.

We shared the light of Christ when B served at the children's party given for some 130 children from the slum in Los Guido. We had food, clowns and a gift for each child.The clown with the help of some adults shared the Christmas story.

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Their faces were precious as they enjoyed the excitement of the day.

We finished our Christmas holiday with a trip to California to see our boys and Bethany.
Bethany got tickets to see the Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Catheral, which was a beautiful production complete with flying angles! She is now looking very pregnant and we are so excited to greet our first grandchild!

Christmas must be here it's Windy!

This has been a busy fall! We have not been able to get our Costa Rica Visas and so every 3 months we must leave the country or pay a fine and maybe be asked not to return for 10 years! So, earlier this month we drove to the border and walked across to Nicaragua to visit my nephew Adam and his wife Rachel and their two beautiful daughters. Bob took the opportunity to practice being a grandfather! I think he's going to make a good one! ( the latest pictures of our soon to be grandchild were amazing!)We also got to visit our good friends, The Sharpes, in Managua who were in language school with us.

We have been taking some training from some new friends on how CHE (Community Health Evangelism) works. It is a method of Christian development that seeks to give dignity and hope to the people you are working with. Ted and Graciela Quiocho are CHE trainers and we had the opportunity to be a part of the first level training that was held here in Costa Rica. They are now starting to work in a small rural community about 1 1/2 hours form the city. It is an approach of community development and evangelism that we find to be very practical and allows the community itself to be the center of the vision for their own community.

Ted And Graciela Quiocho

Panamanian Indigenous Indians

We had an opportunity to go to the mountains this weekend and as they are all around the city it is easy to get there. We visited some of the small towns and were able to connect with the Indigenous peoples who were there getting ready to work in the coffee harvest. We had fun speaking with the women who were a bit shy but loved inter acting with us. What a tough life they live.
Though the Quiocho's we have found a church plant that we have been attending this fall. The pastors are from Honduras and are a fun couple who have a real heart to reach the lost. We meet every Saturday night at their home for a service and then dinner and fellowship.

Carlos and Gladys Gomez

I would love to send along pictures of the precious girls in the prison! Below is the team that I work with. There is still have 5 women in one area and a single gal in another. I have had a friend from school help out with the young gal that is in the other building. Two of the women I work with have applied to be transferred back to their own country and the paper work is in progress.
One great story is one of the women had a birthday recently and the other girls surprised her with a bucket of warm water that they had boiled so she could take a warm shower! The nights here get cold and in the morning a cold shower is very hard to take,especially as there is no glass in the windows, so it was a real blessing! They are a wonderful bunch who are seeking to get life straight, which is a big job after having to admit the mistakes you have made and then suffer the consequences for those mistakes.

Prison ministry Team

In the community of Los Guido, the slum that I have been working in all fall, another woman and I will be putting on a woman's coffee for a time of fellowship and introducing the concept of having a Bible Study in their community. the local pastor has warned us that this is area is a very hard one to get into as thsy are living in such sub- normal conditions that all they seemed interested in are hand outs. We are praying that God will open a door to their hearts, thanks for joining us in that prayer.
This is the season of many Christmas parties for children that would other wise not recieve anything for Christmas. Would you be interested in helping us with the several children's events coming up? As well I want to get Christmas presents for the women that I have been working with in the prison. You get information on our mission agency, CTEN, using the link on our Blog, it is located on the right side.
Thanks for being part of our team here in Costa Rica!

Life In Costa Rica

After several days of straight rain Bob and I decided to get out of the city one Sunday afternoon and head for the mountains. On our way we encountered a familiar but comical scene! The cow was tied on the side of the road and decided to take traffic control into his own hands. We waited for him to move so we could continue on our way.


This is the rainy season and as you can see from the pictures the country has experienced a lot of damage to the roads and subsequently to houses that are in the flooded areas. The house in the picture has put black plastic over the falling soil in an attempt to prevent the house from further damage or collapse. The roads are in very bad estate and there are many families homeless in the areas that were affected by the floods.


Bob has been very busy at his position at the language institute. He has remolded the library to provide more room for students as it is always full. He also has been busy trouble shooting various electrical problems around campus and just finished working on a revised and simpler application form for student enrollment. Just in time! Because the enrollment for January has a waiting list already! It is exciting to see all the families God is raising up to serve in Latin America!
My work at the prison continues. In the area of unsentanced women I now only have one gal who is waiting extradition to her own country where she will go to trial. Her story is very sad and she is in very poor health having had a colostomy, which was originally planned to be reversible but because of sanitary conditions she has been infected several times and now the procedure may not be able to be reversed. Please pray for Miss L as she is very discouraged and fears death. I am trying to help her keep her focus on the Lord as He has promised to never fail her! She always ends her time with me with a smile on her face, but behind that smile is a lot of pain and suffering. The conditions in the jail are horrible and very unsanitary. There is lots of drugs and lesbianism. It is a difficult environment to say the least for one to live out their Christian values. Thanks for praying for God's strength for all the women who are serving there but especially for those who are trying to follow God's path for their lives.
Our life with the animals of Costa Rica continues and for those of you who have asked here is our newest friend, a praying mantis! He came to join us about a week ago and likes ot hang out around the bathroom. The internet says he is not harmful and likes to eat other insects, so we think he is a keeper! No name as yet!

This week my coworker, Isabel, and I will be meeting with the director of Food For the Hungry where we are serving to discuss our plan to start a woman's Bible Study in Los Guido, a slum nearby where I have been volunteering in in the 'comedor'(the feeding center for children). Please pray that God will not only give us approval to start the study but that the hearts of the women will be open to come and study God's Word with us.
We are so thankful for your support and love even though we are so far we can feel your presence with us which gives us strength!

Getting Settled in Costa Rica

This is a picture of the school from the Administration building.
Well it's been a little over two weeks since we left Maine and already we are settling in! The past two weeks Bob has been busy at school with lots of varied tasks which he loves. He has been working between the language institute for adults and the school for the children. One of his pleasures in getting to know the Costa Rican workers, although his Spanish is still rough it makes for some fun conversations.
I have been busy with lots of little helps, like staying with an elderly couple for two days because their house helper was sick. It was a fun way for me to get back into using my Spanish because the gentleman was deaf so never really knew what I said anyways and his wife is a real dear who had lots of great God stories to share with me. They are such a wonderful example of God's love to me. I just love their joy in life. Their daughter works at he Spanish Institute with Bob.
I have started back again in the prison and the girls continue to bless me with their desire to seek God in a less than wonderful place to live! One of them has such a wonderful smile now. I pray that God will maintain their faith as the time gets long in prison and then when they get out. Thanks for joining me in praying for them! I will also be starting my work in the slum this week. I will start by working in the soup kitchen for children with some of the moms, trying to build friendships with them. James and Kimberly are from Linda Vista a small community in the mountains. Their family has been friends of ours for several years now, since our short term trips here. This is a picture if them writing back to their pen-pals they they now have in Maine. They were so excited to get the letters and James kept a tight hold on his pen-pals picture as they do not get pictures taken often, it was so special for him to have a picture of his new friend.
Bob showing Orlando and the kids where we live using Google Earth.I just couldn't resit putting this picture in because it really says it all as far as how they take care of the 'pot holes' around here! I even sow one that had been there so long it was now growing a healthy lawn!

We made it! What a rewarding day to receive that diploma! Our Spanish is far from perfect but we have past our first hurdle and are anxious for the next step in the journey.
That next step for us is a trip back home to Maine to reconnect with family and friends and pack up a little more for our new home destination...Costa Rica. Thank you all for your prayers and support this year, it has meant more to us than you can imagine. Can't wait to get to see as many of you as are around in August and September. Send us an email if you have time to connect.We are hoping to get a track phone to use while we are home.

El Toro Video

Thanks to a good friend, Ryan we now have a video! He's much younger than I!

El Torro Roberto

It was culture day at school and they need a 'bull' for the traditional dance! He was a great bull and is now considering taking a side job while here at language school! What do you think?
This was supposed to include a video but I can not seem to get it right! So, for now a picture will have to do of this famous bull!

Flushing Fiesta

As we near the end of our time here at school in Costa Rica we look for any opportunity to have a party! Ticos love to have 'fiestas' and we have grown accustomed to taking the opportunity whenever it presents itself! So, this one was a first! After 4 days without water we were gathering it any way we could. Every empty container went to work to provide us with a little rain water for flushing toilets and other such necessities! Four days without water and you get desperate. We saw a man on the side of the road who had a bowl and pitcher and was trying to get water form the storm drain...hopefully it was not for drinking! The authorities had told us that we would be out of water for the first two days but then they had an accident and more than 400,000 people were left without water for two more days. We were thankful that it was the rainy season because at least we could flush the toilets....

Today was a fun day for me, after two weeks of preparing my country presentation for my language class I got up extra early to finish cooking tortillas and refried beans to share in class as I gave a slide presentation of Costa Rica. Costa Rica means rich coast and it was named this by Christopher Columbus who thought there was gold to be found as had been in Nicaragua, but to the Spaniards surprise the only gold found was in the soil that was as rich as gold.
I continue to work at the jail and find that there are always challenges to be overcome. I share a room with another group and at times it is impossible to hear over the other groups activities. The only outlet for their CD player is right where our group has to sit and it makes for some interesting teaching times! God has been faithful and the women continue to come despite all the distractions. One prayer request is for my group that meets on Wednesday nights. They have gotten involved in some material that has caused then to look inside themselves for the strength needed and not to God. Please pray for their hearts to be turned back to the truth!

We now have only 5 1/2 weeks of school left and what once seemed like an eternity of school work is slowly coming to an end! It is had to believe we have been here for a year and are ready for a break but realize that the language learning will never end! This has only been the beginning.We had the wonderful opportunity to see our son, Matthew receive his doctorate in Audiology in May from Montclair State. He worked very hard to get to this point in his education and we are so proud of his diligence! He will make not only a great doctor but also a great advocate for the patient! Way to go Matt!

Third - Tri

B's Grammar Class Second Trimester

I was in the middle of writing a report on a movie that had impacted my life, an assignment for my language class and needed to take a break and think in English for a moment. I have chosen The Hiding Place, which is the story of Corrie Ten Boom's life. She has always been such an inspiration to me, though her life was not perfect she always ended up seeing God at work in her midst.
One good problem I have had lately is not being able to remember a word in English that I use a lot in Spanish...they say that is a good sign of assimilating the language! We are now in our third and final trimester! The classes this time are about the same level as last trimester, which means for a lot of homework, depending on the teacher. My language class requires one written and one oral report a week as well as a Bible Study and interviews of a chosen theme that we report on in class. Part of the class time is spent reviewing new concepts from grammar class, which is very helpful.There is a joke at school the reason that the school year is broken up into 'tri' mesters is so that each student can get three 'tri's' at learning the language before they are out! This year started out real slow but now is moving a warp speed! Some of our friends have already left for their country of service and it is so hard to part with them.Each in his or her own way has impacted our lives!

Bob is still in the process of making a decision about next year, not wanting to just take a position without knowing if it is exactly where God wants him, thanks for praying for us in this regard. The Women who serve with me at the Prison

I continue to be involved in prison ministry and am pleased with the dedication of the girls there to attend and participate in the study. I now have two groups, one on Saturday and one on Wednesday nights. There are always challenges but I have seen God in the midst of them and it brings such hope to my heart. One night they told me that they were thankful to God for giving them this opportunity to get back on track with God and wanted to make the best of this time in the prison! Please pray for their hearts to be protected and that they would grow in the knowledge of His Word. Wednesday nights we are studying Marriage God's Way. A study from Precept ministry on how to have a godly marriage! They have had pretty poor examples in the past of what a marriage should look like. Isn't this picture a hoot! I am the only one not wearing high heels! No wonder they can pick out a gringo any where! Brave Terri trying what we so fondly call 'snot-fruit'!

Terri came to visit and while she was here I made her(not really!). She was a really good sport and said she really liked many of them! We had a wonderful visit with her and never gave her a chance to catch her breath, after all she can do that in Maine, on one of those cold nights when she returned! She was a wonderful guest! She lead worship in the little community church in Linda Vista, which she knew so well after serving there for 4 years doing short term summer projects. The day we arrived there she had little ones hanging from her side that had remembered her from before, what great long lasting relationships! Then she lead worship at the prison, again in Spanish. They were quite amazed to find out that she could sing so well in Spanish but couldn't speak the language beyond...hola, como estas?! The girls were so blessed by her style of worship and one of the songs she chose was You Are My Beloved, which brought tears to many eyes, O, that they would believe that in God's eyes they are finally truly beloved! We finished our ministry together on Saturday with a short teaching on the 23 Psalm and then make bracelets with the women. What a fun day we had! It was my first time to teach in Spanish and am grateful for their patience with me! Hopefully I didn't 'teach' anything out doctrine! Sometimes when they responded to my questions I was not totally sure what they said! They keep reminding us at school that God even used a donkey(politely said) to get His message across...... The Bracelets

We did it..Second Trimester Completed!

Well, this tri went by so quickly! We have been in the books now for 8 months and have just completed our second trimester. This tri we have learned about the last 8 tenses of verbs, many more then we know what to do with at this time! We are starting to chat at home together in Spanish, which has been exciting to finally get to this level. It continues to be very exciting to be surrounded by students who will be heading all over Latin America as missionaries. Out of the almost 160 students there are only a handful of us in the finishers group,those who are over 50.

Knowing this fact has helped us understand why it has been just a little slower in coming for us! It is a little intimidating being in a class of students young enough to be your children, but God has given us an ability to press on and so we do!

Today Bob spend his day in bed, suffering from the flu, which has been going around down here. We are in our week of vacation between classes and Terri, a friend from Maine, will be joining us! We are so looking forward to seeing her! She will be helping out with a church service in the little church in Linda Vista and then coming to the prison on Saturday with me. We will also be doing a women's 'coffee' in Linda Vista using the 23 Psalm as a teaching tool and making a bracelet following the theme of the 23 Psalm.
Bob has gotten more involved in Linda Vista, working along side Javier, the local pastor. He is going to start helping out in the area of finances. We have had an opportunity to help out some of the families that have run into tough times. One is a young father, Michael, who struggles with a drug addiction, but lately has been trying to support his family. We are going to help him with his schooling so that he can get his high school degree.
The other family are dear friends of ours, Orlando and Betsy.They have two beautiful children, James and Kimberly. They live in a very small home in Linda Vista. Their home does not have a refrigerator and they have to go to their neighbors to store things that need refrigeration. Betsy has nine brothers and sisters! This week, her father after losing the ability to pay his rent had to leave his home and part of the family that had been living there moved in with Betsy. She now has about 12 people living with her! There home has two twin beds and one double. Her sister had her appendix rupture and she is also there recovering. We have taken some food up to them and our helping out with some schooling needs. Please hold this family in your prayers!

Bob's 14th Birthday!

Bob's 14th B-day! It's great to be leap year baby!

Costa Rica in the Dry Season

Wow! January and February got by us with out a single entry! How did we ever communicate without the internet? I guess the pace was a little slower. We had a very busy December. The day school ended we moved from our Costa Rica family into a rental home and three days later 3 of our sons and our daughter-in-law arrived to celebrate Christmas with us. We had a wonderful time together! We spent a few nights at the beach, enjoying a break from city life!

The Christmas celebration at the jail was wonderful, after a rough start. At first the guards would not allow the invited guests to attend, but after prayer and more talking with the guards they allowed the others to come. We went from a few to a room full! We had a special guest speaker who presented the gospel message. My group of English speaking ladies put on a skit on the life of David that we had translated,that was a lot of fun. I was so proud of their effort in putting it together.We had food and presents for all. We had a three week winter break and have been back for several weeks now. We are continuing to study Ephesians, but the jail is not an easy place to live the Gospel . Please continue to pray for them. My pastor's wife, Jan Thorpe, came in to share two weeks ago and the girls really enjoyed meeting her. They are a really wonderful group of women who have all had really tough lives. One of the girls is from Germany and is about 19 years old. She does not know the Lord but has been so excited to get a German Bible sent to her from friends from our church. Please pray for her heart to be open to the Lord.

We are now half way through our second trimester of school and they say this is the toughest one of all. We have to read the newspaper and report on an article each week, lots of vocabulary to memorize and for me the most exciting thing is that we have to do a Bible Study each week and then present it in class. It has been an wonderful challenge! Bob is in a better classroom situation this trimester and he is really enjoying his classes as they are moving at a pace that works better for him. We are really getting better at communicating with each other in Spanish. I am in my 13th verb tense! How difficult to keep track of all of them!

Friday at school we had a culture day. Each trimester we have one day in which we learn about the traditions of Costa Rica and Latin America. There were presentations of the various fruits, music, dance and games that make Latin America what it is. It was wonderful to enjoy a day with our teachers in a non classroom setting. School continues to take all of our energy as it has been a very long time since we have been sitting in a class room. The brain is a bit rusty! What great mental exercise! The joy comes when you can engage in a conversation of substance!

We are in the dry season here in Costa Rica, which means almost no rain and but we are thankful when we have cloud cover to keep the hot sun from burning our skin. It is a lot like spring at home. There are several trees that are in full bloom with orange and purple color flowers. You see people painting their homes and making repairs, not because it has been winter but because it is the only time of year to paint and make outside repairs without rain.

This weekend was Bob's birthday and we had a really fun sort -of -surprise party for him with some friends from school and friends from Costa Rica. It was great to have a social evening that was entirely in Spanish!