Dia de Guanacaste

We celebrate Costa Rica national holidays in CINCEL! Hey! it's awesome! What an opportunity to learn culture, Spanish, food, and entertainment! July 25 is such a day. 190 years ago Nicoya was annexed from Nicaragua and joined Costa Rica. The city is in the Northwest corner of Costa Rica, right under Nicaragua. This area was a passageway from Nicaragua through Costa Rica to ship their wares. Because it was their decision and not a mandate Costa Rica celebrates! So from the north to the south, the east to the west, everyone celebrates on July 25 every year.

We had typical food, dances from a beautiful group of mature adults that presented the traditional dances, and we even played BINGO! it was so much fun! I was even asked to be the emcee for the entire event. I was so honored! Thank God everything was written out in Spanish for me! It was so much fun!

Missionary kids like all kids are pretty special!

Each trimester Denny and I treat our MK's to a special treat. Today was boy's day! The Smith boys are going to Honduras after their parents finish CINCEL. They are really special! We treated them to McDonald's and then to arcade games. Such a blessing to have them at the school. I'm so glad the days are gone when missionaries sent their children off to boarding schools. I can't imagine ever having to do that. I think that would be more of a sacrifice than actually leaving the USA.

The Fourth of July in San Jose, Costa Rica

When you live in another country you keep low expectations especially for holidays. So as not to get blue being away from family we keep occupied. When we came to Costa Rica we didn't know what was traditional for the fourth of July within the missionary families here, but now we know!

The American Colony Committee in conjunction with the U.S. embassy host a wonderful day to celebrate the 4th. After parking in a general area, buses shuttle over 3500 people with an American passport to the site.

Upon entrance with your passport, 5000 colones and a security wand over your body people are stationed saying happy things like welcome! happy 4th! so glad you're here! and the first station are English magazines! how fun is that! As you begin the path there are stations with free things like key chains, highlighter pens and the like even a USA visor. It was pretty hot that day!

Nathan Hotdogs, Bagels and cream cheese, pepsi, popcorn, cotton candy, TCBY icecream, Cafe Britt coffee and chocolates, all yours for the taking! as much as you want. What a breakfast! The day begins at 9 and ends at 1:00. I presume because we are in the rainy season they end early.

There was square dancing, volleyball, games for the kids and teenagers, a petting zoo, really so much to do, 9-1 goes really fast!

At 11:00 the military brings in the flag and begins the ceremony with the national anthem, we even sang the Costa Rican national anthem. It was a very respectful half hour ceremony and I was so thrilled that no food was allowed in the area, the stations were even closed for the ceremony. It was beautiful in every way.

They even put on a fireworks show and that to me is the best! If I were a rich woman I would have fireworks for just about every holiday!

Our I LOVE AMERICA day was close to being the best. The only thing to make it better would be to be with family of course but we are not going to dwell on that. God is so good and we are thrilled to serve Him at CINCEL!