Car Inspection Time

I love walking through each day in another culture. So much to watch, listen to, observe, and learn!
Our car inspection runs out the end of July. In the U.S. you run to the appropriate gas station that inspects it and wha~la! haha! nope.

Here you take it to the mechanic. You leave the car. He does a revision on it to prepare it for the inspection. He makes the inspection appointment. He drives it to the inspection location and he drives it back to his place.
He calls. We pick it up. We pay the bill. Easy as that.  Well not too easy, 2 days without a car and praying that it passes!

This is the mechanic's place.

The shop is under the house, down this long skinny path.

How in the world does he fit all these cars down there? How does he get them out! haha

And in all that chaos he has a little desk to take the money!
Easy as that!

unexpected blessings!

The fourth of July holiday gave the students a day off of classes, typically we encourage the students to take advantage, rent a car, and go for a trip. Since Monday was the day off, I think every family left campus on Satuday and didn't return till Monday night. What fun. Well for some.

Unfortunately one family was robbed of their backpack with all personal items like phones, drivers license, credit cards, cash, etc. How horrible it feels to be so far from their apartment with no card to get back. Gratefully they had $20 in the glove box so they were able to have sufficient for gas to get back to San Jose. It was discouraging and disappointing for the family with 2 little ones. However when you think about what could be.....well let's just say you get perspective real quick.

However the story doesn't end there. A couple of days later Denny's assistant received a call from La Fortuna. The gentleman works for the tourist place that does zip line and rain forest canopy tours. Along the trail he found a baggie with the driver's license, copy of passport, and all his credit cards. After all of the frustration of stopping all the cards, they were found. Of course the phones were long gone and the cash but at least he had his drivers license. This was a critical point because each day he drives our Cincel children to school.

Because of the added expense and funds that it would require that this family doesn't have because of no way to access the ATM, Denny and I went for a trip. Our pleasure!! To one of our favorite spots. We drove to Volcano Arenal and spent the night. It was a very unexpected get-away!

We are in the rainy season so we couldn't see the volcano but we were able to enjoy the thermal waters and amenities of the hotel. The greatest part of course was having time together for a bit to enjoy space away from the office. God is good!

How the beautiful orchids can grow on a stump, amazing

This was a baby armadillo! amaizng!

My favorite Holiday!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

As a child and as an adult, the fourth is my favorite! When living abroad it just feels different. We are the oddballs in a country that goes on with daily life on July 4th. We wear our red, white and blue anyway. We have a picnic anyway. We think of home in a big way. Not with tears, just remembering what everyone is doing "at home" on the fourth of July.

Here in Costa Rica, the ambassador along with the American Colony Committee hosts a picnic for expats. It's always a great day! I love it so much. There is a presentation of the flag. Both national anthems, lots of hotdogs, kettle corn, bagels with cream cheese, Costa Rica coffee along with cotton candy! There is square dancing, games for kids, volleyball games and beautiful grounds to place a blanket. Happy birthday to America and please God shed your grace on her.

Cincel Community Work Day

Each trimester we put into the calendar a day of manual labor. Without these assigned days and the generosity of missions teams we could never manage the campus grounds. The students work, the staff works. It reminds me of the old song, When we all work together how happy well be!

See ya Later to Jeremy!

Missionary Associates serve in their country of ministry for one year or two years. It depends on their assignment. Jeremy was assigned to Cincel for one year. After the first year he asked to stay another year. We were so blessed! He is a wonderful asset to the Cincel community and to the staff. We have enjoyed watching him blossom and grow as a missionary.

Who would have ever thought that shortly after his full time work began with us, we would go through our trauma and have to leave Cincel for trauma counseling. Jeremy stepped to the plate. So much was going on at our house to secure it and also at the school. He was immediately thrown into the fire. He says even today that it was part of his growth and development to be the one to interim direct the school in our absence. God placed him in Cincel for such a time as this. We are so grateful.

The staff hosted a breakfast for him and the students hosted a lunch the next day. He felt loved and appreciated. Isn't that what we all need? We poured out lots of love and appreciation for his diligent and faithful work at Cincel. He hopes to return in January after being in the states for six months to firm up his budget. We hope those six months go really fast!