We have a walkway!
Trip Start
Jun 16, 2005
1
32
46
Trip End
Aug 2006
San Jose,
Costa Rica
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Well, lots of things have happened since the last time I wrote. The most major change is that the street in front of the church is now paved thanks to a work group from All Saints Lutheran in Hartland, Michigan. They were here all of last week, and played with the kids, worked on a retaining wall for Marci's house, put down cement, and took children on field trips to area museums.
They also brought down the remainder of the things that had been collected by my home church, so the classroom and my apartment are absolutely bursting at the seams!
I acted as one the work group's translators, which was a lot of fun. That also meant that I got to go to dinner at a restaurant called the Mirador, which overlooks San Jose (and was just gorgeous at night), and also got to go on their 4-in-1 tour on their last day here. We saw a coffee plantation, Volcan Poas, the La Paz Waterfall, and went on a boat trip down the Saripiqui river. We actually got to see a little crocodile (but for some reason I wanted to see a big one), some howler monkeys, some cool lizards, and this tiny duck that apparently birdwatchers come out here just to see.
Amy Jahn was here with the group -- she's the friend I came to visit two years ago who was working here in Proyecto Cristal for her diaconal internship. It was so wonderful to see her, and the kids were just ecstatic to get to see her again.
I finally bought a washing machine (a whole $150), so now I'm not taking advantage of Marci's never-ending accomodation and kindness. I figured it was about time, since there are rumblings that they might put in individual meters for the electricity here, which would mean that washing my clothes at her house would be a bigger financial burden for her family.
I hope everything is well where you are!
Peace,
Elizabeth
Comments
Good Work!
Dear Elizabeth,
You have accomplished so much in such a short time.
I'm sure the community is thriving because of your good works.
Your network of friends and family is a big support to your mission and give you not only physical but moral support which is so important.
Did you ever think that you would be happy to have a washing machine!!!! How life changes!
It won't be long until your parents are with you.
I hope you have a long HONEY DO list for them.
Your mom is a wonder. Before she leaves for Costa Rica she has to spoon feed the Music Scholarship Committee so we know how to set up the auditions.
Do the Costa Ricans celebrate Easter with the confetti filled eggs that they bust on each other's heads?
I remember when I taught third grade there was a story in our reader about the children in Mexico blowing out eggs and filling them with confetti. The children and I did it -- we went outside for the egg cracking celebration. It was fun.
Keep smiling,
Marge