A typical Saturday for us in San Francisco de Dos Rios

Every Saturday Jacob gets up really early and goes to the feria.  You can see a previous blog on that, but it is basically a farmer’s market that comes to a local park every Saturday and Jacob goes to buy our produce for the week.  And the kids and I stay at the house and get to sleep in.  Jacob meets a couple of his guy friends who are also in charge of buying their family’s produce and they meet at a make-shift “Soda” – like a small restaurant.  They (Jacob and his buddies) have named it “The Greasy Spoon.”  They eat gallo pinto (again, see a previous blog if you aren’t sure what that is), eggs and coffee.  The lady who cooks the food calls Jacob “Senor Corlantro” because he always wants extra corlantro (cilantro in English) in his gallo pinto.  And they sit around and have a good old time.  He does this each Saturday.

Well, the kids and I get to sleep in while he does this.  However, sometimes, Lizzie and Sophia get up before me.  They usually play something quietly until I wake up.  Then once I get up it is cleaning time.  Each Saturday is my day to clean, clean and clean some more.  See the thing is, many families in language school have what is called an empleada who comes each week and helps with the cooking and cleaning.  Well, Jacob and I don’t have one.  With the pressures of school and studying, the only day I really have to get the house clean is Saturday.  And for those of you who knew me before Costa Rica, you know that I prayed and prayed about the Lord giving me a heart for cleaning my house, since it is SO culturally important here.  Well guess what.  I love waking up, getting my cup of coffee, that Jacob made before he left for the feria, and getting to work on the house.  And it stays clean for maybe an hour all together, but at least I worked on it and all the clothes get washed and put away and we start the weekend off with a clean house.

Here are a couple of pictures from today, Saturday, March 28, 2009.  One is of Sophia.  When I woke up, the game that she and Lizzie had been playing was “Decorate Sophia with markers and stickers!”  Another is a picture of the hot peppers that Jacob found this morning at the feria.  You know how we love hot sauce.  Jacob is the king of making wonderful hot sauce.  Another is a picture of one morning at the “Greasy Spoon.”  Unfortunately, it was not today.  They had about 6 men this morning.  But you can at least have a picture to go by.  Enjoy!

Sophia after being decorated by Lizzie – She did a great job!

Jacob and the guys at the “Greasy Spoon”

Jacob’s treasure find of hot peppers from the feria

 

Firsts, Lasts and Goodbyes Already

I know that I have not blogged in a while, but we have been so busy.  It will take a few entries to get caught up, but I am going to try to. 

Okay, let’s start with the firsts.  The kids all experienced firsts at the pool at the weekly swim at the Merritt’s pool.  All three jumped off of the diving board to Jeff and Lisa.  And all three went down the slide with Jeff and Lisa.  Clearly they trust them completely!!  It is always so much fun to see them experience things for the first time.  All three were brave and seemed to love it.  As soon as Sophia did it she said, “Do again.”  Over and over and over.  It was so cute.  I am including those pictures.   Another first was that we went to visit Enon Baptist for the first time.  We had a wonderful evening of sharing and encouragement. 

 Now to the lasts…

Well, I have attended my last “Bible club” here in the States.  It was very emotional to think about all of the ladies that I get together with once a month, for what Paul Wigington has termed our “Bible club,” getting together without me in August.  But life will go on here once we move to Costa Rica.  This meeting is something that I look forward to every month.  The women share with and pray for each other.  It is such a wonderful support and encouragement.  I will miss you ladies.

I also cooked my last supper for our church for a while. I fixed a typical Costa Rican breakfast. I fixed gallo pinto, plantains, chicken, queso fresca, and we had lots of fresh fruit. I love cooking for my church and will miss it.

I also had our last small group get together with the Little’s a couple of Saturdays ago.  They are out of town for a month and when they return we will have already left.  We all went downtown Greenville and played at the park and then went for ice cream.  It is hard to say goodbye to all of these events and people that we love so much.  It is a good thing that the Lord is bringing them about slowly for us.  Not that we would get used to it.  I am still teary about it every time I think about leaving.  But the Lord has a work for us to do in Costa Rica and Jacob and I are committed to following Him to the ends of the earth.  We just want to be obedient and servants to our High and Mighty Lord and Savior.  He has a people in Costa Rica and has called us to serve Him and them there.  There is no place we would rather be, even though we love life here.  Here are some pictures…

Sophia getting ready to jump off of the diving board

More getting her nerve up!

Here she goes!

Again!

Gerry holding all the kids!

Lizzie sliding!

Enon Baptist

Enon Baptist

Ladies at “Bible club”

“Bible club”

Jacob, Sophia and Lizzie downtown

Benjamin checking out the river

Ava enjoying her sucker!

Our small group picnic

Our small group