Earthquakes Strange Fruit and Other Crazy Adventures

Well it has only been a month since I last posted! I am starting to have a pattern. Even in Costa Rica it is easy to become trapped by the rigors of everyday life and time just seems to disappear. This month has been an exciting month of travel and adventures for sure. Today our weekend was kicked off with a bang. Well almost a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck just north of San Jose and definitely rocked our office. We heard the building rattle and a few seconds later the ground shook under our feet!!!!

Guaba (Kinda Like a Cotton Ball in a Bean Pod) 

The Ticos Call it Fruit!!

Most of you experienced a great Easter holiday in the states surrounded by family and lots of good food. Ours was a little bit different here in Atenas. My family and I along with a group from our church (my dad is the pastor) went door to door in one of the local neighborhoods talking to people about the significance of Good Friday. It was great to be able to spend some time with them as they traveled around talking to people. I even got to talk with an American couple that had recently moved into town and were upset because all of the stores and gas stations were closed! The catholic churches influence and emphasis of Semana Santa (Holy Week) has lead the evangelical churches in Costa Rica to downplay Easter somewhat. They believe that Easter should be celebrated everyday!! We did manage singing Up From the Grave in Spanish, but lunch was only as exciting as rice and beans can be!

My Dad and Jeff After our Afternoon of Walking Door to Door

He Can Play Football Cinco Too

(My Dad is the Goalie)

This month we also went on another intern adventure. The interns were required to leave Costa Rica for 3 days to renew our tourist visas. Unfortunately, that meant traveling down to Bocas Del Toro, Panama. A small group of islands just across the Costa Rica - Panama border. This was a beautiful but poor group of islands that have largely boosted their income in the past 10 years through the exploit of the beautiful surrounding beaches and reefs to tourist. We spent 3 days exploring the islands beaches, swimming, snorkeling, building a raft, sailing around the islands, and filming for our intern music video to document our experience!! It was a great time of fun and bonding for our group. Our tourist van was even stopped by the police on the way home and had its license tags removed, though our driver was allowed to continue on to our destination.

Crossing the Bridge to Panama

(Somehow You Have to Pass Through Baltimore to get to Panama from Costa Rica)

The days continue to go by quickly, too quickly at times. It is hard to believe that this amazing experience will be over in just 10 weeks! I hope that our project in Peru will be mostly complete by then. The ministry we are serving is ready to begin construction later this year as they have already secured funding and an equipment operator to begin in November. Today, I also started talking with my mentor and project leader about his vision for EMI and implementing a construction management program within the organization. In the coming weeks I will likely be working with him to create a database of resources to help get his dreams off the ground!

Our Sailboat Adventure

Our Homemade Raft!!

(It Floated All of Us)

The Lord has been teaching me a lot during my time here in Costa Rica and continued to allow me opportunities to use my talents for his glory. Next week, Steven (another intern) and myself will travel to one of the indigenous regions of Costa Rica to provide engineering input for a water system. Our destination is a meager 9 hour hike from the end of the road!! Should make for another great adventure!!

Thank you all for your generous support! Please keep me in your prayers. Over half way done but still a long ways to go!!

The View From Our Dinner Table

(It Was Hard To Say Good Bye)