Words cannot do Justice

This morning I woke up once again needed to look around the room for a while before realizing where I was. It's still hard to believe I am in Central America, a completely different world from my home. Words cannot describe nor pictures contain the experiences that I already hold in my heart after only such a short time. The small town of Poas on the side of a Volcano now holds not only memories but experiences, the kind that sit deep inside your soul and begin eroding away at some of the deep misconceptions you have had about people, and the way you thought life ought to be. Tico people are simple yet so incredibly vibrant in color, affection, music and worship. From the first day I felt that I was at home in a foreign community with a foreign language. I really have to laugh looking back now only days later. We went to peoples homes who didn't speak a lick of English and our Spanish has been very limited to the point of what Tico's call Nada. Yet amazingly it was not so much the work we did at the farm or the singing in church that I think back on as the impact we left rather it was the times sharing meals in homes. Often after our meal of rice and beans was finished they would find a guitar take me to a relatives house where all the rest of the brothers, nephews, neices, grandparents ect. ect. were and they would kindly ask me to sing a song or two, or many. I was overwhelmed at these experiences my heart bouncing not with nervousness but a joy for singing love songs to my Lord with my spanish friends, some of whom likely were not Christians. Then the best part always came when they would sing some songs for us! I cherish those times of deep fellowship. It taught me that you don't always need words to truly connect with people, the smiles and the gestures exchanged between them and us spoke a lot more loudly that most words I have spoken. It has really been a blessing to have music and I am content that I don't need any kind of special talent in order to do so. Just two nights ago we sat in the small apartment of some newfound German friends and had a wonderful time of worship, to them it spoke much more loudly because in Germany worship in such a setting is an unheard of event. God has been faithful to open our eyes everyday to see glimpses of His heart in the people we meet. One day last week we took a drive to a place they call ''little hell'' it is a large drug traffic area with elementry schools all around. We met a man and wife who feed the children in this broken neighborhood out of their own income which comes from selling temales wrapped in Banana leaves on the street. My heart was broken I couldn't help but think about all the things that I have, usless toys, clothes I don't need, junk food I always buy and mounds of usless expensive things that to a North American seem like a staple. Their income was less that 400 dollars a month and from that they feed over 70 children a day! Wow. I want to let the Lord break my heart for the things that break His heart. I believe this was one of them. I have learned a lot about culture and I have seen a lot of glimpses to things that I want to learn. Mostly things of Character as that is what traveling usually seems to do. I can feel myself changing from the man I was a year ago or even a month ago. Today I turn 24 it is a sobering day for me because I feel very far from home, I often feel like I need to be acclomplishing things in my life and learning some kind of carreer and here I am playing with kids and lounging around in Costa Rica. But if I have learnt one thing in my 24 years, it has been that there is no better place in the whole world than to be in the will of God. He has so many good things in store for each person if we would only stop and listen. Obedience means sacrifice but it leads to a world of blessings that can never be found alone. I miss home today my mother always made the best cakes. If I could ask for one thing for my birthday it would be to have strength to walk in obedience every day of my life and that it would speak loudly so others might desire to do the same. Thanks again for your prayers we can literally feel a wall of protection in dark places. Daniel

Pura Vida!

Weekend at the Beach

Friday night we decided enjoy the company of our hosts by cooking a meal for the family. It may not have been the best meal, but we did enjoy their great German flavored company. They also told us a place we should visit this weekend, on the Pacific coast, called Jaco. So as they advised us we took the bus over to Jaco for the weekend to meet the culture of the coast. We spent the weekend there, hunting for the great low prices of Costa Rica. When we did see the beach we were simply awe struck by the incredible beauty of the coast, and the surfing waves that crashed up on shore. After returning to San Jose with our very sun burnt bodies, we had an evening of Latin dance with Rene's wife and her friends. We are determined to be incredible dancers very soon! Kenton. Note: to post comments click to the right of each posting's title. We enjoy hearing back from you.

The Dump

Friday, Jordan and I were able to spend the day with the German people at a recycling building, and exploring the San Jose Dump, while Dan was with the Children from the Boys and Girls club he wrote about. The city of San Jose has a bad habit of tossing everything in the garbage or streets, and to help the environment recycling places like this one have been built. Jordan and I wanted to lend a helping hand. (Right) Seriously the worst smell we've ever encountered.

Costa Rica's beautiful ninios

As you can see we mostly play. We arrived to Costa Rica only two days ago but we already feel very much at home. Except for the simple fact that we can't talk to anybody. We were picked up at the airport from a German missionary who has been very gracious in letting us stay in his home while we work with a different missionary. We took the bus for 150 colones , about (20 cents) down the street where I could see a large factory. the factory turned out to be a tortilla factory and on the other side of it was a coffee factory. We walked down a long dirt road along side railway tracks until we could see small tin shacks covering the riverbank. Water was flowing from every direction and I thought there must be a lot of little waterfalls around here all running toward the river until I found out later that it was in fact the sewage system. The church is a small Lutheran church nuzzled in the center of this community. it was once illegal squatters mostly Nicaraguan but has since become land they can rent legally and once they save enough money most add concrete exterior walls and floors. The church has a small room above where the children of the neighborhood come to play during the day. today we did a puppet show but since we know very little Spanish it was very interesting. The children really are incredible. They have the most beautiful innocent smiles but they come from terribly broken homes. My eyes were certainly opened today. As I looked around the neighborhood I could not help but re-evaluate my own needs of comfort. what I carry in my backpack is probably worth more than most of the homes around me. I am glad to say tomorrow I have the gift of waking up, walking 10 minutes to the bus stop paying my 150 colones and spending another day with the ninios. Take care and pray for the children of Costa Rica Daniel

Costa Rica's beautiful ninios

This is the street of the church where we are playing with kids. I say play and not work because that is what it is. most of the houses are tin and some cement but as you can see it compares to wall street.