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.

sorry no pic on this one

It's really me to blame mostly for our lack of pictures for today's blog. We have been using my camera, it has been new for me to remember that we need to have it with us. I feel that I'm letting you down Scott, I'll pick it up. I'll start off letting you know that I could have a picture of right now. Since our last blog, Thursday was filled with roofing all day, that night Robbie and our Team we went to Shaun Murray's house for a Bible study. They were going through the book 'Blue Like Jass' by Donald Miller. A few people were there like from Correct Craft (Air Nautique); the owner the Chief designer for the company, a guy from their marketing team, and a buddy who rides pro with Shaun. Everyone was super welcoming to the four of us. "Thanks for having us Shaun." Friday was roofing all day, Saturday was roofing in the morning untill we finished the job, which gave us time to pick up a few things for the trip, before we went to my first Florida high school football game, and it was huge! Nice field, Lots of fans, lights on the feild for a night time game. It was great. I decided to wear Robbie's Jersey from his school and sit on the wrong side of the fans, where I was told I would be beat up. We stirred up the fans when our team scored our only touch down in the 4th quarter after we had been scored on about 5 times. But I managed to escape without being hurt. It was fun. Sunday we were at the Church that Dan worked at the summer of 2005, and were prayed for in our journey. Florida has been very busy with work, and very little time to mentor or meet with people, but we try hard to speak with our actions and try our best while were here. Tuesday we leave for Costa Rica, so our time is short here. We feel Florida has helped us far more than we've helped them. I ask that you pray for our strength and energy, safety flying tuesday, and for my girlfriend Kalena as she is starting to settle into a new surounding in Guam, she is excited about God's work over there! Thanks.... Kenton.

Away!

Yesterday I walked out of my room for the last time in a year. It was a weird feeling knowing that for the next twelve months I will not have a bed or a definite place to stay every night. At the airport some of our friends and family came to say goodbye, I will miss there faces. And in the lonely times that I am sure to have throughout my travels I will look back on these faces along with the many others left behind. Our flights were quite eventful. We met the native police officer from Corner Gas in the airport he was pretty normal! Also on the flight from Toronto to Orlando I sat beside two people from Israel. They told me all about the lifestyle there and then told me that when we get there we should call them and they would help us get around in the country. (Guy in red sweater) God is so rad! Already He is hooking us up with contacts that we never expected. Being here in Florida is a nice transition stop. It feels more like a second home, than a first stop. Although it is kinda cold here, I think today it only got up to around 20 degrees. And the pool is a little chilly! Well I am off to bed, be blessed yall. Lehmann