!
-Almost all mayonnaise here is flavored with lime. I Love it!!!!
-Houses are locked up like Fort Knox. There is a front gate with sharp spikes protruding from the top, an iron gate in front of most doors, and then the doors themselves. Most yards are surrounded by big walls with concertina wire on top to prevent climbing.
-There is no air conditioning here. Most of the time it is not really necessary anyway, but I am sure my friends from the OR (i.e. Dr. Wolfley) would probably die of heat stroke at night trying to sleep. Due to the constant moisture we have found lotion unnecessary, but cologne/perfume absolutely essential.
-Driving laws are optional, but horn honking is mandatory.
-Pedestrians=speed bumps (See above)
-Everything here takes more time. Going to the grocery store can take more than 2 hours just for a few items. First we have to decide, will we walk, catch a bus, or a taxi? If it is raining we don't want to walk or wait 20 minutes for a bus, so we usually call a taxi. If it is during rush hour we pray the taxi actually shows up since they never acknowledge on the phone that they are actually coming to get you after you give them the directions. On entering the store you must turn over any bags (except for purses) to prevent anyone from easily shoplifting any items. Once you arrive at the store you find yourself wandering aimlessly looking for items you recognize. One lady from our group here bought baking powder instead of salt because she couldn't read the label yet. There are many choices here in CR, but not all of them are good. For instance, women in the store dressed in regular clothing stand there and try to pedal their product to you when you are trying to look at say, lunch meat. Even though I know what they are trying to do I find myself playing the stupid gringa and telling them in English that "I don't really need any help, thank you." If you are buying any produce you have to get the man at the scale in the produce aisle to weigh it for you and put a sticker on it before you go to the checkout counter. God forbid you get to the checkout and don't have all your produce labeled with the proper stickers. That's a major no-no! And at last there is paying at the checkout. In rapid Spanish you hear a lady say"Setentaseismilochocientosnoventaidos colones," SAY WHAT??? Now comes the fun of trying to flag down one of those elusive taxis at the front of the store. By the time you get home you are thoroughly exhausted and realize of course that you forgot the milk which was the whole reason you even went to the store in the first place.
-There are no street names or numbers, but I am told they are trying to place some street signs and numbers on some areas in downtown San Jose. Most believe this is a fruitless endeavor as the signs are made of metal and all the junkies like to sell any scrap metal they can get their hands on.
-Some streets have their own security guards that are there 24/7 with a day guard and a night guard. We (the residents) pay these men to watch out for potential robbers. Although they have no real weapons to speak of I have heard they will chase someone down and beat them senseless if they steal or mug someone when they are around. Usually these guys are from Nicaragua. Which leads us to the next thing...
Things that are the same:
-The people here tend to treat Nicaraguans the same as Americans treat people from Mexico. They allow them to take the jobs they do not want, like landscaping, construction labor, and guard duty. Many of the jokes are also about what they refer to as "Nicas." The Ticos (Costa Ricans) seem to feel that although the Nicas are doing this so they can better their lives, they should go back and better their country instead.
-Most Ticos are very friendly. It is kind of like being in a large city in the South. Busy, but the people will take time to talk to you if you ask them a question and they appreciate our attempts at learning their language.
-These people here love their roasted chicken (kind of like Southerners love fried chicken).
-Ticos enjoy a good party and love a weekend at the beach.
-Ticos love their kids. This is evidenced by all the parks they have and the fact parents are frequently seen there with them playing and spending time as a family. We were glad to keep this tradition here in Central America. We have become park connoisseurs and enjoy the opportunity to meet Tico families and make new friends. They truly are a wonderful people.
So, with all this in mind and the many other things not yet named we say "¡Viva la diferencia!"
best and the worst of our area in all the miles we have taken on foot around here. Some of the things we have found ourselves grumbling about like the temporary commune living in the AMCA house with new faces coming and going every night (usually arriving around 1-2 am) has been both a curse and blessing for us. The kids always seem to take it all in stride and enjoy meeting the new people. They have even given some command performances of break dancing and air guitars for their captive audience. For Ken and I the lack of privacy, especially the lack of a bathroom close to our room we can use, and the fact we are all in one room in bunk beds as a family, has been a challenge for sure. I guess we can't all serve in Portugal (inside joke).
This morning I got up early and went to the local farmer's market to purchase our vegetables 
and fruit for the week. Along the way I saw many people putting their garbage in the street for pick up and also many people going through those same garbage bags looking for aluminum cans to sell, food to eat, etc... It is hard for me to really feel justified in my complaints about our cramped lifestyle for the next two weeks when I see teenagers having to scrounge around through the trash for food.
As I took the children to one of the many local parks in the area I was humbled by the knowledge that God has really provided for all of our needs. We have learned the first few verses of Psalm 23 in Spanish "Jehovà es mi pastor, nada me faltarà ." which translates, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
How true that simple message has become for each of us.
Thank you everyone for your continued prayers. God is really pruning us right now, but that is exactly what we have needed. It is not always easy for us to find these places in us opened and bared to the world, but through these moments I know that God will grow us into the beautiful creation He has designed. God bless you all, or, as they say down here...¡Diós Te Bendìga!
assignment to take a bus to a local mall and engage some of the locals (see Ticos) in a little practice session of our newly aquired skills. Ken and I were told that it is wise when you introduce yourselves to someone else that a little compliment will go a long way. Women were instructed to say another lady's name was pretty (bonita); men were to shake hands and show their machismo (masculinity). So, we went and looked for a jogging stroller here because our little umbrella stroller will not cut it on the rough San Jose streets. The streets and sidewalks here are full of pot holes, cracks, and assorted gringo traps (dog poop, man holes without the covers, etc...)
carriages). Apparently nobody here jogs with their baby because when I asked for a jogging stroller in Spanish they looked at me like I was crazy. Like, why would a gringa want to run with her baby? Sure enough, when I do go running in the morning, I don't see ANY women jogging, just men. So, it was pretty much a fruitless endeavor on that part, but we did manage to speak a little to the locals, and I'm sure make several of them snicker.
Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye? Today is our last day here in the US for the next 3 1/2 years. These last few weeks have been a series of bittersweet moments saying goodbye to friends and family as we prepare to go on the journey God has set before us. I wanted to take a few moments and just say thank you to all of you who have shown us your love and support. Thank you for your prayers most especially. Although we have very heavy hearts leaving all of you, we know that there is something truly wonderful God has in store for us as we share His love with others far away. I believe George Eliot said it best when he said,"Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love." Thank you everyone for showing us the depths of love.
Congregacion Hispana. Byron Mosquera, the pastor, was so kind to allow us some time to share with the church how they can partner with us in missions. I gave them a short speech in...(gulp)...Spanish, and Ken introduced an amazing video in Spanish that really shows the heart of missions in South America. It was such a wonderful service and a great opportunity to meet some people from Birmingham's Hispanic community that have a heart to pray for missions and be a part of leading people from their homelands to the Lord. Here is their website if you would like to see it: 
dinner with them. Glenda and her sister-in-law even taught me how to make arepas. We brought some gazpacho, and they gave us some wonderful carne mechada (shredded beef slow cooked with spices, peppers, onions, etc...) It was muy delicioso! They taught us how to put the cheese and meat in the arepas to make a little sandwich...a taste of heaven! I do not believe it will be too big of an adjustment for us to learn to love the local cuisine. If anything I believe we may have to restrain ourselves a little!
going around town having that "last meal" at our favorite spots. I see it as a good excuse not to cook and Ken just sees it as a great excuse to eat! Either way we are both happy with the end result, except that extra few pounds we need to lose. Remember, IMB is BMI spelled backwards! Yes, I see a trip to Full Moon BBQ on the horizon, or Luna's as we affectionately call it.
Yesterday we said goodbye to our good friend Garfield. Garfield has been very faithful to us over the last year. My children after last summer had another nickname for Garfield, the deer slayer. Now I am sure many of you are wondering who is Garfield? Garfield was our little PT Cruiser. It was the last really big piece of America that we had not either crated or prepared to stick in a suitcase to follow us to Costa Rica. 
at Dawson. It even has it's own prayer room! The people here at the church are so nice. We look forward to getting to know some of them over the next couple of weeks. We were excited to find out the house would be available in January of 2012 when we will be back for stateside assignment (STAS). The children's schools are within walking distance along with 3 parks and a playground just a couple of blocks away. Best of all, the Edgewood Creamery is only 1 block away and has an awesome assortment of homemade ice creams!!!!! Yeah, God must be preparing us for some major inconveniences in the near future, because this place has every convenience. Thank you everyone for all your prayers and encouragement. It has made these last few weeks in the states so precious to us. 
m. We really thought about all the freedom we have come to expect here in America. Many people think we are so crazy to leave that freedom behind to go somewhere that they do not have those same freedoms that we take for granted here. All I know is that my freedom goes with me everywhere I go. This freedom was bought at a great price, but it was not because a soldier fought on foreign soil, or that some one had to leave their loved ones behind to fight a battle in defense of their land. This freedom was bought through the shed blood of my Savior, Jesus. It does not matter what land I am in, free or otherwise. The freedom I have in Christ is one that I will have for all eternity and as Lee Greenwood says, "and they can't take that away!"
others. A few weeks ago she was talking to some of the singles (journeymen) and they were being silly and telling her little funny rhymes, teasing her a little like her big brother does. She proceeded to say, "Let no unwholesome talk come from your mouths, but only that which is good for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29." The girls in the group were saying, "Go Kayleigh! Tell them another one!" Kayleigh's last day of class was so hard for her as she cried and said goodbye to Miss Becky. Becky really connected to Kayleigh in such a special way and I thank God that he placed her in Kayleigh's life during this time to show her that He would always provide for her people that love her along the way.
Cade towards the end finally really seemed to enjoy his time at school and with friends. I was most concerned with his adjustment since he had never been at a daycare on a regular basis before. Miss Marlene was so sweet with him and patient. Whenever I would bring him in in the mornings she would stop what she was doing and immediately distract him with the bubble machine. By the end of FPO he was having fun playing peekaboo with her during one of the services.
e to our children, but most of all the way they helped them to grow spiritually while we were there. I am also thankful to all the other men and women there with us that made such a great impact on our kids by showing them that wherever we go we will always have an extended family with us of "aunts" and "uncles". Now I pray with this foundation we will be able to continue this growth in their lives and to help them make an impact for God's kingdom.
children's lives as well. Connor begged me when it was time to get his haircut, "Can I pleeeeease have a Mohawk?" Ken said, "Absolutely not!" I said, "Sure!" Talk about role reversals. We told him he could keep it until commissioning service. He has loved it!
intimidated by one of the opposing team members who is over 6'3". I learned to just move out of the way when he came towards me with the ball. Now, I will say in my defense that I did scrap it up pretty well with the girls. The South American team did end up winning the tournament with cheers of "OLE, OLE, OLE" resounding on and around the field! Ken had an opportunity to go fishing this week with Anthony. I call this picture "Fisher of Men" since they didn't catch any fish that day.
Last week we completed our contingency training. Basically this training teaches you what to do
if you are ever held hostage. Although it was only 3 days of training, it was pretty stressful for some people as they do real life role play with people randomly selected in the group. I had a little training in the military, but it was not nearly as intense as what the people selected for role play went through. Connor decided to have his own scenerio on the playground with some of the other TCKs (Third Culture Kids). They determined that they would use tickling as their form of punishment. Eventually the hostages escaped and made their captor the recipient of some merciless tickling.
Here are a few pictures from these last two weeks:
Connor and Kayleigh show off their new pillows with Miss Bobbie.
"Uncle Mark" reminds us to pray for the mentally challenged of Italy. 
Our last cultural worship we had Arabic Underground House Church. It really gave me an appreciation for the freedoms we have here in America to worship the Lord without fear of being persecuted. It also reminded me to pray for those that do not have that freedom.
they haven't given us any Kool-Aide to drink yet). It gives us a chance to experience what "church" will be like in other cultures.
audio/visual equipment as a crutch for our worship time. I was reminded of the words our Minister of Missions, Jeremy, used to say to us..."You can't just be flexible...that is too rigid. Be FLUID!!!" So, it was an eye-opening experience for people who had never been in a Spanish only environment. No doubt Ken was thinking, "I better really pick up the Spanish quick in Costa Rica." Another interesting "non-Western" idea is that childcare is NOT provided in most other cultures during church services. This proved to be very interesting as well during the Latin American night as I looked up while playing bongos to see my 2-year-old running down the aisle toward the stage saying "Me play! Me play!"
with the lake as the backdrop to the setting. The women wore long dresses or skirts like the African women would wear, and even some of the men who had been to Africa wore skirts like the natives would, or at least the ones really comfortable with their masculinity. So the men sat on one side and the women and children on the other side. At this point I am thinking Ken considers it payback for having to watch Cade by himself the week before. It went well though.
things that come our way and right about that time a strong wind started to blow as dark clouds rolled in. We just wrapped things up in time to run to our Quad and watch the rain come pouring down. As the storm blew over and the sun returned everyone went outside to see a beautiful double rainbow! When I thought of the contrast afterwards between the Latin service, the African service, and even our own Western style worship I recalled what it says in Revelations 7:9-10:
