Refugio Solte Donations

Please consider supporting Jason and Sarah while they spread the love of God in Costa Rica.....If you are interested in helping support Jason and Sarah...here is how you can do it...

 

You can go online https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=WREL7PMHVFATN or you can send a check to:

Answering The Call

ATTN: Jason & Sarah Smith

PO Box 4541

Roanoke, VA 24015

If you are interested in donating to Refugio Solte (the place I went in Uvita, Costa Rica), here is how you can do it...this will support the mission and the facility...

If for Refugio Solté you can go online https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BMZSE3NLNET6Q or you can send a check to:

Answering The Call

ATTN: RS Donation

PO Box 4541

Roanoke, VA 24015

 

 

Uvita

Wow...what a weekend!  Layne and I took a taxi to the bus station in San Jose on Friday afternoon.  Our plan was to go visit some friends and volunteer our time to help them out in Uvita, Costa Rica.  Before I go any further, I'd like to tell you what they do.  My mother's church (New Covenant in Denham Springs, LA) helps support this young missionary couple who live in Uvita.  Their names are Jason and Sarah Smith and Jason's mom attends church with my mom.  So, that's the connection.  Jason and Sara work with an organization called Answering The Call ministries.  Because I didn't want to get any of the info wrong...I copied this bio off their blog...

 "Jason & Sarah moved to Costa Rica in January of 2007 on what was to be a “one-year” stay. Since then, they have settled into their new life and community. They work with Answering The Call, a mission organization based out of the United States, working to advance Christ’s Kingdom in “hard to reach places” and throughout the world.
   Their ministry with ATC is two fold. They serve at the ATC training facility as the Directors of Refugio Solté. This training center has been set into motion with the vision of training and providing a place of refuge for hard to reach places throughout the world, specifically the “10/40 Window”. In addition Refugio Solté hosts numerous church groups and families throughout the year. This opportunity allows them to minister to teams in a unique way during their stay at Refugio Solté through service, local outreach, worship, and teaching.
    In addition, Jason & Sarah oversee an internet café ministry, Café Perica. The café is a local ministry of Refugio Solté in the town of Uvita de Osa providing a forum where people can come into contact with Jesus Christ. It is here at Café Perica where they pastor a small church gathering called La Reunión (The Reunion)."

Here's a little Youtube video about Refugio Solte...http://youtu.be/ukxsWWKDL7I

It's  a really cool place and Layne and I went down there to do whatever we could do for them.  So, Friday afternoon we go to the bus station and I was just a mess.  I was so scared that we'd take the wrong bus and end up lost.  It all worked out, though.  We caught the 5:30 bus and arrived in Uvita at 9:30.  Jason picked us up and took us to the internet café where we slept on the floor on air mattresses.  It might sound bad, but it wasn't.  They were comfy enough and we were tired.  On Saturday morning, Jason came to pick us up.  We stopped at a bakery to grab some pastries for breakfast and we also got this braided bread thing that was filled with chicken.  Can you say YUM!  We saved it for lunch as we headed up to the Refuge.  Even though it was only 4 miles up the mountain, it took abut 30 minutes to get there.  The 4wheel drive 1977 Jeep really struggled, but finally made it to the top.  This is me and Layne on the way to the top....the views were amazing... 

 

Once we got to the refuge, it was breathtaking.  First of all, it's in the rainforest, so it was soooo green, but secondly the sounds were amazing.  Here's a little video that Layne took of the property.  Just listen to the hisses and buzzes out in the jungle...

 http://youtu.be/layGeOTD9lA

 

It was really amazing.  Once there, we set our lunch out to heat up on the hood of the jeep and started raking grass clippings under intense sun.

It was a very long day...and very very hot.  We were beat when we were done, but it looked good.

You can't see us very good, but that's me, Dan (Jason's intern), Jason, and Layne.

 

The next morning Layne and I went down to the beach before having to catch our bus back to San Jose.  Can I just say WOW?!?!  Sitting on a log, I looked up and saw coconuts hanging from the tree...

Then, Layne and I walked out onto the beach...

Here's a 360 degree video of what it looked like http://youtu.be/GuudT2-flHg

And a couple more pics...

 

And we finished it off with this video.... http://youtu.be/fC7ey6OBrhw

 

After that, we hit the bakery again for another braided chicken bread for lunch and got on the bus back to San Jose. 

 

Thursday

 I understand that Atlanta has been iced over.  Layne thought it would be fun to post a pic on his facebook (which he logs in to only about once every 6 months) of him here in Costa Rica since it's so warm.  This is the pic he posted....

His post said, "To all of my friends in Georgia and Mississippi, I can relate to you. I think it dropped below 80 today. Its freezing! Seriously though stay safe everyone."...That crazy kid.


An update on the earthquake:  The newspaper said this, "A magnitude-4.5 earthquake rocked Costa Rica around 7:40 p.m. Wednesday, according to the University of Costa Rica’s National Seismological Network. UPDATE: The seismological network recorded a magnitude-4.2 aftershock at 9:20 p.m........ Reports showed it was felt throughout the entire country, with the strongest tremors hitting San José and the Central Valley. In San José, it seemed to last at least 10 seconds. No significant damage or any injuries have been reported."

And here's a map of where it was (just so you know, we're in the green area)....

Tomorrow Layne and I are leaving after school to go to Uvita, Costa Rica to visit some friends who have some sort of mission down there.  We brought some things they needed from the U.S. and we're going to help them clean or cut grass or do anything else they need.  I'm nervous about us making it to the bus station and actually getting on the correct bus so say a little prayer for us. We'll keep you posted!

TV

Oh...forgot to say in my last post...I thought I was so clever before I left the States by finding out where I can watch all my shows online.  I don't have many shows that I follow, but there are a few.  "Aha!" I thought, "I out smarted the system!"  Well, little did I know that once I logged in down here, the websites said that the shows weren't available in my region.  I was super sad.  We also can't get Pandora.

Well, today my CT told me about programs you can download so you can still see the shows.  It blocks your IP address so you're "incognito."  I downloaded one called Media Hint and then tested one of my shows....Downton Abbey here I come!!!!

San Jose and other stuff

I've been all over the place emotionally the last few days...One of my fellow student teachers actually has a friend (Sarah) who lives here in Costa Rica.  We were so lucky that she agreed to be our tour guide for today.  It was so nice of her to drive us and show us around.  On Sunday, she came and picked us up and took us to San Jose, which is only about 15 minutes away.  It's like Kennesaw to Atlanta (or for my Louisiana friends: like Denham Springs is to Baton Rouge).  She took us to the National Museum and to walk around and explore.  About half of the population of Costa Rica lives in this city, but you don't see a bunch of skyscrapers like you would see in a big city in the U.S.

It was a cool 80 degrees today...so cool that Layne actually got a little sunburned.  He insisted he didn't need sunscreen since he's got it "in his blood," but I'm gonna make him wear it in the future anyway!  LOL

Downtown San Jose, Costa Rica

 

We went to the National Museum and it was pretty interesting.  The best part was getting to hang out with some of my friends.  Here's me and Arielle "locked in jail."



 

And here's me and Maegan in a beautiful courtyard area....

This next pic is of Layne and I showing you where we are in Costa Rica...

 

San Jose was a fun day, but it was hot and we were all tired.  Sarah (the Tica that took us around) said that Layne even looks like a Tico.  We laughed at that, considering what he said earlier about not needing sunscreen. 



***BREAKING NEWS****  OMG!!!  We just had an earthquake!!!!  My heart is racing and my fingers are trembling....Layne is looking at me like, "what's the big deal?" but I'm freaking out!!!!!  I know some people may think it's no big deal, but I've never felt anything like that before!  I can't believe it!  It was two of them back to back...I guess the locals would call them tremors...but whew....not sure if I'll sleep tonight.  Let me calm down and I'll get to my blogging in a bit.

....Later....

Okay....I'm chill now....whoa, that was so weird.  My landlady says to expect more of them.  Apparently it's pretty common here.  So, back to my story.  After San Jose we went home and relaxed.  Monday was great because I got to see one of my favorite professors from our university.  She came down here and just seeing her gave me a boost of support!  I felt energized by her kind words and encouragement.  Then, Monday night I went to an "Americanized" store where I bought Doritos and Lucky Charms.  Layne was one very happy boy when I brought those groceries home.  Unfortunately, he opened the cereal and then put it back in the cupboard without putting it in a Ziploc.  The next morning it was full of ants.  They have these teeny tiny ants here that are everywhere.  There's really no getting rid of them, so all the food has to be kept in ziplocs or plastic containers.  So, when I found the ants in the cereal and was mumbling about throwing it away, he jumped in and said he was going to eat it anyway!  I thought that was kindof gross, but if that's what he wants to do...so be it!

We've been thinking about taking Spanish lessons and were supposed to meet a guy at his Spanish school on Tuesday afternoon.  When we walked to the place where the classes were held, we couldn't find it.  I was SO frustrated because I kept trying to ask, "Donde esta escuela de espanol?" but I couldn't understand any of the responses so I finally gave up.  I cursed under my breath the whole way home.  Walking there in the heat was a chore, and now walking back without having found the place?  Grrrrr.  As I was expressing my anger by venting to Layne, he reminded me of the culture shock phases that we read about before coming here.  I have such a smart son!  He's so good at helping me think things through and helping me understand my feelings.  Later, the Spanish teacher came to our house and talked with us about the lessons.  however, with them being $300, I'm not sure we'll take them after all.

On the way home from school today, one of my fellow student teachers and I spotted a Pizza Hut right about the same time.  We looked at each other and had the same thought.  Heck yeah!  So, tonight we ordered pizza for delivery! Yayyy!!!  Super happy here (even if I do have to worry about earthquakes)! 

 

Farmer's Market and Frisbee

This morning we decided to head to a local farmer's market at about 10.  I've been seeing so many beautiful, tropical flowers here, so as we walked to the market I took a few pictures of some of them.

 

I had other pics, but they don't want to upload for some reason.  I'm sure you'll see more later. 

 

I was completely overwhelmed at the farmer's market.  There were so many sights, smells, and sounds.  My senses were on overload.  I was able to buy a fair amount of fruit and vegetables, though.  So, at least we'll be able to eat.  Meat here is SO expensive.  Layne and I might be vegetarians by the time we come home.  Seriously, I stopped at a market called Auto Mercado.  It's a really Americanized store that has a lot of the foods we typically eat in the U.S.  I was going to buy spaghetti stuff so I could cook for us.  Well, I did buy sauce and noodles, and even some Italian bread, but when I went to the meat...a small package of just plain ground beef was $12.00!  Shocked, I made the pasta with just tomato sauce. 

 

But, back to the farmer's market...I have learned that I love mango.  And, I've learned that there are several different kinds.  There's a hard mango that has the texture of an apple, and then there's a softer, much sweeter one that has the consistency of a peach.  It's the softer one that I like so much.  I hope I'll be able to find these when I return to the States.  Look at this picture of some of the bananas at the farmer's market...you can see how these were cut directly off the tree....

As cool as the bananas were, though, we were kind of disgusted with the smell of raw chicken.  And right next to that was the sweet smell of fresh orange juice.  So, you can see how our senses were being bombarded.  Of course, we were overwhelmed by the language barrier, too.  It was cool, though, and we'll go back to the farmer's market again, I'm sure.

 

My landlady gave us two pieces of very good advice.  First, never, EVER, think you have the right of way as a pedestrian.  This piece of advice is essential to staying alive.  Seriously!  The traffic laws here are merely suggestions, and the pedestrians have NO rights, even in the cross walks.  We have dodged so many cars and every time we get into a taxi, it's a new adventure.  The second piece of advice she gave us is to always look down as we're walking on the sidewalks.  In the U.S., we just take it for granted that the sidewalks will be even and easy to walk on.  Not here!  Not only are the sidewalks broken up and uneven, but they usually have dog poop on them (people here do not pick up after their animals), and they will have these random holes that a person can fall into.  I'm not even exaggerating here...you really can break a leg if you don't watch where you're going.  Seriously, if you want to look at something, you MUST stop walking to look and then look back down at your feet before resuming your walk.  Here's one of the holes I had to dodge today...

This one was only about 24x24 inches, but some have been 4 ft x 4 ft.  Very dangerous.

 

We went up to our school where they play ultimate Frisbee every Saturday at 2 o'clock.  I had no intentions of playing, but I wanted Layne to maybe meet some people.  He had a really good time, and said it was the first time since we've been here that he's genuinely had fun.  I'd noticed that he'd kindof been funky, so I'm glad he had a good time. We plan to go again next weekend (if we don't head off on another adventure).  That's Layne in the red jersey, fighting over a frisbee....

 

 

Thursday

Yesterday we went to buy Layne a little phone.  Now I feel much better because we can call each other if we need to.  Not that he's going anywhere or anything.  He's been staying at the house doing his online schoolwork while I'm at the school.  I love my school AND the class I'm in.  This school has such a positive vibe to it.  The people are warm and welcoming, and they seem to genuinely want to support and help each other.  It really is an amazing place.  Here is a picture of my room....

I love how the windows and doors are always open.  Even though it's warm here, there is a constant breeze.  If I were using a picture dictionary and looked up the word "Paradise," I would expect to see a picture of this country's beautiful backdrop.  It's so vibrant and colorful.  The greens in the plants are the greenest greens I've ever seen...and the blue in the sky is the most gorgeous blue that a person can get lost in...It is literally the most beautiful place I've ever been.  And the students...wow...just wow.  We have 15 in our class and they are fun and friendly, smart and kind, and just awesome!  So, it's been a good last few days.

I was thinking I might lose some weight while I'm here since I'm doing an awful lot of walking and an whole lot less eating.  However, today I found a cookie that I love!  I bought them at the Wal-Mart when I went to get Layne's phone.  I just thought they'd be your basic cheap sandwich cookie, but they are so yummy!  I can't read a word on the ingredient list, but I don't care what's in them.  So much for losing weight because I'll def be buying some more of these....