I can not believe that we have been here for a little over two weeks already! In some ways it seems much longer and in some ways it seems like we have just gotten here. It is such a crazy feeling!
The last few days have been busy ones. We have spent time in bible studies, hiking in Manuel Antonio National Park, Joel has been doing some work at the property, we have had dinner with some wonderful new friends, the boys have done some surfing, and the girls and I have spent some time with some new friends having "girl time". We even visited with some friends from the states, that we met here 2 years ago, who are here again at the same time we are....talk about coincidence :) It truly has been a busy week! We are really enjoying getting to know all of the people that God is bringing across our path. There is such a mix of people here in Jaco! I have been especially blessed by some wonderful new friends that I have just enjoyed sitting and talking with.....God knew that I would need "girlfriends" here and provided just the right ones :)
As busy as the last week has been, it has also been very eye opening for Joel and I. I know that many of you are waiting to see a post that will announce what we feel we are being led to do and I am so sorry to disappoint, but we are still praying very heavily over that. It seems that each day God allows us to see a little bit more of the puzzle, but sometimes it blurs other parts...does that make sense? We get clarity in one area then another comes under question...it is an awesome learning experience for Joel and I and the kids. We have never really been stretched like this before. We feel like we are truly just walking by faith because if it were by sight, we'd probably have been home a week ago! The past two weeks have probably been two of the toughest in my life but even in all of that, I know that God is working in all of us. So, for those of you who are praying for us, please continue to do so. I truly believe it is your prayers that are sustaining us during some very trying situations and decisions.
This coming weekend is looking like a busy one :) As I mentioned in an earlier post, this little town swells over the weekends and this weekend is an art expo in the park...so we are expecting tons of people to pour into town. It is funny that after only two weekends here, the kids know that the crowds are coming :) We usually try to stay out of downtown on the weekends just because of the amount of people...and those of you who really know Joel, know how much he loves crowds :) But, we have a full agenda :) Saturday morning, Joel is going to the Men's Breakfast that Calvary Chapel does once a month. The girls and I (and maybe the boys too, they haven't committed yet:) are going to a nearby neighborhood to help out with Kid's Club. They usually have between 30-45 children show up and they have a game, bible story time, craft, snack and then each family gets some rice and beans. It is a very poor neighborhood and I have heard that they look forward to the weekly Kid's Club meetings. I am so excited to go and be a part of it! In the afternoon, the first library here in Jaco will open it's doors and they are having a fiesta to celebrate....complete with pinata!!! They don't have a lot of books and the majority of the people in this town do not even know how a library works, but the couple starting it has a real heart for the locals and want to see them more educated. They would really like to get some more books for kids in Spanish. Saturday night I am going to the monthly ladies' bible study that Calvary hosts at the Pastor's house led by his wife Revae. Sunday, after church, we will be going to a Super Bowl party....yes, there are some Americans here who are routing for their favorite teams too....or they just like to get together and eat the Super Bowl yummies :) Whewwww I am getting tired just typing all of what the next few days hold :)
The kids are doing well. The girls have enjoyed playing with Naomi and Abigail (Revae's daughters) They were even asking for a sleepover today...it would have to be at their house since the 6 of us barely fit in our condo :) JD is still suffering with some sinus headaches but our friends from the states brought some Sudafed with them for me and it seems to be helping him...I have a feeling that he will have them on and off while we are here :( Josh is Josh...he is fine on the go or just playing by himself. He had a blast chopping coconuts with a machete today at the property while Joel worked. Please continue to pray for their hearts to be open to whatever God tells us to do. It will not be easy to move them here but having an obedient heart does help (I keep telling myself this too! :)
Well, that is what has been going on with us. Like I have said before, Jaco becomes a little more familiar each day. We have even discovered some back roads to some places :) I made Joel and the kids order their own ice cream cones in Spanish the other night...it was funny, but they all did it :) We will definitely have to buckle down on the Spanish lessons if we are coming back!!!
A Dios sea la gloria!
Kelley (& Joel :)
Here are some pics of Manuel Antonio and some of the awesome animals we were able to see!
Yes, this sign is saying to go slow for sloths, monkeys and some other animal we couldn't figure out :)
This is the first sloth we saw in the park...he was moving very slow and eventually turned around and looked right at us! Very cool!
There were lots of Capuchin Monkeys and Howler Monkeys...the Howlers have this awful blood curdling cry! This little guy actually tried to steal some muffins from some people who left their stuff unattended :) He was too cute and even covered his face while we were telling him no!
We have no idea what this is, but he kept trying to get into our back packs of food! He would come off the mountain as soon as someone went into the back packs to get something to eat :) Of course I wasn't worried, our fearless protector was there :)
There are 3 private white sand beaches that you can play in once you hike in. This was in a little rock cove that we found to rest for a few hours :) The tide was coming in and the kids called this their "hot tub" :) They had a blast catching hermit crabs and just playing on the rocks.
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