Mardi Gras Tico Style

Well you can't replant a Lousiana boy and expect him to not to crave King Cake during Mardi Gras. We were doing ok until we saw a news story on CNN about a bakery in New Orleans starting over and being able to be up and running again for Mardi Gras. Since no one knew what a King Cake was here, we had our own King Cake Makin' party last night. ... along with a mile hike to deliver a pequeño que-que to a fellow Louisianan.
We miss you all and we miss South LA food. Good ole Gumbo, Jambalaya, CRAWFISH! But not King Cake. We are already taking orders for next year! (We even had Strawberry Cream Cheese Filling!Yum!) I forgot to mention that we didn't have a plastic baby to hide inside so Arnold and Patrick did the next best thing...they took one of Patrick's Plastic robots and cut the arms off. Guess who got the baby robot??? Susie!!!

Feliz Aniversario

Today was the church's anniversary We had church from 10-11:30, partied from then till 3, had another church service till 4:30, then partied for another hour.

There were all kind of games: fooshball, pingpong, board games, soccer, jumprope, jacks, you name it.

They also had 6 piñatas. Each age group got a chance to hit one, even the adult men. It was like a riot when the grown men piled up after the piñata burst. Here's a few pics: Click on them to make them larger:

Alisha also had a special time of fellowship with a new tica friend, Carolina. They talked for at least three hours. Carolina does not speak any English.

30 Hour Famine

The International Youth group here in San Jose Costa Rica began their 30 hour fast yesterday at 1:00pm. Each of the youth have pledged to fast for 30 hours to raise funds and awareness for World Hunger. This is all part of a worldwide youth fast directed through World Vision. Please pray for these youth today as they take part not only in a fast but they also participate in ministry opportunities in the area. Alisha and Ben will be working with youth in separate areas of the city.

Today is also our neighbor Aaron's 16th birthday. Happy Birthday Aaron. We love you!

In His Love!
Susie

Everybody this is Carla. Carla this is Everybody!

Hey guys! I would like to introduce our friend Carlotta to you. We call her "Carla" (and she calls me "Judy, Susie"...kinda like you call your kids a combination of all thier names). Carla has been helping us around the house while we are in Language school with some cooking and cleaning a couple of days a week. She is an awesome cook! I can not wait until we have a break and she will be able to teach me how to cook Tico. (Tico Style for all you Dora the Explorer watchers!) She is so sweet and she helps us out so much just in practicing our spanish. She corrects us when we are wrong and even gives us better ways to say things. We laugh so much with her. Today she was even picking on Alisha about Alisha's boyfriend. It is amazing that although there are language barriers that God has brought us into a close sweet relationship. Golly! I look so Blanca! (White!) Ha! Anyway, she is now a member of our family and we love her! Please pray for her daily (cause she has to put up with us!). But really, please pray for her and her family!

Happy Valentine's Day

What a special day...
Valentine's Day for sure, but also today!

Why is it so special? I went to the mailbox today; looking for a keyboard I ordered for a fellow missionary. Instead I found an envelope. The address said First Baptist Church, Friendswood. (In Texas) That could only mean one thing...Stephanie Moses.

The hard part was waiting to get home, so that we could open it together as a family. Once we did, we found Valentine's Day cards from the Preschool Pals at First Baptist Church, Friendswood. There was one for each of us, plus one for Susie and I together. There were also many others to share with other missionaries. We've already gave out 4. We will give the others out at church tonight.

Thank you so much to all of you children for putting smiles on a whole bunch of missionary faces!

I LOVE NUTELLA!

After being in a new country for 2 months now, I can say that I have tried a great many new foods. Some I just love and some I could live the rest of my life without ever seeing again. One thing that I have discovered since being here is Nutella. Now Arnold and Patrick both knew what it was, from the states, but they must have been eating somewhere that I wasn't. Anyway, supposidly it is for toast etc. Whoever decided that was some kinda genius!!!! Kinda like Krispy Kreme Donuts for Breakfast! It just doesn't make sense...but I like it! ALOT! If you haven't had it, it is a Chocolate /hazelnut spread. Similar to Chocolate frosting but thinner and oh so Yummy! I have even started putting it on some shortbread cookies!!! UH-OH BMI! And kinda like a tub of chocolate frosting, it is very tempting to just eat a spoonful by itself. Anyway, I thought I would share my new love...of course it wouldn't be something good for me like some of the roots they eat around here (which I have tried about 10 different kinds) but none of them are chocolate flavored!
Miss Ya'll & Love Ya'll....and I love nutella!
Susie

Spiritual Emphasis Week

Today begins "Spiritual Emphasis Week" at the language school. It is so great to go to a Christian school where we have the opportunity to attend chapel on Tuesdays and Thursdays during our break time and also that they would set aside a week for revival. This whole week we are not allowed to have tests or homework! YEAHH! But better still, we have chapel every day and a revival each night. Our speaker is from the Virgin Islands and was so good today. I am looking forward to another refreshing word this evening. Please pray that we will all be refreshed and renewed during this revival and that we will all be challenged to do more to further the Kingdom.
God Bless you all. We love you and miss you!
In His Love,
Susie

Es mi esposo Tico?

No, but he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Ha! It's funny because several times, either Arnold or myself has been asked if Arnold was a tico (Costa Rican). Today at church he was asked the same thing. When I looked around at the other people there, I can honestly say that I see why they ask. He does kinda look tico. I am sure once they speak to either of us the first time, that any thought of that goes out the door. I bet it won't be long until he'a able to fool everyone!
Today at church we had a great morning. Everyone was so welcoming and falling all over themselves to introduce themselves and to talk to us. We all went to Sunday school and Arnold and I understood at least 70% of what the teacher had to say. (It was about the responsibiilites that God gave men in the home and in the church). The kids met some new friends and enjoyed thier classes. The church service was nice too. They had a baptism and then dedicated 2 teeny tiny babies together on stage. It actually made me really sad, because I kept thinking about the day that my baby, Patrick and another tiny baby, Josh, were both dedicated together and how they became the best of friends. We miss you Babins!!!!
Anyway, the peacher spoke a little faster today, so it was a little more difficult to understand, but a nice couple next to us would help when we didn't catch the chapter and verse. After the service we were talking to the associate pastor and he told us to just hang in there and after about 6 months we may want to try a Sunday school class. Arnold and I both said, oh, we went to one this morning and understood alot....he said, No I mean, in about 6 months you can try TEACHING a class. We both looked at each other with a grimace. It is hard to believe that in 6 months we will be fluent enough to teach a class. Please pray daily for our spanish acquistion.
We love you all!
Susie

Looking for a Home

When we first arrived, our big brother and big sister, Jim & Linda, had a great idea to help us find a church home. They made a schedule of 4 families that would bring us to their church for the following Sundays. In the meantime, we were invited to 2 other churches, bringing our grand total to visiting 6 churches since we have been here. Now is the decision time. We have narrowed our decision down to 2 churches that we really liked. Please pray with us, as we visit these two one more time to make our decision. Since the churches here only meet on Sunday mornings, this means that our decision to make our family a part of a church will still be at least 2 weeks away. Please pray specifically that the church that we become involved in will minister to our children and that it will be a wonderful place for them to make some great Tico friends. How we long to be involved and part of a church family! We miss you all. We miss our church home, but look forward to extending our family here in Costa Rica!
In His Love,
Susie

Rice, Rice Baby!

Tonight we were invited to participate in a special dinner. Usually on Thursday nights, a group of IMB families meet at a local pizza joint to fellowship. The owner gives us a pretty good deal for a great meal. Well tonight, instead of heading to Otero's Pizza, we all met at a friends house for rice. Yep, just a bowl of plain white rice. The idea was this, take the $15 that you would spend on your family for one night and donate it to a good cause. You see, the youth in the International Youth Group here in the area are participating in a worldwide fast to raise money for hunger relief, it's called the 30 hour famine, a project through World Vision. They have commited to go without food for 30 hours while doing service projects around the area. They in turn, get sponsors to donate money to the cause. Last year the group from this area alone raised $7000. The goal this year is $10,000.
I have to admit that I REALLY look forward to pizza night. The pizza is wonderful and the company is fantastic, and when I thought about eating rice AGAIN (we eat it almost every day) I really wasn't that excited. But, our host Mark read from the inspired word of God, about how we are commanded to take care of the poor and hungry. He also told us some statistics about world hunger. Did you know that the number of people in the world who suffer chronic malnutrition is 800 million! Also, every 3 seconds a child dies from poverty and many of them before they have even had the opportunity to hear the sweet name of Jesus.
Tonight we ate better than so many people in the world do. Just a bowl of plain white rice would be a feast to them. My meal tonight was one of the best I have ever had.

Think about how you can make a difference in a world of hunger. If you are interested, go to World Vision or contact us if you would like to support two teenagers who are wanting to make a difference and willing to make a small sacrifice to do so.

Next time you have rice, remember to pray for all those who go without daily.
God Bless you all!
Susie

Susie's Silla

Well, Miguel, I figured I better tell on myself before you did! Here's a funny for you guys! It probably would have been funnier if you would've been there yourself, or better yet if you weren't me!
In conversation class today we had to orally explain our house and the contents in it. Our teacher Rita requests that when at all possible that we speak solely in spanish (so many times we do charades to get her to understand until she tells us the spanish word). Anyway, I had told about my living room and most of the contents and then was trying to come up with the word for rocking chair. Since I knew the word for chair (which is "silla" pronounced see-jah), I decided to say it with a rocking motion...I thought it would be a good way to get my point across....but it didn't go over with the same effect as I had expected. As soon as I said it, Micheal aka Miguel burst out laughing and my friend Beth starting laughing so hard she started crying. When he finally could speak, he said it sounded like I said "seizure" and since I was rocking back and forth it was apparently HILARIOUS! Anyway, like I said, guess you had to be there, or at least not be me!
Love you guys!
Susie

Feliz dia de san valentin

Happy Valentines Day to all! This morning a houseful of my little valentines woke me up to head to a delicious breakfast. When I walked into the diningroom, immediately "I can't fight this feeling" by REO Speedwagon began to play. (That was our song when we were dating) How romantic! We exchanged our very first spanish valentines cards. I was pleased to know that the translation was on the back in english...Thank you Hallmark!
The high school sold hearts with suckers that were delivered to the classes, so that made a special treat for all of us. Arnold even sent one to one of his teachers with a test on it for her! (He didn't sign it though!)
Patrick had a valentines party today. Apparently they don't have kids valentines in Costa Rica because we never were able to find any for him to exchange in class. But we bought construction paper and glue, so he made some beautiful one of a kind creations. Arnold and I were invited to attend his party today. It was lots of fun with lots of treats! We really enjoyed being a part of it.
As I stood in the checkout line at the grocery store this afternoon, I once again found myself surprised that I am in a foreign country. Feliz dia de san valentin!
Happy Valentines. I wish you all mucho amor!
Susie

Feeling a little like Garfield!

Saturday, I made a lasagna for our neighbors downstairs for when thier daughter came home from the hospital. I also made a large pan for us which lasted Saturday and Sunday. When we got home a little while ago, I went in the kitchen and Carla was making dinner for tonight. Guess what she was cooking???? Yep, you guessed it....lasagna. (And of course beans and rice too!) Isn't that a hoot!

Also, today was the first religious discussion that Carla and I have had. (And I understood what she was saying and she understood me) Please pray for this relationship to grow and for our family to be a light to her to show her the way to the Savior.
I love you all and I love lasagna!
In His Love!
Susie

Prayers for a little princess

Attention prayer warriors. Our neighbors downstairs has a young daughter that is in surgery as we speak to have her appendix out. Please pray for Abbey's comfort and recovery.

***5:00pm We just got word that she is out of surgery and in recovery. Please continue to lift the whole family up in prayer and for a speedy recovery.

***Saturday, 4:30pm. Our little princess just returned to the castle. Please continue to pray for her recovery.

Love you all!

Whole lotta shakin' goin' on

Costa Rica is a natural bridge between North and South America. The frequent earthquakes are caused by the collision and movement of the two main tectonic plates around Costa Rica: the Cocos plate (Pacific) and the Atlantic plate. Seismic waves are caused when the friction between plates can't accumulate further and must be released. Small-scale tremors and earthquakes are common and extremely harmless, but strong earthquakes occur less often. Supposedly there are many small tremors in this area (especially since we are surrounded by mountians) most aren't even noticed.
This is what is on channel 79 here in Costa Rica. This is our very own handy dandy seismograph! Thought you might get a kick outta what we watch when we can't understand the spanish channels!

Classmate blog

Here's a blog of a fellow classmate CLICK
You can see a pic of me and friends enjoying the Superbowl Sunday Night.

Elliott is Canadian. I must like hanging with them because my best friend at my Engineering Firm was also Canadense (Spanish for Canadian).

And the Grammy Goes to..............

Congratulations to Audio Adrenaline who just won their 2nd Grammy Award. Tonight their Album
"Until My Heart Caves In"
won
"Best Rock Gospel Album."
We are so proud of you! God Bless you Mark Stuart, Will McGinnis, Tyler Burkum, Ben Cissel, and Brian Whitman.

Love Always!
The Austins

Little White Lyes

Patrick has sucessfully completed his very first out of the country school project. In his 4th grade class, after completion of a book, they were given a list of projects that they could do....make a book cover, write an alternate ending to the story, etc. Well, he and his chemical engineer dad (who must miss working with chemicals) chose to make lye soap. When researching on the internet the recipes etc, I couldn't help noticing all the "WARNING USE EXTREME CAUTION" messages on each web site, but I figured it was just soap so what was the big deal. Arnold wasn't sure if he could find Sodium Hydroxide (the reason for the Warnings) here, but he found some at the grocery store. Last night our apartment was turned into a science laboratory. (Even some of the neighbors came out and watched) After all was said and done, Patrick has about 12 white heart shaped lye soaps to bring to class on Friday. Arnold took a bath with some of the girlie scented soap this morning and he did so without any irritation and he smelled real pretty too! Oh, by the way, the warnings are justified. I was cleaning up a drop that was spilled and the tip of my finger touched the solution....this morning it was blistered....SO BEWARE!

Taste Test

This is a taste of my test that I have Wednesday. Let me know how you all do!! CLICK HERE TO START YOUR EXAM

Company is comin'!

Just got the word that Arnold's mama has her airplane ticket in hand to come see us at the end of June. She plans to stay with us for a month. We can't wait to see you mom and show you our new temporary home.
God Bless!
Susie

Shave and a Hair Cut!

Well, the Austin's apartment has become a house / "slash" / barbershop. I started cutting Arnold's and the boy's hair for them again back in Virginia (I used to do it when we were dating and first married and when the boys where little) Well, our neighbor Aaron, asked me to cut his hair last week. Friday, I got a phone call from one of Aaron's friends saying that I came highly recommended, so he wanted to make an appointment. So this afternoon we played beauty shop again. Who would have thought that in 2006, that I would be learning spanish to become a missionary AND starting my own barber shop! What a hoot. If any of you need an appointment you better call soon because all the time slots are filling up!
Love you all!
Susie

Nuestro Barrio (Our District)

We live in the district called San Francisco de Dos Rios. Sunday is Presidential Elections, so we must find a church that is for one open and for two close to the house. We found out Friday that neither Taxis nor Buses are available, except for transport to Voting Sites. Anyway, this is a picture of our neighborhood. Feel welcome to stop by anytime you like.

Feliz fin de semana!

Happy Weekend to all! I am so glad for the break, although I have mucha tarea (homework). No rest for the weary I guess. It kinda feels like home here the past few days. Not like “Home Sweet Home” but actually like Baton Rouge. The past few afternoons it has rained (hard). Everyone says that this is just the beginning, and that you can count on it like clockwork, everyday to start raining on your way home from school. I guess that is a lot like Baton Rouge weather. Guess I can count on quite a few bad hair days!

Feliz fin de semana!

Susie

Time Sure Flies!!!

Can you believe that today marks a full month for us living in Costa Rica? Boy time sure is flying! I can honestly say that we are all growing into better communicators and that school is going well. We have met lots of new friends, seen lots of new things and tasted a wide variety of foods (we do have pizza every Thursday night with our IMB friends at a local pizza joint) Language School has been so challenging but we are learning so much. We are still looking for a church home but know that the Lord will lead us to the place He wants us to go. Please continue to pray for us daily. Only 10 1/2 more months to go! (317 days to be exact) Then we are off to Peru Lord willing! We love you all and miss you.
Loving it in Costa Rica,
Susie
P.S. Another oops funny today....Mi amigo was reading a word outloud in class. The word means "they laugh" it is spelled rien . When he tried to say it, the words came out "rear end!!" I burst out laughing and so did everyone else! Later that day in another class we had the same word and it got us giggling again. The teachers had no clue what was so funny!