MawMaw is HERE!

A little after noon today, MawMaw landed here in San Jose, Costa Rica. She made it through the airport and immigration without any problems and even ended up with an extra cd case full of Spanish CD's....? She still isn't sure where they came from...I guess it will remain a mystery.

Guess what else? She brought Krispy Kreme donuts!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH! DE-LISH-US! She also brought us a mason jar full of Cane's sauce! Thanks Jenny! That was a big surprise. Can't wait to eat it!

Well, she has had the big tour and we went to eat at a Costa Rican style sandwich shop so we are ready for a nice long visit. Next week, the highschool has a week vacation so Alisha will be keeping MawMaw company.

Please pray for her health during this stay that she will remain healthy and enjoy every moment makin some memories. Please also pray for PawPaw as this is the longest that they have ever been apart!

Wish you all were here! God bless!
His.
Susie

2 days full of surprises!

Yesterday we recieved a big ol package in the mail from our dear friends the Babins. Inside it had presents for Patricks birthday, chilli mixes and 3 bags of Cheetos. Patrick was so very excited!! All of us had orange fingers in a matter of moments. Thank you so much for thinking of us.

Today I recieved a sweet card from my friend in BTR, Kathy from my old job. I felt like it was christmas because it had some trouble getting here. so it was mailed and then remailed in another envelope, then remailed in another. It was from all the way in January. Little did she know that today was the day that I needed a note from her. Thanks Kathy. I miss you so much!
Today we recieved our 3rd surprise! My sweet friend Cynthia sent us a package from her Church in Green wood, Arkansas. The GA's made t-shirts for the kids! They are so precious!!! The kids immediately put them on. How special. Also included was some lined notebook paper (which is very expensive here and hard to find) and some nail polish remover. (Alisha was so excited to get that and she said that was the main reason she hasn't polished her nails lately is because she doesn't have any remover!) Thank you all for thinking of us. You made our day!

Our final surprise was very, very unexpected today! While we were in the process of opening the package today, one of our administrators stuck his head in the door to deliver a special packet of mail to us. WE GOT OUR MARRIAGE LICENSE AUTHENTICATED!!! This means that after 6 months of waiting, we can finally submit all our paperwork to the CR government for our Visas. This could take a few weeks but praise the Lord that it is here and we probably won't have to leave the country again. Please begin to pray for those in charge to have grace in aproving our application and that it will be handled very efficiently!

Just another good day here in sunny /rainy/ sunny/ rainy Costa Rica. Thank you all for your prayers, support and encouragement. You are all a part of what we are doing here.

His.
Susie

The rains came down!

We just got back from San Carlos on our 2nd mission trip there. We held a VBS in a small very poor village and we taught them about the story of Noah. And boy did the Lord use rain to help teach the lesson. It rained and rained!!! The day started out with really light attendance and before we knew it, the room was full. We had about 70 children show up. It was a really good day. Arnold and Alisha helped with a new class for the teenagers, they had 15 show up and they had 2 professions of faith. Ben and Patrick helped to pour concrete on a new set of stairs at one of the houses in the neighborhood. Ben said this morning that he is really sore today.
This was the first time that we were able to eat lunch with the kids. Some of the mothers in the neighborhood have started a program to help raise money to feed the neighborhood kids. They get together and make tamales and sell them to raise money. We were able to buy some and sit with the kids and eat as they ate thier meal. Those were by far the best tamales I have ever had in my life. What a great day!
After a full day of work, we headed to the hot springs and sat in the thermal waters. It was so relaxing. Then we went to eat a nice meal at a nearby restuarant. Soon I felt my head hit the pillow and I was out like a light. I bet I will sleep well tonight as well.
As the bus drove into town this afternoon, one of the ladies on the trip had called her husband to tell him we were close to home. He said that he would be waiting in his truck to drop some of us off because there was a huge storm that came through and that it was raining really really bad. Thank the Lord that when we arrived the rains had already came down and we were able to walk home without even an umbrella. BUT when we opened the door to the apartment, we had a surprise, about an inch of water in the living room. Supposidly the rain was so strong that when it hit up against the door, it came in. At least now the floor is mopped!
The weekend was not without struggles. I was reminded of the many times we were told at training in Virgina, "Blessed are the flexible for they will not be easily bent out of shape." We indeed all had to practice patience and flexiblity with the children, with the rain, and with schedules, but we could definatley see the hand of the Lord as he crafted the trip into what He wanted it to be, not what WE had planned it to be.
His.
Susie

It's been a long day

Happy first day of Summer (or winter, depending on where you are). The photo to the left is in Fairbanks, AL at 3:47 this morning. Last night, at the Artic Circle, the sun never went down. I had the oportunity to be at the hotel in the background for several months a few years back. The webcam is at ARTIC CAM should anyone care to go see it.

Today plans to be another long day here in Costa Rica. We are busy getting ready for our San Carlos Mission Trip. Please be in prayers as we ready ourselves to serve in the opportunity.

Where is that girl from?

Ok, now I know that my accent has been the brunt of many jokes and conversations. Yes, I have been called Country Hick and Hillbilly. My daddy even used to call me a Southern Belle, and then follow it up by saying "it's because you are a real ding-a-ling!" There have also been questions like "Are you from Texas?" or "Where are you from?" I was even told once "You sound just like J.R.'s new wife!" (Now those of you not old enough to know who J.R. is, much less who his "new Wife" is, I do not want to know about it!) So I am accustomed to talkin' about my "talk" but last night I was thrown for a loop when a friend of mine from school had called and left a message for me to call her. When I arrived home I called her back and left a message on her Tico Family's answering machine. When she returned home, her Tico mom said that someone had called. When Bethany asked who, she said "it was some Korean lady" Now I know my accent is different but I have never been compared to sounding Korean. What do you think!
His.
Susie

Late Night Adrenaline

I hardly ever go to bed early, but last night was one of those nights. I was in bed at 9:15. Needless to say, I was out like a light by 9:20. At 9:26, I awoke to the most wonderful sound...the telephone was ringing. No I'm not nuts...when the telephone rings, I know that someone in the US has thought about us and decided to call. Those are moments of blessings in our lives.

This time is was my good friend Leslie again. She was calling from Panama City Beach, the site of an Audio Adrenaline concert. She is faithful to call us every time she goes to a concert. I got to hear a few minutes of "Hands and Feet" live. Sweet music to my ears.

I know that most of you don't go to concerts, but I can assure you that if you call us, no matter the hour, we will be thrilled so much. We have a Baton Rouge number. It's not an international call.

We'd love to hear your voice too 225-341-3383

Countdown!

168 days down and ___ to go!!!

1. 4 days til San Carlos Mission Trip
2. 10 days til MawMaw comes to visit
3. 41 days til PawPaw comes to visit
4. 77 days til 3rd tri starts
5. 179 days til graduation
6. Approx. 180 days til we move to Peru
7. 1289 days til we return to the states
The days are flying by. Please be in prayer for the time we have left here that we will learn all that we need to learn as we prepare to serve in Peru.

Some things that surprise me...

While sitting around thinking today, I realized that there are some very different things here that I am surprised that seem "normal" to me now. We have lived in Costa Rica for almost 1/2 a year, but I still have those "Oh My" moments, so I will share a few of some things that surprise me that are normal to me now!
1. Hearing your children sing along as the Costa Rican national athem is sung during a futbol game
2. Washing my dishes with some sort of hard goop in a plastic bowl.
3. Not even thinking about what percentage of milk to buy (because there are no choices) but just getting excited when I have the choice to buy milk in a 1/2 gallon plastic container instead of a box.
4. Being used to the strange burnt toast smell that infiltrates the city every morning
5. Being used to NOT flushing the toilet paper
6. Being ok with paying a guy on a motorcycle for our cable/internet bill
7. Getting on a city bus with an empty 5 gallon container to be filled with detergent at the store
8. Planning on baking a cake for 1-1/2 hours instead of the 25 - 30 minutes recommended
9. Being proud of understanding about 3/4's of the Sunday Sermon at church.
10. Thinking of Costa Rica as home
These are a few things that are our new "normal" now. What a beautiful, wonderful, crazy life we have! Love you all so much. God bless you all!
His.
Susie
Susie

We went to church tonight in Baton Rouge!

Yep, I know it is hard to believe but ask Kim and Sharon because I sat right in between the both of them! No, really, tonight we recieved a phone call from our sweet friends in Baton Rouge at Parkview Baptist and were allowed to take part in some of the youth service. We talked to some of our "kids" and some of our dear friends. And it is true, the phone was intentionally in between my two precious friends, Kim & Sharon at one point. What special people we have in our lives to encourage us, pray for us and just down right make us smile! Thanks for loving on us tonight! Miss you all!
His.
Susie

Missing Carlota!

Just an update on Carlota our empleada. She had surgery on two of her fingers Saturday before last. I saw her a week ago and she was doing ok, her hand was just really hurting. She will not be able to work for another month, so I sure have missed seeing her. I really understand now why the Board highly recommends having a house helper. These past two weeks have been pretty difficult keeping up with the house and having so much going on at school. We have a substitute Carlota coming on Wednesday named Marta and she will be helping us out until Carlota's return. She is a teeny tiny little lady! Please continue to pray for Carlota as her hand begins to heal.

Savenger hunt

This weekend we had an IMB conference. Mrs. Jo Baker from Member Care came and encouraged us and we even were able to play a game the first night. She split us up into 3 groups of 9 and our family got placed with the Rains Family. We were given a list of things that we were suppose to find and then had 25 minutes to find them within the confines of the room. Some of the things were: A childs sandal, a black belt, a paper clip, etc., etc. Well, when we completed getting the items that we could, we improvised as any good missionary should! Some of the things we FOUND were "a US quarter" Micheal drew a map of the US and tore a quarter of it off! , "I-Pod" Ben had a sign on him that said "pod" and he stood up and said "I Pod!" We had alot of creative ideas that WE thought were really funny!
I was so proud of us because we were so creative and the best thing was...we had a BLAST! Oh, and even though the other groups would not allow points for our creativeness, we still won! YEAH!
It made me even more thankful that we will be heading to Peru with the Rains our friends and now a part of our family.
His.
Susie

Bobby Who?

This is my amiga Beth. We have been in classes together since the beginning. Behind us is Leith He is from Australia and has a really thick Australian accent. (pronouced Lay-TH) In class Friday, Leith said, "Susie you sound just like Bobby on Toy Story" I said "Bobby?" He said "yeah Bobby" I said " I don't remember any Bobby, I remember an Andy, Woody and Buzz but no Bobby" He said "You know when she waves at the end!" I said "BARBIE?" He said "Yeah, that is what I said BOBBY!"

Ticos, Ticos!

Today everyone was in Costa Rican colores, all the teachers had their faces painted with the CR flag and were so very excited. But, before the game when we were in class, the kinder kids put on a parade for us, we all went out and cheered. The kids were all playing little instruments, it was so cute! We all chanted this Costa Rican Cheer. (I am not sure if this is the correct spelling so please forgive but this is how the cheer went) Oh-way, oh-way, oh-way, TICOS, TICOS! This chant was sung many times during the game as well.
Ok, Costa Rica did not win the game today but we sure did have fun. The best part was the first time Costa Rica made a goal (I was tempted to write touchdown) but it was like nothing I had ever experienced even in Tiger Country! What Fun. This was indeed my very first professional soccer game to watch and I really enjoyed it.
We had a wonderful cultural experience. Wish you could've been here! (photos by Miguel)
His.
Susie

GO Costa Rica! Make a Touch Down!

I suddenly woke up this morning a BIG soccer fan! This morning at 10:00, Costa Rica will being playing thier first soccer game of the World Cup against Germany. All classes at that time have been canceled and we will all have a big World Cup party at school. I have no idea about the rules, but I am excited because everyone else is excited. There are Costa Rican Flags everywhere and everyone is wearing red white and blue. What a fun day! Go Costa Rica!!!!
His.
Susie

And the winners.....

Congratulations to the top two groups that won the rally at the Instituto last Wednesday. The winners were announced and NO, our team did not win, but neither did the team in front of us so that was really good because they played so dirty! Just joking. The good news is, On both teams that won, were a total of 4 IMB folks!!!! Great job guys! Sonia & John with their group in 1st and Laura and Kevin with their group in 2nd! I was wondering why ya'll looked like ya'll had just run a marathon! They all get free hours of tutoring! What an invaluble prize around here!

The agony of "me" feet!

Today was "Culture Day" at the Instituto. Last trimester we signed up for 2 classes of our choice to take that day (typical foods, dance, sports etc...all about the Latin culture) It was a lot of fun. This semester they changed it up a bit and let me tell you...we had a great time.
After we endured, I mean listened intently, to a 2 hour lecture, we had a rally, or a scavenger hunt in Spanish.
We had to have signed up in teams of five and name our teamby yesterday. Our's was the Sweet Potatoes. Then we were given a clue and we had to make it around to 6 different stations, 3 times each. Each clue led us to the next place that we were suppose to go. We learned different dances, different sports, fruits, foods, home rememdies and music all from Costa Rica and the Latin Culture.
You know, I really don't see myself as a competitive person, but seeing me today RUNNING! I do believe that I have a little of it in me. I think it came out in me when the team ahead of us at the first stop stayed ahead of us the whole time and kept locking doors on us, closing gates and turning over ladders in front of us.....that true missionary spirit!
The institute is giving a prize for the 1st and 2nd place teams and I doubt we won but we did finish all 18 clues which was a big accomplishment. Whoever wins, gets free tutoring which would be really great! They will announce the winners tomorrow.
We had a great time, ate alot of interesting things and got ALOT of exercise! My poor aching feet!
His.
Susie

Men's Choir

I went on a men's retreat this weekend. It was fabulous. I grew closer to many of the men at church. They are so encouraging and patient with me. Sunday night, I got called up with the rest of the men in front of the church and sang (yes in Spanish). It's a good thing I sang this song 4 or 5 times the past weekend.

It is funny how things change....

This morning I was reminded of how quickly things change and how different my life has become in Costa Rica. My neighbor downstairs, Susan, came to my door this morning bearing treasures. She had asked a volunteer team that came in to bring, especially for me, powdered sugar and Luzianne tea bags. These treasures brightened up my day!!!! How odd to think that tea and sugar would get me so tickled!
You know, just a few years ago, I never thought that I would live anywhere but my little GingerBread house in Baton Rouge, near a Walmart and Target...but now, here I sit, surrounded by gorgeous mountains learning spanish, without a car, without a Walmart and Target, without powdered sugar and Luzianne tea! What a crazy wonderful life!