Continuous Christmas Music

I don't know about you, but listening to Christmas music all the time gets old after a month. Somehow, being down here, it's not like that at all. We have no tree, no lights, not even a present. All we have is internet Christmas music. We were listening to 96.1 The River, a Baton Rouge station because we got both Christmas music and a taste of Baton Rouge. It seems that they have deemed Ex-Pats, like us unacceptable listeners. You have to be in the states to listen to them starting yesterday.

We found one internet alternative:

Christmas Music

If you happen to know of any Louisiana stations that are playing Christmas music, let us know, we would love to tune in.

A little taste of home

A few weeks ago, we recieved a sweet package from some dear ladies in Louisiana. They had gathered together some "comfort" things from home, some books and some special surprises for the kids. In this box, they had sent some canned okra (which you can not find here and they do not even have a name for it that anyone knows of....actually the only name we could find was Quingumbo'....pronounced Keen- GUMBO) and some canned shrimp.


Well, this weekend, I fixed a big ol pot of Chicken, Sausage and Okra gumbo and invited the Rains and their Parents (Grannie and Papa) over to eat. We had a great evening and boy it tasted just like home!

Thanks so much for sending us all the goodies. We have enjoyed them sooooo much!!!!!!!

His.
Susie

Diez y Ocho Años (18 years)

This is Patrick

Today is my mom's and dad's 18th anniversary. We made them breakfast in bed. We made them special yogurt with coffee and grape juice.

The Friday after Thanksgiving

Well, this is the 2nd year in a row that on this day, we haven't been able to fulfill our Friday after Thanksgiving tradition. Every year, since we have kids, it is on this day that we put up the tree, decorate the house and put up the Christmas lights. Last year, we were in a quad house with 4 other families in Virginia during training.

It still feels like we are suppose to be doing that but instead, we played some Christmas music, got out the stockings, changed our desktop to a Christmas scene of our old house with Christmas lights and then went to school. No rest for the weary.

But it did end up feeling like the beginning of the Christmas season finally, because this afternoon we were able to help with a Christmas party for a Childrens home. There were 88 orphans that we got to spend a few hours with playing games, laughing, breaking open pinatas and of course opening presents. I can recall about 100 times asking Arnold if I could bring a couple of them home with me. What a beautiful beginning to the Christmas season. It makes you realize how little all those THINGS that you value so much are really worth. Sure I miss our traditions and I am ready to begin new ones in Peru, but to see the looks on these sweet little faces and to feel thier hugs and for them to want to share their cookies with you is worth so so much.

Hug your babies tonight. Be thankful once again and pray for the children of Roblealto, they have so little but love a whole lot and are so precious. (Arnold can I please bring one home! PLEASE!)
His,
Susie

Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias

That's what they call it here, even though it's not celebrated. Happy Thanksgiving!

We will be with our IMB family this year. We (meaning Susie) were busy making pies last night because it is not a school holiday. In fact, they didn't go easy on us at all. I have a two hour presentation to give this morning.

I hope all is well and that you all celebrate this day in your own special way. We wish we could be back home with family, but that's part of the life that we chose and we knew it. We'll be thinking of you today.

Give us a call, if you think about it. The Baton Rouge number is 225-341-3383.

Noche de Paz

For those of you against hearing Christmas carols until after Thanksgiving, come back tomorrow. We don't have Thanksgiving Day as a holiday, so we have no idea when to start decorating.

We sang carols in chapel yesterday. Enjoy the video. Sing along if you like.

Shake, rattle and COLD

We have had a couple of strong earthquakes here in the past few days. Saturday we had one that was pretty strong. This morning we had one but only Arnold and the rest of San Jose felt it but none of us in the family did...we told him he was crazy but he said his chair was hopping around...when we got to school we found out he was right.

Also, last night, some weird weather blew in.....and I mean BLEW in. The whole house was shaking with some winds remininsent of a hurricane. It is so chilly here! All the teachers were bundled up with coats and scarfs and hats. It isn't that cold, just enough for a wind breaker. It was nice to get a change in weather because it feels a little bit more like the holidays!

Love you all!
His.
Susie

4 Sundays from now

4 Sundays from now, on December 17, we will be leaving Costa Rica to go to our new home in Peru. (That is less than a MONTH!) The time is flying by so fast! We have been really busy around here with school work and other community work and have just really begun preparing to pack. WOW, what a job ahead!

We have our final English class on Tuesday with a big party so that should be fun. We will have a special speaker and special music, so please be in prayer that hearts will be touched and lives will be changed. Also pray for me as I have to say some of my first good-byes to my tico/tica friends here. The funny thing is, I have thought it was going to be so difficult to say good-bye to all my buddys at language school (that I may one day have the opportunity to see one day again) and it is....but saying goodbye to my Costa Rican friends that I will probably never see again is really going to be hard. Please pray for me.

We have a busy month ahead. Thank you for all your prayers as we close up shop here in Costa Rica and get prepared to begin the task ahead. God Bless you all!

His.
Susie

San Carlos Trip

Unlike the two San Carlos trips that we have gone on with the school, this one was strictly evangelism, not that I mind laying concrete stairs, but it's not really why I came all this way to learn Spanish.

A team from a Roanoke Baptist church allowed me the privilege of joining them on a trip last week to a pueblo called Cendral. Don't try to find it on your map, I doubt that you could!

The good news is that many accepted Christ through door to door evangelism and the showing of a movie called "The hope". On top of that, my Spanish was tested thoroughly through translation opportunities. All in all, the week was wonderful. Join me in praising God for the harvest of this week.

Who would've thought!

That last night I slept by myself in our house for the first time in over a year!!!!!!! No Arnold wasn't on the couch or in the doghouse! He left yesterday afternoon on a mission trip with a volunteer group from the states. They are headed to Ciudad Casada near the town where we have gone on several mission trips. He will be one of their translaters.......who would have thought that either! Please pray for his and the teams safety, please also pray that they can effectively spread the GOOD GOOD NEWS to the people of that area.

Wow, how our lives have changed in the past year. Arnold has not had to be away from the family any. As many of you know, he traveled over 75% of the year for the past 9 or 10 years. So what a beautiful blessing and opportunity the Lord has given us this year. He will begin traveling again in Peru but may the Lord always remind us of the sweet time we had here in Costa Rica.

30 something days to go!!!!!!!!!!

Love you all and miss you. Don't forget to pray for Arnold, the volunteer team, the people of Ciudad Casada y for me and the kids.

His.
Susie

No, its not Halloween

Last Thursday was crazy dress/hair day at the school. We walked a good pace behind the kids, in case anyone tried to associate us with them.

They find out today if they won....and yes, that is 1/2 a haircut on Patrick, he got the other half that night.


P.S FELICIDADES, HOY ES EL ANNIVERSARIO DE MI PADRES

More good...NO GREAT News!

Last night we recieved our airline itenerary for our arrival to Peru. We will be leaving our life here in Costa Rica on the 17th of December and heading to our new home. We had originally planned to leave on the 16th but it was cheaped to fly on that Sunday. So we will leave CR at 3:00 in the afternoon and arrive at 8:00 pm. It is a direct flight and is only 3 1/2 hours. (The Rains are scheduled on the same plane! Hallelujah!)
Now it is all very real!!!!!!!! We have started taking inventory of the house and deciding what things are ours and what is the IMBs and figuring out what to take and what to sell or give away. Toward the end of the trimester, the departing students have a garage sale that helps out those who are coming in get settled and helps out the students leaving to get rid of thier stuff. Everything is usually in really good condition because it is only used for a year at the most. New students (including us when we moved here) are able to get some really good deals.
Please pray that we will be able to sort through all of our things and that everything that can, will be sold. Please pray for our packing for our big adventure too! Soon, we will be telling you that we have recieved our crate from the states. Won't that be great. I am not sure how long that will take but it sure will be interesting to see what we packed that we thought we couldn't or wouldn't like to live without.
Love you all!
His.
Susie

My Friend Freddie

The second day of English class, a young man named Freddie came into my class. Freddie looks like he is about 12. He is very shy and always sits with some of my older students. I just assumed that he was "with" them. He definately does not win the perfect attendence award because you never know when he will be there. I love to practice with him or pick him as my "helper" because he really acts like he wants to learn English even at this young age.
I was delighted to see that Freddie was at class last night. I think it surprises him and that it makes him really happy that I remember his name each time and make a big deal about him being there. During the break, I questioned him about missing the past 2 classes and he told me that he did not have enough money to take the bus to class. It almost broke my heart. (Taking the bus here only costs about .25 cents one way.)
Freddie is taking the incentive to learn a different language on his own! He makes sure that he gets all the homework from the days he missed. He is there because he wants to be not because someone is making him.
When the director made the announcement about only having 3 weeks left, he looked upset. I asked him what was wrong and he asked when classes would start again. When I told him they would begin in February he asked very timidly "Will I have to pay again then?" The answer I had to give was yes. The good news is the whole 10 sessions are ONLY $2 total! But $2 is a fortune to him.
Count your blessings today and pray for Freddie. He is in my class for a reason. Pray that he will be able to come back to all 3 classes this month so he can learn English and so that we may present to him how to have a personal relationship with the Father!
Love you all. Pray for Freddie.
His.
Susie