Seniors in Costa Rica

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Saturday Morning - August 4

email from Bill Choate

Sorry to be away from the updates for a while, but we have been moving fast (in a Costa Rican way of considering fast). Thursday was spent primarily in driving our way out of the Nicoya Peninsula and onto the Costa Rican mainland. We have lodged the last two nights in Palmares, near San Jose.

Friday was spent discovering the beauty of Costa Rica. Everyone had a chance to view the rain forest canopy from ziplines above the trees. We traveled to about 8000 feet to peer over the rim of Poas Volcano. The afternoon was spent descending into a gorge in the rainforest, an area full of flowers, butterflies, birds, and amazing waterfalls. It was our first full day of sightseeing. What a beautiful world God has made here.

We are packing this morning, getting ready to head to the airport. Our flights should get into Nashville around 10 PM. Remember - students may return changed. While the trip has been both challenging and wonderful, I believe everyone is ready to come home. Are you ready to hear the many stories students are ready to tell?

Wednesday Afternoon - August 1

email from Bill Choate

What wonderful days these have been in Jicaral and the surrounding highlands. Tuesday morning found the group in an elementary school in La Fresca. Our students were prepared to do crafts, recreation, music, and English lessons with the children in the classrooms. Katie has fine Spanish. She was able to explain the meaning of the colors of beads in the salvation necklaces they were sharing. After the time in the school, there was more time spent in the surrounding area visiting the homes of the residents. These personal home visits have been some of the most amazing experiences of the trip.

Tuesday evening was a second evening of community event and church outreach in La Fresca. Our students did face painting with the smaller children. Two movies were shown, primarily for the children but enjoyed by the adults, as well. Both nights in La Fresca had good response from the community. Most area residents were in attendance. The local Baptist pastor was pleased with the response.

Wednesday morning was an early one, with everyone arriving at the local high school at 7 AM. (We might as well. The sun is up around 4:45 anyway, and seems to set just after 6:00 PM.) Our students were in English classes to lead in conversation. The school is a technical school, primarily focused on agriculture, and the administration gave us all a fine tour. This was one more good experience for our students. The Ticos seemed to love having our students on campus. Midday had us at the elementary school, working with the children in crafts, drama, music, and recreation. This afternoon will be community outreach in Jicaral (photo). This evening will find us showing a movie for the community in our favorite restaurant. Should be a good, long day. Did I mention these guys are going to bed around 9:30 or 10:00 each night, and gladly?

Thursday and following we will be on the road. You may not hear from us as frequently. We shall see. Parents will want to plan to meet us at the airport as previously reported - unless you hear otherwise. (I´m sure some parents will be tracking our every move on the flight home!)

Everyone is well and happy. No one seems to be ill or even sunburned. Some may have actually gained weight, not lost it, while in CR. What a fine group of individuals, and a good team. You can pray that our energy will be sustained through the rest of our work. The heat takes much out of one, of course, and there is much to do. You can pray for our safety as we travel. You can pray for a response to our efforts for Christ here in Jicaral today and tonight.

Pura Vida!

Tuesday Morning - July 31

email from Bill Choate

Monday was a long, busy day for the team in Costa Rica. It began with an hour bus ride. Then the group broke into teams for community outreach. Students (and maybe parents) have been somewhat anxious about this part of the trip. Small teams moved through rural neighborhoods visiting homes. It is an unusual experience to stand at a farm gate away from the house, tap on the gate, and shout ¨Upe!¨ Families consistently invited the team to the porch or into the home. Each team had people who spoke some Spanish. There was always an exchange of familiarities, some word about the Gospel, the team gave the family a Gospel of John and invitation to a community meeting. The team then asked if there was anything about which the team could pray. Everyone seemed to appreciate prayer. Then the team would move on up the road.

Out of respect for the families and community, we will post no photos of this activity. I will tell you some of the homes would be considered middle class in this rural area. Other homes were difficult to discern from farm outbuildings. In one home, Mary Fowler did a lovely job talking with a woman, probably 65 years old, who shared that she had stomach cancer and not long to live. We talked. Molly led the group in prayer. Our host was visibly moved by the students´ visit. The home was made of wood planks, had three rooms, and dirt floors. Most of the homes in her neighborhood were similar. What a blessing it was to be allowed to visit there.

After lots of walking in the heat and intermittent showers visiting numerous homes, the group drove another hour through teak forests and over the mountains to Coyote Beach. We had a few minutes to appreciate the gorgeous view of mountains coming right down to the sea. Along the way were able to see trees full of howler monkeys, large lizards, a crocodile, some amazing birds, and lots of Costa Rican cowboys on horseback.

The evening had the group back in La Fresca. We had access with the local missionaries to a large outdoor community center where we showed a Veggie Tales and a movie of the life of Christ. There were probably 75 locals who came and stayed for the evening. This was an outreach effort to assist an existing Baptist church in the community. Students were warm and welcoming to those who attended. They are beginning to get more comfortable using the Spanish they have or learning new skills in communicating!

It was a late night arrival back at Jicaral. A local Chinese couple fed us a fine dinner of fried rice. Everyone crashed, knowing they would need to be ready and dressed for breakfast at 7:30.

Continue to pray for us. The travel is a little rough, the days are a little steamy, and the food may be a little repetitive. None of that has slowed our fine students from continuing to search out what God is doing in their lives in Costa Rica.

Pura vida!

Monday Morning - July 30

email from Bill Choate

What a blessing Sunday was for everyone. It was a day of worship, certainly. Early a few headed to the Jicaral town square to attend the Roman Catholic mass. It was their way of understanding the community better. Mid morning, our team and the missionaries had our own worship - a meaningful time of singing and prayer. Carol, our missionary host, shared his understanding of ¨calling¨ and ¨missions.¨ It was a good experience.

In the afternoon, we drove an hour further into the peninsula to the small village of Fresca. This is cattle and teak country. There is no other real industry other than farming and ranching. In Fresca we worshipped with a small Baptist church. You would have been proud of the way our students made themselves at home in the congregation. The pastor graciously invited us to take part in the service. Josh ably led the entire group in two worship songs. The girls then sang one of their favorite Pima Voce numbers. What a wonderful sound in that solid little room! It was a rare experience for all.

It was evening when we finally returned to our ¨home¨ of Jicaral. Before dinner we shared a meaningful time of reflection on the day. Wow, what insight these students have! They had a solid understanding of what they had seen and experienced on Sunday.

Monday will find us once again in Fresca, inviting residents to an evangelistic event later in the week. I believe the students are ready for this face'to-face conversation. Tuesday and Wednesday will find us working in local schools.

In case it seems we are hanging out in the tourist country of Costa Rica, we have seen no tourists in the towns in which we are living and working. I think it would be safe to say there are not even any tourists passing through on the rough roads through town.

Let me assure you again that everyone is well and happy. Our trip nurse Lesley Ann report the only issues she has had to deal with are a couple sinus issues. Here are things our students don´t have - hot water, texting, easy access to internet or phone, or current news. Here are things they do have - wonderful meals, lots of beans, rice and chicken, amazing fresh fruit, more beans and rice, plenty of good water, cafe con leche, and tea frio. Here is what they are complaining about - nothing. Really, they are not complaining about anything. They have been wonderful travelers and fine missionaries. Wish you were here to see!

Saturday Afternoon - July 28

email from Bill Choate

Friday was an excellent day for the Costa Rica team. We had enjoyed excellent rest outside San Jose. We all felt we knew what was ahead of us since Carol and Mitzi Golden had given us a very helpful orientation the night before. Everyone was up, feeling good, enjoying an excellent breakfast before heading out for our journey to Jicaral.



The trip was just what the team needed -- there was an hour trip in the bus, then time in the small port town of Punterenas, then an hour ferry ride. The ferry ride was fun, with music, cool breezes, and cold soda. That was going the be the last bit of luxury we would have for some time.

Once across the Gulf of Nicoya on the ferry, there was an hour drive in the rain to the regional farming town of Jicaral. Our hotel is simple, but servicable. Everyone slept, everyone is feeling fine, and everyone had another of those fine Costa Rican breakfasts, with many tropical fruits, eggs, bread, cafe con leche, and more.

Saturday has already been positive. This morning we divided into 4 teams of 6 to prayer walk - observing differing communities in the area. This is the first consideration that has been given to beginning a baptist mission work in this place. The local missionaries have been wonderful, giving leadership and accompanying us on our efforts.

On Josh´s team, they were able to meet a young family who reported they were not Christian. The team prayed with them, while Katherine, Rus, and Emily G got to talk with their daughter Naomie. On Bill´s team, the students met an old man who reported being a Christian, but who had some injuries from a fall. He asked for prayer. Then he invited the team onto the porch with his elderly mother. He insisted on bringing out chairs for everyone (typical Costa Rican civilities). There was lots of conversation. Hailey, Molly, Mary Fowler, and Nancy were able to follow along in the conversation! Carol led in a time of prayer with the man and his mother. Two other teams had similar experiences in the nearby town of Fresca.

Don´t be frustrated with your students ... there are few options for calling or emailing the States. They are all functioning well here. No one has reported any illness. You would be proud of the maturity they are showing!

Thursday Night - July 26

email from Josh Crosby

It's 6:30pm your time and we are safe and sound with everyone and all our luggage! We arrived in San Jose around noon our time. We are central time but they do not recognize daylight savings so we're an hour behind. We were greeted and picked up by 4 missionaries along with a 25 passenger bus. We bought our exit papers and all the passports were collected. After all the "hellos" we quickly went to eat some authentic CR food in a restaurant/wheel shop that has a view to die for! We're staying outside of San Jose in a hotel called Casa Marta. The hotel is wonderful. We have awesome temperatures -- in the 70s right now. We were zonked after such a long morning. Nap time. I just woke up and most everyone else is still sleeping. We will be meeting here shortly for orientation from our missionaries concerning our trip tomorrow to the west coast of CR. We will then dine out and enjoy some more CR food. We leave tomorrow morning to head to Jicaral. We are not set on a time yet because we will be trying to time a ferry that crosses the bay to the peninsula. Depending on when we arrive we will be beginning our scouting and prayer walking for the town. I don't expect us to have much access to internet where we are going so i will do my best to keep you guys updated. We thank you for your prayers. I know God will do His work and He will use us to plant seeds.