Vacaciones

The children in Costa Rica have enjoyed a summer vacation from school for the last two weeks. Last week, the government called for an extension of their summer vacation for another week because of the swine flu. Although the first vacation (of the last two weeks) did not apply to the children at our school, the second vacation of this week did--it was mandatory for all public and private schools to dismiss their students this week. No one in our school has had the swine flu, but we are glad they are taking this precaution to help stop the spread. The teachers and administration of the children's school are using this time to clean the children's buildings thoroughly and to paint.

The reason for the mandatory vacation is that scientists had determined that this week would be the peak week of the swine flu here and that during this week, the number of cases of infected people should level off and then begin to lessen.

Today we learned that the vacation is extended still another week. We are all having to juggle our schedules a bit to care for our kids, study, keep everyone happy with so much time inside the house, etc., but we are grateful for our health. This is a small inconvenience compared to a serious illness or even death.

Our hearts and prayers go out to families all over the world who have been affected by the swine flu and lost loved ones.

Breakfast at the Feria

Saturday mornings, there is a small farmer's market, called a "feria," about a mile from our house. I usually go early, around 6:30-7:00 am, to get the best selection. We can buy fruits and vegetables cheaper than in the grocery store. Lettuce, yucca, pineapples, peppers, carrots, bananas, plantains, potatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro, etc. are available. At times, there is a lady selling bread and other vendors who sell juices and homemade baked goods. We've bought honey there before in a secondhand bottle, but we haven't seen that vendor lately.

There is a small outdoor restaurant also. When we first arrived in Costa Rica, I would not have dreamed of eating there. Once we all got settled in to life here, a couple of classmates starting having breakfast there, so I decided to join them. Timothy went with me the second time. We had a great time just visiting and enjoying the beautiful Costa Rican weather. You can get a huge pile of gallo pinto ("rice and beans"), two eggs, and sausage for about $2.50. Believe it or not, rice and beans are great for breakfast. My friends are David Miller of Lancaster, Pennsylvania on the left who is going to Chile, and Jacob Folk on the right from Powdersville, SC who is staying in Costa Rica after language school. We tend to think of people here not in terms of where they're from, but where they're going after language school to serve the Lord. In the foreground, there is a typical layout of carrots, potatos, and onions. Timothy is sitting next to Jacob.

Monte Verde, Costa Rica and Arcoirises

The old fashioned way of hauling in coffee beans from the field--except this time hauling boys.



















Coffee beans, fresh from the shell


We have experienced a cloud forest--a tropical rainforest in the mountains. It was beautiful, and much colder than we were used to. We were told we were on the continental divide and receiving rain from the Caribbean side and sun from the Pacific side. Along with the rain and sun came the most beautiful rainbows I have ever seen. We could see where they touched the ground on both sides, we were above them in some cases, overlooking valleys, and we even saw several double rainbows. What an awesome Creator we have to have made rainbows, called arcoirises in español!


Sweet Gabriel at the coffee plantation



Cutting sugar cane




Learning about plantains, bananas, and sugar cane


Making candy from the sugar cane