I AM HERE TO FISH...AND I WILL LEARN SPANISH WHILE DOING IT!

I figure if I keep that mentality, I will enjoy every minute of our learning process. Jordan and I were able to go fishing with 2 other ABWE missionaries this weekend. We drove about 2 hours into the mountains to the Savagre Mt. and helped catch these beautiful "trucha" or trout. When we got home we baked them with some homemade shake and bake Deanne had made and stuffed them with garlic, onion, tomatoe, and peppers. True to form, Jeff made enough of the veggie stuffing we could have stuffed an entire hatcherie! So, we had tortilla chip dip along with the fish. It was a great lunch.

We are enjoying our new culture in Costa Rica. This week we are learning some history of this country. There are fascinating traditions surrounding Independence Day. On the Eve of Independence Day, the whole country goes outside at 6 pm and sings the National anthem & lights a lantern and walks in the streets. This goes back to the actual night before they declared their independence when people stood outside the meeting where leaders were discussing whether or not to declare independence. These people stood outside all night with their lit lanterns chanting to call for Independence. We were told the celebration began at 6 PM...but by 6:15 it was only our family and one other of our classmates standing alone in the park. We asked some Costa Ricans if this was a joke they play on the gringos. Here we are all dressed for the party, lanterns in hand, and no party in sight. We hopped a bus and headed 10 minutes north to the town of Zapote and found a great celebration there! What a blast!

Deanne, Bethany, and Mandi enjoyed going to ABWE missionaries LaMar & Joanna Salley's home to help make bracelets for their church ladies. Joanna makes these lovely bead bracelets for each lady visitor that comes to their church plant. Each bead represents a different part of the twenty-third Psalm. This is a tremendous teaching tool for ladies who are new to God's Word. It is also a great conversation starter with unbelievers. They have seen several women come to Christ as a result of their church women sharing what the bracelet means and these women leading other women to the Savior! There are so many ways to share the Gospel. We are looking forward to using ideas like these in our brand new work in Ecuador in the very near future!

Along with most things, we are buying eggs in a new and different way here in San Jose! Each Sunday, we purchase our eggs from our local huevos vender who drives slowly up the streets with his microphone speakers announcing "Huevos". Then, we scramble :) outside to purchase our fresh brown eggs for the week out of the back of his little hatchback. These eggs are considerably cheaper than from the local supermarket. We buy a flat of 30 eggs for 2,200 colones. which is about $4. We are quickly becoming one of his best customers!

Market Day



Every Saturday is Market day-- which is a highlight of the week for Deanne and Lukas. We wake up knowing it is time to go and "fill our cart". We purchased our shopping cart from another student who had completed the language program. (it reminds Jeff of an "old lady" shopping cart.) We make sure we eat a hearty breakfast on market day because we walk to the ferria which is 3/4 mile from our home. We carefully select our fruits and vegetable for the week. We have our normal list of string beans, cucumbers, lettuce, red and green peppers, garlic, bananas, pineapple, apples. Every other week we buy potatoes, onions, carrots and celery. We have enjoyed the abundance of fresh cilantro-- although Deanne was accussed of putting it in everything including cereal. We are anxiously awaiting mangoes to come into season. We occassionally enjoy watermelon and a bright red spikey fruit that you peel open and eat a small melon ball type fruit out of the center.

On the way home from the ferria, we have been known to stop for a postre (Pastry) at the bakery. All that shopping works up an appetite! We are trying to make sure we get the full cultural experience and not miss any of their culinary offerings in the postre department.


When we get home, the real work begins. We must wash the farm dirt off the veggies and fruits. For example, the cilantro will be packages with the roots and dirt included at no extra charge. After the soil has been removed, then the disinfecting can begin. All of the items that are not to be peeled must be soaked in a disinfectant solution for twenty minutes for our safety. Then they must be dried and properly stored for the week. We have found that this process does speed their deterioration; so we are still learning about the proper storing techniques. So, this is a true "taste" of life in Latin America. We are so pleased that the Lord is allowing us to learn this whole process now, as we will need all of this practical living information in Ecuador. (Now-- put down that yummy New York apple, did you soak it first? )