After a 6 hour bus ride, we arrived in an old Italian colony. San Vito Costa Rica is altogether a different place. Located on the eastern border of Costa Rica and Panama where the air is fresh, cool and clean. The lush green mountains feed grazing the cattle and bumpy dirt and stone roads lead to homes and ranches on the hillsides. It is here where our nanny Adina bought a home. She plans on retiring this August when Becky and I leave for Argentina and desires very much to escape from city life and be surrounded by her family. Becky and I had a week off from school between trimesters, so we both really felt that the Lord wanted us to help fix up her new house. The house didn't have windows nor doors with good security and was generally in rough condition. It was amazing to think that it had not been abandoned, but actually a family had recently been renting it. When we walked into the house for the first time my head started to spin as I wondered how we could get this all fixed up in one week. Also, not having anymore tools than a small utility bag with the basics. As everyone left the house I prayed and asked God for his provision and wisdom. Realizing the job was too big for one week, we decided to focus on what we could do which was to clean up the land, redo the kitchen by installing windows and a door, and replace the siding in the back of the house. Adina's nephew who works 2 hrs away was happy to loan me the electric tools needed and her brother in law who is a retired security guard said he would help in any way he could. Praise God! Along with working long days trying to get everything done, we had a week of practicing Spanish. Also we were indulged by the Costa Rican cuisine, rice and beans three meals a day. We also tried some new foods that I had never had, a salad from a white flower, cow liver, boiled green bananas, unpasteurized milk, cheese and yogurt, and fried pig skin. We returned back to San Jose, behind our barbed wire. By God's grace we completed everything on our punch list. It was a little discouraging however realizing that there was still much to do. We pray that Adina would be encouraged, a woman who has been serving missionaries for more than 20 years.
May 4, 2009
San Vito - Where Barbed Wire is For Cattle
After a 6 hour bus ride, we arrived in an old Italian colony. San Vito Costa Rica is altogether a different place. Located on the eastern border of Costa Rica and Panama where the air is fresh, cool and clean. The lush green mountains feed grazing the cattle and bumpy dirt and stone roads lead to homes and ranches on the hillsides. It is here where our nanny Adina bought a home. She plans on retiring this August when Becky and I leave for Argentina and desires very much to escape from city life and be surrounded by her family. Becky and I had a week off from school between trimesters, so we both really felt that the Lord wanted us to help fix up her new house. The house didn't have windows nor doors with good security and was generally in rough condition. It was amazing to think that it had not been abandoned, but actually a family had recently been renting it. When we walked into the house for the first time my head started to spin as I wondered how we could get this all fixed up in one week. Also, not having anymore tools than a small utility bag with the basics. As everyone left the house I prayed and asked God for his provision and wisdom. Realizing the job was too big for one week, we decided to focus on what we could do which was to clean up the land, redo the kitchen by installing windows and a door, and replace the siding in the back of the house. Adina's nephew who works 2 hrs away was happy to loan me the electric tools needed and her brother in law who is a retired security guard said he would help in any way he could. Praise God! Along with working long days trying to get everything done, we had a week of practicing Spanish. Also we were indulged by the Costa Rican cuisine, rice and beans three meals a day. We also tried some new foods that I had never had, a salad from a white flower, cow liver, boiled green bananas, unpasteurized milk, cheese and yogurt, and fried pig skin. We returned back to San Jose, behind our barbed wire. By God's grace we completed everything on our punch list. It was a little discouraging however realizing that there was still much to do. We pray that Adina would be encouraged, a woman who has been serving missionaries for more than 20 years.
March 29, 2009
Learning a New Tongue While Eating a Tongue
I had heard that before leaving Costa Rica I would have to try "lengua en salsa", so my neighbor offered to teach me how to make it. I had a great time learning but I can't say that I would make it weekly.
We went to our friends house this weekend Steve fixed her washing machine for her, and we met almost her whole family. I learned how to make donuts with her daughter-in-law. She sells them for (15 cents each)extra income for the family. It was really fun seeing how she does everything by eye and by feeling the texture. Our boys our getting so big, so we put some pictures for everyone to enjoy of some of our fun times together as a family. Elliott is potty training, we just started this week. Steve is wonderful with the boys, Elliott went potty first for Steve, and Josiah did the same when he was being potty trained. It's a Daddy thing. Hope you all had a wonderful day!! Becky, for the Diems
We went to our friends house this weekend Steve fixed her washing machine for her, and we met almost her whole family. I learned how to make donuts with her daughter-in-law. She sells them for (15 cents each)extra income for the family. It was really fun seeing how she does everything by eye and by feeling the texture. Our boys our getting so big, so we put some pictures for everyone to enjoy of some of our fun times together as a family. Elliott is potty training, we just started this week. Steve is wonderful with the boys, Elliott went potty first for Steve, and Josiah did the same when he was being potty trained. It's a Daddy thing. Hope you all had a wonderful day!! Becky, for the Diems
March 20, 2009
Elliott is 2!
We are so thankful for our little guy Elliott! It is really fun to watch Josiah and him grow up together, Josiah loves the "job" of being a big brother. Here is a video for you all to enjoy of his big day! There are some pictures of us making the pinata together, and painting it! And then of the party we had with some of our friends from language school! Thanks for taking the time to look at our blog! Becky, for the Diems
March 3, 2009
overwelmed by needs
Steve and I have run into lots of opportunities to help people this week. Pray that the Lord would teach us discernment through these situations.
Steve is at a prayer meeting right now at our church, and he has invited the man that he met yesterday, and gave him the bus fair (50 cents) and directions to the meeting. Pray that this man will be a man of his word and meet Steve there tonight.
I met a lady at the library today with her little girl, and she is about to have another baby. She was asking me for a carriage and cloths, when I started asking her about her spiritual journey, she changed the subject back again to the shoes that I had told her Elliott had outgrown. I told her I would meet her at the library again to give her the items. Pray that she would be open to things of the Lord.
As anyone can tell you that has been outside the bubble of the USA the needs of people are overwhelming. Our purpose needs to be to help them for the long term, there eternal destination. How easy it would be just to pass out food, and clothes, and money, but that will not change peoples lives. Only Gods word has the power to change peoples hearts. And of coarse there is the book of James where it tells us to give to those who need food and clothing.
I know that God is growing both of us through our first cross cultural experience. I know that we will experience the same situations in Argentina. So pray that God will give us wisdom in these and many other situations that come our way on a daily basis of living in a different country. Thank you! Becky, for the Diems
Steve is at a prayer meeting right now at our church, and he has invited the man that he met yesterday, and gave him the bus fair (50 cents) and directions to the meeting. Pray that this man will be a man of his word and meet Steve there tonight.
I met a lady at the library today with her little girl, and she is about to have another baby. She was asking me for a carriage and cloths, when I started asking her about her spiritual journey, she changed the subject back again to the shoes that I had told her Elliott had outgrown. I told her I would meet her at the library again to give her the items. Pray that she would be open to things of the Lord.
As anyone can tell you that has been outside the bubble of the USA the needs of people are overwhelming. Our purpose needs to be to help them for the long term, there eternal destination. How easy it would be just to pass out food, and clothes, and money, but that will not change peoples lives. Only Gods word has the power to change peoples hearts. And of coarse there is the book of James where it tells us to give to those who need food and clothing.
I know that God is growing both of us through our first cross cultural experience. I know that we will experience the same situations in Argentina. So pray that God will give us wisdom in these and many other situations that come our way on a daily basis of living in a different country. Thank you! Becky, for the Diems
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