Just got back from Alajuelita - a neighborhood of San Jose, Costa Rica - Wednesday evening. A group of six people from central Illinois and Missouri went to work on a small mission church in the midst of the barrio. For some of us it was returning to friends we hadn't seen for a while and three others were experiencing the trip for the first time. There was hard work, plenty of laughs (even while working), and some time to see the natural, physical beauty of God's creation.
There always seems to be something that is amiss when you get back and this time was no different. All three of our kids have the flu and one of my aquariums developed major problems while I was away. No worries though - Eili and Aiden have recovered fully, Graeme isn't far behind, and the fish complications are curable.
I'll post more about the trip as I peruse my journal. Right now, preparations have to be made for Sunday!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Musings and Preparing for Adventure
Last year was a new record! The fewest posts in a calendar year since I started this blog. Apologies all around if you attempt to keep up with the spazmodic postings when they do come along. I feel guilty about not keeping up with it more, but that's how life is. Maybe 2007 will be better for The Biscuit.
Currently, I'm getting ready to head back to Costa Rica to continue work on the church where we worked eighteen months ago. A team of six (including me) is heading down on the 15th of January and we'll be in country until the 24th. Hopefully much ministry will be done and work will progress on a building to house a body of people who are going to be a beacon of light in a dark barrio of San Jose.
On the schedule for us is a travel and orientation day on Monday. We'll eat at the church and then be sent out to our hosts who are welcoming us into their homes while we're there. Tuesday, the work begins with footers to dig, concrete to pour, cinder blocks to place, a small building to move, and some painting to be done. Sunday is a day off for church and an outing with some of the leaders of the church. Monday morning we'll finish up our projects, clean and put away our tools, and then head downtown into San Jose to freshen up at a hotel. Tuesday is a day for sightseeing before returning to the States on Wednesday. If all goes according to plan, I should be back in Arthur by 5:00pm Wednesday evening.
Preparation has been going smoothly except for one sticky point - my passport. I mailed it off the week of Thanksgiving, thinking that I had plenty of time. The State Department website said that I could anticipate 2-4 weeks of processing time for a passport renewal. Well, the time came and passed. I called last week and they said I ought to have it by Monday. Here comes Monday, no passport. I phoned again on Tuesday. The lady I spoke to was very nice. Said they were finishing it up and that she would request that it be sent overnight through FedEx, but she also told me to keep calling everyday until they sent it out to keep them on task. Yesterday, I rang them again and a man said it was done (halelluia!) and they'll be sending it out that night. He could not confirm if they were posting it through FedEx or Priority Mail as they usually do. I'm hoping to get it today by FedEx. If it doesn't arrive, I guess I'll be looking for it Saturday by Priority Mail. Nothing like just in time service!
I realize that God likes for me to stay close to Him and not wander off, but this is an area of stress that I could do with out right now. A number of people have invested money in this venture and I don't want to see that have to go to plan B if at all possible. Following God is not for the faint of heart! Hopefully the passport will arrive and all will be well. If you see this post soon, you might offer a prayer that the document arrive with some time to spare!
Currently, I'm getting ready to head back to Costa Rica to continue work on the church where we worked eighteen months ago. A team of six (including me) is heading down on the 15th of January and we'll be in country until the 24th. Hopefully much ministry will be done and work will progress on a building to house a body of people who are going to be a beacon of light in a dark barrio of San Jose.
On the schedule for us is a travel and orientation day on Monday. We'll eat at the church and then be sent out to our hosts who are welcoming us into their homes while we're there. Tuesday, the work begins with footers to dig, concrete to pour, cinder blocks to place, a small building to move, and some painting to be done. Sunday is a day off for church and an outing with some of the leaders of the church. Monday morning we'll finish up our projects, clean and put away our tools, and then head downtown into San Jose to freshen up at a hotel. Tuesday is a day for sightseeing before returning to the States on Wednesday. If all goes according to plan, I should be back in Arthur by 5:00pm Wednesday evening.
Preparation has been going smoothly except for one sticky point - my passport. I mailed it off the week of Thanksgiving, thinking that I had plenty of time. The State Department website said that I could anticipate 2-4 weeks of processing time for a passport renewal. Well, the time came and passed. I called last week and they said I ought to have it by Monday. Here comes Monday, no passport. I phoned again on Tuesday. The lady I spoke to was very nice. Said they were finishing it up and that she would request that it be sent overnight through FedEx, but she also told me to keep calling everyday until they sent it out to keep them on task. Yesterday, I rang them again and a man said it was done (halelluia!) and they'll be sending it out that night. He could not confirm if they were posting it through FedEx or Priority Mail as they usually do. I'm hoping to get it today by FedEx. If it doesn't arrive, I guess I'll be looking for it Saturday by Priority Mail. Nothing like just in time service!
I realize that God likes for me to stay close to Him and not wander off, but this is an area of stress that I could do with out right now. A number of people have invested money in this venture and I don't want to see that have to go to plan B if at all possible. Following God is not for the faint of heart! Hopefully the passport will arrive and all will be well. If you see this post soon, you might offer a prayer that the document arrive with some time to spare!
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