In Costa Rica March 2010..... "The Olvera's"

But it was time to get on the road...our ride arrived at 9am...we loaded up, picked up the Corona's and said good bye to Quepos for now...

This was the new highway that was just finished 1 month ago.  What use to take almost 2 hours on a windy dirt road now only takes 30mins.... Everyone loves the new highway!

We stopped along the way for a potty break and to get snack to eat.  Yummy empanadas filled with black beans.  We took a picture of the hard working chefs and back onto the road for our arrival to our condo in San Jose... "Villas Cariari"

The grounds are beautiful here and we checked into our 2 bdrm unit for the night with Chaba and Ang.  We headed off to the mall to get a bite to eat and we saw the first McDonalds in a long time...but we didn't eat there even though that's what Logan really wanted. 

We had lots of options at the food court in the mall and everone ate what sounded good to them.  Anything from Sushi to Chicken

We found this Pharmacy in the mall and it was great!  We picked up some things that we wanted and Nate got some great foot medicine that he needed.  He was so happy here that we took his picture.  There's still hope for him...haha.  Oh ya, I picked up what is a prescription in the US for Erika as just an over the counter medication here and the price differance was incredible!  A $298.00 bottle in the US was under $40.00 here.  I guess it all comes down to GREED. 

We looked around and Elesia tried some things on.  She was having too much fun...

Miss 'Proper' here!

We headed back to our room. The scenery was pretty and the weather was perfect.  NO Humidity!  and a cool breeze.  Enjoying every bit of it...while we wind down and get ready for our 3:30am pickup for the airport

As we sit and meditate on our wonderful trip and how we got here we remember that we are helping in fullfilling the prophecy at...

I've realized that sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone, take a leap of faith and let Jehovah guide us...and then we will experience 'the blessing of Jehovah—that is what makes rich, and he adds no pain with it'  Proverbs 10:22

Tuesday, the 23rd

A very full day of service, schoolwork, cleaning, studying for meeting and then off to the beach for our last play at the playa. 

"Oh ya baby!!!! Did you catch that wave?"

Logan is a natural..... and Elesia and I had fun jumping the waves...

while Erika did what she loves the best....baking in the sun and then cooling off in the water

We stayed just long enough to enjoy our last pictures,

and a beautiful sunset....

before packing up and heading home to get ready for meeting. 

Our last tuesday night meeting was wonderful and sad at the same time... Nate and I were asked to do the presentation of the special edition of the Watchtower on the Kingdom.  I was his householder for the presentation and was suppose to be familiar with the 'Lords Prayer', but believed that God's Kingdom was only in our hearts.  He then talked about Rev 5:9,10 where it states that this "was made to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth"  (more than just a feeling within my heart) and explained that in that prayer...we pray for that Kingdom (Gov't) to come here on earth, and then offered the magazine and impressed the importance of going to my own copy of the Bible to look up more scriptures that were listed in the article on what the Kingdom is and what it will do for mankind. He shared the comforting scripture in Rev 21:3,4....It was a nice example on how to offer the special magazine

A wonderful congregation....I will miss bunches, but so glad to have the opportunity to be here and meet sooo many great people that are my brothers and sisters too.  Just imagine how amazing Paradise will be when there is no evil in the world and everyone is happy and all serving the one who created all.

After tears and a snack at a nearby restaurant,

we said more good-byes and headed home to finish packing

I had to take this picture of the kids crashed out, their last night at our home away from home!

Off to get a few hours of sleep.  zzzzzz

Laundry for five has been an adventure, but Nate showed me how to ring out the towels after I was practically dying trying to do it....Towels are very heavy when they are wet but all you do is wrap and twist!!!

(Here I showed Erika how to ring out towels, so I could take the picture.  She did a great job, so she finished the towels...)

These were dry in no time at all and Nate was back so we headed off to Manuel Antonio to get some last minute things that we wanted and have dinner with Chaba and Ang.  On the way, we ran into some of our friends and had our picture taken with them at a soda shop.  I took a picture of the sign as it had my maiden name on it...

We stopped by the vendors and had our picture taken with Luis and his wonderful sister.  They both have the Bible teach book now and have ones in the local congregation following up with them when we leave.  I pray that Jehovah draws them to him...and they accept His invitation.  They both have very big hearts for people in general.  We'll miss them!

They gave our family each a gift...from bracelets to a wall plaque and we thanked them.  They said next time we come back,  "We better be speaking Spanish".... I guess thats a good goal for the fam!

Then there is Miss Elesia who placed Bible tracts with ALL the vendors and everytime we came by they wanted to talk...How wonderful!  She brought tears to my ears...The love that she has for her creator Jehovah,  is sooo heartwarming and a great encouragement to many. 

She was extra happy this day...She turned 9!  My little girl is growing up into a beautiful person and we are sooo proud of her!

By the end of the trip, she had even little Logan placing tracts. 

Off to get a bite to eat and head back to our neck of the woods..

Yummm.  Logan and Elesia had a cheeseburger, while Erika had Chicken Nachos and loved it!

While waiting for our bus, we watched the ocean...The tide was very high and sounded sooo powerful.  there was a sign on the tree to the right that said, "Get your dreadlocks done here".  It was pretty funny!

We got our bus and headed home to get ready for Tuesday...