Pura Vida en Costa Rica

We left El Salvador at 11:30 and after a 35 minute flight we landed in Managua. The airport in Managua is very, very small (six gates) and only three restaurants . . . . . we spent almost three hours there. Stephen studied Spanish--he's cramming for the test on Monday--I worked on the computer. The flight to San Jose was only 50 minutes. We sailed right through immigration and customs, got all of our bags and were out on the sidewalk waiting for our transportation about 30 minutes after we landed--about a half hour early!

Rony, the bilingual transportation guy, picked us up about 5:30. We felt so important because he was holding a sign with our name on it! About 45 minutes later we were meeting our host family. We are so blessed to be with the Chincilla family. They have been hosting future missionaries from the institute for more than 10 years so they are experts! Their house is across the street from the school. Altogether, there are nine of us in the house: Jose and Flor (mom/dad), David, Maria Jose, Fernanda (kids ages 20 to 27), Grandma Ruth, Esther (teacher at the institute's elementary school; she's from Texas) and us. We have a private bathroom and Internet in our bedroom. Stephen's excited because David, who's 20, loves American football. In fact, they have been watching the games together. There's a park down the street where Stephen can run and a grocery store within a couple of blocks.

This morning we took a taxi to Vida Nueva Baptist Church. We were the first ones there; the door was still locked. The taxi driver tried to tell us that the church was across the street. (There is a Mormon church across the street.) We assured him that we had the location right--the church is on the second floor above a pet store. The owners of the store brought out two chairs so we could sit while we waited for someone to arrive. It was only a short time until Pastor Rodolfo and his wife, Rocio, came to open the doors and get everything set up. There is a digital piano at the church, but they don't always have someone who can play. Stephen helped get it set up and played during the visiting time, offering and closing. Next week he and Luis David will get together to practice the songs so he can play along with the guitar during the worship time.

After church we went to Rodolfo and Rocio's home to wait for Roger and Natalia, their son-in-law and daughter. We all went to lunch together and it was a great time of fellowship. We have been talking Spanish (to the best of our ability) for the last two days. They brought us home and promised to pick us up next Sunday.

It is so great to see how God has provided all our needs as we begin this new chapter. We are so thankful that we have a God who cares about the details. Please pray for us as we attend orientation in the morning and have our placement test; our classes will start at 12:30 p.m.

As always, stay tuned for more stories, pictures and all of the details of our time in Costa Rica. I will blog as often as I can--homework, studying and talking Spanish is our number one priority for the next 6 weeks.