Dios Puede Salvar Mighty to Save

12 Days Till Mexico City!!

It really is unbelievable to think that we only have less than two weeks and we will be on our next transition into Mexico City, our new home.  I was reminded tonight of the words of a missionary in MC, from our scouting trip in Feb 2006.  I asked Cindy what she felt was the hardest to give up living for the last 14 (?) years in Mexico City.  I remember at the time her answer astounded me but tonight as I think back over this weekend and over this past year my heart already resonates with Cindy's words to me.  Cindy had answered my curious question with this..... She didn't feel like she had given up anything but that actually they had been given immeasurably more than they could of ever dream of for their family.   I can already feel how much God has opened my heart to understanding how gracious he is to us.  He has given us the privilege to meet people we would never have been given the opportunity to love and enjoy.  This obviously is not always easy in light of the fact that when we leave in 12 days, we do not know if we will ever be able to spend time with some of these wonderful people we have met.  Most of them, Costa Rican's who have blessed our lives in so many ways and have opened their hearts to us and allowed us into their lives even for such a brief time as one year.   Who knew we would have....been stretched so much...(one day I am going to write a book entitled  Stretch Marks!!) who knew we would have ever loved so much in one year.....seen so much of God's faithfulness......and in the same moments watch all of our borders to what we knew as normal disappear.  We are so thankful for the love and support we feel from home!  We know everyday that we are an extension of you in Latin America.

Love Sandra

Día de la Cultura!

Last Friday our school had another cultural day and the highlight for all present were the "mascaras."  Along with a band (of course there has to be dancing!) This is a very common activity that you will find among Tico's.  A friend of ours even hired a group of payasos for her daughters baby shower! 
This is a tradition that dates back to the Spanish conquest.  The Costa Rican's who were now ordered to convert to the Spanish Catholicism and abandon their many gods. As a form of rebelling against the Spaniards the Costa Ricans begun this tradition of fiesta with these payasos (clowns) which symbolized their different gods and some made to resemble the Spaniard's.  The figures dance around and chase the people and in return the people hit them with sticks and mock them.  Now hold your stomach for this one!! The clowns even have bull intestines some with urine and they hit the people with them.  Interesting :)  I guess this is a small introduction to the many customs and cultural activities that we will very shortly be introduced to in Mexico.

24 days and counting !!!

please pray that we would be ready for this new transition.

love Sandra

Refreshing

Can you believe that most of San Jose has been without water since thursday until 4:30 today (Sunday)?  OK think about all the implications to that...no shower, no toilet!!  Most of the stores were out of water.  Apparently there was a main water line in the City that was damaged.   We were fortunate enough to escape for a few days and were only affected by the water Thursday and today when we arrived back home.  But it sure makes us think of Canada in a lot different light.  Last weekend we did not have water both Saturday and Sunday! Did I mention it was while we had a birthday party for a dear Tica friend Ligia!!!  Which reminds me of how refreshing it is, to feel your encouragment to us.  Tonight I had two refreshing "cups of water" one from Marjorie in Alberta, and Pam in Abbotsford.  Thank you ladies,  its beautiful when we can refresh one another with living water!!!  Here is a picture of my tutor/ MY DEAR FRIEND Ligia....I just love her I think our relationship will be one of the hardest parts in leaving Costa Rica.

Carmela's 6th birthday

8 weeks and counting!!

Oh my word!!! It is absolutely crazy to think that we only have 8 weeks left of language school and we will be heading to Mexico City.  It is amazing to think a year ago we were praying about having a suitable place for our family here in Costa Rica and now we are praying for a place to call home in Mexico City.  You know from our first day of Spanish we heard over and over that we are here to learn so much more than spanish and I couldn't agree more, I don't even think I can express all the ways we are grown and been STRETCHED beyond ourselves.  But God is sooo good to us and we have never been so convinced that he holds us in the palm of his hand, he is our protection and our peace in every circumstance!  We are learning from the depths of our souls that he is more than enough, only his love will satisfy us and fulfilling his purpose for our life will satisfy us.  The blessings that come from walking in obedience are incredible!  We have the privilege to learn the beautiful spanish language and understanding a culture we never would have been exposed to.  Carmela turns 6 thursday!!! Yippee we will be sure to post pictures from her party.  Have a great night.

love Sandra