04-25-2008

the first week eileen and i were together was really like our honeymoon. the second week was more along the lines of making future plans. we are planning, God willing, to be back here in july or early august, so there is much preparation that is needed. we looked at different living possiblities, everything from trying to buy a cheap property on a little island and then me building a house on it, to renting a house from a friend etc.

we spent time in the appiance stores figuring out what would best be brought down and what would be best bought here. we met several people that are in the environmental field down here. we helped at wold earth day, no that´s not a type-o, that´s how they spelled it on a big, professional banner above their booth on the beach, WOLD EARTH DAY. it was in prepartation for earth day. we handed out information on basic environmental issues. eileen´s mother was visiting for a couple days because she had business in brazil. so we all spent some time cleaning the beach that day. it was good to spend a little time with eileen´s mom mona. i enjoyed sharing this place and the ministry i´m a part of down here with her.

after they left, very sad, i jumped right back into the swing of things. they left on tuesday morning, early. that same day, i cleaned the streets and the entrance to the cemetary with a couple guys. this is a good oportunity to teach basic biblical principles. for example, the previous week while i was cleaning the streets with a couple of guys, one of them found a bag containing 20 or so pieces of crack cocaine. he put them into his pocket and then left the next day. there was another guy in the program working with us that day, and he was aware that the other had found the crack, but didn´t want to "snitch" on the other.

i explained him that he was called to be a watchman for other christians as explained in ezekiel 3 and 33. that love looks out for and goes against feelings sometimes to do the right thing. so, little by little, i am able to teach these guys biblical principles as they come up. this individual was very receptive and realized that the world´s view and God´s view are very different on a wide range of issues.

wednesday i continued to take oscar through the operation timothy discipleship manual. i am glad that we don´t have to focus on drugs here, but on right relationships. loving God, getting to know him better, and loving others will naturally cause drugs to fall off. our focus here is Jesus and the Bible.

thursday we cleaned the beach and i taught an english class. today, friday, i studied spanish for several hours, worked at the feria, taught and english class, worked at the feria or market, and then attended a meeting that included the members of our church. i will now be in charge of praise and worship. at this point it´s only going to be singing with a cd, but one day we hope to have someone play the guitar and i´ll play the keyboard.

tomorrow i´ll be working early in the morning again for earthday, doing community service for quépos. there´s some big event and we´ve been hired to help out. this is good for the program to be such a good influence on the community and in turn receive money for the program.

i have been very tired writing this blog, and look forward to when i have more time to spend writing about more of my experiences here, and more time about some of the things that the Lord has been teaching me through this experience. thank you all for your prayers and support.