tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279856247109210262024-02-02T13:38:38.369-06:00The Janzen UpdateGlimpses of life in Costa RicaJeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-60037422155517611482011-11-14T13:28:00.003-06:002011-11-14T14:13:41.386-06:00November is the month of change.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UqdEjZ4Sqpx0csggInr1yhyphenhyphenJ7CC0qIbE4f1I9doluVUzGEmMHvUI9lmb1RX2Kuxm08nKMDhHLbQ8vAQgOZjEgL_PsiShIRCzCcMOiYVWFTJQNld-K5v3ed16YdqY2RDWV-V_QPdHgnLf/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UqdEjZ4Sqpx0csggInr1yhyphenhyphenJ7CC0qIbE4f1I9doluVUzGEmMHvUI9lmb1RX2Kuxm08nKMDhHLbQ8vAQgOZjEgL_PsiShIRCzCcMOiYVWFTJQNld-K5v3ed16YdqY2RDWV-V_QPdHgnLf/s320/IMG_0490.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674945374541928018" /></a><br /><br /> Well after a very long and stressful few months we are finally in our little house up on the hill. While it sometimes feels like camping in a house it is now beginning to feel like our home. We moved everything up the hill after the rainiest week of the year. Two days before the move Jeremy slid right off the driveway and through a barbed wire fence. We ended up running over two trees and ruining about 60 ft. of the neighbors fence getting the car out :-/ At the same time we found out that due to the change in climate any pine wood molded within a week. This meant tearing out all of the kitchen cabinets again to re-seal them as well as painting all of the furniture. Needless to say it was a few days of craziness. <div> Now that we're in (even though it's not all finished) we are really enjoying the fresh air and space that we have. We wake up at 6:00am to the birds, parrots, and the sound of the river and around 7:00am the sun finally crests the mountain to our east. It's definitely cooler as we're no longer surrounded by concrete and are about 300ft higher up the mountain. The kids are loving the outdoors, playing in the new chicken coop, and just running around in the mud. November is also the month that it stops raining and gets colder. We're looking forward to a few more dry days and getting more done on the house so it's not quite as dirty.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevFgIjjB4ey25ThW6EgmQzQZD5OfIHCMJCZkRuZeJmFxgmm9r-q80BrBhyphenhyphenD_mtA78KdDd2avtEKzsMJfDNf8YBydxHNDqHMAjfgHpzsY4GPjM7_OfGmN9K_QGfEh9Ff5ogwTx9_FYUSu7/s320/IMG_0606.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674945370778184802" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyzikmDndGT5puAeXqw-YC6f3JmrrmDa4G_Pg0yjjgs9X6BPDXsHaGzzoYWESRJ63qotf21jgfJ1oB2rLZxbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> The next big event in life will be the birth of "baby J." We still don't have a name for him but I'm sure it will come in the next few weeks along with the baby:) Erin is always pushing to get more done on the house to be ready for him but as we've heard from many people, "you're never really ready."<div> Thanks to all of you who keep up with our story. It means a lot to have you all involved in some way. Remember that facebook it the best way to keep up wit daily life!! Blessings and thanks for reading. </div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-85653409965236277792011-10-11T10:39:00.005-06:002011-10-11T15:19:28.638-06:00Just Being Real, From a Mom and Wife's Perspective : )<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRt37AHRG5KpXojrpgTapq676CuiDQstVK_5X5_n5bIp6m7Hh_iXIx391ECnliilDtQnCp3WS4H8HHQy1MJ0BgHl03yXFVFCCVHIv4s3Sy_ydiBwrL1HXSU_F97L24x9PWcesXroc2D9OF/s320/IMG_0404.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662340915179348290" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpU5Z3vnqFLSWL113p-lPnYRqbafl81waYxbfQOq9-FdQ2KEsl7bjg2a91-35Fjqr5zZ9sOFpTavs6vDUZFt5bQBB_u3xigKH6qG_vKsg2-enHG25wO1WIXNO_OdYG_R0ty06Oce0U3Sm/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpU5Z3vnqFLSWL113p-lPnYRqbafl81waYxbfQOq9-FdQ2KEsl7bjg2a91-35Fjqr5zZ9sOFpTavs6vDUZFt5bQBB_u3xigKH6qG_vKsg2-enHG25wO1WIXNO_OdYG_R0ty06Oce0U3Sm/s320/IMG_1460.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662340923248056850" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpxJW9jDNFUDzk_JM036Fd_eN7xrKpyhfvkCfSUAXLD1t8K4NDxEd5zRvmOMV_mIFSsCSrHND-I4WQs8Yf720uqzGbUYsmDeW5CbcLr6-vJ1p4Zs5rNrb9x4jpNM5nOXF10Z-_cgnMjEW/s1600/IMG_0444.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpxJW9jDNFUDzk_JM036Fd_eN7xrKpyhfvkCfSUAXLD1t8K4NDxEd5zRvmOMV_mIFSsCSrHND-I4WQs8Yf720uqzGbUYsmDeW5CbcLr6-vJ1p4Zs5rNrb9x4jpNM5nOXF10Z-_cgnMjEW/s320/IMG_0444.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662340907179611794" /></a><br /><br />Well as most of you all know our family has been in process of building our house here in Costa Rica. If any of you don't know the history of this wild ride, I'll fill you in on a few details. <div>Almost a year ago now Jeremy and I were in a place of unrest in our home that we'd been renting (still renting through the end of Oct.). Things were breaking, leaks were appearing overnight, and we wanted badly a place </div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnFgLeDM0Ql6aCucC3Gb4xj369H0ynFB9O5H18E_1hyphenhyphenqDgSXahC7ij9OXHsiq-ivnWOExAwhyphenhyphen7kz4e9NBWutugwymdCK4wgN6Yd6uWjh9Whig0SLr0Le2mJheBmBCr2R0IeHCuqdKgf8Z/s320/IMG_1476.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662340903263739298" /><div>where our kids could run and be kids. After a long time of searching, literally spending hours as a family driving down roads that led to who knows where, and trying to find a place that not only met our needs, but fell into our price range, we entered a season of fasting and praying. We just couldn't get past this "thing" in front of us that was making us feel unsettled. God had proven himself faithful time and again so why not now? After a series of phone calls and meeting a family that would later become our friends through this process, we began to see God's hand move in this request of ours. Things just began to fall together and after returning back to Costa Rica after Christmas in CA, we made the decision to purchase a property and begin building. Why is it that at this point, after praying for so long for something, we begin to doubt what the Lord is doing?? We began thinking, "Is this really what we should be doing??" "Did God <i>really</i> answer our prayer?" We had to believe that he did indeed! So began our journey that has taken up every spare moment we've had this past year. </div><div>So here we are now. In our last 2 wks. in this rental and finishing up the things that absolutely need to be finished before we can move in. Will it be 100% done? Not even close. Will we have what we need to get by until it is. Yes. : ) </div><div>After making the decision to start building and having some things planned out, we found out I was pregnant with #3. This threw a bit of a wrench into things seeing that we were planning on building a very small 2 bedroom house that would later become a rental while we planned the next phase of building on the property. </div><div>Fast forward to today. 8 wks. away from my Dec. 2 due date and can I say this year has brought some emotions I didn't plan on! Bear with me while I expose what this process has brought out in me as a wife and mother expecting another. Like I said before, every spare moment has been spent on this place. Literally every weekend, unless their was something planned that we <i>had</i> to go to or a few spur of the moment Saturdays at the beach because we <i>had </i>to take a break, we're spent working. I can say I've learned how to do a lot of things, because, well no one else was around to do them! Humor me while I list a few: the ratio for mixing concrete, how to lay concrete, how to use a spray gun, make mortar and build cinder block walls, drive 4 wheel drive vehicles (this has come in very useful), build a fire every day for our lunch, tape, apply joint compound, and sand wallboard joints. Sure it was kind of fun, I even told Jeremy one day, "I think I like this! How many girl general contractors are there, I think I could do this!" I'm sure he was just happy I wasn't complaining and just getting the job done. ; ) </div><div>Besides all this, there are some other things that I've learned or was reminded of. The first thing, I have an <i>amazing </i>husband. I'm not sure how many times I thought or said to someone, "I couldn't do this with anyone but him." He works hard all day, is an amazing dad, and will serve me to no end if I ask him to. I learned that as a team (he and I) we were made for this sort of thing. This process, as terrible and stressful as we could've made it, has been relatively smooth. Maybe it's more our reactions when something did go wrong. Normally it was out of our control so it didn't make any sense worrying about it. The 3rd thing I realized and was reminded of is that we have great kids! Every weekend while mommy and daddy worked they ran around outside, rode bikes, played in the mud, : / and just enjoyed being outdoors and not behind bars. Sure their were meltdowns, but through all of it they have been champs. They love to help where it's needed and like <i>knowing</i> they're needed. We've said time and again that we hope when our kids look back on this time that they would have good memories of building the house with us. </div><div>I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been hard. If their weren't moments that I just curled up in a ball and cried my eyes out because I was so physically and emotionally exhausted and couldn't see an end in sight. This has tested my (our) faith and made us fall into His arms when we could do nothing else. At times I just wanted to be done and felt like I was dragging myself up there to work. I wanted to just relax, bake cookies, play games with my kids, instead of constantly thinking of the next thing we have to finish. Then I would be reminded of what we prayed for when searching for this property. A place our kids can be kids. A place we can enjoy each other and enjoy the breathtaking beauty around us. A place we can have friends and staff over to enjoy un-rushed time. So after this reminder I'd see the goal again and pray for strength to get through the day. God's been <i>SO</i> good to us and so patient with my frustrations when I can't see what's ahead. </div><div>This process has brought out the best and worst in us, but I think the most important thing to look back on is our response in those situations. I am resting, leaning, pressing into the Father to find the strength to finish the job ahead. Baby won't wait to come when it's convenient. Things won't just "get done" without us there. Life will go one one day at a time and I am so thankful we serve a God who is concerned about the end result and all these adventures and mountains we climb are to bring us to a greater understanding of Him and the great care he has for us. </div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-79562328140292279012011-08-12T10:33:00.004-06:002011-08-12T10:55:53.300-06:00A Bit of Our Summer<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzH6MoSS4gmVjEu53GOampHDn08LzTBZYdI3TmeI6QLL1WU14LrIysd8o8nbiqR65caSoJs7nSvu2TSTzhGw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>We have had a whirlwind of a summer. Well, it's really been your summer, our winter/rainy season here! There has been a constant flow of teams, most weekends packed with work on our house, school presentations, and mid year vacation for Ella and Judah. We always think life will slow down just around the corner, but if I could peak around the next few corners, it doesn't seem to be the case : ) Thankfully God's grace has been, is, and will be sufficient for all that life brings our way. This video is just a small glimpse of how life's been around these parts. We apparently didn't take too many photos in the last 2 months but please feel free to find us on Facebook and you'll get a better taste of the happenings around here. Many students take lots of photos while here and tag Jeremy/the wood shop in them so you can see some activities that the teams participated in. Enjoy!</div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-10238062747584187412011-08-02T22:16:00.002-06:002011-08-02T23:17:05.522-06:00The summer's over...<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well it's been a wild one. Full of teams, construction, rain, and some incredible surfing (one day of it at least.) Things were really moving with the teams and really in transition with the tico students. The summer was full of amazing conversations with the north american students about life and everything under the sun... Bottom line that God was continuing to point out... How can we glorify <i>Him</i> more through our lives? It was really made clear to me this summer as we studied first John, that it's all for <i>His</i> glory. We as Christians get so wrapped up in church or theology or just "what we should do" that we forget why we were created... To glorify God! To worship and fellowship with Him! A lot of times we do really well at playing church, even praying for people and doing what we're supposed to do. However, many times we forget that it's really all for <i>God's</i> glory! I want to Glorify God at all times. Sometimes even in my prayers to him I'm seeking to glorify myself or the church. I want to build myself a platform in the community, all good things... But God says if I lift <i>him </i>up and glorify<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span>Him<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> then He'll </span></i>draw men unto himself<i>... Wow! </i>I'm tired of trying to glorify myself and what I do. I want to glorify Him! <div> So I mentioned that we're in the middle of some transitions. Obviously our family is Building a house and expecting a baby... Need I say more about that?... In the shop we're transitioning to some older students and focusing more on teaching woodworking as a skill not a hobby. On the 16th of august we'll be starting the new classes but we don't know yet who will be involved. I only know one student, Alexander, who I may have mentioned before. Alex is about 34 years old and has been an addict for the last several years of his life. Since we opened the shop I've had the opportunity to build quite a relationship with him. He's a believer with an incredible knowledge of the bible but lacks the community and the self-control to stay clean. This last week he came running to me as I was leaving and told me a very sad story which almost moved me to tears.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Alex, about a week ago smoked some crack... He knew it was sin but couldn't fight off the cravings. He spent about two days hiding out because he didn't want his landlord to know that he had fallen. (The landlord is also the owner of the shop and has given Alex a room for free and just has Alex clean to repay him) For the last six months or so Alex has gone off and on to a small church down the road so as he came down off the drugs he wanted to go to the morning prayer meeting and repent. After the meeting he went forward to ask the pastor a question and the paster said, "get out of here, you're not a sheep, you're a goat!" Alex being very angry told him that if he was a true pastor he would have left the 99 to come after the one... And then he stormed out. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It's about three blocks from the church to my shop and Alex said he knew he just had to get to me. He had ¢600 colones in his pocket ($1.20) and as he passed his drug dealer he knew he could buy one rock to smoke for ¢500 but he stayed strong. Just as I was leaving he came up to the gate and told me what had happened. I spent about forty minutes with him telling him that God hadn't forgotten him and that the pastors words were not godly at all. He felt better after listening to the scripture that I could ramble off from memory and knew that what was done to him was not of God... </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As I drove away I was thinking, "our churches don't always glorify God!" Obvious, I know. But in that moment I realized that a lot of times even in the midst of prayer meetings and Church fellowship... In preaching and teaching even in our giving, we're glorifying the organization of the church more than God... Is God glorified when I give to the church cause i have to? or if it's an obligation? NO!! He's glorified when my heart is to give of whatever I have to love others because He loves them too. Is God glorified when someone is healed? Sometimes it's the place that's glorified... It's a "hot spot of the healing"... Why does God take back seat? Is God glorified in our meetings when the message is to "do" more for him? I He glorified when we bring people in and get them to attend regularly? All of these things are good but it's our <i>hearts</i> that will glorify God <i>through</i> the acts... If we aren't glorifying Him it's just another philanthropist organization. We are set apart from just <i>good deeds</i> by the glory that is given to God. Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress <i>and</i> to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. It's not just Charity work. It's giving the glory to God... If we take the credit for the first part we've been polluted by the pride of the world. It's when we seek to glorify God in it that people can see Him through us.<br /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So anyways, I'm committed to walk with Alexander for the next season. I'm committed to seeing God be glorified by how I live and how we walk together. Sorry I went so long on that. It's really something that God is pounding in me right now. </div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>One last thing, and it's kinda funny coming after all that I said before. We are really needing to raise our support level to continue on here. We have never been over 85% funded since we came and have been losing some support over the last few months. I want to be really bold and ask you all to consider helping us to glorify God here by giving financially. It's obviously not an obligation and I know that times are hard but we are looking for God to come through for us financially. We have 350 emails that we send letters out to every so often... If each one would commit to give from an average of $1o a month we would be fully funded. Maybe all you can give is $5 a month. Well if there are 10 people in the same boat that's significant for us! We are needing to see God come through for us in a big way here really soon and I pray that you might be part of his provision for us. Above all else Glorify God!! Whether in giving or prayer let your heart seek his glory over everything else. </div><div>Blessings on you all,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Jeremy for Erin, Ella, Judah, and Baby J.</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. Id you want to talk about the financials email me or leave a comment on this post. We're an open book and wont be offended by any questions :) </div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-67706872580116991802011-07-11T22:49:00.004-06:002011-07-11T23:07:41.241-06:00really quick<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOX_rkLiLeszoyBJdQEzOnknwEkB_Nc6Aq-PVrvsnWXtjPGUNbvGPV75jcQRpC_mxjMtb2XuMtsoLqlvi0E7u3XcLVJ1pZLjdcBbn8Dr7H6lDFgCjGXWTniV0ntD3TymBFu6VIynkl75y/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOX_rkLiLeszoyBJdQEzOnknwEkB_Nc6Aq-PVrvsnWXtjPGUNbvGPV75jcQRpC_mxjMtb2XuMtsoLqlvi0E7u3XcLVJ1pZLjdcBbn8Dr7H6lDFgCjGXWTniV0ntD3TymBFu6VIynkl75y/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628325982765721506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C0L1GzOChRa8sYl8OkGZE88HExgD0ZmVlwynm_kYg6BDC1G0eWvIQWQKVkuMn-OhKpTt3ERgysQTQuPtT6ii9fBChSVNY5b9bZomwrebCtnBr9d26EOwV-nClsILNhjJhCQK1sg3APOu/s1600/IMG_0363.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C0L1GzOChRa8sYl8OkGZE88HExgD0ZmVlwynm_kYg6BDC1G0eWvIQWQKVkuMn-OhKpTt3ERgysQTQuPtT6ii9fBChSVNY5b9bZomwrebCtnBr9d26EOwV-nClsILNhjJhCQK1sg3APOu/s320/IMG_0363.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628325976548206466" /></a><br />So just a quick post because we haven't been very consistent this year. We're still pluggin' along at the house. The celling is in and almost done, the bathroom is close, the doors and windows are on and it looks like our move in date will be the end of August... Hopefully. The kids are doing great! Ella and Judah continue to surprise us with their spanish and are doing great in school. Erin is now 5 months along with our 2nd boy, baby J for now. I'm burning the candle at both ends in full swing at the shop with students from the US and also working on the house as much as is humanly possible. We keep saying it's just a season... Oh Lord I hope so! One thing is for sure, God is great in the midst of it all. He never fails us even when we totally forget about him. He is all that's keeping me going.</div><div> So I'll leave you with some photos of my guys in class C. They just finished their medicine cabinets and seem SUPER excited! It's really great to be able to send them home with something that they can really be proud of. This week they start the same project but in reverse. (they're starting with the door to practice their measurements) Should be fun! Be praying with us as we're looking to make a simi-major change at the shop and start 1 or 2 more classes like class C with some older guys from Los Guido. A few of them have been in prison and have no options left so what we offer could really make a huge impact in their life. Please pray with me for safety and wisdom as we dive in to this newish project. </div><div>Here's the pictures of the guys as promised... Blessings and thanks for reading.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzq89n2uQrOLcv4cb6BkjfZ33nzsFLrc_easYlt9j4WnBikbmTW7D-5_0BozIyj3eCmP9xrYomS1ozyNmeJ8Jkgcfkzw0Nm0zg_JMJe71UrJg6e4H78AdQTKyg75aCyHfIv5MEafaxo61/s320/IMG_0346.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628325990995960050" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4MZk0YbZ_9CGiRSBMoIIFhRs7VytJ_tuQh9W4mhYgH4o6dsTHeCzw8M4weRAH3HQ_XImZMmf8rPgLMpGqJQY47PBG-MLJ6LgQIQl0wuW7Vf5qrXisLXoe0U6r_FynZRiYiVEOusq8DBS/s320/IMG_0355.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628326002674524322" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnyOiGgBLQ-ciSEWdR-YbyI2zmeG4cCKLIl_H6BV2_jnDrzrqPn0cM5y9t1mEge6xPMLzvYpkBRK2RsFd_2G7VMNT8D0LuHd-j97bV6QFXBNdHhXubrXFFnp7E_Tu0Lnz8VwUD031-FLG/s320/IMG_0359.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628325989186023858" /></div></div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-85506462903940169602011-06-22T16:54:00.006-06:002011-06-22T18:05:58.844-06:00Is one worth it?So it's been a little over a year since we opened the shop. We've had around 80 kids come through and have had to change things a few times to accommodate them... It looks like we're gearing up for another change here in August. The fact is that the younger kids are losing interest. I have a few kids that keep coming but the days of 45 kids lining up to get in are long gone. The local school has started a soccer team, there's a pastor who's hosting games and giving out candy (the games I can compete with but the candy sends him over the top:)) My class B all went to high school and now have no time to come... It seems like we're in need of a change.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well before I tell you about the changes I'll tell you about the good things that are happening! My class C, the apprenticeship program, is going really well! I have four guys that are fairly consistent and have learned all of the machines in the shop. We spent approximately 2 hours per machine in the classroom learning about safety and how the machine works and then another hour of hands on "heavily supervised" practice. The guys are all pretty confident with the machines and are actually learning a good skill. Their first "solo project" was actually a test. They were required to go to there house and find a spot to put a medicine cabinet. They had to measure it and then do a 3d drawing to scale before actually building it... It's been almost a three weeks and one of my guys (Daniel) has actually finished. :) They're all turning out pretty good they're just behind because they got suspended for lying. :( Now they're back and at it again! Sorry I don't have pictures... There might be some on my facebook page. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Another thing that has happened is that we have met a bunch of guys who hang out next to the tutoring center and they can't get work. Some of them have been in jail, others can't get experience. The idea we're tossing around now is to expand our apprenticeship program with these guys and cut back the class for the younger kids. It's another change but I think it's for the best. I'm actually pretty excited about the change. While the younger class is beneficial I think it's more like a place to hang out... With these older guys and my class C it's an opportunity to really impact their lives by giving them a safe place to learn and real life skills that they can hopefully use in the future. Be praying with me as I start to write up a program that will be sufficient to teach them all that I can and also for a way to build relationships with them and eventually share Jesus with them openly. </div><div> Oh! One more development is that we are starting the accreditation process for the program as well. There is a government run Tech school that may be able to validate our program so the guys leave with an actual certificate that's backed by the government!! Pray with us for this opportunity as well because it is really amazing that it could even be possible!!!</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In other news We now have 2 pinball tables in the shop! One was created by 2 students from the San Francisco area in Ca (pictured below) And the other has been a collaboration of many people who have come through the shop this last few weeks. </div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUNEe0709SHtnkGOnM8GIeSGklVJYl0rlgOJDmCexNkcJykPqN3ze6NSL9Nn7ufBoLGhnu_Nh68bCH3LzXNcq0Nrjaum7jqLOKetibW9ZGLJeUb7-zQZc8JzSCbHha5SOamrVxyxUHEfO/s320/IMG_0300.PNG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621188250033637730" /><div>The other event just happened today! We had a guy come to our gate and needed a door trimmed... I usually don't do any work for the people of the community because it's just a gray area with the money, where does it go, we're a school not a business etc... However, today only Daniel could come and I thought, "poor guy, he can't cut his door cause he doesn't have the tools, I can't do it... but... Daniel could!" So I had Daniel talk to the guy and explained to him what could happen trimming a hollow door. The guy said if he ruined it he wouldn't make us buy him a new one and so I said ok! It was a great time where I got to teach Daniel not only how to cut a door but (which he hasn't done) but also how to come up with a fee and how to value his work and how to make sure your customer is happy. We cut the door together and I walked him through it step by step... Then we charged they guy ¢4000 colones ($8). It was great to see the wheels in Daniels head start turning... He just made almost half a days wages for 20 min of work! (min wage is $1.50) so here he is below with his door, nice and cut, waiting for the guy to come back and get it. For me it was great to see how we can be a service to the community with what we do and help the kids that we work with at the same time. Lets pray for more of that.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Noj3OuqK4DEcXHOCo-FHERPbTCKU68mIFSjuhFgFDtSnm7XJu3d1rYhUephRys83BKef9MqKXmXR5EWv9QNh4AL4gMOY6iTNfKLC40ajXKWX0_xyeVCm4qc1Jngi3KIATgkSg5B16NEA/s320/IMG_0331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621199337626121458" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><div>So if it was all just for Daniel would it be worth it? I think so!</div></div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-6605665656245975472011-03-02T21:21:00.004-06:002011-03-02T22:09:13.615-06:00Big developments make for a really busy life!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well it's been a while since we've updated anyone with any information. Needless to say we've been super busy with life here. Sorry that it's been so long since we've updated you all but I hope you'll understand here in a second.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> After we came back from our Christmas vacation in California we got right to work. The first week back we hosted a small team of men from Visalia who came to help us get the tutoring center remolded. The trip was great and everything turned out wonderfully. Next I helped Dustin move the Photo site into the shop. We made my storage space into a classroom and made a small hall type space into a darkroom. Now we have two sites right next to each other and things are going great.Feb was the beginning of school for Ella and Judah and I started classes again at the shop. It's been a little slow but we're getting back in the groove. Also Judah turned 4 on the 13th!! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIh6zfUg09Fk23L91YySlbEOeL92JohHzwah92MGtXAvRLHbOZiSnioUulY18Vt2nKCHlP6fIWiz_jAR3uagbmWLhV_ul184gnPOiYYvny6yIy-QS2vLGwGTrUA293MC1MljE75uhcQCyQ/s320/IMG_1232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579697789702022242" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span> had a lot of fun at his Batman party. The week after that we hosted the women's trip which was also a ton of fun.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So now for the big news and probably the thing that's taking most of the time. This last year Erin and I started to feel very restless in our house that we're renting. After having someone break in, other things get stolen through the gate, and a TON of things breaking we started asking God for somewhere new. I started a fast and began believing God for a place of our own. Every day I'd look online for houses to rent or buy and I'd try to take new roads home every afternoon in order to find something... and then we did!! I sent an email to a lady about a large plot of land up in the hills about 10 minutes from our current house because the price of the land was about 1/4 the price of anything I'd seen. She didn't get back to me so I called her. It was probably about the fifth time that I left a message that she actually called me back to tell me that she'd sold the land... But her sister had one right next to it and she wanted to sell too! It was just days before we left for Christmas that I went up and walked through it with the owner... It was pure Jungle on a 45 degree slope... Not really what we wanted but we were willing to think about it. While walking around on the lot the owner (Ricardo) kept offering me fruit and I kept telling him no... He finally asked me why I wouldn't eat and so I told him I was fasting and praying for a new place to live... It turns out that they are Christian also and really wanted to help us out!</div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisULSfdR_tFrEFGAPV1ivN2SI5VJWGApkPbxV4BcAqFIuisiMhFR-7MTYBT-avOpWpqGAyqklDzVnx49jvAfF_hxwj1LkYrZWxrbb1aEtgguuUSSQC-EOKh5su-ZyVpWygVzNhdeXPJJv9/s320/IMG_0128.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579697784167449474" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So now, in order to save time... cause I know most people don't want all the details, I'll summarize it all for you. They had a different lot and wanted $40 per square meter... Not happening. He said they'd give us a deal... Through an email while we were in Ca he said $13 per mtr!!! We said OK!! We asked some supporters for a loan and they said yes!! We agreed but then found out they meant 13,000 colones ($26).... No go.... They lowered it to $20 and we said yes again...</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So we are now in the process of buying a plot of land that is about 11,000 sq ft. We have some great new Christian friends who will be our neighbors. We live outside the city in the mountains.We have sloths and toucans on our property. We will save over $100 a month paying a loan rather than rent and we'll have something to show for it in the end. We started building the house yesterday and the walls and floor should be done by Saturday. We now have another story to tell about Gods faithfulness and how he answers prayer...</div><div>So there you go. That's about as short as I could make it. I work everyday till 4 and then go up to the lot and work... Erin is still being mom but now without my help. She's already packing boxes getting things ready to store. Oh yeah... the house is only going to be 625sq ft... So we</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJPEnZyBORoIvItJVCXjpcjh1lAug5bhobaSah40Mp402PpxK2HBmiPJLNwy1o9dUaWasByHH7dl8O12mXlOkS66f08JleRAbjaaj0mJGWU3vhim9Y6MW0bMW56VhX5CZrbcX9waYcSJS/s320/IMG_0138.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579697781440109266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><div>have to store a lot of stuff away until phase 2... We'll let you know about that later. So it doesn't really suffice to say we're really busy! Please pray for us. We are trying to get all of this done without having to take time off so that the shop doesn't suffer. Also starting tomorrow I will be camping out up there to make sure that no one steals anything. Pray for our stress levels and that God will continue to show his provision through this process. Pray also that everything goes smoothly so that we can finish before the rain hits... If the rain comes we may have to wait until november to finish:( Thank you all so much! We appreciate your support, both financially and in prayer. Know that you are one of the ways that God is able to bless us and the people we work with here. Blessings,</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-YAwMTSsIeFQ31TNx0-gi0OrD_6G514tr87Ps022WBx1n6zSiHlrhdC3RtDChwg0t11KM28N0tkwjOLbILBvMB9VmCPq_yA7-57WYVf1Zo4VFX_COtro46QyfMELR8NfWCA4MOIyOM0F/s320/IMG_0140.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579697788629910386" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><div>Jeremy for Erin, Ella, and Judah</div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-20024551457821656622011-01-08T23:34:00.002-06:002011-01-08T23:46:31.341-06:00Christmas 2010 in California<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a49784e546b324d44493d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox collage" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a49784e546b324d44493d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own collage - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">Another <a href="http://www.smilebox.com/" target="_blank">picture collage</a> by Smilebox</td></tr></tbody></table>Thank you to all of you who made this holiday season full of memories for our family! We had a great time in California visiting family and friends and arrived back in Costa Rica yesterday. The time flew by going from house to house decorating, baking, shopping, and playing games. Our kids did exceptional considering the business of it all. They would have preferred to stay outside the entire time, but the almost constant rain kept them in. When the sun did break through, they enjoyed going to the park at Nana and Grandpa's (Erin's parents) and zip-lining in Meemaw and Papa's (Jeremy's parents) backyard. For a few days we got to go to the snow and stay in a cabin at Hume Lake (Thanks Dentons!). This was Judah's first time and Ella's since she was very young. We built a fast sled run and spent almost all day in the snow. It was a lot of fun for us as a family and we know the kids did not want to leave! <div>We hope you all had wonderful holidays with family and friends and are looking forward to this new year. We are and and are also excited for all God has planned! Blessings in the new year!!</div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-40122570137702842632010-12-10T10:23:00.001-06:002010-12-10T10:23:37.651-06:00Merry Christmas Everyone!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a41334e6a4d7a4d44633d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox newsletter" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a41334e6a4d7a4d44633d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own newsletter - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/" target="_blank">Free newsletter</a> generated with Smilebox</td></tr></table>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-75743043427933736772010-12-01T21:50:00.004-06:002010-12-01T22:33:36.985-06:00Coming to a Close<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OYQCRgmF5gXIBDkvKdR6tFbyKlbgKr81Fozjtb-tuq2aVzUKu58zsXPG52x-IRA-AFyD6LES2SO4zYPAst9gK9VpMcbrsYdYKvvLmyjHI9uCBDag3KQWNrL1u2QDnEJSMDMD4jiMVxi3/s1600/IMG_0610.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OYQCRgmF5gXIBDkvKdR6tFbyKlbgKr81Fozjtb-tuq2aVzUKu58zsXPG52x-IRA-AFyD6LES2SO4zYPAst9gK9VpMcbrsYdYKvvLmyjHI9uCBDag3KQWNrL1u2QDnEJSMDMD4jiMVxi3/s320/IMG_0610.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545937938422626226" /></a><br />Here we are the first of December and the first full school year is coming to a close for Ella and Judah. This has been a year full of firsts for all of us and a lot translating on my part (Erin) of homework assignments. There really is no better way to learn than to crash and burn I've discovered. Countless times I've arrived at an event to find out I obviously didn't quite understand what my kids were to be dressed in. So frustrating for me, Jeremy can attest. As a mom trying to figure it all out, I've laughed, I've cried. I keep telling myself, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter : )<div>Jeremy and I sometimes think about when we arrived in Costa Rica and how we felt so sad when we'd go to the park or McDonalds and saw the look on our kids faces. They were in the dark as to what was going on around them because of the language. Now, it literally takes maybe one minute and they've made new friends, it doesn't matter where we are! It makes my heart so happy that they've adapted. I don't know how many times I've heard someone say to Ella, "Wow, you speak better than your mom!" I roll my eyes and smile politely : / Ella doesn't cease to remind me of that either, how sweet she is. But seriously, they are doing amazing in their Spanish and Ella has just loved school. She effortlessly joins in with her friends and always has stories to tell us. Judah always tells us about his friends Eduardo, Camila, and Oelia (sp?). And then there's that kid, Samuel, the biter. Seems like every schools got one. I always ask Judah what he does afterward, "Oh, nothing." Bless his little heart. Funny story, his teacher told me one day there was a boy in his class that was biting (mordiendo). Sad thing is that I heard that there was a kid in his class that was dying (muriendo)! I said, "Oh, no, how awful!" Then I realized when she showed me the bite mark on Judah, things weren't so bad. </div><div><br /></div><div>So to wrap up their years, I'll be baking some cookies for the 4 teachers my kids have. People here LOVE gringo cookies. It's a foreign concept to them I think. Baking, cookies, and things that we make in the states on a regular basis are not the norm here. Most people use their ovens just to store things in. So I don't think I can go wrong there. I'm happy for vacation time, un-rushed days with my kids, baking (and taste-testing) together, Christmas songs, and hot cocoa. Now if this rain would just stop and let us take a nice walk to the park, that would be nice. Hope you're all having fun preparing for the holidays. Be blessed!!</div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-61700134092893506592010-11-03T10:14:00.003-06:002010-11-03T11:01:45.598-06:00Is it that time again???<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACNGLNQiCO2VSbIoCUozN3yGjc7kEqIq4QuuBKT4yFeTpjun_Rs1FkjVA2GfB9sGB36XcIGXNHk5J1oviBhLTK7144BbLL-B1izyX13qC4F2Tv0knxtpIm2GHAs8uceBFI70cUrClnjLq/s1600/IMG_0372.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACNGLNQiCO2VSbIoCUozN3yGjc7kEqIq4QuuBKT4yFeTpjun_Rs1FkjVA2GfB9sGB36XcIGXNHk5J1oviBhLTK7144BbLL-B1izyX13qC4F2Tv0knxtpIm2GHAs8uceBFI70cUrClnjLq/s320/IMG_0372.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535369384643889682" /></a><br />These last 3 months, I don't really know where they went!! I can't believe it is time yet again to leave the country for our visas. The guy at the bank the other day reminded me while checking my passport to pay a bill, that I had 10 days left before having to leave. I found it funny and odd since I was just there to pay a bill. Oh well, guess he was just looking out for me. We've weighed our options and we'll be going to Panama like last time. We'll be waking up around 4:30 Fri. morning to catch our bus around 6:00. The bus ride is around 7 hours? Last time it was a blur of people getting on and off, trying to entertain my kids (or force them to sleep ;), and also trying to not give them too much to drink since their is one stop 1/2 way through the trip. Yes, no bathrooms on the bus. Besides all of this, it is nice to not think about driving and to just enjoy the view. I'm always trying to remind myself (as if I forget) where we live and the beauty that surrounds us. This bus ride gives me PLENTY of time to take that all in. <div>Having been to this place just 3 months ago, it's fresh in my mind the things I'll be doing differently this time around. One being we've borrowed hiking packs to haul our things around instead of our normal traveling luggage. This proved difficult crossing the bridge at the border. I really wish I had a photo, but imagine if you will: Massive, old railroad bridge, full of holes. It's now used for cargo trucks and other vehicles to cross so they've covered up the rails with slats of wood to make driving across it possible. With two little kids in tote, backpacks, rolling luggage (didn't roll so well on bridge), and pillows, we slowly made our way across. Thanks to our friend Cailah who helped us, I would've been much more stressed out had she not been there. Now we know, luggage on our back will make for smoother and safer travels. We just keep saying, it's another adventure, it's another adventure. More stories to tell. We've rented a one-bedroom studio in Bocas del Toro, so we'll see how it measures up. We'll let you know. If it was just Jeremy and I, we're fine staying and relaxing at the house. With the kids, we'll be looking for a place to let them run in the sand to enjoy the time. Hopefully everyone gets a little of what they want : ) Does life slow down? Will it forever be speeding up? I sure hope not. Please pray for us that our travels are safe, our kids are healthy and happy, and that we can extract all things good from our 3 days there. </div><div>Till we return, hope you're enjoying fall and the beauty and abundance it brings. </div><div><i>"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:16-18</i></div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-51633627104070100942010-10-21T19:41:00.002-06:002010-10-21T19:43:13.365-06:00Elvis Update:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1Wk3Tv3y8XCXOSklR0Fl0jpDk1qjPLkg0hDBfmSj-tIJyqw2H0iAVcfYwc0GCGNP55qkZ1A47FPsfZgLRBVn8eu45G60pFPbWk8PXirOcTJyXXhLaWtAdTn2iMhIXqrFaBjrIVn2nPsO/s1600/38700_1535818036215_1257774914_31540440_6019219_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1Wk3Tv3y8XCXOSklR0Fl0jpDk1qjPLkg0hDBfmSj-tIJyqw2H0iAVcfYwc0GCGNP55qkZ1A47FPsfZgLRBVn8eu45G60pFPbWk8PXirOcTJyXXhLaWtAdTn2iMhIXqrFaBjrIVn2nPsO/s320/38700_1535818036215_1257774914_31540440_6019219_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530679941626778370" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Update: Elvis came to class this morning and stood outside, too embarrassed to say anything. He just waited thinking I couldn't see him. I told him I was really glad that he came back and I needed to talk to him. When all of the guys came i</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">n I asked them what we should do... As a group. They agreed that our first consequence wasn't really fair so we'd let him back in but only if we made a contract that we could all follow. I re-explained the benefits of living in community and being "on a team." and then we listed some specific things that would hurt our team in the shop then we came up with consequences. I think we took a huge step forward as a group! They are really understanding why we need to be together! thank you all for your prayers! I was so glad that I slept all through the night without being worried about the whole situation. And although Elvis never said anything I could tell that he was very repentant and wanted to make things right.<br /><br /><br /><br />So after that we skipped the lesson on the router and talked about "us" and then I taught them the standard measuring system (inches/feet) which led to fractions... It was a really great day.They are all at least 14 yrs old and haven't learned how to add or subtract fractions but after today I think they might get it! Oh and Elvis broke three rules today and had to do 30 sit-ups =)</span></span></span>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-47944051593705733092010-10-20T17:34:00.003-06:002010-10-20T18:15:41.056-06:00Discipline<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I guess it's all part of the deal. When working in a place that doesn't have much structure, where the teachers in public school just <i>don't</i> show up, where kids get most everything that they want if they whine, I'm gonna have to be the one to put some sort of structure in place. I mean who's going to teach these kids about the real world? Who's gonna help them to understand the value of punctuality, or respecting the property of others? Who's going to give them second chances? To say sorry and help them understand the tough love? I mean, there's no love coming from your boss when he fires you, right? Well today I had to discipline one of my students who hasn't really ever done anything wrong. Here's the situation: <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I now have three classes in the shop, A, B, and C. A is open to everyone so it's just basic following the rules. B is a set group so I am trying to teach them about the effects that one persons misbehaving can have on the entire group. For example; Rule #1 is to arrive on time. I give them five minutes after class starts to arrive. At five minutes I lock the gate. Well this last week a kid came 45 minutes late and wanted to come in. I asked the class if they wanted to let him in and they said yes. I then explained to them that his punishment was to be shut out and if they wanted to let him in we all had to "pay" something. We decided that everyone would do 20 push-ups and he would do 30. It turned out to be a good experience and now we are beginning to work and think as a group. For the first time I had someone say they didn't want to pay for someone else's mistakes... That's huge in a culture that doesn't say anything against anyone else to their face! Anyways it gave me an idea. I decided to make the same kind of "deal" in group C as well!</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Group C is full of my older kids who mostly have decided to drop out of high school. Their friends and mothers call them lazy and good for nothing.... They might not be too far off of the lazy part. They do something until it's hard and then go back to sleep. Anyways, in my class C we have a problem. They always throw the tools on the ground. I think you can understand why that's bad so I wont go into it. So just yesterday I confronted them, told them that we needed to come up with a consequence for leaving the tools on the floor that we would all pay, including me. I explained to them the concept of being a team and how we look out for each other. I told them to pick up after each other because they're invested in the team. I told them that they needed to learn what it is to help each other out in order to help themselves and how we can't do everything on our own in life. It went well and they seemed to respond well. I told them about the other class' push-ups and they said that was a good idea. Then I said, " well what happens if someone wont do it?" they responded by saying that they couldn't be a part of the team... Seemed reasonable to me. After all, they're all friends, they can pressure each other into doing the right things. Right?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well today as I was walking around I found 2 clamps on the floor... at first it was funny. I was kinda laughing and telling them I needed to see them do the push-ups etc. None of them moved!! I reminded them of the consequence for not doing the punishment and they all started to move... You need to understand that To be kicked off the team is to be kicked out of the shop until January ... Well Daniel did his but the other two couldn't do more than 2!! It was crazy! Ella can do more than that!! They whined and cried fro about ten minutes until the end of the class... So I said," you have two minutes and if you don't do it... See ya in January!" At this point I was still thinking they'd do it... Well Bryan decided he would.. It took him another ten minutes to do it but one-by-one he got them done... Then there was Elvis... He whined and cried, said he couldn't do them, said he'd do sit-ups, but he never moved... I reminded him that it wasn't my rule... They made the rule together and now we couldn't break it... It's a contract! The end of class came and went and Elvis just sat there... The guys started poking at him verbally and I told him I'd count to 5 and if he just started we'd wait for him to finish (it's the softy in me i guess) So I counted... really slow.... Then at three I said he'd have to leave when I got to five if he hadn't started... Well I got to five and told him to leave until January.... Oh crud!! This is one of my kids that probably needed this the most. He isn't a bad kid! He's probably the poorest in every way you could think of! And I just kicked him out! I still feel really bad about the entire situation. I never thought we'd have to kick someone out! </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I guess this blog is a prayer request for Elvis and me. For Elvis (or Mono as we call him) That he wouldn't be bitter and he'd get rid of the stubbornness that he showed today. For me that I can let it all go and actually sleep tonight. I don't know how I could have avoided it. Would it be acceptable to let him break the rules knowing that now they'd never take my rules serious and they'd never learn about the team concept? I don't know. I keep thinking it over in my head and I can't make it go any other way... </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The only saving grace will be the other guys.... I told them about how the other class chose to pay the price with their friend in order to let him back in... True, in class B it was just a day, this is the entire trimester, but I told them if they each did another 20 and he did 40 he could come back.... I just hope that overnight he'll change his stubborn heart and come back repentant... What an opportunity for me to tell about how Christ took our place and how we are to be to each other!! </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Thanks for reading! Sorry, I just needed to vent and ask people to pray. Please comment if you read this and pray. I just feel so sad for Elvis and want Jesus to touch him through what I'm doing. Have a good evening =)</div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-82884060930329042702010-09-30T14:10:00.004-06:002010-09-30T14:54:54.808-06:00This Thing Called Parenting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvNYuLNc_R7wjtj29riVqNASTI4L-EyiFQIv-4on_CPiJbcGDqSfq-4CNIHfCJPPyQHg0CoBttNaNwOFTp7ZQWlFZrpmIguJW3Xn6ubWBmiQ_4XIXIB24Y03YckHuaLZLl4cKsVq1tre2/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvNYuLNc_R7wjtj29riVqNASTI4L-EyiFQIv-4on_CPiJbcGDqSfq-4CNIHfCJPPyQHg0CoBttNaNwOFTp7ZQWlFZrpmIguJW3Xn6ubWBmiQ_4XIXIB24Y03YckHuaLZLl4cKsVq1tre2/s320/IMG_0447.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522812485090407154" /></a><br />HE never told us it'd be easy. HE never told us we'd get enough sleep or never cry. HE also never told us we'd do it alone. PHEW! Such a good reassurance that when raising children, it's by the grace of the almighty God. Every day is an adventure in our house. Sometimes it's a roller coaster of emotions with the kids, sometimes it's care free and kicked back. We are in the midst of raising a 5 yr. old and a 3 yr. I love my kids. They make me laugh till my belly hurts and I'm on the floor. They say the craziest things, sing the best songs, and dance to any tune they hear. I love to climb into their beds at night and re-tuck them in and give them one last kiss. I love their innocence and faith when they ask questions about God and how He lives in our hearts (or to Judah, our belly buttons). I'm so blessed that they are ours and that God has entrusted them to us. That aside, it's not all the fun that zaps most of my energy, but the training and consistency that does. Our 3 year old Judah is ALL boy. He loves soccer anytime he can get his hands on it, superheroes and bad guys, jumping in the mud, launching cars off of anything, and just being rough (which most of the time includes Ella). He's the most tender hearted boy whose teachers always would tell us how compassionate and caring he was for others. He loves hugs and kisses and just loving on people. Saying all of this, you'd wonder why this same boy, at times, makes me want to pull my hair out! I choose to say that I have been blessed with the opportunities to fall back, time and time again, into the gracious arms of Christ. I know that God gave this precious little boy to me, and for a mom, I'm what he's got! I also have priceless things to teach him and love to give. I know it's in the moment of a tantrum when my head could begin to spin and I don't think so clearly, that God reminds me of his amazing love for us, for Judah. How privileged we are to have children, and raise them in the ways of the Lord. How powerful is our prayer when we've run into a wall and don't know what else to do. That is where I keep finding myself. Everything I need is in me to raise these children. At times I feel lacking, but it's because I've forgotten where my source comes from, and to tap in. We've been living lives of amazing transition here and can't expect our children to always "go with the flow". With not as many resources around, friends and family to help out, we've got to get creative. They've done remarkably well considering. It's on days when crankiness begins at 6am and doesn't end till 8pm that I'm learning it's not about me, it never will be, and the sun will go down and come up again : ) Ahhhh, lean on Him.Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-30539354149601907422010-09-17T18:54:00.005-06:002010-09-17T20:30:23.406-06:00Life after teams...<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Wow! How did it get to be september? I'll give you a rundown of what has happened in the last few months.Since July and the robbery, we had classes as usual in the shop. Thanks to some great supporters of SI and our team personally we had enough money to buy new tools. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Because of our hiccup with the robbery, and the time we had without tools, we also expanded a little bit into playing soccer which is a blast!! The kids love to do whatever they can with the students and me which is a great sign for me. I now know that they're not in it just for the projects or to learn woodworking, they're in it to make friends=) (check out the new slideshow on the right side of the blog to see all of the pictures from this summer in the shop)In July We had the Janzen/Frederick clan down for two weeks to visit... Wow!! While it was a great time, 11 people in a 3 bedroom house is pretty tight! We made the best of our time here and, while I still had to work during the week, we were able to share some of the sights here in Costa Rica. They went zip lining, white water rafting, to the beach, and to La Paz waterfall gardens. It was really a blessing to have our family here after being away for so long.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw5uYB6o6cSB8AWsbFPSnn-6QVHdPMJnVDp8Oav72Z3lQMN1Rr_foSX6-5IjhPz-_RMdNjMUcd8WaxiKhY79RmkwBefluA-dPRFUJ8kY1SMdvqEakkodV0M8z8Jig_1UMtKI-ypIytMOC/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518065055961091842" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejhut8GffLB28vrzrVaYfkPq1c4TrB1Wz-WmLCFgUrLNKDNdBeObKUYolidOWHjFO1qZp85zr-59FTOoAg8-Y4WG2MUcImUkI7jy3A5dYwFIV7zcOM7KTXQH1TTEmpyFyZ9cYe5H2kaE9/s320/IMG_0161.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518065051294962482" /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>August was full of milestones for al of us here with SI Costa Rica. On August 2nd we officially welcomed our first "Tico Staff," Luis Diego and Cindy. Diego has been a draftsman for several years but has left his job to serve the communities that we work in. He is currently on the community board and is opening a sports site in several different places that we work.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnoLtjp52Aa8wAmOkt4m6gt5ih0VViHT2Sy37FPOIiSV3QhrcOedCOh75iPrR5-WlIZXfBYcAVbRG9gPTBNYoyCodd72nUFoz-HemCvG1iE74Jff2CHL7Umy4j3qEDxBHdx35lkc3w17N/s320/IMG_0289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518063211432071522" /><div>Later in August we added our first Nicaraguan staff member Maria. She and Cindy will be working together in micro finance with some of the ladies in our communities. (sorry no picture of Maria yet=()</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>August 8th completed our first full summer with teams from the states. Oh man! It's busy with so many people around. Over all it was a great success. (To all of you who are reading this, the kids talk about you all of the time. They say to tell you all that they want you to come back next year!! They continually read the names on the wall, and look at the armpit picture[Nathan Pace] And talk about you all) We'll incorporate some new things next year like a hike into the coffee fields to look for wild fruit as well as some new types of classes=) August 8th was also the day we left for Panama to renew our visas... Some would call this a vacation... But it's not! Think stress times two and that's what these short trips are... We made the best of it and saw a little bit more of the world while sweating profusely and getting eaten by fleas or bed bugs =/ This picture is when Erin lost her flip-flop in the water and then had to fish it out form the back porch.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4nxPj6yotrnyi2rnk3CfKpB5bXzuq6XiOvFCuEEnFwproVb3ZoRphLBuMBD4EyR1CdfmAnaw_CznhvPw7naEsyh22IIfdWbwqZpajl9CWrNmd40-h8rjrOY_JQflj4CtBJhAS2r3vBCt/s320/IMG_0349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518071261254780786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>On August 20th we completed two years of living here in Costa Rica! Hard to believe it's been that long. Needles to say, we're NOT fluent in spanish yet but we are getting acclimated to life here... It's not nearly as scary as it once was to live or just to be in certain places. We are finally getting into a groove and figuring out what we need to do to make life work here. One "life" thing to pray about is for a better living situation. Erin, being at home a lot with the kids, is realizing that without any space for the kids to play they really have a hard time. Plus our master bath is leaking through the celling and has created a huge mold spot in the garage, the celling of our back patio collapsed from the huge leak in the roof, the water goes out daily which is hard to work with because we can't do laundry or dishes when it's out. Also when the water is out we have to pump the water from the tank to the house which is very expensive!... So, while we don't want to move again, we are currently asking God to drop the perfect situation in our lap! A decent sized house with a yard to either rent or buy SUPER SUPER cheap=) How's that for a request!?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well September has brought us more life... We shut the shop for 3 weeks for improvements. We'll start with classes again on tuesday. Ella danced in the independence day parade on the 15th and is about to lose her first tooth. Judah is continuing to learn more spanish and is super funny with all of his language questions. We had my mother-in-law here for 2 weeks, which was wonderful, especially for the kids, and now... life continues! </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Again thank you all for your support! Thanks for reading! I'll leave you with this... God has called us to be happy! To be joyful! Not stressed. I have found that it's my own pressures... My own lists that rob me of my joy... Live each day without being worried about the next. Jesus said it in Matt 6 and I think he means it. Don't worry about tomorrow!! Do you remember that Jesus said,"I only do whet I see the father doing."? Well I don't think we have to be any different. I think that if; 1 we saw what he was doing and 2 we did ONLY that we would have a lot more joy and a lot less stress! He says, "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."</div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>May Jesus, himself, give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so you may KNOW HIM BETTER! </div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-18303228157601642882010-07-08T19:58:00.003-06:002010-07-08T20:30:08.826-06:00The robbery and the warWell I wish it had just been a great move of God that caused me to write today. Erin and I have been trying to find time to tell you all about the great things that we've been doing in the last few months, such as the classes at the shop, my parents and Fredericks that are currently here now, having interns, etc. Unfortunately what has driven me to the computer is to ask you all to pray! Last night the shop was robbed. It could have been a lot worse but I believe that God was watching out for us. They cut one lock on the front roll-up gate and then broke the metal that held the other. When they got inside the gate there's another gate that swings like a door. they cut out a bar and squeezed in. They took all of my clamps and the new ones that had been donated to the shop, they took all of the hand saws and hammers, my orbital sander, the shops jitter bug sander, and two hand planes that were just donated a few months ago. The good part was that they didn't take any of the machinery or the scroll saw that was left on the table over night. They must have been in a hurry because they didn't even take my ipod that was on the wall! I don't know a lot about the spirituality of events like this but I am convinced that whether the enemy was responsible or not he will try to use it to scare us or attack us in some other way. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>W</span>hen I drove up this morning the kids were all waiting outside. As soon as they saw that my window was down they were saying, "sorry Jeremy, bad news." After we got inside and found out what was taken I had to tell the kids that we couldn't have class today. Obviously they were bummed but a few of them asked to learn english instead. I didn't know how the day would go so I told them we'd see but they should come back after lunch. (2 points here, I was glad they were there and concerned and I was really glad that they just wanted to be with us, not just make things:) ) Most of them left after a while but there were four or five who hung around. Jeff and I were busy figuring out what to do and making a list of what was taken and while I was walking by the door one of the kids got my attention. I went over to the door and he said, "so now what? are you going back to the united states tomorrow?" The thought hadn't even crossed my mind! I found it very interesting though that it would cross theirs. I told them no and said that we'd just have to figure out what to do next. I assured them that we'd be here doing something for a long time. I got to thinking about that one statement though. How many times has that happened? A missionary comes and because of something that infringes on their own property they leave. I never expected God to protect all of my stuff. I don't even know if I expect him to protect my life. If loosing my stuff or my life will show these kids that they're valued and loved that's ok. Take it. God uses all things for the good of those who love him. I am convinced of that. And if he wants to protect my stuff and life, all the better. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So because of all of this, I believe that we are at war. We are at war with the enemy in his territory for the lives of these kids. We are at war with the enemy over the community of Los Guido. I know that the enemy is trying to use this already to cause fear and insecurity in me and the students. Will you stand with me in prayer to take back what the enemy has stollen? Will you right now pray for Los Guido? For our shop and the kids that come? The enemy struck first but I believe that through prayer we can push him back and claim more of the community for Christ. Pray with me for all of these things and for the future of the shop and our family. We want to see Jesus proclaimed to these people who live in fear everyday of having their stuff or their lives taken. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I will write more soon. I promise! I have a bunch of pictures to show too. </div><div>May the Lord give you a spirit of wisdom and understanding so that you would <b><i>know</i></b> him better.</div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-49267459592402646212010-05-29T10:08:00.011-06:002010-05-29T11:16:24.144-06:00The newest developments.<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO450DPle0H76j0SecmgxTbyBVa8-go0rqODP3903RNoDE5Mx6JbD7XeYzR-HfeUett0tPNODGD_hMKRkzNtaMRg0Kso4Ved2lVqxz-ZKl8FtgYdpQCCE4ijTlzpaNjXSPPoFnDP-q5TW/s1600/IMG_1794.jpg"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO450DPle0H76j0SecmgxTbyBVa8-go0rqODP3903RNoDE5Mx6JbD7XeYzR-HfeUett0tPNODGD_hMKRkzNtaMRg0Kso4Ved2lVqxz-ZKl8FtgYdpQCCE4ijTlzpaNjXSPPoFnDP-q5TW/s320/IMG_1794.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476728560524789858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Well it's finally open! After many months of theorizing and speculating, looking and listening, cleaning and preparing, we finally opened the wood-shop in Los Guido!! Many of you saw the pictures of the shop that we rented on February first, and the amazing transformation that was started with the JMU (James Madison University) and Jupiter Christian groups in March. Since they left I have been frantically working to build sturdy shop tables, stools, and lots of other things to prepare the shop. Normally it wouldn't have taken me a month and a half to build, but I had to build everything out of pallet wood. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rS_UABuqh0QXAz4oepaY4fLq-uOEqwBOpRg_Tu9aT7USI-LuJ6BOQMd8RfeXcrnY2XnUo5NvbzboXk2iULEYbzyh8Z4cMxS4HeH48NAmd3v1cZ3eGW1NzoAYwsW4PQBT-k0VepLswSQt/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rS_UABuqh0QXAz4oepaY4fLq-uOEqwBOpRg_Tu9aT7USI-LuJ6BOQMd8RfeXcrnY2XnUo5NvbzboXk2iULEYbzyh8Z4cMxS4HeH48NAmd3v1cZ3eGW1NzoAYwsW4PQBT-k0VepLswSQt/s320/IMG_1762.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476728550107789362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9utq2CW4f0IbkiwEyc_E8owQxlGvAkD9jhHHbHur2pVW395sPqXrBtIYyzN94ZKKlcDnUS3Mg_jEmCAj4VbxRfrDWNUJyHIl071xVTItUmmYLM4fohuJfY2pxsClqRPSc2BtVJyZByNQU/s1600/IMG_1755.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9utq2CW4f0IbkiwEyc_E8owQxlGvAkD9jhHHbHur2pVW395sPqXrBtIYyzN94ZKKlcDnUS3Mg_jEmCAj4VbxRfrDWNUJyHIl071xVTItUmmYLM4fohuJfY2pxsClqRPSc2BtVJyZByNQU/s320/IMG_1755.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476728561873296562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a>We have a company that throws them away and has agreed to call us whenever they have enough for us to take. It's been quite the experience trying to utilize this scrap wood and turn it into something usable. This is also the wood that we use for all of our class projects! I have really enjoyed the process of experimenting knowing that I will be able to teach these boys to use "trash" to make something beautiful and possibly make money with it.<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVO_Cl09i3YuN64SGrhe62a2PGoFEKqYhtkXWU9BAZ_cedvxK4wfXGsp64-bPpoWnaYva3jEQTy-LFvpma5bV87VnnUJRKZnfgvjvoNHYAszPCetthx3H2xvmf4bkFapULjoziXFhUSva9/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVO_Cl09i3YuN64SGrhe62a2PGoFEKqYhtkXWU9BAZ_cedvxK4wfXGsp64-bPpoWnaYva3jEQTy-LFvpma5bV87VnnUJRKZnfgvjvoNHYAszPCetthx3H2xvmf4bkFapULjoziXFhUSva9/s320/IMG_1810.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476726214942017922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">On May 17th our first group of the summer arrived and while they were in orientation on the 18th, we officially opened for our first day! I had approximately 25 people come and ask about the classes the previous 3 days and so I had no idea how many kids to prepare for. I only have tools and space for 12 kids per class session and right now we have two classes per day. In the very first class we had four boys which was absolutely perfect. The class in the afternoon had four more. The next day it expanded to 14 over all and by thursday I had to turn kids away. I believe that after two weeks we have had 38 kids come and finnish at least one project! Our first project was a very simple shelf that required the boys to use hand saws, screwdrivers, hammers and a lot of sand paper. They also got a crash course in staining. Over all it was a big hit! Check out some of the pictures below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhC5zEmLeB9ry3UbAMBilGsJ1a_sU9eeMFBiKpLpYSxcCIFySvo-uJ87REzYdVhXM10ZSoG6gGc-tEzq-RStGe7m3P1YOvFFYo5p0nCDShJHGuu4ifD1Ko2BJlqCR9BDBmQAgqTO8No1L/s1600/IMG_1812.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhC5zEmLeB9ry3UbAMBilGsJ1a_sU9eeMFBiKpLpYSxcCIFySvo-uJ87REzYdVhXM10ZSoG6gGc-tEzq-RStGe7m3P1YOvFFYo5p0nCDShJHGuu4ifD1Ko2BJlqCR9BDBmQAgqTO8No1L/s320/IMG_1812.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476726226705152482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuwbyjRuuQeqHnCmli1tpKUZw1BVHRVb6EDnFoPxLeloxqBvf0ZhOwHaaqZ9N5gku5EUa9iM28J8IC_KGfIZ-z1byfaVkR7i5zLdTH2Ixv-iLTvQLaY4YyoN2a_Lqk0CZ8b7bl2-dPAem/s1600/IMG_1817.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuwbyjRuuQeqHnCmli1tpKUZw1BVHRVb6EDnFoPxLeloxqBvf0ZhOwHaaqZ9N5gku5EUa9iM28J8IC_KGfIZ-z1byfaVkR7i5zLdTH2Ixv-iLTvQLaY4YyoN2a_Lqk0CZ8b7bl2-dPAem/s320/IMG_1817.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476726223020665026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfs6hcMQbQy8Erc0eM9muFe7_kOQOsQ1vKbWBO7aaStHDrKmowjTMkU313JPgNgyau9wKPusM0votFIL5eTDXNvLI6iO1WdUJQjYftahyphenhyphenFmRGY3bD9JjZPxGktiQt4SfAjJwrIpeybjoG/s1600/IMG_1815.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfs6hcMQbQy8Erc0eM9muFe7_kOQOsQ1vKbWBO7aaStHDrKmowjTMkU313JPgNgyau9wKPusM0votFIL5eTDXNvLI6iO1WdUJQjYftahyphenhyphenFmRGY3bD9JjZPxGktiQt4SfAjJwrIpeybjoG/s320/IMG_1815.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476726217879242162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA9Onko_MPtT5zRmEiNwUsU2UZrRXGrA8iLmAzzdXJqeP0k4RSP2IUQjUYvv0YvxW4-Q0CCYgp8JfkgofvGttkpCPBf2R3PwZfsKW6QAySgDjMkk2OHjkGXYSJlM0qh6gtmIVjdFPjYp3/s320/IMG_1819.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476726237609238178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span>These boys all returned to do project #2 which was a very small step stool. For this one they had to cut some curves and learn to use the coping saw. The younger boys just want to get on with the projects so they don't look all that great, but the older boys really excel and make some really nice projects! It's amazing already to see the boys opening up to me. I have already been able to share with a few of them the reason that we're here doing what we're doing. I shared with some of them, just this last Thursday, about how God has been faithful to me and loves us all so much. I know that in the future we will be able to get so much more in depth and really be able to share the love of Christ in different ways. Please pray that God will continue opening doors for me to speak into their lives. Pray also that God would bring those that really need to be there in and the rest would fall away. With only 12 spots in the class we really need God to be choosing who is there. It is always so hard to turn them away, especially when I can see the disappointment on their faces. Pray also for wisdom about how and when to expand. There are so many kids and so many more adults that would like to come and learn that I could literally have full classes 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This could get really draining on me and the family. Pray for me that God would show me exactly what my responsibility is and how to guard my time with my family.</div><div> Thank you to everyone who has come to help and all of you that support us financially. This is really an extension of your gifts! I pray that God would bless you all as you live your life and give so that we can see Him work through us here. Finances are a big thing for us but we know that God is bigger. If you'd like to give towards our need here or towards the shop you can contact Students International through the "contact us" button at <a href="http://www.stint.com/">www Stint.com</a>. As a family we are still about %15 short of our goal and we are also needing to find people who'd like to support the shop in the future. Right now the shop is funded through August, but has a monthly expense of $700 for rent, utilities and supplies. Again thank you for your support of what God is doing!</div><div><br /></div></div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-15775389522749397602010-05-08T22:03:00.002-06:002010-05-08T22:25:47.299-06:00Quick trip to NicaraguaCan't believe it's really been over a month since our last post! For some reason to me, time seems to go ever so quickly here and doesn't give me fair warning of it happening. We've had a busy month of things like pajama parties, staff meetings, getting things ready for the wood shop to open, staff retreats, school field trips, and the normal every day happenings around here. When do things slow down?? And do they ever?!? My guess is not. The beautiful month of May brings Mother's Day, our anniversary, Erin's birthday, and 3 more birthdays of teammates! Whew! <div>We have also hit that lovely 3 month mark of having to leave the country again. Tomorrow we head to Nicaragua with the family and our friend Cailah. We're due for visa renewal once again. On one hand we look forward to these adventures, not too much is ever foreseen, but on the other hand, can we just get done with it already!! The logistics of these trips are time consuming and money consuming and sometimes come at inopportune times. At least now we'll make it through summer and teams before we have to leave again. Hopefully this will be one of the last times and that we'll have a more permanent status in the country soon. </div><div>Please pray for safe and fun travels for us. Crossing the border and coming back can be a timely process and at times stressful. Pray that we have smooth sailing through customs. Our son Judah as well has been battling some sort of a cold. Yesterday complained of a sore throat, today he broke out with a fever and has a swollen right eye. As I write, he is with Jeremy at the doctor (yes, at 10:20pm someone's open!) and being diagnosed. The doctor said he has a throat infection and is having some trouble breathing apparently because of that. They're checking him as well with a breathing device to help him. We'll see soon what needs to be done. Either way, we're headed out of town for 3 days tomorrow : ( We we're recalling the last time Judah was sick was 6 months ago when we were headed to Panama for a visa renewal as well. Please pray for our little guy that he recovers quickly and sleeps a lot in the car while we travel. God bless these little ones for putting up with the things we have to do sometimes. Our kids are amazing travelers and are always excited for an adventure. Let's hope that is the case early tomorrow morning! Blessings and thanks for praying!</div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-84378197516408353472010-03-24T21:09:00.007-06:002010-03-25T17:52:25.143-06:00Plans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI0tOziMR12gRsxAtMz8FDTP2uoQVrhlE27JzO2lC1ORZ2wKzC-FsS6lkAzLQSG_TJ8OZId4_9P0qnlJxjIJTTuCO59MVW0HK8FXuh3o8IO7x-UqVjXvvmtrEtfR6-D_ihyphenhyphenFPIh9UMcfY/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI0tOziMR12gRsxAtMz8FDTP2uoQVrhlE27JzO2lC1ORZ2wKzC-FsS6lkAzLQSG_TJ8OZId4_9P0qnlJxjIJTTuCO59MVW0HK8FXuh3o8IO7x-UqVjXvvmtrEtfR6-D_ihyphenhyphenFPIh9UMcfY/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452419780139796850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Judah fell asleep playing one day</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_YUDiaHAkH5tyOh60SwfauHNYu1NxAvvzkcSUGMTSjK8890aABR6OqH-K0ytN6snRLXeeZdXbSOC7zsRHlxezvy1HajAIUwd6U5n1KeOugEiXLLhjJtzi2bAOnZlPwUNAZ5V4YvDK8zG/s1600/IMG_1290.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_YUDiaHAkH5tyOh60SwfauHNYu1NxAvvzkcSUGMTSjK8890aABR6OqH-K0ytN6snRLXeeZdXbSOC7zsRHlxezvy1HajAIUwd6U5n1KeOugEiXLLhjJtzi2bAOnZlPwUNAZ5V4YvDK8zG/s320/IMG_1290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452419772308811170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Grandpa and Judah reading Curious George</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjH_L0C3iQI-GRbzQq7tqeH3d4hrmavO6naN_NF7fpjCm8KX990chvs9rvRdHbgdaRHbQs1DOoWOXj0J8EIG3bzWPfVCjAWXUVDdH57Plrw0ZkOpEbOolWC55ztXYXG5ghDqSf7jNbwO6/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjH_L0C3iQI-GRbzQq7tqeH3d4hrmavO6naN_NF7fpjCm8KX990chvs9rvRdHbgdaRHbQs1DOoWOXj0J8EIG3bzWPfVCjAWXUVDdH57Plrw0ZkOpEbOolWC55ztXYXG5ghDqSf7jNbwO6/s320/IMG_1262.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452419764636220290" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ella and her friend Ethan. When asked who he'd marry when he grows up, his response was Ella. No pressure Ella. ; )</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO9wS46PWGS9E6qeeAScnzBb7Fszht-GPJadm9rM_fFWLUnFOf6VcE1ZxwN0bwMyEewJQrun2f-3Soh-Ez5mN6whZRa0R6YLEycfvbNV1pDQYq8h5ZTGeuD8oT4eiepeu52doGlKehrxJ/s1600/IMG_1242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO9wS46PWGS9E6qeeAScnzBb7Fszht-GPJadm9rM_fFWLUnFOf6VcE1ZxwN0bwMyEewJQrun2f-3Soh-Ez5mN6whZRa0R6YLEycfvbNV1pDQYq8h5ZTGeuD8oT4eiepeu52doGlKehrxJ/s320/IMG_1242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452419757875085330" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Judah about to dive into the presents</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNzhZmObW8bjaRlVQkyNfzBGdMFdwlhcXbP50Krq51etnD13fO_BOlRaqU3aarCvRC9-NM7xoNYBwdTE2I0ap01lZViMgNJh8lLBEy5vSTZtYs-jtu5iYtcSmzWpgVExoKh4_SbrWKaL9/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNzhZmObW8bjaRlVQkyNfzBGdMFdwlhcXbP50Krq51etnD13fO_BOlRaqU3aarCvRC9-NM7xoNYBwdTE2I0ap01lZViMgNJh8lLBEy5vSTZtYs-jtu5iYtcSmzWpgVExoKh4_SbrWKaL9/s320/IMG_1223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452419745455653938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The superhero party was a success!</div><div><br /></div>So as you might know, we moved into this house we're currently in last December. Before that, we were literally two doors up renting a house for more and with a landlord who could care less about helping us out with things. We like this place and I must say sorry for we haven't posted pictures of this house yet. I keep saying when I get a room clean I'll take a photo and eventually have a picture of each room of the house. I keep forgetting and only have a few photos so far! So the other day, Jeremy received a call from our new landlords (who are great by the way) asking us if we were interested in buying the home. The wife's father, who lives in the US, is needing desperately to sell this property because of money situations he's having. They knew we were possibly interested in eventually buying property if we can, in order to be responsible with our money, so they were offering it to us first. Otherwise they will be taking an ad out. Who really knows what's going to happen, and do we continue on with some projects around here that need to get done, or do we not? We want to be good tenants, but I also don't like sitting around waiting for someone to tell me what's going on. <div>On the flip side of things, our home in CA recently became rented again, yay! That's always a relief for us. We're not really the stressing kind, but it feels good not to worry about that. We've been thinking a lot also about that house and what an awesome blessing it would be to have it rented. We don't like being "tied" down to a mortgage payment, but selling the house in this market is impossible. I think I struggle a bit with thinking that we're over planning things. We really have no idea what the next 5 years will look like, so trying to plan for that seems ridiculous at times. We also want to be wise with the resources God has given us. When do we put down our agenda and just lay our lives in His hands? So many times I have it worked out. Is that really what He wants? At times the things He wants us to do look ridiculous, but that is right where He'd have us. Please pray with us that He would make it clear what we are to do. Do we look into buying a house here and pay a mortgage instead of rent? Do we try to sell the house in the states? He has a plan, I am thankful. James 4 has struck me anew lately. In v. 13-15 "'Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" It's so comforting to me in a life of faith. God never said we'd be bored, that's for sure! Just when we think we got something figured out, the phone rings. Ha! I think God laughs a lot! Here are also a few photos, just because : )</div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-39401906379834556072010-03-10T18:40:00.003-06:002010-03-10T19:51:44.130-06:00January, the car saga, and the first team.So I realize that it's been a little while since we updated our blog, we're gonna get better I promise!! We have plans to write once a week or once every other week at bare minimum. I think we've begun to settle into a rhythm with life here. The visit to the hospital is done, the kids are in school, I have a shop (i.e. a permanent place to work) and we're finally semi- done with the car saga. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well first thing's first. I received an email this morning saying that I was acquitted of all charges relating to the accident in Limón. Apparently, now we have to wait for a second judge to review the case and make his verdict as well. The lawyer says that it all looks promising and that I shouldn't worry. If nothing else I have made friends with the lawyer. He seems to be a solid christian man who is very involved in outreach to the poor and in his church. At first I questioned his motives and wondered if he was sincere, but after spending two days together I believe that this relationship may be one of the fruits to come from this ordeal. On the way to our last court date he was encouraging me with Luke 18... It says," <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25686" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">6</sup>And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25687" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">7</sup>And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25688" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">8</sup>I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">" While we were driving I told him that I was worried about the corruption of the courts. He told me to listen to this verse on my ipod to make sure I understood what it said. It was so encouraging to have a brother beside me who could point me to scripture while I was stuck in my worry and disbelief.</span></span></div><div> Well the other bit of news is that we have our first team of the year here this week. I have ten students at the shop with me, double our normal capacity. Other than wondering what we're gonna do the rest of the week, it is going wonderful! The first day we painted about a third of the shop, started on a sound wall, and cleaned the bathrooms with some type of acid. Since then, we've almost finished painting, put up most of the wall, cleaned, received more wood, and finished all of the upgrade in the electrical for the back half of the shop. It looks wonderful! I am so pleased with the team and all of the work. It really is such a blessing to have people from all over the states who want to come work with me in things that they may never do again. Hopefully in the future we can put them in areas that complement their calling, but for now it's great how it is;) </div><div> Thank you all so much for reading, praying and your financial support! We wouldn't be here without you! </div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-80092036274968508812010-02-04T20:10:00.005-06:002010-02-04T20:37:58.753-06:00Beginnings<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCubnRhWOmVCs_K9vZgD2itDZZdfFzzfQxj9PC9gXEv4gWD1IMk3IHthPPhgyBcqnjqV-Lpu3HV4oTYp6YHWseQJNgthNPvIcQQSvU62X7_AwmDyMVkAVoLzpCuDfYqNLP9ImvSMQqnhYV/s1600-h/IMG_1100.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCubnRhWOmVCs_K9vZgD2itDZZdfFzzfQxj9PC9gXEv4gWD1IMk3IHthPPhgyBcqnjqV-Lpu3HV4oTYp6YHWseQJNgthNPvIcQQSvU62X7_AwmDyMVkAVoLzpCuDfYqNLP9ImvSMQqnhYV/s320/IMG_1100.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434577778901840482" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well today was a day of firsts for Judah and I. Today was Judah's first day of school! We have been a little worried about how he'd handle it, but lets just get right to it... HE DID GREAT!! We had been talking about how he needed to be a big boy and not cry, he knew that he wouldn't know anyone he knew that people only spoke in spanish, but we didn't know how it would go. He woke up and was excited as I've ever seen him. He was excited to get dressed in his school shirt (kids wear uniforms here... I kinda like it;) He was excited to ride the bus (car's in the shop) He was excited to walk from the bus stop to the school... And then he was gone! Just walked right inside! The parents can't come past the gate so when we got there he just waked in, grabbed the teachers hand and was gone! Never even said goodbye. And what was the only thing he had to tell me when I came home at 6:00?... That he fell of the swing. Ha.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Today was also my first day of cleaning in the new shop! WooHoo!! Here is a picture of how it looks now. </div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih48I4EZUFVAAI7bGgC_N9YFW4BLVHJnlerpR4bjw9u58g7ow879dsviu25W-N44pJHgSZQS0MJFqiGWFixByZHfR_hXO23BuPhlVKaqnvzZBstk9OeLC2dSCZexMkkbdrkiZM2JxfFH-t/s1600-h/IMG_1113.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih48I4EZUFVAAI7bGgC_N9YFW4BLVHJnlerpR4bjw9u58g7ow879dsviu25W-N44pJHgSZQS0MJFqiGWFixByZHfR_hXO23BuPhlVKaqnvzZBstk9OeLC2dSCZexMkkbdrkiZM2JxfFH-t/s320/IMG_1113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434577795987706338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div>This past monday Jeff and I went to look at it again and had decided on a price that we would pay. We didn't even have to "work him down." He lowered the price almost $200 dollars for us and gave us february free to clean and do repairs. So this morning I borrowed a pressure washer from our new landlords and went to work... More pics...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5a8nGvyr9Otke1QENMeDJgTjVboSLXgt87VsmN-fbnbBf_S1cIiy7eeZokpHvQBfVHcDzpDPeIGxXb0G13TPddl2AxbSrtzX4N8rcr2_0LcvAGAGigefj1Zm3n2WOQhrUdZSd2nDOJNw/s1600-h/IMG_1104.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5a8nGvyr9Otke1QENMeDJgTjVboSLXgt87VsmN-fbnbBf_S1cIiy7eeZokpHvQBfVHcDzpDPeIGxXb0G13TPddl2AxbSrtzX4N8rcr2_0LcvAGAGigefj1Zm3n2WOQhrUdZSd2nDOJNw/s320/IMG_1104.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434577793527568690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpl3ECdH434lc2q_UOYNmulTzn6EiAVz5uSLNjB77OzPgjj9k_3WFdwh_WqB_ekjgR6CEr4tpGcrpObns8I9_ZSXuzMEya-CG5Hwortmz0x4tl50ZHIyJ_il_8USEUJT5Ngh_2X0VuLw2/s320/IMG_1105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434577782326241714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></div><div>So I washed and scrubbed and finally had to buy some sort of acid and a big pry bar to chip the stuff off of the floor. Disgusting!!! There had been a mechanic in this shop for the last six or seven years. They had used the back corner and the back bathroom as storage for greasy parts and the used oil bin... It would have never happened in the states... The oil (and whatever else) was like concrete and took a lot of muscle to get it off. There was also paper, rags, paint, and the occasional nut all locked together in the blackness. After about 5 hours of work this is what it looks like.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkLABSVercG8ExmQPi3P3xKJu5bEmzReRe1e_dvwufKqKS0aUAVdNFnbw2CmM5o6cFF8erhe_LdYS1G5PJ6O0frjAeXWP_UWOkZse5MxpJRl_ikoHyLngXnAwpOhNc_G80qmhb9UIY_Qh/s1600-h/IMG_1111.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkLABSVercG8ExmQPi3P3xKJu5bEmzReRe1e_dvwufKqKS0aUAVdNFnbw2CmM5o6cFF8erhe_LdYS1G5PJ6O0frjAeXWP_UWOkZse5MxpJRl_ikoHyLngXnAwpOhNc_G80qmhb9UIY_Qh/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434577803395241730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjc9k2vUH-BNejSd7KizpQqswb8mLsgGv9wWbwCCwc8v-bGW2RYZ9LcXkNHjqPzFP46wXo6mhfPTd4cBRqrymOT_T6vG89YA3VaMg_HBSbkAsuftyFirfQcBkVJdBzOaS-9vIg8PYdBXnq/s1600-h/IMG_1108.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjc9k2vUH-BNejSd7KizpQqswb8mLsgGv9wWbwCCwc8v-bGW2RYZ9LcXkNHjqPzFP46wXo6mhfPTd4cBRqrymOT_T6vG89YA3VaMg_HBSbkAsuftyFirfQcBkVJdBzOaS-9vIg8PYdBXnq/s320/IMG_1108.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434582021127358210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div>Now all we have to do is: clean some more, put up a sound barrier for the apartments behind, build a security gate, build a locker for our tools, move the tools in, build a sliding wall, build tables, chairs and cabinets, invite kids and we're on our way. (it's really not that much) </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So for all of you who pray, pray that God would dwell in this building, that kids would come, and that God would open the doors for me to build some great, lasting relationships. Also pray that our house would rent... It's really getting old having to worry about it. </div></div></div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-80689170177473359792010-01-03T21:28:00.003-06:002010-01-03T22:27:43.447-06:00Holidays are over... now what?<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So we are through the holidays and have begun a new year... This year, like the past few, will be a year of new beginnings. My job this month (more or less) is to find a suitable facility to house our wood-shop. I will be heading out to explore Los Guido, and the surrounding areas, while seeking to maintain relationships and look for other opportunities that God may have for me (and SI.) Ideally, we would like to build a shop to house this ministry site and leave room for future expansion, however I think it is wise to "try it out" and see if it is really where God would have us be.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For me this is the start of what I have been waiting for. It's a chance to really build relationships that could lead to discipleship. Until now I have been somewhat of a "floater". I have worked in Los Guido and Las Fuentes but have also spent a lot of time in the house doing the practical, "needed" things like building bookshelves and tables. Now I will be in one spot (for the most part) with, hopefully, a regular group of youth who want to at least pass their time doing something constructive. I am also excited to have a more focused prayer life. Now I am working within everyone else's sphere of influence. I definitely have things to pray for, but I continually add to the list and really forget the significance of what I was praying for because I've lost the personal contact.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In addition to <i>my </i>new beginnings, Ella and Judah are going to begin school in February! Ella is going to a school called Santa Maria, which yes, is Catholic. The religion is limited to once a week and Ella will be spending "alone time" coloring or reading (hopefully soon) by herself in a different classroom. Apparently it's not uncommon for children to sit out during these times so maybe she wont be alone. Judah will be in a preschool called Osita Panda (little panda bear) for a few days a week. We would really like for Erin to have some alone time with Judah even if only 2 days a week. At Osita Panda Judah will be learning basic preschool stuff as well as Taekwondo. They are both looking forward to meeting new friends and learning. Erin and I are looking forward to taking advantage of this awesome opportunity to teach our kids spanish without having to teach them spanish ourselves;) While preschool can be good for kids, we feel like often times it is more to enable parents to do what they want. I don't want anyone else raising my kids for me, and I think that I can sufficiently prepare my kids for school while spending focused time with them. We are not sending our kids to school to be in "ministry." So while we are very excited for our kids to make friends and learn spanish, know that it will be hard for Erin and I to give up this chunk of time. We have always said we are here, following the Lord, for the benefit of our children, and we always pray that God will lead us in the best way to do that. Although we would never consider this option in the states, this is what we feel we need to do now. So if you think of us, please pray. We want to experience all that God has for us while continuing to accept His protection.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So in short, we are excited!! I feel for the first time as if I'll be doing what I came to do. There are a lot of unknowns and a lot of problems hidden within them. I don't expect this year to go super smooth but I do expect to see the Lord in new ways through the situations that come up. Please be praying with me for a fruitful year, grace for the new beginning of the wood-shop, and grace, unity, and peace for our family. I hope to be overjoyed at the opportunity to share of Gods goodness and faithfulness, here on this blog, throughout this year. May Jesus Bless You All.</div><div>And just to have some pictures... Here are some pictures of how we "rang in the new year." The people you don't know are our beloved neighbors and their family.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpXULS57VbNTofnLWSDLIS2I-iyxYRT05d3tUNrTI452VnKFTGv9OKA3SayX7snHgPE9k94lORrBRdOIpHqSvmLloD3o_RxtnHeBVpY4I9zuIe_oXGHNlcL9Mk8xYWYu5CVBXx_Uo2wLY/s320/IMG_0813.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422733963100813490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1eVMyozJHeh0gBkKUTK-kSFDzjd-BAHbE6g1RrpEp5sxazPDVkLLw8Ax-37B81SXAdmoLxTHlHNLoUB02UnxpaMQ2D14UtbW94PlyP3uBtHmFKSi-oHcYwig2KfceTJHdYHdk0Z8_W5I/s320/IMG_0823.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422733953441302834" /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdJhCAu26Smf2OfQS-t7o9W9eYRQnVvLygQSKkQAMRcNsN8J4b4A-0HIxVBOxNk7Ak3XLIeg3EHcam3FRn8MqQL46TwOgY4R31ffqBYMCQF10v7GrOpiQ9l8HhvVdwPy926ErpQZ3yRk_/s1600-h/IMG_0819.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdJhCAu26Smf2OfQS-t7o9W9eYRQnVvLygQSKkQAMRcNsN8J4b4A-0HIxVBOxNk7Ak3XLIeg3EHcam3FRn8MqQL46TwOgY4R31ffqBYMCQF10v7GrOpiQ9l8HhvVdwPy926ErpQZ3yRk_/s320/IMG_0819.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422733957037154834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxGsBfTgoRwftIudL-SelWcOa8N74e8nmkzhIRID0ydWH9vf7uu0dTIHw69V9fPh1_gZwwYrDQsLiWJyehxmns9FzB9nf6Nw0TuiDlCYY0u73eDFOthAJFEsGvFUWv0hcWFw46tC-eAcZ/s320/IMG_0804.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422733943960213298" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR7YqY4-adJDQc9GA9SFhGkKQoz6bP8hPVQJoIsff07L8lza1rL6CtPN65SKuMAwKWpTn1HzLOZxTtWGJeUnUtmLjXMHBaHAsvtCCBlwSQvhxnXqYCySN_rKPhcQPCwbFs7eYQu1yEVF6/s320/IMG_0799.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422733938234318226" /></div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-47160184197348153652009-12-18T11:08:00.000-06:002009-12-18T11:09:13.019-06:00<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"> This one’s a bit long so hold on… There’s a lot to pray for if you would be so kind;)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">So, many of you have heard a little bit about my most recent stresser, but I doubt many have heard the entire story. So here it is to ease minds, tell you a little bit about the culture and hopefully get a glimpse of what God is doing in my life at the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"> It all really began on the 9th of June when we bought our 4runner. It was a real deal at nearly half the price that we had seen others for. It was missing a door handle but didn't have any other large problems. Here buying a car is like buying a house in the states. You go see the lawyer, he documents everything, then he has to log the documents in the national registry, they check the records to make sure everything is ok and then they send you the title... Well we had a small problem... The previous owner painted the car a gray/blue color... It took three to four weeks to get that figured out but by the time we did that we were so busy with life that I never went to check on the title again. When we finally did, the lawyer saw another problem. There was a lawsuit against my car in a city called Limón which is about 3 hours east of us.!! I had never been to Limón and it wasn't on the title when I bought the car, so our obvious thought was that the previous owner sold the car cheap to get rid of it fast and get rid of the liability for whatever happened. I spent the three weeks following our trip to CA (Aug 26th-Sept 25th) calling him every chance I got. He seemed willing to help at first, but then I told him the incident was in Limón, he told me he had never in his life been to Limón and then every time after that he hung up on me. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"> So at this point here's what we knew: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">1) for some reason there was some kind of lawsuit against my car <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">2) The former owner wasn't going to cooperate. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">3) If the lawsuit was won, they could take my car from me<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">4) the something that happened was in Limon<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">Here's what we didn't know:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">1) When <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">2) what<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">3)how<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">4)who<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">5)Why<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The lawyer, knowing we didn't have a lot of money (He's actually a christian) gave me a deal. For around $150 he would go with me and find out what the problem was. So about three weeks ago we drove to Limon to see what this lawsuit was all about. Come to find out, there was a hit and run accident the night of August 17th and the owner thinks he saw my plates. He had no vehicle color, model, or any description, but somehow he came up with my license plate number. We got copies of the entire case against my car and made our legal declaration saying that I had never driven this car to Limon and that we would permit an inspection of the car to prove it. Well, I was quite nervous but the lawyer thought that it was all great. He said we made huge progress and he was sure that it would all blow over... Well it didn't.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The other thing that happened was I gave my email address to the court so they could contact me. Well they, for some reason, can't send email to AOL accounts so I had to create a Hotmail account. The only problem with that is that I had to go back to Limon to change the email because they don't permit anything to be done by phone.... I never thought anything would happen so quickly. After all, ticos are known to be late and take a long time for any formal process. I was wrong... Yesterday, as we were just finishing moving all of our new tools for the wood shop, I got a call from someone. He said, (Translated) " Is this Mr. Jeremy Janzen? You have an appointment to have your car inspected at the transit office in Limon at 1:30... Are you coming?" It was 1:39!!! I said," What!?!? Wait... Who is this!?!" HE proceded to tell me that he was a judge and I was going to lose my car if I didn't show up... I told him I could leave right then but I would need 3-4 hours to get there... He was nice enough to say he'd wait but by then the stress was overwhelming. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>We jumped in the car ( jeff, myself and our newest staff member Dustin) I dropped Jeff off and Dustin and I were off to Limon. Now get this, Erin and I have just moved into a new house, (stress) we have no phone yet (stress) the car had just broken down and been fixed last week (a lot of stress) We had just come back from a staff retreat (not stressful but in the midst of other stress it was stressful enough) two weeks ago we picked up and went to Panama for Visa stuff (stress) ad we have all been sick for two weeks (stress) So we go with all this stress to Limon. We, of course hit a lot of traffic on the way (stress) and finally arrived at about 6pm. The offices had closed at 4:30 so the judge and the owner of the car that got hit had been waiting, a long time. The entire thing was a bit confusing. There were random questions about the incident and about my car but the majority of it was this man, who said I hit him, standing behind my car and describing the car that hit him... While looking at it!!! So it went like this... "Uh, I remember this (while pointing) and this and the tires and this and, well, yeah, this is the car that hit me." NO physical inspection. no questions directed to me... Just a "remembrance" of the other guy. Here is his story. He was stopped at a light facing south when this car came out of nowhere and side-swiped him turning him so he was facing west. He looked up in the dark immediately after and saw the license plate, again in the dark on a speeding car, and wrote it down...But it was too dark to see the color. Right, like that's possible. Also there was a taxi driver who saw the same # and came back to tell him. Taxi drivers don't help anyone!! So anyways, I spent all day today driving around getting receipts from mechanics, my car was in the shop 2 days after the "accident", making faxes, trying to do everything I could to prove I'm innocent. The thing is; the week before and the day of the accident, were the only times in the entire summer that I had nothing on the calendar. So now we wait. The gov. offices are closed until the 4th of january, so until then there's nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Now the good part. God has really been showing me, through this and just all of the stressful things that have happened recently that I shouldn't be stressed!! Stress is the opposite of the fruits of the spirit. It robs my joy, it is literally the opposite of peace, I'm not kind when I'm stressed.. You get the point. The thing is. If I lose the car, or have to pay a bunch of money, was God not there? Does he not have a plan? Did He just take a break for this one? Does He care about the other guy more? NO!! God is in control!! If I could just grasp that... Really grasp that, then I could have that peace that passes understanding. You see my stress is an indicator. It's telling me that I'm relying on myself. I'm doing it myself and I am not trusting God. It's saying that I'm not in close enough relationship with Him. It's saying I'm bearing my own burdens. You see psalms says, "do not fret, because it leads to evil.” How true is that!? When I fret (stress) it leads to evil. That could be, anger, lust, lying, or anything else. For an addict it would mean relaps. Stress is not good!! We as Christians can have a peace that passes all understanding. That means when the world is falling down around us and we have every reason to panic or be stressed… We are calm, resting in God’s peace. Resting in the fact that He can handle it all, that He wants the best for us, that He will use whatever happens for our good… WE can have peace cause HE is in control. The only thing is we have to KNOW HIM!! Learn to trust Him… I’m in the process… If you’d like to be too, let me know…we’ll do it together!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>All of you if you can just say a little prayer for us right now. 1) that God would teach us more about Himself in this process.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>2) that we would live stress free<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>3) And that He would take care of this problem in Limon<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">Thanks for reading!! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Georgia">May Jesus Bless You, </span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-87863696963138872542009-12-06T13:36:00.004-06:002009-12-06T14:52:18.033-06:00Aaaah, a moment to breath...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFZot2mMAMQeHfyquHXGLe7f8UnOBp2PUbwZ3l0ztfLO5CA6lBDEkJAcJqwhoBnIoo6W7BTBCFzAYSDPWJrCGpAJp6FMnlyJX9wlzyW5eRVdpalMo302pQGL_XVqyXUr0Q2YMfwXN5EqF/s1600-h/IMG_0501.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFZot2mMAMQeHfyquHXGLe7f8UnOBp2PUbwZ3l0ztfLO5CA6lBDEkJAcJqwhoBnIoo6W7BTBCFzAYSDPWJrCGpAJp6FMnlyJX9wlzyW5eRVdpalMo302pQGL_XVqyXUr0Q2YMfwXN5EqF/s200/IMG_0501.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412224946349562530" /></a>Judah enjoying his "copo" in a Panama park</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFLHZaOuQtqJ8096tfU1jqb_Q8iwJ2LBEvJeI3R_l18d1x5fsunQ6OYO_7Pa4ujnpLwqGPuIy-vTjTbDrvUC7mTEPTQxSOk7pbH-VMZu82L3fLe5bpwMWLPYqps8P-quScK7piJkyfbVx/s1600-h/IMG_0493.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFLHZaOuQtqJ8096tfU1jqb_Q8iwJ2LBEvJeI3R_l18d1x5fsunQ6OYO_7Pa4ujnpLwqGPuIy-vTjTbDrvUC7mTEPTQxSOk7pbH-VMZu82L3fLe5bpwMWLPYqps8P-quScK7piJkyfbVx/s200/IMG_0493.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412224938543018434" /></a>Ella cooling off after playing in the park</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYGvmmL8ma10Gg0rdyIBpNRpXiqyWFnNG-jlv-TPIQs5PWw1ffR92o0wZ5ISp_aWDqnP3I-Ag_QAO1Dm3IaH3u7T59AnaV7qUs-GHj0mM9lOdoCnrpldWEIO0crjqaikuUSj4Kmg1wekA/s1600-h/IMG_0481.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYGvmmL8ma10Gg0rdyIBpNRpXiqyWFnNG-jlv-TPIQs5PWw1ffR92o0wZ5ISp_aWDqnP3I-Ag_QAO1Dm3IaH3u7T59AnaV7qUs-GHj0mM9lOdoCnrpldWEIO0crjqaikuUSj4Kmg1wekA/s200/IMG_0481.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412224928827299602" /></a>Our view from our apartment window in Panama City</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDAAgoZyKS-Ptze83qijEEsLMAgZ4k5IE-NGCoTTMyVnUtI1lNAlWmJjQ4x7nXqJT23UfGAfnr5MDb0D7pxvhWlu2YkowUBNvZq-Wu1lCS52O58pXXRdxrqLNXuDtpH8UZwA7qU5FRT9s/s1600-h/IMG_0460.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDAAgoZyKS-Ptze83qijEEsLMAgZ4k5IE-NGCoTTMyVnUtI1lNAlWmJjQ4x7nXqJT23UfGAfnr5MDb0D7pxvhWlu2YkowUBNvZq-Wu1lCS52O58pXXRdxrqLNXuDtpH8UZwA7qU5FRT9s/s200/IMG_0460.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412224917545540114" /></a>Painting over the hideous green in our new house</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeRnSQJIdz0bOWMu_dOpvZzi1fDoYP-w5DXz41-Ac03-LdfiIFboC83MzosouOWJ9mKB6E4NeyU5YU5fr5-qQK5b4Y3ehFbhLvx8MxDbfY3lW3g0cMV-vQIaIOpWNLmZUNUPgx-T24Yq8/s1600-h/IMG_0455.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeRnSQJIdz0bOWMu_dOpvZzi1fDoYP-w5DXz41-Ac03-LdfiIFboC83MzosouOWJ9mKB6E4NeyU5YU5fr5-qQK5b4Y3ehFbhLvx8MxDbfY3lW3g0cMV-vQIaIOpWNLmZUNUPgx-T24Yq8/s200/IMG_0455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412224913591575026" /></a>Thanksgiving dinner with team and friends</div><div><br />So once again, a long time between posts. We'll get the hang of this blogging thing someday! Between the last post and today, so much has been happening and continues to happen. Besides the day in and day out of every day life, there has been a few "happenings" worth mentioning! During Thanksgiving time we had a team here from Wasco, CA. We had a fun time getting to know each other and working together. They were an awesome team that actually brought down 2 turkeys for our Thanksgiving feast. Our team here in Costa Rica was thrilled since turkeys are around $70 here! Not an option for us. Jeremy worked on a street in Los Guidos with his team of guys. There were bumps in the road (no pun intended), but the work week was very successful. <div>Jeremy and I have decided on schooling for our children Ella and Judah. They will both be starting in February, the new school year. They will be going to different schools for a couple of years due to the fact the one Judah will be going to has the option of only going 3 days a week. I like that because that gives me an opportunity to spend one on one time with him, while Ella is in her school. She'll be going M-F, 7:30- 12:30. She is SO excited and talks about all the things she will learn and the friends she will make. We are glad the decision has finally been made and that we don't have to keep looking.</div><div>During the week that the team was here, an opportunity came up to move from our house. We have been in this location since April, and really like the neighborhood, the people, and the location in general. We didn't like the fact that we felt we were being taken advantage of in our monthly rent, knowing there is probably something else out there cheaper and more or less the same. We didn't like the idea of possibly having to move away from friends we've made either. Well a house literally 2 doors down became available. We spent time talking and looking at it with the owners, and left wondering if this was an opportunity for us. There were definitely pros and cons and we were trying to weigh them out. The first night after we presented to the owner our price we were willing to pay, we both woke up in the middle of night, nervous and hoping we were making the right decision. We just started praying and asking for a peace and assurance we were making the best decision for our family. Also that we weren't jumping the gun with this, but that it was really God's timing. We both fell right back to sleep and woke up in the morning feeling completely different. Needless to say, we have spent the last week painting and moving our things into this home. We have a deadline of when we need to be out of our home, the 15th! It seemed like all would be fine in the timing, but put on top of that a staff retreat to the beach and leaving the country for visa renewal. We - have - been - BUSY! I am currently writing you from Panama City because cheap plane tickets came up on Friday to leave on Saturday! In the midst of our moving, this was an unexpected thing. Now we will return on Tuesday night, I'll have 2 days of more packing, unpacking, and cleaning, then we leave on Friday morning for our staff retreat. Then I'll have one more day before we absolutely need to be out of our house. Moving 2 doors down is not really an event like traditional moving. We literally just walk boxes down, or load up our car and drive it down. We are now taking some time to rest being here in Panama, knowing the craziness is not over yet. We'll be walking and taking buses to see what we can see the next couple of days. The kids definitely go with the flow, but with all the walking, it'll definitely take a toll on them. Pray for our continued sanity the next couple of weeks and that we get through this time well. On top of all this, it's Christmas time! We don't want to neglect this important time of year or the joy our family finds in it. We'll let you know how everything pans out this month. </div></div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327985624710921026.post-26284233823338528062009-10-27T07:42:00.002-06:002009-10-27T08:26:20.449-06:00Working... or not<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Hello everyone, Jeremy here again. Well not much has been going on of late but we've just been plugging away. It looks like we're still gonna move forward with the Furniture shop/wood shop/apprenticeship program. The Idea would be that we start with a wood shop. It would be to create interest and a clientele but mostly to effect the lives of young boys in the area. We'd begin with 2-3 days a week where we'd be open for whomever wants to come. We'd do small projects like bird houses, step stools or small trinket boxes. The boys would learn basic skills but for the most part just hang out and have opportunities to hear and experience the good news. Later once we have some of them that want to move on we could take on some larger projects that we could do on our two "days off" during the week. These boys could become apprentices and begin a formal program that we could start down the road. The possibilities are really endless with this idea, which is why I'm so excited. We've had nothing but good responses from everyone who works around Los Guido. they all respond with,"Oh my, something like that is really needed." <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So for now my work has been research and development... Which I HATE!! for all of you who spend your day behind a computer, or just inside.... You must have the grace of the almighty God all over you. I would much rather come home injured after having worked 36 hours underground than spend a few hours a day behind desk. 8-0 Actually it hasn't been all bad. I get to spend a lot of time with my kids, which I haven't really ever been able to do. I get to experiment a lot with ideas, some of which don't go so well. And then I get to go out and meet new people too! When I was going out to research some plastic options I ran into a great opportunity for our future endeavor. While I was waiting to talk to the salesman I noticed some workers taking a huge load of wood outside. It was pallets that they had broken down and were going to throw away. I ran out and asked if they were throwing it away and if I could have it. They looked at me like I was crazy so I told them about the idea we had to work with boys in Los Guido. As it ended up they were very impressed with the idea and said they'd be calling me when they had more!! So if you saw the new doghouse I built (or kids house as it appears in the pictures) That was all free wood. Actually it was about 1/15th of what I got. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So recently I've taken 2 classes. The first was a hydroponics (gardening) class and the second was about child abuse and the process to go through to report it. The first was really fun and inspiring, the second was... well, heavy to say the least. I learned a lot in both classes but the hydroponics has given me some great ideas for micro businesses and future projects in Los Guido. I am currently experimenting with: hot peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes, celery, basil, squash, lettuce and two types of basil. I have seedlings growing in a hotbox and a bunch of other stuff all around the house. I hope that maybe with the wood shop we can build special planter boxes and then we can start a program to help women grow their own vegetables to consume and sell. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well I think that's enough for today. as you can tell, while the work is boring, there's a lot of great opportunities around. I leave you with this thought. We only use what God has given us so that other people see Him. While we are not always talking about Him, we need to always demonstrate His character through our actions. The only problem is that we (christians <i><b>AND</b></i> SI) are not the peace-core, we're not a humanitarian aid group. While we whole heartedly believe that we need to help peoples situations, that is only a means to an end... We do our "job" and wait for the perfect moment to <i>share</i> about the reason we are doing it. It's not cliche, or lame, to say we're doing this for Jesus. True, people all over the world say things and don't really mean it. Jesus is our excuse when we're embarrassed or when we really are striving to be something important by what we do... those circumstances have made it lame and cliche... The reality is that these situations have lulled us christians into thinking we need to just <i><b>be</b></i> like christ and never <i><b>say</b></i> anything... To<b><i> just</i></b> be a living witness. ABSOLUTELY TRUE!! But we need to make sure that we enter into true evangelism. And that's not standing on a soapbox or humanitarian work. True evangelism is discipleship. It's the example of our lives coupled with the evangelism that is discipleship...and <b><i>THAT</i></b> makes a difference. It's not a one or the other thing. Word <i><b>AND</b></i> deed... Faith <i><b>WITH</b></i> works. So many times I can only focus on one or the other... We need the complete gospel, not only part of it. </div><div><br /></div>Jeremy, Erin, Ella, & Judahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06928304101663967653noreply@blogger.com1