5 MORE DAYS TILL T&C

Oh my goodness it has taken so long to get to this point!  I know it should go fast now that it is less than a week before I can hold both my girls in my arms at the same time!  I don’t know about this Kevin guy he is on his own when the girls step off the plane, cause I’m not in the mood to share!  They will be in around 12:00 noon our time so I plan on having the room nice and tidy, food waiting, and my hair done!  I might even put on some make up so Tifka doesn't send me to the M institute!

We will be taking more pictures once the girls get here.  I am going to be deaf to their protests because I listened before and regret not having current pictures of them.

Kevin conducted his first bookstudy here, last Tuesday night.  The brother who normally does it has been a brother of many hats.  Bethel Lawyer, head of the legal department, something in the RBC, secretary of our English congregation, spear heading the Arabic in this country.  And much more but I don’t know all the titles.  The guy is the one you go to for anything.  One of those sweet brothers who is everyone's first pick for telling problems too etc.  So Kevin is doing the bookstudy to give him more time for the other jobs, and also the secretary job too.  But all were a little melancholy at the change as this brother did a lovely job.  Kevin was aware that the changes would be a little hard for our bookstudy group so he went to the store and got 2 store bought cakes for goodies, and was very mild and gentle in his questions..(no festival of booth questions thank goodness!)  by the end all were participating and enjoying the study.  but what happened after the meeting well….was priceless.  I never have a camera when I need it.

One of the native sisters who is a few years older than us offered in service one day for her and her husband to teach Kevin and I how to dance Costa Rica style!  Well they put the music on and watched us with cautious eyes and started the first steps for us…we were doing the salsa at bookstudy!  Yahoo!  There were maybe 6 of us dancing and the Cutie girls sat on the couch and made fun of us and I loved it.  Kevin had his monster boots on so couldn't slide around properly so he just stomped and I tried to lift my ___lbs body like my chiquita sister who jumped around like a grasshopper and my feet would not cooperate and move so fast but it was fun to try..I think I will put my own twist on their steps reducing them by half.  anyhow what a fun and happy thing!  Not inappropriate at all !

Remember you really want to come visit us before the end of this system of things!

Jamie Wilson…Why have I been thinking of you lately?  Must be time for you to check in so I don’t worry about you.  Remember my email, and do a detailed report including uhem gossip…

Love you all

Katalena

Alternative Witnessing in Costa Rica

We thought you may be interested in some of the methods we are trying to use to expand the preaching activity here in our little part of the world.

We have been trying to be more creative in our approach and trying to use to the full the opportunity that has been presented to us here at the Hotel as well. We have been able to have some very good conversations with different clients of the Hotel. Two particular guests we took on a tour of Volcan Poas and we were able to have lovey conversations with them throughout the day – in fact we basically started a study with them –especially Kathleen was able to have a wonderful time with the wife. It was a day we decided not to go out in the ministry on Saturday to help out – and Jehovah helped us anyway to find a way to do the work we are really here to do anyway! WOW!

Being in the Full-Time work here is a definite challenge to be sure –no car, different land, totally different territory. But, that’s part of the fun of it right? So, we have been able to do Bus witnessing, street witnessing, bus stop witnessing, Hotel witnessing, and of course –door to door some times.

Here for your viewing pleasure is a magazine display we have keep up in the lobby of the Hotel.  We try to maintain English, Spanish, and Arabic. Yes, we have had a lot of interest lately in some thumbing through the Arabic!

Enjoy!    

Volcan Poas

I am finally getting around to posting just a couple of pictures of the volcano that we went to see a few weeks back.

Behold Volcan Poas!

So, you get some idea of the volcano –but of course nothing can compare to being there and taking it all in – in person! Truly awe inspiring. According to reports inside the visitors center, the volcano has erupted several times since it came back to life in the 40’s. It’s most recent eruption was in 2006. Apparently these are not really big eruptions that cause damage –mainly lots of steam and ash and minor earth tremors. Where we are is right to the side and below this volcano and to the other side and slightly above us is Volcan Barva. We have only gone to the gate of that park so far. We have not seen it yet.

Maybe we will save that for when someone wants to come down here and visit?

Our next adventure will probably be our trip to Nicaragua. That will be the second week of October. Even though we are legal to work, the process has not gotten quite far enough that we do not have to leave the country after 3 months. So –our 3 months is coming up. Wow! Time sure has flown. It seems at times that we have lived and experienced so many new things here that it has been almost years already. Time is funny that way.

Our plan is to go to Grenada and Lake Nicaragua riding the bus from San Jose, CR to there. Once we are there we are going to find an inexpensive hotel to stay in for 3 or 4 days since we have to be gone for a minimum of 72 hours. While we are there we will likely get to experience the “Chicken Buses”. We will tell you all about it later.

So… until the next folks… be good to one and all and don’t forget to eat all of your vegetables.

we have Internet!

After calling a hundred times and waiting impatiently we now have Internet!  We are now able to use our computer in our room and at the office here.  so you might be getting more personal emails. I don’t know why you all are so shy about making notes on this bloggy thing, I hope mine don’t come back to haunt me later!  Claudia Harris I love you, my friend!  thank you for the email… and update.  wish you were here to see the growth in sign language it is just taking off.  we have no competition with the churches here or really any other organized group so they are just thirsting for knowledge and attention.  I am sitting at our kitchen table /desk looking out my large picture window with it open and the door open watching the fog clouds come in.  The 3 palm trees planted in front of my room are gently swaying, the breezy time of day like in Genesis. it is cooler now and I am thankful, it was a little hot and sticky, usually lasts for 2 hours from 12 to 2 then starts to cool down.

we are very busy at the hotel this week as it is their forth of July.  moving beds ,making beds from scratch ,rearranging furniture…you would think I am in my own personal heaven.  Kevin is doing more and more managerial things with the reception and sales, it is taking much patience on his part because many want to buck this new organized way of running a hotel, would rather stay casual laid back and puravida.   So he is having success, but it takes time and patience.

I tried my first bible study today, and …..she wasn’t there.  Oh well, that is just like anywhere.  I will try again Sunday am before meeting and hopefully she will be there.  I really want a bible study!  I will keep praying for this.

well gotta go Kevin is yelling for help with translation…isnt that a hoot!

love ya

Katalena

Guys you gotta read Marlenes comment Kevin and i blew boogers when we read it...talk about the frustration of communicating in a different country..hahah. Marlene you should start a blog!

Kevin was announced as a Elder Friday night at the meeting. Same day he received a phone from our boss (which we had been bugging him for but interesting we got it the day we needed it for Elder business.) This is for local use only unfortunately. We haven't had to ride the bus for a month, been using the company van and it allows us to go in service longer and more prompt, and available for after meeting ..meetings. Interesting how these blessings always come at the right time and for the glory of Jehovah's name.
Yesterday we had a skinny group in service so Samira our Lebanese sister invited us to go on her calls in ARABIC...go ahead be jealous (A&V). We only had time for 2 in 2 hours because they serve coffee and want to talk first , Kevin ended up being a choffer because there were no men at home and the women are not allowed to have a man in the house but do you think he minded....NO. Listening to this language is hilarious. In my head at least. Quite a few clicking and German sounds to it. But it is wonderful to always have an adventure in service. I now have Arabic mags for my sad looking display..I know Marlene i will have to just bite the bullet and put a pic on but now I am at the coffee house and do not have a pic of it.
We passed our Spanish congregation this am in service I yelled out of the van and waved they did a double take then waved back, I think they are getting used to me.

Well Tiffany didnt like her picture, but she is a difficlut child that I love very much.

As of Sunday we are now the acting managers of the hotel. The problem manager was fired and escorted off property. So now our goal is to really help this nice guy get organized and re-structure his management.
so...wooooohoooo
love Katalena