Picture link

 

Here is a link to some of our pictures from Puerto Limon and Cahuita.

As always, keep the comments coming – we love them!

 

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=ubb74vu.t0n8iy2&x=0&h=1&y=-r3apir&localeid=en_US

Limón y Cahuita

 

We have just returned from the Caribbean coast!

Saturday, we got ride to San Jose to get on the bus and head over to Limon. We were able to stay with a brother and his wife that live there in one of their bedrooms. Then on Sunday we visited the congregation. If you review the account of Costa Rica in the 1987 Yearbook you will learn that the Truth came to Costa Rica at first in English! Very interesting!. Well, there are some in the Limon congregation that are related or remember serving with some of those first Christians here! There was an English congregation for many years in Limon and then something happened and it began to die off until about 30 or so years ago it was dissolved. The friends then had to learn Spanish and start attending the Spanish congregations. You have to understand that English is many of these friends mother tongue- so they waited patiently on Jehovah until just recently-About April- the English congregation was once again formed. How happy they are!

So, we had a beautiful time in Limon-but our trip was not over. We had heard of a great need to preach to the English in a small town about 46KM South called Cahuita. There are two Sisters there that for the last 6 months or so have been opening up the preaching work there. So, we went down there to help out and preach with the Special Brochure.

Wow! These Sisters have been busy! They have over 50 RV’s in this little town in just that short time. There really is great need here and apparently South of here too in Puerto Viejo. There are alot of native English speaking people in these areas and in reality only these two sisters preaching to them at the moment-so, we will see what the future holds for the Haanpää’s.

A sister from the Spanish congregation in Cahuita and her husband who speaks English and is studying let us stay in one of their houses for very little cost. Actually, they would have let us stay for free-so we just made a small donation to help defray any costs we incurred them.

So, anyway we had a wonderful time in the ministry and we have a few pictures to show you that I will put up on the website. There is so much to talk about-like the Cahuita National Park. The girls and I walked for about 9KM through the jungle next to the Caribbean sea. We saw all sorts of Monkeys, Sloths, cool insects, Blue Crabs, Lizards, and much, much more! It was awesome!

I am sure Kathleen will have much more to say about it so I will not go on and on here – so… until next chapter…

Went in Service for the Campaign today

We placed 24 Bibles and 24 Tracts! no Kidding!  Just our family and one little Spanish Brother in 4 hours! Kevin and I have 2 good calls from it.  But I have to confess, the bibles and most of the tracts are now part of the Hotel.  We got permission to place a Bible in each room here for the clients to use…many of them claim to be Christian and are here as missionaries and believe it or not not once have I seen them crack open a bible.  Usually have their own manuals and things of business to consider.  The reception has 10 each of the new Truth or Verdad tract.  And one Bible of each language.  we hope this starts many a conversation and interest.  The door to door was fruitful too.  We talked to 5 English people right on or off our street.  within walking distance.  all were friendly and took the tract we hope to call back and start a study as recommended.

Any reports of your activities this next 2 weeks we would love to hear!  Campaigns always have a happy ending.

Love you too much…

Katalena

Day off To build

Hey guys!  Kevin covered for the girls and I. He worked at the hotel alone so we could be free to take the bus to Heredia to help the La Aurora congregation build their new kingdom hall.  Want to hear some specifics? …They already have 3 congregations assigned to this hall.  All in Spanish.  They average 80 publishers in each.  Not including the bible studies.  The sweet brother was explaining that many families have 5 or more members and to take the bus 2 or 3 times a week for all is very expensive and many times they forgo going to the meeting because they don't have enough money to get there.  bus fare is equal to 1.70 in dollars.  but multiply that by the amount of kids, and the average working wage is 1.60 an hour.  Because of Jehovah providing this hall many will be able to walk to it and not have to buy bus fare.  most live within 2 miles and some of the very fortunate ones are across the street.  The building is as big as some of our 2 car garages.  made of cement bricks covered with that cement stuff they use with trowels…not stucco but the other stuff.  Sorry but the name fails me.  The girls and I had a girl boss who was awesome.  We were assigned the scraping of the metal window frames getting the cement wall stuff off.  It took us all day to do 3 windows with spatulas and then clean then paint.  (Orange)  we also climbed ladders to scrape the dried cement with another piece of cement to smooth it.  Our arms were ready to fall off, and the rickety ladders made us fear falling but we did it.  In the rain and In the mud 4 inches deep.  We didn't have rubber boots so our tennis shoes were full of thick brown mud, slippery and a mess.  They offered a simple lovely lunch.  Sea food soup and rice.  The soup had every type of meet possible, we didn't ask, and was very thin broth but everyone got a scoop with meat and scoop of broth.  with the rice it was very filling.  and tasty.  The sisters were very happy to serve but we were nervous taking too much, so that there would be enough for all.  We were a little shameless at 2 we were tired and worn out from going up and down ladders a hundred times slipping in mud, that we went to the kitchen area and asked for coffee they were sympathetic and gave us some.  we forgot the tradition here is coffee at 3 so when all broke for coffee we followed in for the second cup..the sisters didn't look to happy with us.  Oh well.  Rude Norte Americana's.  We are still learning that one cup is sufficient for Costa Ricans, so Haanpaa’s need discernment.

we had a meeting with the attorney yesterday she is trying to help us get the girls legal here.  We will keep you posted.

Thank you fro leaving comments or emails.  Trish Fretz keep trying to figure out the blog comment you have succeeded at much harder things.  Hope your training at taxes goes well, our hearts are with you especially.  Don't let any one bully you!  except me of course.

Love to all

Katalena

What a week!

We had the most lovely assembly. “Keep Conquering the Evil with the Good” Romans 12:21  I wont give anything away only that the local needs was very special and specific for the foreign field here in Costa Rica.  There was good advice given about only inviting spiritually healthy friends to come and serve, that this enables the Elders to focus on the ministry and the congregation.  That might sound a little tough.  But of course Sean Scribner was more loving and tactful than me.  Makes sense too.  These people need help.  People who are ready to put away their own problems and start helping with the locals.  It was like a big pioneer meeting.  Almost 400 people.  Mostly 30’s and 40’s and only 2 babies that I could find.  All was quite during the session, and the songs were song loud and with gusto.  Many are “need greater” ( Kev and I never have liked that name, but cant think of a better one) Many are having the privilege of working the same as a missionary in a foreign land with out going to Gilead.  This is great with Parents or old people like Kev and me.  The loving brothers addressed the difficulty there is in providing for one self and your immediate family.  Difficulty in territories, the maps and census, transportation, and for many of our long time brothers in Limon, poor health.  Did talk to the D>O>’s wife, sister Taylor and she told us of a regular pioneer couple who were working in Nicaragua who are now assigned to Costa Rica as ….Missionaries, with out going to Gilead!  Wow! They have necessary exceptions here as they have exceptional needs.  so many of the brothers are doing several jobs at one time.  And not always the ones they would have picked.  Many of the English here are sacrificing their love of Spanish and serving where the need is great here in English.  But they don't pout or complain, Jehovah Love them.

So how are Cass and Tiff?  Precious and Adorable.  There was a little pressure to make a decision on where they were going to serve, basically from any who met them, it really is the focus for all visitors, so that they can be stolen and set into your own personal Kingdom Hall.

  Early this am Cassie showed up at my door step ready for work. (6:30)  she is next to me at the kitchen table desk doing her own mini blog …but she does it fancy using email with hundreds of addresses attached.  Don't know how it is done, but solicit her if you want one of her blogs, I think they are funny.

Tiff and Dad are sleeping off a night of Guard duty for the Hotel.  The owner had to go to San Francisco, and all problems broke loose while he was gone.  The employees are not happy about not receiving due pay or due hours.  Remember he is not bound by the same rules as we are.  We think in retaliation the Guard let loose the Bravo Perros and allowed them to kill 5 of our goats 2 adults and 3 babies.  Not only that but the daughters pet rabbits were taken out of their cages and were killed as well.  We have done our own investigation and believe that they have been stolen, and used by the employees.  we will be having a reopening of the supposed grave that the employees quickly buried the animals with out telling us.  Very underhanded, you have to be here to understand.  Our boss is in around 10 am today so if he is not too tired, we will let him deal with any firing or disciplinary action.

This Hotel business is wearing thin.  Kevin the girls and I are praying and looking for other means of income.  We are also now finding red tape slowing down the process of residency and work permit.  Always needing something else and then differently, or notarized or certified, it is a bother.  some how when you are sponsored by a business like us, you can not change sponsors.  You have to start from the beginning all over again.  Pray our brains follow Jehovah's direction in this.

Tracy, Did you or Jeramias have a part on the Assembly?  let me know what it was!

Jamie – thank you for doing what we were just told to do in pioneer meeting before assembly…invite our brothers and sisters out in service with us and follow thru!  especially those who may be fighting inactivity or discouragement!  You are a Lovely Pioneer and an awesome human!

Love you all, I will get Kevin to put some pictures up.

Katalena

P.S. write me!

More Nicaragua

I thought I would show you a couple of pictures of the “Chicken Buses” like we rode from Managua to Granada. The whole experience is so surreal that you feel like its all normal life –which of course it is for the people of this land. In all reality it was not bad – reminds you of riding to school. Well, it should as that is exactly what they are –old worn out US school buses that have been imported and “customized” to suit somebody –they are all unique in their own way.

To start off you have to identify which bus you actually want as to where it is going-that can be a real challenge as ALL the buses slow down at the stop when they see “norteamericanos” standing there. Once you get on the right bus – you just go find a seat –for us we picked a good time as there were not too many riders-and no animals this time either! They don’t call them chicken buses for nothing you know!

Then a guy comes down the aisle collecting the fair – we were worried because Cassandra was lacking enough for what we were told the fair was by a couple of Córdoba's. It did not matter it seemed in the end. If you handed him a few coins – he went on to the next passenger – if you asked – like the people behind me – they got charged 14 Córdoba's – we all paid 12 and Cassandra only paid 11. We could have given less. It is a mas o menos affair like a lot of things here.

Well, Kathleen will probably still log her own version of the trip so stay tuned…. We’ll probably give and update or two after we enjoy our first Circuit Assembly here in Costa Rica! Woo Hoo! Until then….

close ups

Grandma asked for close ups here you go…!  There is so much to tell you but I cant get it all on paper.  I am happy the girls are here, I have a sense of peace knowing they are in arms length.  We cant believe it has only been 3 months since seeing each other.  seems allot longer and that they have lived allot of life in that time.  Is it possible that they are no longer my babies but grown women?  I didn't cry when they came on the plane, instead I was laughing and joyous.  Kevin and I have had tears in the past and now we only can be happy.  Weather or not they stay is not important, I just needed to see them, the separation business is something better when done gradually.  Cassie is determined to go back in January, (Tifka Rachel is still making up her mind) they have been encouraged by the Bethel friends in Nicaragua branch and from the local Spanish congregation to stay and work hard for Jehovah.  They haven't had a chance to get to our English meeting yet it is tonight where Kevin and I are sure they will be approached by the Arabic brother,  and all the English learners to help out.  They are staying in one of our cabañas here and Tiff- Rachel is already cooking like a camp out queen for us.  She went and robed the weird banana trees and is boiling them as I write, she also pulled of a leaf of a cactus and swears it is edible, but I am going to ask the chef before I eat it.  Cassandra is on computer duty for Dad, doing a U tube promotion for the hotel.  So they are already helping out.  Oh I took them down to the airport and the Cafe Brit and they handed out flyers to the taxi drivers and personnel giving discounts and thank goodness they speak Spanish so well, jumped in with both feet. 

Service plans are delayed till next week after the assembly so they will have even more fun then.  This is just the mundane stuff.

Abel, Vivian, Trish, and Ernspikers…thanks for giving my girls back! 

Will right more again, but with the girls here I am not so lonely and I am in their faces constantly, when the newness wares off then I will be back!

Love you all way too much1

Katalena, Kathleen

Nicaragua

 

The girls finally made it! Their travel adventure was not quite complete however.

Just hours after arriving – we all boarded the Tica Bus headed for Nicaragua. Little did we realize what lay ahead. To be fair –the Tica Bus was not that bad. It was relatively comfortable with reclining seats and air-conditioning. They also movies playing – unfortunately, the movies they were playing were not very nice movies and it was very difficult not to watch because of how the TV was situated.

After 9 long hours – we made it to our destination. Managua! It so happened that Tica Bus operates a Hostel style Hotel so we were able to stay there and the price was not too bad. However, we were very hungry by almost 10PM when we arrived. Managua is not a city you go wandering around in at night. Especially if you do not know where you are going. We were left with little option but to get a taxi to find dinner. The taxi driver was a very nice fellow and drove us all around looking for an open restaurant – we finally found a Pizza place open and got our order to go.

Very quickly we discovered why there were so many guys at the border exchanging currencies – in Nicaragua you cannot use Costa Rican Colon's! Even though about 1,000,000 Nicaraguans have fled their country to Costa Rica – they despise the money in Costa Rica. So, we did have some US Dollars the girls brought with them so we survived until the following day and we could use an ATM.

The next day we had to use the taxi again to find the Bethel in Managua. The bus system in Nicaragua is not nearly as efficient as Costa Rica – getting around was an expensive prospect for US tourists. We did get to the branch though – and we had a lovely tour. What a beautiful thing to see Jehovah's people in action and the beautiful branch that was dedicated just recently in 2004. Nicaragua is a country still in somewhat of turmoil it seems and so the friends their have had to endure some difficulties in the not to distant past. The last 5-10 years have been better and they have seen tremendous growth in the field.

That afternoon we found out where the “Chicken Buses” ran to go to Granada from a brother at the branch and we decided to walk instead of get a taxi – save a few Córdoba's. That was a long walk in our dress clothes in the heat and humidity! WoW! But we made it. We took the Chicken Bus to Granada –about a 30-40 minute ride –not too bad.

Upon arrival in Granada – we were faced once again with the dilemma of where to go –on foot or taxi! We found a nice fellow at a mechanic shop that told us of a Hostel not too far away and we walked there. The price was not too bad and it was about as nice as we expected to find for our price range. We settled in the room dropping our stuff off and decided to walk down to the center of the city to eat. This was the part that was most difficult. All the way there – and everywhere we went we encountered mostly empty streets with a few families just sitting in their doorways. In the park were a lot of people selling things – and lots and lots of poor people. Destitute poor –everywhere. Begging –hanging on you begging for a hand-out. They were all very sad – one would like to help – but you cannot. There are too many – this is a country in desperate need of the New World. Most of the people have nothing – and little prospect of ever having anything. The city of Granada itself is interesting from an historical and architectural standpoint. It is the oldest city in All of the Americas – being founded in 1522. The architecture is a mix of Old Spanish and gothic. You can see in certain sections of the city, especially down by Lake Nicaragua where they had started to restore certain aspects – but the restoration itself seems to have failed long ago.

I am going to leave off this part of the blog for now – Kathleen will likely have her version which will probably be more entertaining too!

I did post some pictures though over at the website under the Nicaragua link.