Day 8 8/20/12 - Meghan Doolittle

Today was our first day serving in San Jose. Our breakfast was amazing, a great start to the day. The woman who prepares the meals at the AMCA house is really taking care of us. We headed to Pavas for our sports clinic. The kids were adorable and so lovable. The first half of the clinic we worked with the youngsters from Kindergarden to 2nd grade. We tried some structured games just wanted extra love and attention. The girls were so sweet and just wanted to be held and tossed in the air. After our time with the little ones we played with the middle schoolers who love el futball. We divided into four teams and played soccer games. Which got pretty intense. All in all the sports clinic was really fun and the weather was good. The second half of the day we spent in San Jose getting ice cream and coffee. Going to the market was interesting. It was filled was tourist like things, but the hot item was the one person hammocks. Matt was the first of many to buy due to his bartering skills. After exploring the market we went in search of POPS ice cream and to buy Costa Rican coffee.  I believe Scott bought 25 bags. I really must say the coffee smell in our rooms is wonderful. As we are reaching the final day of our trip im beginning to get excited to return home but realizing how fun this group is. Its been incredible to share Gods word and to get to know each other better and grow closer together. I know its cliche and typical but this trip had made me realize how conveniant and easy our lives are. And how much we take for granted. I'm incredibly thankful for this experience that I know I'll never forget and I'm excited for whats in store for whats in store for out last day in Costa Rica.

Day 7 8/19/12 - Emily Mumford

This morning was our last day in Los Chiles. We got up really early, had breakfast, and said our goodbyes. We were sad to leave the farm. We all came to love Don Tony's beautiful smile and our spanish conversations with the boys there. We got on the road and traveled to Arenal which is an incredible active volcano. We took pictures of it and made our way to Baldi hot springs resort. It was amazing. It was strange going from such extreme poverty to such luxury. The resort had many awesome hot springs ranging from 93 degrees to 116 degrees. We went down the fun slides and explored looking for the hottest water we could find. There were awesome hidden spots all around. There were water falls, beds in the hot springs where you could lay down, secret steam rooms hidden in the rocks, even secret cold pools in the middle of the larger hot ones. It was so much fun. Once we divided and showered we ate at a buffet.  There where many of us who were excited to not have rice and beans again. After the hot springs we set off for a canopy tour and the sky darkened a bit. It looked like a storm was rolling in but because we were in the mountains it was hard to tell. The canopy tour was a series of zip lines set up in the forest. It was incredible. we got our harnesses and gloves and we trekked to the learn how to get on and off the zip lines. It was so much fun to fly through the air on these awesome lines. You could hear the howler monkeys and the trees were pretty dense so you couldn't feel the rain that had started to fall. We got to one part after zipping through a number of obstacles. It was called the Tarzan swing. They clipped your harness to a rope and just pushed you into the jungle. It honestly felt like you were suspended in mid air, flying. It was an awesome experience. We made it through a few more lines and the bus was waiting. The last line was the longest and it was glorious. It was through the awesome jungle and you just went forever. After the canopy tour we made our way to San Jose. We swapped stories on the bus ride, sang along to some Michael Jackson, and we were at the AMCA house before we knew it. Matt shared an intense testimony after dinner and we all went to bed happy our sheets weren't damp anymore.

Day 6 8/18/12 - Abbie Hoffman

Today we worked on Don Tony and Dona Rosa's farm. We had a different form of pancakes it was so nice having a sort of American food. HAHAHA. I learned that they put a sort of sour cream on them. HAHAHAHA. Not for me. There were four groups that split up to do different jobs. They were weeding, cleaning the house, demolishing a pen, and cutting down trees for a new pen. I picked weeding. It was hot, dirty, prickly, but good bonding time with people you may not have known. We worked for three hours and then broke for lunch. We had rice and chicken thing it was good. Don Tony insisted that we take a siesta. HAHAHAHAHAHA. It was a great part of the day. Then we went back to work. While the weeding team was working we had a cow, a sheep, and a goose join us. It made things interesting, that's for sure. After we were done we had juice and saltines around 4. Then we had dinner. I had dish duty which is always pretty fun. Since you have to play a game with yourself saying what goes where. Dish duty is also a great way to get closer to people on the team and also people on the farm. After that we had team time learning about having a servants heart. Its awesome just sitting outside worshiping God. Then we all went to bed since we had a long work day. It was great helping Don Tony and Dona Rosa out. You could tell they really appreciated our help. PURA VIDA!

Day 5 8/17/12 - Taylor Phillips

Today it rained. We started our day taking a walk down to the bus. Yesterday, it was too wet to drive to the farm so we left it down the road. After making the walk down to the bus in our very "fashionable rain gear" we headed to Cristo Rey to have a sports clinic and water demonstration. When we were on our way we learned we might not be able to make it to the town because of all the rain the river was over the bridge. We got to the river and quickly learned out our bus would not make it even thought our bus driver wanted to desperately  Some men from the town came with trucks to take us across. When we got there we played with kids and had a water demonstration. After our adventures we headed back to the farm for a restful night. It has amazed me how much of a process it can be to get to places. We take for granted and mistake how easy it is to jump in the car and run to the doctor. We never think about a bridge being flooded and not being able to drive over.

Day 4 8/16/12 - Matt Danmyer

Today we got to sleep in until 730 am. We woke up and ate plantanes and then we went to play with kids. We arrived at the school and there were 60 kids ranging fro elementary to middle school age. we played kickball, dodgeball and volleyball. They did not understand dodgeball, but it was a lot of fun. After that we drove to Oscar's community and did a water filter demonstration for the town. Oscar took some of the team on a ride on a horse. After a long ride and listening to a lot of country we arrived at the farm. Unfortunately after 3 times and a lot of cheering our bus even with the expertise of our driver Ronnie we could not make it up the hill. On our way back we encountered the bull Lula. I tried to corral it back to the farm but it turned on me and made a few aggressive gestures. It got real. Luckily Nelson swooped in and corralled the cow back into the pasture. After we arrived back at the farm we play soccer with the group and the boys from the farm. The boys were much better than us. After an hour Don Tony asked us to on an errand. Taylor, Coach Greer, Daniel, and I agreed to go. Don Tony was very appreciative. He said it was only 2km. So, we went on our way to get some cheese for the farm. We found out 100ft down the road it was 3km not 2 so it would be a lot more walking. It quickly became dark so we were glad Don Tony gave us a flashlight. 50 minutes later we arrived at the house where we received 7lbs of cheese. Very muddy and very tired, we headed back more quickly to complete our quest in just under 2 hours. I jumped into the shower after the journey and found out there was no water. Don Tony turned on the water and I was finally clean. We ended the day with songs, testimonies, and a lesson from Mr. Scott.

Day 3 8/15/12 - Jacob Sprengle

Today was filled with firsts and adventures. Breakfast in Costa Rica is a large meal so we had a lot. It was delicious. Then, it was time to head out to our first clinic. About 2 hours north near the Nicaragua border. It was a small village where they road horses even small children. One mother and child riding near the church got their horse stuck in a hole. It was a scary moment. But with the help of some men and Matt we were able to get the horses leg out. We went to the fields and got the fields ready. My job was with kickball and dodge ball  It was difficult and stressful not knowing spanish. even with the help of Dannie is was hard to keep them organized. Once the kids got the hang of it they loved it. even with the language barrier the kids had a great time. it was really nice to bring joy to them. High five for fun!!! Rachael gave her testimony and did a great job keeping it simple for the young ones. later Paul gave his testimony to the church. He kept his composure and I was excited and proud of him. He shared God's love well. We sand Father Abraham for the church and they thought we were a little bit weird. After Paul and I did the filter demonstration, Paul explained while I demonstrated. The drilling of the bucket was difficult. But God answered my prayer and helped speed up the process. We showed dirty water and then the clean water. I drank it and I think people were surprised. But clearly they trusted it cause many kids came up and drank it too. The pastor passed out the filters and our whole team helped assemble the filters. It was an amazing first day, but little did we know it was far from over. On our way back to Tony and Rosa's we saw a group of monkeys. We counted eleven. They were black and awesome. We stopped and took pictures then went to the farm. On the dirt road near the farm. Tony's bull was loose and Ronnie used his horn to herd it home. Then the real fun began. Soccer with Oscar, Nelson, Andre, and Dannie in a small concrete building with a tin roof and half walls. 2 v 2 soccer with the first goal winning. Immediately, it began to storm. A close lightening strike almost hit us but the games continued. The storm never stopped. When everyone got too tired to continue we ran back to the main building in the rain. Many games of 4 square, conversation, and a quick game of spades continued. The rain and lightening were still coming down. Biggest I've ever seen. It is 7pm and I don't think the storm will stop anytime soon. It is making tomorrow's travel questionable but God has a plan and he is keeping us safe.

Day 2 8/14/12 - Chris Gill

Today we drove from San Jose to the farm in Los Chiles. We were blessed with a wonderful breakfast fro the owner of the complex we were staying in. Then we began our drive to the mountains. the central region of Costa Rica is quiet possibly the most beautiful place I have ever seen. As we wound through the mountain roads and passed homes I'm not exactly sure but it wasn't hitting me that this is the way people lived here. Their houses aren't large, they do not have big front yards, but they live in little houses or huts along the road. The country is absolutely beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride through the mountains. However, I am hoping that God breaks me this week and breaks my heart for these people. They are incredible. We got to the farm up here in Los Chiles and we spent time talking to a 13 year old boy named Nelson. Nelson speaks no english and I speak very little spanish, but it was fun communicating and learning about him. The hospitality we have received here from Don Tony and Dona Rosa. They are amazing. I am just hoping for God to teach me and break me this week.