Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Fourth of July 2013 - expat style
Nothing reinforces the feeling of being a foreigner more than being out of the country on the Fourth of July; just an ordinary work day in Costa Rica.
Celebrating our U.S. heritage, the office staff and interns got together for the most "American" holiday we could create.
Celebrating our U.S. heritage, the office staff and interns got together for the most "American" holiday we could create.
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| Our intern friends came and played games |
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| Also with us were the Puttcamps, the other staff family spending July in Costa Rica. |
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| The kids and their friends played on the trampoline. |
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| Of course there were games... |
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| And relaxing. |
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| barbequing, |
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| and of course eating! |
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| We even had a camp fire... |
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| and roasted S'mores! |
The long awaited Trampoline
They were patient. They saved and saved; Christmas money, birthday money. They cleaned the neighbor's yard. They dog-sat. They had a bake sale and lemonade stand. They worked for it.
I'm proud of Laura and Tanner for working toward a goal. Both of them wanted a trampoline but we couldn't afford one for them. So we told them that we would pay for half of the cost if they could save the rest. They did it!
It took an amazingly long time to assemble, both a Saturday and Sunday afternoon, but the kids helped and when it was done they jumped through sun and rain and even after the sun had gone down.
I'm proud of Laura and Tanner for working toward a goal. Both of them wanted a trampoline but we couldn't afford one for them. So we told them that we would pay for half of the cost if they could save the rest. They did it!
It took an amazingly long time to assemble, both a Saturday and Sunday afternoon, but the kids helped and when it was done they jumped through sun and rain and even after the sun had gone down.
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| We started assembly on our porch on Saturday afternoon |
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| By Saturday night we were getting close to completion; but not quite |
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| By Sunday afternoon it was finished! Intern Aaron came over to help inaugurate the trampoline! |
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| Then of course, mom had to show them how it's done. Go Cindy! |
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Working with the Nazarenes
I've been a member of the Church of the Nazarene for over 30 years. It was through the teaching there and my experience with other members that the Lord brought me to serve Him full-time. Each time I'm home to the States, I look forward to attending the Nazarene Church where I grew up.
And so it has been very exciting to be able to partner EMI, where I am serving now, and with the Church of the Nazarene for a project on the other side of San José, Costa Rica.
At the end of May, I was joined by Richard, an architect from Nebraska, and Debbie, an intern from Colorado to spend a week getting to know the staff and members of la Iglesia del Nazareno en Los Ángeles de Guadalupe. We spent the time capturing the vision the Lord has given them and understanding the project site.
It was with great pleasure that we presented them with conceptual drawings of how their church might look so that they can raise funds to pay off the property. It is with great hope that we pray the Lord's work is fulfilled through the ministry of this church!
Here are some plans and images of what the facility could look like:
And so it has been very exciting to be able to partner EMI, where I am serving now, and with the Church of the Nazarene for a project on the other side of San José, Costa Rica.
At the end of May, I was joined by Richard, an architect from Nebraska, and Debbie, an intern from Colorado to spend a week getting to know the staff and members of la Iglesia del Nazareno en Los Ángeles de Guadalupe. We spent the time capturing the vision the Lord has given them and understanding the project site.
It was with great pleasure that we presented them with conceptual drawings of how their church might look so that they can raise funds to pay off the property. It is with great hope that we pray the Lord's work is fulfilled through the ministry of this church!
Here are some plans and images of what the facility could look like:
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Celebrating 14 years with my MAN
We have had a tradition for our entire marriage of taking turns planning our anniversary and we always go somewhere overnight. I plan the odd years and Tim plans the even years of marriage. Over the years, we have gone to the beach, the mountains, the city, warm springs, volcanoes, etc. We look forward to it all year and it is always a time of sharing our hopes and dreams, relaxing, and playing.
This year has been our favorite yet! Tim found a place that was affordable and met both of our desires: someplace cool and rainy with a nice ambiance and plenty of hiking nearby. With all the unforeseen medical and auto expenses this last year we were disappointed that it looked like we would have to give up our annual get-away. BUT, God had other ideas. Thanks to some kind and generous friends who love us :-) we were given a gift that covered a two night stay at Poas Lodge near Volcano Poas, all meals, and entrance to La Paz (Peace) Waterfall nature resort/park, both of which we highly recommend.
We have taken a lot of pictures and have an album on facebook, but here are a few highlights:
This year has been our favorite yet! Tim found a place that was affordable and met both of our desires: someplace cool and rainy with a nice ambiance and plenty of hiking nearby. With all the unforeseen medical and auto expenses this last year we were disappointed that it looked like we would have to give up our annual get-away. BUT, God had other ideas. Thanks to some kind and generous friends who love us :-) we were given a gift that covered a two night stay at Poas Lodge near Volcano Poas, all meals, and entrance to La Paz (Peace) Waterfall nature resort/park, both of which we highly recommend.
We have taken a lot of pictures and have an album on facebook, but here are a few highlights:
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| Don't we look happy? |
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| Love the exotic plants here! |
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| Look of contentment |
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| My new friend...for 10 seconds |
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| Tiger Butterfly on Heliconia plant |
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| We hiked to several beautiful waterfalls |
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| Poison Dart frog |
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| View from our room |
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| Panoramic view from Poas Lodge. It overlooks the entire Central Valley! |
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Clínica El Buen Pastor, Santa María del Real, Olancho, Honduras
Last month, along with 13 volunteer architects and engineers from the U.S. and Canada, I traveled to Honduras to serve Clínica El Buen Pastor by designing a new facility.
El Buen Pastor serves the rural poor from the area surrounding Santa María del Real and Catacamas, about a 4-1/2 hour drive from the capital, Tegucigalpa.
Although Honduras has socialized medical care, the rural poor are often reluctant to enter the cities where it is provided and even at reasonable prices are unable to afford the care. El Buen Pastor targets this group of people by providing a facility that intentionally appears less afluent and by charging half the going rate for service.
The existing clinic, located in the small town of Santa María del Real, has been plagued by increasing gang violence, even shootings on their doorstep. As a result, the poor that they are called to serve are afraid to come to the clinic and the clinic staff themselves are at risk.
El Buen Pastor purchased a new site about two kilometers outside of town, in a rural area to build a replacement facility and asked Engineering Ministries International to help them with the design.
During our time in Honduras, the team gained and understanding of the program for the new clinic, researched what materials and methods are appropriate there, and presented a schematic design for the facility that was approved by the ministry.
Now that we´ve all returned home, the volunteers, the interns in this office and I are working together to complete the documents for construction of this new facility with the intent to provide them to the ministry in July of this year.
One of the volunteers put together a video of the project that shares a glimpse of what the project is like. I hope you enjoy it.
http://youtu.be/wsTPT9kXlE0
Tim
El Buen Pastor serves the rural poor from the area surrounding Santa María del Real and Catacamas, about a 4-1/2 hour drive from the capital, Tegucigalpa.
Although Honduras has socialized medical care, the rural poor are often reluctant to enter the cities where it is provided and even at reasonable prices are unable to afford the care. El Buen Pastor targets this group of people by providing a facility that intentionally appears less afluent and by charging half the going rate for service.
The existing clinic, located in the small town of Santa María del Real, has been plagued by increasing gang violence, even shootings on their doorstep. As a result, the poor that they are called to serve are afraid to come to the clinic and the clinic staff themselves are at risk.
El Buen Pastor purchased a new site about two kilometers outside of town, in a rural area to build a replacement facility and asked Engineering Ministries International to help them with the design.
During our time in Honduras, the team gained and understanding of the program for the new clinic, researched what materials and methods are appropriate there, and presented a schematic design for the facility that was approved by the ministry.
Now that we´ve all returned home, the volunteers, the interns in this office and I are working together to complete the documents for construction of this new facility with the intent to provide them to the ministry in July of this year.
One of the volunteers put together a video of the project that shares a glimpse of what the project is like. I hope you enjoy it.
http://youtu.be/wsTPT9kXlE0
Tim
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