Christmas in Costa Rica

New photos are here! See them below and in our slideshow at right! Thank you to everyone who donated time, money or both to help make it happen!

Fixed and ready to go! Christmas Miracle Number 1

We found a mechanic to fix the van (thanks for the answered prayer!)
...and now our volunteer army (the only one allowed in Costa Rica) is busy wrapping, sorting, and loading the gifts. Tomorrow morning is GO!

One small community. Hundreds of gifts. Small alleys to navigate filled with cats, dogs, and the occasional chicken. Hope someone takes pictures!

Pray for us!

Our wonderful 15 passenger van broke down...it has a leak!

Not only could it cost us a lot of money to repair it, but also it could very well not get fixed quickly...right before Christmas!

The van was a gift years ago from a very generous and beloved friend of ours, which has served us well. We depend on it so much, from transporting the Beca students to running to the precario, to now, in this Christmas season, delivering presents!

We need a master mechanic to fix it, and fix it quickly! Pray that it gets fixed...faster than Christmas is coming!

Christmas/End of School Year Party for the Beca Students

The Jane Jones Beca students had a great time at their end of school year/Christmas party on December 18th. The students enjoyed good food, games, and presents for all, along with a memento/photo of the late Jane Jones, for which the scholarship is named. She loved to celebrate with family and friends at occasions like these.

At right, our top three winners of the English language exam (our own exam, not the school's!) are shown. Tatiana took first prize. Juan Carlos took second prize, and Marlon took third prize. They got to choose between mp3 players and a cd player, but the real prize was learning....how sneaky of us!

Christmas Shopping!

The Christmas countdown in Costa Rica has begun! That means a flurry of activity...parties to attend (to give away gifts, play and bring JOY!) and presents to deliver.

Some of the presents are already pre-bought...patrons of stores like Cemaco in Costa Rica and also patrons of local small businesses like Leon Chiropractica in Moravia, Costa Rica had trees with children's names on the branches. Then patrons picked a name and could donate a toy to that child for Christmas.

Other presents came from the states, like the ones that came from California and from Georgia in suitcases!

Other presents are bought there in Costa Rica and wrapped and delivered....

over 1500 presents are this years goal, and it takes a small army of volunteers! Thanks donors, and thanks volunteers!