Class picture

Our class with the signs and flags we made to send with the Essenburgs for the fundraiser on the 26th! And, praise God, we have one more student and three prospective students coming to check out the classroom tomorrow!

Singing! Those who know me know how far I have come if I am leading ANYONE, let alone five year olds, in singing. But they love it! It is a fun way to learn language as well! The tico students' favorite song is "I've got the Joy!". They ask to sing it every day.

Looking for gas pumpers, salsa makers, and fuel purchasers!

Family and Friends!

As things with the school here in Costa Rica have been moving forward! After a quick month in the states, I am back in Quepos, one week into the new school year. God has given us three new students and we are looking to put up a building and getting the accreditation process rolling.

We have been blessed by the Essenburg family, who has fallen in love with Costa Rica and has decided to help us throw a fundraiser for the school.

The fundraiser will be on Sept. 26, at Quality Car Wash. Half of all fuel sales will go towards the school. There will also be smaller things like bracelets, jewelry, and other items from Costa Rica for sale.

So, I have been asked to gather the troops! We are looking for volunteers to...

1. Work the fundraiser. This includes people to help set up, hold signs, or pump gas.
2. Some volunteers who will are willing to make some homemade salsa for the event.

And if you can’t help with either of these things, please help us spread the word and come to fill up your tank! Mark your calendars! (And don’t worry, I won’t let you forget :) I’ll send out a reminder email as well as the date approaches).

If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know as soon as possible and I will pass on your name to Kathy.

In more detail:

With a new school year in full swing, I have had the chance to get my feet wet as a full time teacher. You can see pictures of the classroom on my blog... Outside of regular planning, I spent hours cutting out circles for a number line, but it was all worth it in the end. The kids really love the room, and are proud of it. They have taken ownership already and are excited about what we are learning.

As we train someone to take over the teaching position, I will start working more on the administrative side of things, trying to sort through the requirements and figure out how all the curriculum pieces need to be presented to the Ministry of Education in Costa Rica for their approval.

Our classroom is growing and we have twice as many kids as last year. However, there are many interested parents and people watching what we are doing. Many do not want to commit until we have all our papers in hand. We are trying to finalize building plans, and have made some valuable connections with people who can help us with the legal and bureaucratic processes involving permits and approval. Praise God!

As we commit this school project to the Lord, we pray that we may give him glory and honor in all that we do, being His hands and His feet here in Costa Rica.

Continue to pray for God’s hand over everything we do, for wisdom and discernment, and for the opportunity to be a bridge, showing Christ’s love to the kids, the families, and the community of Quepos.

I am continually reminded that we have a God who can do immeasurably more that all that we ask and imagine.