National Park Field Trip

Today we had the opportunity to go on a one-of-a-kind field trip, Costa Rica style! I received a phone call from the director of Kids Saving the Rainforest, asking if our kids wanted to take part in a demonstration of their program for a local tv channel.

Kids Saving the Rainforest was started by a young girl and her mother in order to raise awareness and help protect the natural habits in Costa Rica. Since then, the organization has grown, and has its own animal rehab center that works with sloths, monkeys, and other animals native to the Manuel Antonio area. They were even highlighted on Extreme Home Makeover! It is a great organization that loves working and empowering kids to help do their part in conservation.

We brought the kids to the Mono Azul Hotel, the Kids Saving the Rainforest headquarters, where they learned all the reasons why we should NOT feed the monkeys... including our ability to make them sick by our germs. (Check out all 10 reasons on KSTR's website, www.kidssavingtherainforest.org)

After learning all about it, we went to share it, visiting the National Park. There our students brought information to tourists in the park, explaining why feeding the monkeys is harmful. A film crew followed us around, documenting the event and El Puente students will be on National TV next Monday night! Our kids did a great job, doing their part to raise awareness!

Above: at the park enterance, handing out fliers and talking to individuals about what we had learned.

Below: walking through the park and sharing with more park visitors

For a few of our students, this was their first time in the National Park! It was a great opportunity for them to see why the park in their hometown is the second most visited National Park in Costa Rica! We saw monkeys, sloths and frogs!

Looking for the sloth... can you find it?

Looking for the red-eyed tree frog... can you spot it?

The New Classroom

Welcome to the New

La Escuela Cristiana El Puente!!

Today we celebrated day one in our new school building! We have moved into a condo complex where we will be able to continue to grow and develop as an institution! Praise God for help moving, for permits being pushed through, and for a smooth transition!

I will be moving into the second story... and look in the picture to the right... a pool for gym class! (and maybe some down time for the teachers :) )

Work Team Jan 2010

Work Team

January 2010

This January we were blessed to have a group come down to help us prepare the new classrom! Over the course of the week the team worked, despite the summer heat, volunteering their time and energy to help us paint and finish our new classroom, as well as help out at a local drug and alcohol rehab center.

I am continually amazed at the people that God brings down, their heart for service, and connections he is making- using His people to do His work to show the love of Christ worldwide!

Thanks to everyone who helped out this week!! We couldn't have made the move without you!

Above: the condo before.... and after! Marge displaying all her hard work!

Above: Dave getting on his hands and knees to finish the base coat on the steps. And the whole painting crew! (Kathy, Marge, Dave, Gabi, and Tom)

Above: Diego scaling to get the upper corners, Caitlin and Diego finishing the stairwell, and Caitlin and I finishing the upstairs preschool room...

Painting and cleaning and painting and cleaning!

Kathy and Diego

After the room was ready, it was moving time! In two days time we packed up our old classroom, and headed for the new location!

Car Loads of books, desks, and school supplies! All the kids helped!

Below: Diego by the beautiful garden he put in, red palms and all

Before..... and After!

The first day of school! Thanks EVERYONE for all the hard work and sweat! We couldn't have made the move into our new facility without you!!

The team also helped paint and put screens on the old drug and rehab center- the new home for the director of the program. They had a chance to work along side of a group of men who have decided to leave their addictions and give back to their community. Their time and energy was a blessing to another cause that seeks to see God glorified in Quepos!

Christmas Party!

This year we celebrated Christmas by holding an all-day party the last day of school.. we had a great time making ornaments, decorating Christmas cookies, racing in relays, and singing Christmas songs. The kids had a blast!... and even though there was no snow, I think everyone got into the Christmas sprit...

Vielka eating cake- to celebrate Jesus' birthday!

Crash!
opps... pictures out of order...
here's the pyramid still standing

RELAYS!!!

in oversized christmas-colored clothes

and Santa hats!

Go Go Go!

Look how great those shorts fit...

Hold them up!

Cam in the shorts, Emily in the shirt, Gabi in the Hat- team Green Santa is ready to go...

Lexi get that shirt on and the red team will be ready too!

Making Christmas Cards!

La Escuela en Cerros

Today, we went out with the class to visit a school in Cerros, a small community back in the Palm Plantations. The school is referred to as the "chicken coop school". The kids at the school, knowing the tourist industry of next-door-Quepos/Manuel Antonio, want to learn english, but schools with less then thirty students don't receive the funding to hire an English teacher. This multi-age class only has 13 students, from 1st to 6th grade. The teacher was explaining to us that they learn English off of a daily radio broadcast, but since there is not electricity at the school, they need to use a battery operated radio. The radio uses a lot of battery power, so they have only been able to have about three English classes. We are hoping to build a relationship with the teacher and students by coming out on a regular basis and having a shared English class with the students there. Education is valued in Costa Rica, and the teacher displays this commitment, but it was an eye opening experience of the wide range of schools and resources even in our neighborhood.

Elliot playing soccer with some of the kids

Aleasha sharing "Larry, el chico sucio" with the students in Cerros

The Teacher with students from our school and theirs

Making a book...

As a literary exercise, the class re-wrote the story "Harry, el perro sucio" (Harry, the dirty dog), writing about "Larry, the dirty boy". The kids wrote out the story, Elliot illustrated, and everyone helped color!

Elliot's Art Classes!

As many of you know, Elliot has decided to come and hang out with me in Costa Rica for the next six weeks. I am thrilled to have him! He will be volunteering at the school, teaching art and gym, until Christmas Break.

Elliot has only been in the classroom three days, but the kids LOVE him! Not only to they play "don't let the ball touch you when you are jumping on the tramp", they have already finished a few art projects!

Project number 1.... MONKEYS! Below, Cam shows off the Kindergarten work...

Flamingos!