WORK, WORK, WORK, and Costa Rica?

So I wrote an update a while ago to all of you but never ended up sending it because I had no time to refine it. Now it feels a bit obsolete and I am sure it wasn’t that good. So here I go again with a new one.

This one comes after being occupied by groups, four groups which came down to voluntarily work on the school. Our first group came down in the end of May and from there every other week we had one. I want to say thank you to all the members for coming. They really were able to help a lot. They did camps and VBS with the kids not only in La Esperanza, but in other surrounding communities also. They installed the electricity for the first two buildings, leveled floors, and painted two of the three buildings! It’s amazing what a little paint can do because now the project is looking really good. If you need painting, I have a great friend in SD who paints well, Glenn Chaffee and his son Clay. Give them a call...

I have to honestly say I am a bit tired. I feel like I don’t sleep enough and the heat is a killer. After writing last time about my proposal to Rina, I have not had a chance to even think about the wedding apart from finding a location, a really sweet one right on the beach with a giant Ceiba tree covering it. I haven’t had time to write you, and I feel like I am now deep into the groove of construction management—Honduran style.

I wish to talk with all of you because I feel the distance now. The first year here I had a lot of down time. I spent a lot of time watching, observing, and self-analyzing, but now I am taking action. I am directing the project, hosting groups, looking for work, making books, and maintaining a wonderful relationship with Rina... And I thought the Caribbean life was easy… Where’s my hammock?! I still have yet to get one. Anyway, I feel like I have lost touch with many of you who corresponded with me so faithfully even just a few months ago. So here’s to hope that we can talk again. I am hoping for some personal letters.

As many of you know, Joel, my best friend, is down here assisting with the project. He now has three months of living with me. In three months he has quickly adapted to Port life, with dirt roads and frequent blackouts. He has taken to learning the ins-and-outs of the project with me and as of yesterday learned to speak Spanish! It has been so good to have him here to help coordinate the groups and help with project decisions and I bet he is tired too.

After the groups left a week ago, Joel and I had the opportunity to go to Costa Rica with the youth from church for a Youth Conference. It was a well needed vacation even though if you have ever been to a youth function, you know that they never sleep and they yell and scream all the time…

It was interesting to see a function so big in Latin America. The function encompassed youth from seven countries from Mexico to Panama, and was comprised of a week of workshops, concerts, games, and a service project.

The experience was very good, mainly for meeting new people. I am proud to say I now have friends in every part of Central America. Rina especially liked getting to know the Mexicans and has made a goal to see Mexico before the end of next year. I think it is a good goal for her.

When we came back, Begardo, the Superintendent of the Church, came up from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro, and signed the papers required to put the land that the school is on in the name of the Church. I am told that in only a few short twenty-seven days, we should be out from under the compromise with the city and own the land outright. This is monumental for the project and will give us some of the leverage we need to finish.

On the way back from San Pedro, in Marlon’s borrowed Ford focus, Alex and I were talking about the state of the school and ideas on how to develop the project. We were so excited about the prospects of which classes to have and how it would work, that I didn’t fully appreciate what Alex meant when he said he felt sleepy three times in a row. In the middle of discoursing on my latest epiphany, I looked to him for acknowledgement, in time to see his eyes close and his head drop as he maneuvered the wheel. I grabbed him by the chest and shook him. “Hey, don’t fall asleep here!” I shouted, “Wake Up! You have to drive.” He opened his eyes and they drooped immediately like fish weights on a line. I told him the sooner we get home the sooner he could sleep, but not here. I looked down and noticed we were only going 30 mph and he thought it felt fast as he was only half conscious with my life in his hands… Although it was only three in the afternoon, his eyes started drooping again! Out of desperation, I clapped really LOUD in his face. He opened his eyes with a kiddish smile and I clapped again. And again. CLAP! Again CLAP! …“Alabare Alabare Alabara Alabare, Alabare a mi Senor…” Pastor Alex started singing! And like this we made it home, with the windows down, going thirty, and he singing while I clap. Just another day on the job in Honduras…

For the school project, I want to say thank you to all of you who have been supporting us and the school. Thank you so much for your donations, prayers, and time. I want to send all of you photos so you can really appreciate what has been built this year. We are so close to finishing. We only have the roof on the last building, windows, doors, and electrical to do. If you pray, please pray that we finish. We only need about $20,000 more to finish and then we can fill the classrooms. This is so little compared to what we have raised. We have three weeks left of major construction and are hoping to finish strong. Please spread the word and help us. Please pray for the funds.

Thanks for being patient for another update during all the work. I know it isn’t as great as some that I have sent, but my mind is fried at the moment. I will post pictures and that might be better… Love you all and I hope to hear from you,

COSTA RICA


The Nazarene Campground in Costa Rica is Beautiful. Very, very nice. Costa Rica is like Europe meets the Caribbean, it is organized, clean and has great architecture, with palm trees and volcanoes on the horizon.


Joel and Rina eat Ice Cream in the Central Park, and the Panamanians shared a traditional dance on Cultural day, the day of the conference where each country presented something about their heritage and culture.



I got to paint all the faces for Honduras. While Mexico and Panama came finely dressed in traditional clothes, Honduras looked like we were going to a Soccer game!


Cows are a big part of Costa Rica Heritage. Everywhere you go in San Jose, there are cow sculptures in different poses and doing different things. We took our picture with this one...for the resemblance.


I will have to find out the name of this church that we stumbled upon. San Jose is full of beautiful Cathedrals, but I liked this one in particular and another made all of wood.


Rina has got to be the MOST beautiful girl in the world. I am so in love with her and she is amazing! She loved Costa Rica. I have trained her well, because she never stopped taking photos.

WORK GROUPS FOR COCAL PROJECT



I know he's not part of the groups, but Joel loved this little girl named, Belkis. She came every day to see us and drew a a new picture each time. She helped joel paint the hearts on the school.


My parents came down on the trip from San Diego First Church and sang in the Sunday service while Elda plaed guitar. Kile, our foreman on the project says my mom is like a Pepsi on a hot day. She is perfect to drink when you want something more than water. I think that is good...


Joel's parents also came down and helped us build the stalls for the bathrooms. I just found this photo appropriate to the job.


This is a photo of the last phase of construction, Phase 3. It is twice the size of the other two buildings and his comprised of a kitchen that will feed the neighborhood, a classroom, storage, and four offices. It is HUGE and marks the end of construction.


Here is a side view of the third building.


The far corner. We attract all sorts of onlookers...


Here is the front of the third building again, but this time after the Canadian team painted everything making it look REALLY NICE!


The Maximum Mission team from Guatemala gave us a ride back home from Tegus after the conference and came to see the project.


This is a far photo to show the project as a whole, the three buildings that make up Escuela de La Vos. This project is HUGE and going to be such a blessing to the community.

We need $20,000 more to finish this month. SO if you have any way of helping or getting help, we appreciate it. We are almost there! Love you all and I look forward to hearing from you.

Brian