Rural territory.

Some pictures of the local territory.

Most of the time we walk everywhere in field service.

This can lead to some problems as there are many obstacles, like this bridge that was extremely hard to get across. Thankfully no one fell in =)

Some of the people in the territory are indigenous to the area or as they say here, they "live in the canopy". Most of these live back in the forest in shanty's like this one with only running water. This is one of my return visits.

I am finally geting acclimated to the territory and the surroundings. I have learned a tremendous amount of spanish in the last 3 weeks and that has helped considerably in the field ministry. However I still often use a sticky note to help and the householders are very patient and appreciative when I (try to) speak their language. Last Sunday instead of returning with my "family" to Coronado, I stayed with another couple from my hall to preach in rural territory with another congregation. A few times a month, a congregation will rent a bus and all the publishers that are able will contribute a little and go to a territory that only gets worked a few times a year. In some of the more developed areas (i.e. Guapiles) there are 9 congregations so it is nice for the publishers to have the opportunity to work a territory that does not get reached often. I did two trips, one to Rio Frio and another to a place with a name difficult to remember. The people are extremely appreciative and very receptive. Due to the amount of territory to cover though, we are encouraged to be brief since it is definitely possible to spend an hour or more at any given house.

This picture was taken in Rio Frio.

I thought for this post I would focus solely on how great the local brothers have been to me. From the start they have been extremely generous and supportive. Everyone wants to have you over for lunch or dinner or give you something. I've never been one for accepting a "hand out" that I didn't need but here there is no choice. Everyone wants to take care of you in some way and contribute to your well being. Bellow is the family I stay with. I eat with them, study with them and preach with them. They are very protective of me and are always asking "are you happy?" "How do you feel?" "Do you need anything?". Since their son Jose is learning english in school I have tried to help out where possible with his homework and we have a system where he will teach me a spanish word and I will teach him the english one. As we work in service together often, we practice and turn it into a little "game" to see who can remember the most new words. Even though he doesnt speak english, since we spend so much time together he has become my translator and can turn spanish words I don't understand into ones that I do somehow. Truly a testament to Jehovah's beautiful organization when I realize I've been living with them for 3 weeks like part of their family and before then I had never met them before in my life.

Jose, Me, Alvarro, Marlen, and Sisy (the dog)

The amount of patience this family has showed is hard to explain. But they frequently stop to explain conversations or make sure I understand important decisions. Other members of the congregation I may not understand but they are always wanting to do something for you. One brother walked over to the house so I could come to his house and he could show me his tilapia pond. When I transfer from one family to the next there's always whispered conversation about what I should and shouldnt do and a tremendous amount of behind the scenes work to make sure that I am never left alone somewhere without a a brother to look out for me. One day after preaching I had a stomach pain from dehydration (which has happened before in the US). Even though I knew the source of the pain and inisisted I would be fine, the brother I was with that weekend took me to the clinic he works at and the doctor stayed late to administer some medicine through an iv. Even in the hour or so I was there another brother stopped by to see how I was. Then no matter how much I insisited the brother would not let me pay for the medicine. Other members of the congregation are just as helpful and protective and want to take me to see the beautiful places in the country. I could go on, but honestly even though there are definitely challenges, i.e. the bugs and the heat, the hardest part is not being able to express my gratitude to the extent I want to these incredible brothers and sisters.

First week in CR

My first week was truly a blessing. I started in Coronado and stayed with some local friends and went in field service with them a few days. The territory was neat. Mostly smaller nicer houses with gates out front so the tradition was to tap on the gate and just yell "Buenas" until they came out or you realized they didnt want to talk. They work their territory pretty frequently in that area. I had a few good calls, I was talking to one man when he broke down and started crying. He just had so many problems. Since my spanish is so limited my partner was able to share some scriptural comfort and encourage him to go visit the hall where he lived and he promised to do so. Also, since most of the houses do not have numbers, their not at home slips are just a series of descriptions. The second day I was out I was given one that said, "la casa de color de papaya." Or the papaya colored house. I still have no idea what color that is, but apparently its a mix between orange and yellow...?

I left Wednesday with a family who lives in Coronado part time and in Bella Vista outside Guapiles from Wednesday through Sunday. Wednesday we arrived at their house in Bella Vista. Its an open style house with screen for windows. It was very nice spending time with the family and since they speak no english I spent a lot of time with my dictionary. But as is the norm with other theocratic people you rarely need a lot of words to communicate. Eventually we'd work out a system where if I learned a new spanish word I would teach them its english equivalent.

The meetings in Bella vista are on the front porch of the home of one of the brothers. The congregation consists of about 16 publishers. 1 elder is local and another is from Guapiles and drives out to assist for every meeting. They were very happy to have me there and assigned me a Bible Highlights for next week. The meetings are at night so its cooler and because of that many bugs will fly in attracted to the light on the porch. I think I'm the only one who even notices even on the first night when this monster bug flew in and hit the microphone while the brother was talking. Since the meetings are on the front porch some of the local youth will drive by and honk their horns and yell to cause a distraction, but most are very respectful and the brother giving the talk will just pause until the car passes.

The territory is very spread out. We walk alot on very rocky roads. You have to be careful you dont #1 step in anything an animal left behind, and #2 dont step wrong on a rock and twist your ankle. Other then that, those that listen are very kind and helpful. I met one lady and was doing my presentation and she stopped me and said in english "its ok you can speak english". She was from Texas and had just moved there. She was very impressed that someone had come all the way out Bella Vista from the states so she promised to read the brochure. I went on a few bible studies with the brother I'm staying with too. One was on a family who had a very simple house. As we are sitting there the goats and chickens are just wondering in and out of their home. But even though the study was with the father, the whole family was sitting in the kitchen listening and when we would look up a scripture the man would yell the chapter and verse to his wife inside. I looked over my shoulder at one point and saw his little girl reading along in my book over my shoulder. Again here there are no real "addresses" so in order to make a return you have to be very very descriptive. Below are some photos of the local territory

Final preparations

Well my supposed rooming arrangments turned out to be a big misunderstanding and unfortunately I didnt find that out till 3 days before I left. Thankfully the CR branch was incredibly helpful and I got in touch with nice couple in Santiago de puriscal. Also there is a sister in Coronado who has a pioneer couple that serves in Guapiles I can stay with if necessary. Guess we will see where Jehovah needs me.

Preparation

My living arrangements for Costa Rica are still in the works but after seeing how great things turned out for my friend, I am fully confident that everything will go great. So far, from the moment I found out i was losing my job, I've been able to get this trip started, get reasonable tickets, get out of my lease with no penalty, find a place I could move into for cheap for the next few weeks, and get packed and out of my house within 2 weeks. I truly believe this would not be possible without Jehovah's backing.