... and I also learned Spanish

Graduation

On August 14^th Bridget and I graduated from the Instituto de Lengua Español (ILE), the language school here in Costa Rica.  Our class was one of the largest groups to have come through ILE in many years and many countries were represented as we walked to the front with our respective country flag. Being locals, Bridget and I had the privilege of bringing in the host country flag, Costa Rica. We are grateful for not having to make the transition to a new country.

This last year has been huge on learning many things. Language and Latin American culture being the obvious big ones. One of the ways to stretch a person in a major way is to pluck them out of their home culture, take away the ability to communicate fluently, and then navigate the differences that are encountered with each journey out into the foreign community. How to “function” can be overwhelming and at times gets the best of us. Many of the brave students attending ILE had young families resulting in additional responsibilities. How do you find time to study Spanish when your child or spouse is sick or hurt? What about your own needs, not to mention your own sanity! Perhaps life has been on the difficult side for you lately in your circumstances. I think the point I'm leading up to in a round about way is that the Lord is not far away and is just waiting for us to embrace Him as He is very much interested in us and what we are experiencing. Just as we welcome our kids when they approach us, it is upon us to turn towards Him. He is not far.

Passed written aviation exam (in Spanish)

One of the first things I learned here, early, was that Costa Rica doesn't recognize commercial pilots licenses from the United States. When I first attempted to study for the exam I was not able to understand much of the questions encountered in the exam, a result of not having any significant Spanish language skills. The few trips I made to the airport to study only resulted in little learned, bus money spent, much time used, and getting behind in my ILE classes. It didn't take long to realize I needed to focus on what would help me the most in getting to the point of successfully passing the exam. ILE was the answer. Now having taken the exam I can say the wisest decision was to focus on my Spanish classes. Working hard on the technical aviation terms and concepts the two weeks prior to the exam made up the difference. Now I will begin the hands-on portion. Just like a drivers test – pass the knowledge exam then go drive. Once the “drivers” test portion is passed I will then have a commercial license.

Cabécar Health Promoters

Another graduation took place earlier this summer, six Cabécar women (Cabécars are one of the

Health Promoters with Dr. Judith and instructors

indigenous people groups in Costa Rica) completed their classes to be health promoters for women and infants. They are a part of Puentes de Vida (Bridges of Life), who's goal is to decrease the infant mortality rate among the Cabécar people. Dr. Judith Dunteman leads this program, a ministry of Association Project Emanuel.  Recently these health promoters spent two weeks hiking throughout the 115 square miles of their reservation.  Surveying  the area for women and infants,  record the locations where they live (with the aid of a GPS, a satellite-based navigation system)  and the closest landing zone for our helicopter.  Last Saturday they attended a training to discuss their findings with Judith. For the most part they reported being warmly welcomed and, in talking to the women on the reservation, are getting a clearer picture of their needs. One sad report was told about a Cabécar family who were crossing a river and the mother drowned leaving the father with a 4 month old baby to care for.  During our weekend visit, while the Cabécar Health promoters were reporting their findings we prepared the lunch for their meeting and when all was said and done we returned to our "ministry center" in the interior to enjoy the rest of the weekend and meet with the other members of the team. Now we are back in San Jose and Bridget is utilizing her organization skills compiling the data from the health promoters survey trips.