Special Visitors

Our daughter Joy and her husband Patrick are visiting us for Holy Week and we are enjoying every minute of our time together.  Over the last few weeks our lives and ministries have been enriched by other visitors, also.

Joy and Bridget cooking sweet plantain.

Paul and Patrick in their element!

The first week in March a fellow missionary brought a team of young single men to Paso Marcos for a short-term mission trip. Taking a break from their work and responsibilities in the USA and Costa Rica they stayed with a Cabécars family. Their trip impacted my (Bridget’s) ministry because three of the men taught English with me at two elementary schools. The fifth and sixth graders put together Power Point presentations about their school. I never could have done this project without their technical assistance! The fourth graders took pictures of school supplies and asked and answered questions. The first, second and third graders learned about school supplies and played games about colors and numbers. And of course, at recess they wanted them on their soccer teams! It also encouraged me personally hearing how their journey with God lead them to Paso Marcos and seeing a new generation involved in missions.

First graders with their visiting English teacher.

The next week Hannah came with her dad and sister for a few days of their Spring Break.  We have kept in touch with Hannah since we originally met her as one of the UTSA finance students that was here in January of 2018 visiting our micro loan partners. Paul and their dad worked on a couple of projects – taking down the old wooden stair railing that goes to the river and trouble-shooting some electrical problems.  They both concluded that the problems need a residential electrician to untangle them.  The sisters and I were more adventurous, we hiked along the river and went to the swimming hole to jump off the big rock. Every day the three of them ate a typical Costa Rican meal at the Aroma de Montana Restaurant. (I have been teaching the three women at the restaurant English classes and Hannah’s family gave them some authentic practice!) For other meals everyone pitched in to cook at the mission center. Paul taught the gals to make breakfast burritos and the gals were great about picking a menu and helping me make dinner.  Just like when our three kids were teenagers, we lingered over meals talking about our lives and the sisters sharing their aspirations for the future, one is graduating from high school and the other from university in May.

Paul showing his fish to Hannah and her sister.

Lunch at the restaurant with our co-missionaries and Hannah's family.

The following week another family arrived from the USA who have relatives in the area.  The girls slept in one bunk room and the boys slept in the other, while the parents had the room with the new double bed Paul had made. Having their family here was like spending time with my extended family – lots of noise and activity.  A couple of times I went hiking with them, the kids enjoyed playing card games (Anyone remember spoons?), and one day was warm enough their relatives came and swam in the river.  Mainly the family spent time with their relatives and we just saw them in the mornings and evenings. Now that they have gone home it is so quiet.

"Safety shirt day" sponsored by UTSA.

We enjoy offering hospitality to people and encouraging them.  Being the hosts and caretakers of the Emmanuel Community Development Center, we hope people can come here and be refreshed and have time to connect with God and their family. Send us an email if you are interested in a visit. 

Blessings,

Paul and Bridget