Projects and Home School

Bridget and Paul

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been praying for us and supporting us financially. Calls and emails have been a big encouragement, as most of the time it is just the two of us working and living at the Emmanuel Center. Last week we were on Skype with our delightful granddaughter, Irely, and she is almost crawling! Technology is just one of the many means God Almighty has used to show His love and care for us. 

 

Emmanuel Center's new entrance

Costa Rica has been closed to foreign visitors since March so the team from Medford First Baptist was not able to come last month. They did send a generous donation, so Paul has moved ahead on projects at the Emmanuel Center. He started with renovating two guest bathrooms including: reconditioning toilets and plumbing, repainting the walls and refinishing the woodwork. With the help of our neighbors the metal roof was repaired and got a fresh coat of paint, and they also replaced the center’s entrance. Everyone benefited - Paul needed the manpower and the neighbors appreciated the opportunity to earn some cash. Our area has been hit hard economically because our region is not exporting bananas during the pandemic.

Ainsley is a WhatsApp pal.

I, Bridget, have been helping families educate their children at home. It is kind of amazing that I am doing what I love and have years of experience with it! I home schooled our three children and then taught for a couple of years at a public charter school for home school families. As at the charter school, I visit each family once a week for three hours. I mentor the moms and give them tips and teach the children. Of course, I help with English assignments. A few of the students have “WhatsApp pals” (similar to the idea of a pen pal) and are sending and receiving videos in English. They have been really motivated to work on their speaking skills. The kids are also memorizing math facts and learning to read. I even bring books in Spanish from the library at the Emmanuel Center and check them out to the students and moms.

I have had to take a break from teaching for a couple of weeks because a child (We don’t know this family personally.) went to the Children’s Hospital in San Jose and returned with Covid-19. We are staying close to home for a couple of weeks as a precaution for ourselves and the families we work among. If the schools don’t reopen in August hopefully, I will be able to continue helping families studying at home. Paul, on the other hand, has plenty of projects to keep him busy. I think he calls it “job security.”

Granddaughter update - Irely is almost crawling.

Blessings,

Bridget and Paul