Singing Mariachi's

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was serendaed by singing mariachi's on the night of my birthday!

One of the many traditions Costa Rican's have surrounding birthday's is to have singing mariachi's for one's birthday. Usually, they are arranged to awake the birthday person from their sleep somewhere in the wee hours of the morning. Thankfully, my husband was kind enough to arrange for them to be at our apartment shortly after dinner Monday night.

We had just finished the fantastic dinner Ale had cooked for us and were haning out. OUr friends Jake and Amy were over also. Then...

I heard someone pull up outside and looked out the window and saw a strange van and wonder who it was, but didn't think anything about it. Then I heard some voices right outside and I looked again and realized it was mariachi's. (We had seen them before for the director of the Insitute's birthday). I was a little embarrassed to go out, but they started singing so out I went!

It was so sweet of Matt to do this and such a great way to get into the culture. They are wonderful instrumentalists and singers. One thing I have realized this birthday is how important certain things are, no matter what culture you are in. We are delighted to be able to learn about the Latin America culture. We have chosen not to participate in all things culturally acceptable, some for obvious reasons and others for personal, but the traditions surrounding birthdays are fun new traditions to add to our lives and fun ways to make memories.

Enjoy the pictures!


First seeing the mariachi's


Ale and Audrey and Brooke and Isabelle enjoying the music


Part of the group


The second part of the group

One more birthday tradition is to have your face pushed in the cake! I have heard of this before but didn't remember it. Not only do you get eggs on your head, but now cake in your face!!! Ale graciously helped me with this tradition!



The mariachi's wanted me in the picture with cake on my face!!!




This has been such a great birthday!

To all who have called I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Our Vonage phone is temporarily (I hope it is only temporary!) out of service. I was able to get most of the messages through email- so that was great! But please do not be offended that I have not called back!

Matt has spent many hours trying to work on it, but still no solution. You could lift this in prayer if you think about it. It is particularly discouraging right now as we are trying to connect with many different people in the states about our upcoming visit and we have no phone to return calls with or make the needed ones. Please pray for patience on our part. We really understand the luxury a stateside phone is and we know God is big enough to allow the details to fall into place even without a phone, but it does get frustrating when you cannot find a solution to a problem.

Parque Diversiones

Monday we took off to a local amusement park for a fmaily day with a couple other families from the school. This was Isabelle's birthday present. She shares her birthday with one of her best friends at school named Ally. So, they wanted to celebrate together and this was how we decided to do that!

You may be wondering what an amusement prak in a third world country looks like? And why in the world would we want to take our kids there? Well, surprisingly, it was extremely clean and well kept and well staffed. The rides were great and safe and we all had a fantastice time. It is really great because, of course there are many food courts to choose from, but you can take in your own lunch, too! And you can just walk in if you do not want to ride rides. If you choose to ride- you purchase a wrist band and that is your admittance to the rides. But the wristband only costs $10 a person for all day admission and unlimited rides! What a deal! We had some money that we had been given as a Christmas gift that was to be used for something fun(THANK YOU KATHI and DUANE!!!) and we decided this would be fun for al of us! There was a great section for the kids and we spent most of the day in there. But because we went with other families, even Matt and I were able to ride some together so that was fun!

Here are a few pictures of our day!


Megan, Isabelle and Ally- best friends!


Isabelle and the big blue cat!


Ethan's favorite ride- The Coca-Cola! Between the three families there were 11 kids- and eight of them were able to ride this ride together! What a great picture!


Ethan and Audrey with the lion


Our family

It was a day I hope the kids remember for a long time filled with fun memories with their friends from school. Each one of them had friends there. Ethan and Parker have been friends since the first day of school. Isabelle and Ally (the birthday girls) have also been friends since the first day. I remember how scared Isabelle was to go to school and Ally was the first little girl to talk with Isabelle and offer her the seat next to her. Audrey's friend Andrew was there, too and Isabelle and his sister Megan (from the first picture) are friends and Allison and Ethan, too. We ran into another family after being there a little while and their daughter Gabriela and Audrey are great friends, too.


Brooke, Audrey, Lisa and Andrew and Caleb on the trucks


Baby bumper cars...


Isabelle, Ethan and Audrey on the Coca-Cola


Megan, Isabelle, Avery and Jessica- I just love this picture!


This is little Jackson- isn't this a sweet picture?!

Huevos!!!

As I mentioned in another post, Costa Rica has many traditions regarding birthdays. One of them is for the birthday girl/boy to receive one egg for every year they have lived cracked on their head by their family and friends.

Ethan has been waiting for this day to come since we made the decision to come to Costa Rica!

Mark and Meg had us over for pizza and cake and afterwards we headed outside for huevos (eggs).

Thankfully, I didn't have to get 30 eggs, but there were quite a few...I lost count.

Enjoy the pictures!


Here I am ready to receive eggs!


Valeria's first egg


Valeria's second egg- she definetly didn't take it easy on me...


Mariana's first egg. She had been sick all day, but she sure was ready when Mark said it was time for huevos!!! :)


Ethan giving me one of the three or four he lovingly gave me!!!


Valeria and yet another egg...I wonder how many she did...?


The aftermath...uugghh!!!!

Playa Hermosa

When Matt asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, the decision was not hard- off to the beach for the day!

We decided to head to one of the nearest beaches on the Pacific side, close to Jacó, called Playa Hermosa. There are several beaches in this area and are all well-known surfing beaches. We knew this and also knew the surf would be rough, but we were excited to be able to get away and enjoy the ocean.

So, off we headed on our two-hour journey. Some friends from school had blessed us by lending us their car for the week while they were in the states, so we were able to drive ourselves. We were glad our friend Ale was able to come with us, as well.

We had a fantastic day and it was a beautiful beach!

Enjoy the pictures!


The kids and the beach


A big splash


The family :)


The kids and Brooke and Ale


Ale and Audrey



The kids found about 10 crabs that they kept as pets for the day...


At dinner, Ale ate pasta and sea food and there was a crab in her food, cooked of course, but the kids had never seen anyone eat anything like that. Audrey was just perplexed at why she was eating a crab like we had just seen at the bus.

Birthday celebrations!!!!!

What a weekend it has been! As I write this, I am officially in the "30's Club!!" Yesterday was my 30th birthday and we celebrated all weekend with several different groups of our friends and Costa Rican family.

I'll post more pictures of each day in spearate posts as I have time this week...but here is an overview.

Saturday, Matt and the kids and I along with our friend Ale, took off for Playa Hermosa. We had the use of a car, so we drove the two hours it took to get to the Pacific Coast beach. It was a fairly easy trip.

Once there, we unloaded the car and lathered everyone up with sunscreen. The surf was pretty rough and the riptide was strong, so we had to be careful and the kids couldn't get in to far. This is a well-known surfing beach, so we expected this, but it was a beach and we were happy to be there.

The kids spent all day playing in the sand and running in the water. We collected a bucket full of shells and pretty rocks. The kids found tons of crabs that they kept for pets for the day.

It was such a great day! I even had the chance to lay and read for awhile. It was very relaxing and a nice way to spend the day together.

Sunday we went to church as usual. Matt and the kids and I have been spending a few hours each Sunday afternoon with Pastor Rogelio and his family and sharing lunch together for several weeks now. We really enjoy this time together. This Sunday. they had planned a surprise party for me. I walked in their house to a Happy Birthday sign and decorations everywhere and a beautiful cake. It was a wonderful afternoon and a very special time for me. I unfortunately had forgotten my camera, so I have no pictures of the day...

That evening, we ate dinner with Mark and Meg, Marianna and Valeria. Meg had gotten a super yummy chocolate cake from Fresas (this great little restauraunt here and everyone loves the cakes!!!) After supper, we headed outside for the event Ethan has been waiting about a year for- getting to crack eggs on my head! It is the Costa Rican tradition to receive an egg cracked on your head for each year you have been alive. Thankfully, I didn't get 30, but Ethan got me at least three times! It was a messy thing to clean up- but it really was fun!

Yesterday, we headed out on the bus with two other families to Parque Diversiones, a scaled down version of Six Flags America amusement park. This outing was in celbration of Isabelle's birthday and her friend Ally- who shares the same birthday with Isabelle. It was a great day and all of us had a great time! We caught the bus about 8 am and got home around 6pm. It was a long day, but really fun!

When we got home, our friend Ale was waiting for us with dinner ready! She had cooked a traditional Costa Rican Semana Santa (Holy Week) meal for us (sorry, I can't remember the naem right now...) It was DELICIOUS!!! Our neighbors and friends from school, Jake and Amy came over for supper as well. And then, about 6:45 or so, I heard something outside. I peeked out the window and saw a bunch of people getting out of a van. I thought "What is going on?" Matt had enlisted the help of Ale and arranged singing Mariachi's to serendae me for my birthday. This is traditional way to celebrate a person's birthday here. It was fantastic! They were great and it was a wonderful way to be surprised!

I had wondered what it would feel like to be leaving my twenties and entering my thirties...I can honestly say this has been one of the best birthdays of my life! It will always be hard to be away from family and close friends in times of celebration like this, but we praise the Lord for giving us our Costa Rican family and close friends here.

Our Vonage phone has been out for close to a week now so I wasn't able to talk with my mom or dad of the rest of my family and friends...but hopefully we'll be able to get it fixed soon...

Until then, enjoy the photos in the next few posts!

Bienvenidos a mi vida loca y Feliz Cumpleaños a mi

This tops our "crazy life in Costa Rica" stories. Yesterday when I went to the post office to check the mail, which is about a 5 block walk from our apartment, I had a package notice in our box. I went to claim the package and to my surprise- saw that it was the long lost package we had been waiting for. Actually, we had almost forgotten we were still waiting for it...

Take a stab at how long ago this package was mailed...

1 month...2 months...well, getting closer...4 months ago!!!!! The US postage stamp was dated November 24th, 2007 and we finally recieved it on March 14th, 2008!!!

I had to take a couple pictures of the actual package. This box started out as a rectangular, flat rate international box, with actual corners and all- ya know...a normal box...

Look how it arrived to us-

Almost a rectangle from this angle...but what happens if I flip it over?



Whalahh!!! The package actually went through Equador! Who knows if everything was still in there...we'll never know. But what is important is that there were several Tahnksgiving and Christmas cards in there and some pictures which were great to get- even four months late!!!

I called our friend who sent it and she couldn't believe it...

In other news, some of you may or may not know, I am three days shy of no longer being a "twenty-something." So, it is kind of a big thing for me...and it is kinda different being here for a birthday...but praise the Lord for new good friends! My conversation class threw a fiesta in hhonor of my birthday MOnday and it was really sweet. I am the 'bebe" in the group, although I am the same age as one of my classmates...

We have a fantastic class. Three of us have shared two semesters together now and have grown to be friends. We all share a commraderie and mutual respect for each other and our teacher always encourages us by telling us we are continually having third trimesters conversations. (Remember this is only our second tri...)



Tomorrow we are going away for the day to a beach about two hours away to celebrate my birthday. Monday we will be going to Parque Diversiones, a Costa Rican equivalent to Six Flags, with a few other families for Isabelle's birthday present.

We are out of schol the whole week for Semana Santa (Holy Week) and we are excited for the opportunity to get into the ministry areas. We'll be in La Carpio Tuesday/Wednesday for a street VBS and Los Guido Friday for a special Good Friday service. Please pray for this time in these two areas. Pray for the Lord to show us in this week the direction he would have us go in La Carpio. Also pray for a time of reverence and peace and remembrance of the sacrifice Christ made for all of us this Friday.

Saturday, the team from Sharon Baptist arrives. Would you please join us in praying for this team as well, please pray for Matt and I as we will be leading this team- our first time doing so with any team. We are asking the Lord to direct us and demonstrate through this expreience his plans for us, as we have always felt a part of our purpose is to be here specifically to lead this type of team. We pray the Lord directs us and guides us in this time. Also pray that we can manage classes as well as the needs of our kids during this week that the team is here.

Happy Birthday Isabelle!!!

Today is Isabelle Adair McClain's 6th Birthday!
(WOW! Where did those years go?)
We celebrated with a couple family style parties this weekend (we couldn't get everyone together at one time...) and then today we are taking pizza to her class for lunch, She shares her birthday with one of her best friends in school and so her mom (who happens to my firedn :] ) is bringing cupcakes! It will be fun :)

Please pray for our Isabelle on this day!



Taken this morning before she left for school. She watned her hair like this cartoon charcter Puuca. She is also wearing the new leggings and flip-flops she got for her birthday.


Our first party was with Mark, Meg, the girls and Cindy. It was very fun and Isabelle enjoyed the cake that "Grandma Meg" and the girls picked out for her.


Sunday night we shared cake and ice cream with Alex, the Price family, some friends from school, Jake and Amy, and our friend Ale. Ale bought a special cake for Isabelle and we had a great time.



The sign says 'I am 6 years old today!" Which she can say in Spanish!!!

What missionaries do for fun...

So, maybe you are wondering just what DO missionaries do for fun? You may or may not realize that it is a pre-requisite to be creative if you are going to be a missionary- since we do not have tons of play money just laying around - we must think of creative ways to entertain each other.

Tonight, Matt and I had dinner with the Kuzdas family, Coco, a Kuzdas family friend from Venezuela that has been assisiting the ministry for a few months and Cindy, a friend from New York who is here for a week, assisting in the ministry as well.

Matt and I learned a Kuzdas family secret form of entertainment. I tell you this to preface the fact that the following was learned from the Kuzdas family member who recently celebrated his birthday... :)

After much prodding and about 2 hours of waiting, Mark revealed his hidden talent of making funny animal faces. Tonight, we saw what a baby rabbit, momma rabbit and a daddy rabbit looks like...

But, the deal was if Mark showed us the faces, I had to post my version of the faces on our blog for Friday morning...

So, here are the pictures...as well as a glimpse of the things our team does for fun :)


OK...here it is- just for my neighbor :)



This is the baby rabbit- just a little bit of nose wrinkling going on...



This is Mommy rabbit- a little bit more nose wrinkling action here...



And finally, the Daddy rabbit- yeah...go ahead and laugh- it's OK...

We shared a lot of laughs tonight and it was a nice break from our routine.

FYI: More to come: elephants, cows, and much more :) and maybe I'll manage to get a few pictures of someone else besides me ;)

New 'do!

Matt has cut his own hair for years. Tonight was the night for his monthly clipping. Ethan has been saying for about a month that he is ready to cut his hair- short. He was tired of the long look. So, tonight he asked his dad if he could cut his hair, too...


BEFORE:




AND..........


AFTER...........








A BIG change, but still the same good-looking kid :)

Matt did a really great job- for his first time cutting someone else's hair.

And, a must-see picture of....THE HAIR!!!

What if...

What if two girls were left alone with markers?




These pictures explain themselves!!!!

Isabelle is quite the artist, huh?


This is the consequence of trying to do our homework while they are awake!!!!

Lesson learned!

At the races

We have been trying to do more together as a family and we have spent several weeks at the local track on Wednesday afternoons. The school the kids attend has a track team but no one to compete against, so they invited siblings, parents as well as the community to compete against the kids on the team. It was really alot of fun and done in such a way that encouraged family and fun.

A couple of weeks ago Matt and Ethan ran the 800 together. Ethan started off the race in a dead sprint and therfore was ready to call it quits at the first turn. Matt encouraged him to keep going and that he'd be right there with him. As they finished there first lap, Ethan came by with a look of sheer agony...I could tell he was struggling. Part of me wanted to run out there and grab him and save him from that pain, but the other part of me- the part I listened to was saying that he needed this experience and would benefit greatly from it. They both finished the race and I was so proud of him! He was worn out and said that he thought he was going to die during the race (he never ceases to be dramatic!) It lead to a good discussion later about the importance of finishing something you start. He had been a little upset that he was last and we encouraged him that the place is not as important as knowing you did your best and you finished. Unfornunately I forgot my camera that night and have no picture of his race.

Last Wednesday was the final meet and we all decided to run the 800 together. Ethan ran the 200 by himself. He ran his best and had fun!


All of us ran the 800, even Audrey!! Isabelle and I ran together and Matt and Audrey ran together and Ethan was off on his own! He actually came in 6th! It was really fun, but I have to admit it had been along time since I had run any distance and I actually wondered if it was such a good idea as we rounded out the first lap. But we all finished and Isabelle and I held hands most of the time. It was a great moment!


Ethan finishing the 800


Mommy and Isabelle finsihing the 800


Daddy and Audrey finshing the 800


McClain family at the races

Lambs among wolves

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therfore to send out wokers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road." Luke 10:3

I remember praying this scripture during the time the Lord grabbed hold of my heart and broke it for Costa Rica. I specifically remember praying these scriptures for my family as well as for other families that the Lord might send here. The Lord heard and answered those prayers in a very tangible way- we are here- in the field. The fields are still very ripe here and although the Lord has raised many nationals and Americans who are willing to serve him, it still seems the workers are few.

The part that strikes me and speaks to my heart tonight is the reference to those workers - our family- our teams- both national and gringo- being sent out like "lamnbs among the wolves."

We have shared before about the intensity of the attacks that are present in our lives here. They are real, unavoidable and intense.

While at this moment we are not in the midst of such an intense attack, we always have to be on guard. Prayer is a powerful weapon against these attacks, as well as the Word and the armor God has given to each of us.

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.. " The enmey lies in waiting, ready to pounce and not just to maim or even temporarily put you out of commission, but he is waiting to steal, kill and destroy your life- our lives.

We would like to ask you to pray this week for the specific attacks each member of our team here, both nationals and Americans, might be facing right now in this moment that you are reading this or that one may be facing in the days ahead.

Please pray by name for Pastor Marvin and his wife Zoila; Pastor Rogelio and his wife Neris and the children of both of these families; the many women who make up the adult team; the youth leadership team of Los Guido and the youth of Tejarcillos; Mark and Meg Kuzdas; Melinda Kuzdas; Alex Fine; Bill and Joanie Price and their girls and our family as well. The Lord has brought each of us here to this place at this exact time for a specific purpose- some of which might be personal or in some way different than the other- but all have one thing in common- we are here to bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus Christ.

Please pray against the footholds the enemy trys to achieve- sometimes in very subtle ways. Pray that we would all be remaining in Christ and be so aware of Him that the enemy has no ground to stand on. Pray that we would seek to bear fruit in all that we do- even for those of us in school. That we would not lose focus in the routine of our day-to-day lives that we would not seek ways to bear fruit- more furit that lasts.