We Are Officially Graduates

Instituto de Lengua Española

Although our language learning is far from over, we have completed our time in language school.  YAY!!  We have benefitted tremendously from our time at the language school, and we have had amazing teachers.  We are thankful for the opportunity to spend focused time learning Spanish. 

However, we are excited to be able to engage more actively in ministry.

Our graduating class

Our Costa Rican pastor - speaker @ graduation

We are deeply grateful for the prayers and support during this past 11 months.  The difficulties we have faced have and the opposition from the enemy have given us assurance that learning Spanish is critically important to our ministry here in Latin America.  

  We were blessed to share our celebration at the language school with most of our ReachGlobal teammates, and . . .

they took us to lunch at a soda (small restaurant) owned by one of Jim's ESL students.

Again, thank you for being a part of this journey with us!

Costa Rican Beauty

Volcán Arenal 

Hope came for a visit to Costa Rice at the end of June.  It was a time a of joy for us, 

and we were able to travel to Volcán Arenal.  While staying at Arenal, 

we were struck with the incredible beauty of Costa Rica.

                            

Look at the size of this fern leaf

Now that rainy season has started, the plants are lush and bright.  

La Fortuna Waterfall

We hiked down about 500 hundred steps to the bottom of the waterfall.  It was breathtaking! The beauty and the roar of the waterfall captured us, and we were in awe of the artistry and power of God.

It felt surreal being in the midst of all this!  Although we don't get to enjoy nature like this in the city where we live, we are blessed to venture out once in a while to enjoy it.

In an area that's part of the compound where we stayed, we were able to see some interesting creatures.  One evening just before dark a howler monkey made quite a racket.  

Glad there was fence around this guy!  He was just cooling off.

Come visit and we will enjoy together!!!

It's Been A Long Time

Granada, Nicaragua

It's been so long since we have posted as life has taken us on a whirlwind ride the past few months and we've hardly had time to catch our breath.  

So . . .  here is a brief recap of the whirlwind.

MARCH

We made a visa trip to Granada, Nicaragua at the end of March, and look who we found!  Our dear friends from Esteli, Nicaragua met us one evening for a special time together.  Also a short-term team from Alabama arrived in Managua, and made the trip down to Granada for a visit.  It was encouraging and uplifting to see dear friends!!

They actually ate this!

APRIL

We returned to the U.S. in April to meet with family to make long term plans for Jim's parents.  We were in Alabama for a week, and then we traveled to Texas to meet our new grandson.

Wilson Joseph Hancock

April 2, 2011

6 lb. 7 oz.

19 1/2 inches

It was a joy to spend time with Wilson and his mom and dad!

First Easter

Wilson's visitors at Easter - Tia Hope, Great Granny, and Great Papaw

MAY

We returned to Costa Rica, and 10 days later received word that Jim's dad was hospitalized and not expected to live.  We rushed back to Alabama, and Mr. Wilson passed away on May 13 from heart failure.  We will miss him even though we know he is in a much better place.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=james-wilson&pid=151096521

We were overwhelmed by the love and support we received from everyone during this difficult time.  We are so grateful for the love and prayers sent our way!  Our hearts were wrapped in comfort from the love and prayers.

JUNE

At the beginning of June our daughter, Candace, suffered severe complications from mastitis.  She was hospitalized for a few days, so I returned to the U.S. to help with the baby and other things around the home.  Thankfully, Candace has began to get better and will soon be back on her feet.  While she has been recovering, I have enjoyed this precious time with little Wilson, Candace and Mark.

Until next time - blessings to you and your family!