Day 8 -- No Slowing Down

On day 8 things typically wind down, but this trip is an exception! It has been a busy, busy day. This morning, the men were up early attending a men's breakfast at the church building. Pastor B spoke on I Timothy 4:12 admonishing young men to live lives that are examples to other believers in 5 areas:
1. Watch what you say and how you say it.
2. Watch what you do and how you do it.
3. Love others like Jesus loves them.
4. Live a life of faith even in hard times.
5. Keep yourself sexually pure.

At 10, the team travelled into downtown San Jose to go to the Artisans Market. Local atrisans sell their Costa Rican creations there. This is always a fun time since the goal is to find THE best deal by bartering with the vendors.

After a quick lunch, we divided into teams for the 2nd half of the Marriage Conference. Josh and Cindy did the teaching. Tim, Krista, Cindy S., Patrick and Alan did child care (lots of tired people...but just wait for what happened tonight). Steve worked with Rodney to repair the stand for the church projector. Pastor Brian was able to find some music stands that the worship team needed and used some of the money saved from our day off to bless the church. The guitar player currently places his music on the ground while playing!

A special treat today was two pediatric nurses (Carman and Julia)from Germany we met on our day off came by to visit. They spent the afternoon playing with the children, touring the community and listening to us as we shared why we "do this thing we do". It was a God-ordained thing for us to come in contact with them and we are anxious to continue communicating with them.

A short rest break this afternoon and then into action mode for the evening:
A special candlelight dinner for the couples at the Conference at the house -- very, very nice and a real treat for the couples who never get to spend an evening together. Some of the team works with the children -- now they are even more tired than earlier. Another crew works the kitchen preparing the meal. Josh and Cindy act as servers in matching uniforms. The ladies especially giggle as Josh serves them -- this is not a typical thing here in CR.

It is 8:30 and the last of the couples is just leaving the house. The team members working with the children will collapse when they return in a few minutes!

Tomorrow is a big fiesta at the pool where we'll worship together, have a baptism and then a day of fun for the whole church! Pray for Pastor Brian as he preaches tomorrow morning.