Mountain Chicken

So, the house we are staying has an open air layout for ventilation. It's just a metal roof with a wood structure under it. The walls are made with lattice on one side and sliding door on the other.... We are staying on the second floor, and the owner (Oded) and his wife (Megan) live below. They are super nice and fun to be around. Needless to say there are no sound barriers...  Monday night at about 4:30 we heard this awful noise (animal) followed by Oded trying to scare it off. We had no idea what it could be, but it definitely woke us up. Then, last night it returned! The sound is awful... a mix of car alarm and horrible beet-boxing.... Tonight our neighbor informed us that it is his "old friend" back with vengeance.... A Mountain Chicken... so we immediately googled it to figure out what it is. It is a gray necked wood rail... turn the volume way up and imagine being in a deep and peaceful slumber and then this HORRIBLE SOUND . 

Oded asked us tonight, "I got some firecrackers... would you guys mind if I used them to scare the bird in the morning?!" Of course we said we would LOVE that! So... here is hoping that tonight the Mt. Chicken get scared away!!!!! :-)

Week 1 and 2

We are finally getting a little bit of a schedule going and settling in. The first week we met so many people and learned a lot about the town and the cultures here. It has been a lot to take in, overwhelming at times. I finally feel like I am treading water.

During the week we have 4 skate sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Tuesdays' are staff meeting and the kid's skate session/Mom's Cafe. Thursdays', we have decided are general maintenance work days.  Josh mounted two new ceiling fans and wired them to the panel...thank you Marshall.  Sunday nights have been really neat too, we have a pot luck dinner and then a message. This week I started working with the 7-11 year olds on Sunday School. We are starting a study of the Fruit of the Spirit. I am really enjoying that. Josh is loving getting to know the kids at the skate park. He says that they are really good. The kids here are all so brave. Even the 4 year olds surf and skate!

This week we are helping a lady from Minnesota out with a mini VBS.

We are having fun meeting people and building relationships. We have been learning so much. Some of it the hard way ;-) But Barrett and Amy and their girls have been a huge blessing showing us the ropes of the culture.


Prayer Request:
-> For stamina in the heat
-> Josh to feel 100% (he has been having an upper respiratory thing)

Address

A real post is coming soon! Promise.

But for now here is our mailing address:

The Johnsons

c/o: Barrett and Amy Cruces

Apartado 141-7304

Puerto Viejo- Limon

Talamanca

Costa Rica, Centroamerica

Settling In

We have been getting settled in these past few days. We have had fun getting to know the layout of the town and meeting a lot of new people. I read that there are over 50 cultures represented in Puerto Viejo with a population of less than 2,000 people. We have already met a lot of the kids we will be working with. Some of their stories are heart breaking, but it has been awesome to see how God has worked in their lives. We will get to meet more people tonight at church. Getting ready for that now. 

Also it is rainy season so it has been super nice, “fresh” as the locals put it, and cool at night. We made a video to post.... just can't figure out how to upload it because it is so large... 

...3 Days and Counting...

We have been so blessed already in our preparation for Costa Rica. We have seen first hand the love of Christ in our Arkansas friends and our Texas friends and family. We have learned how quickly God works in the hearts of His own and felt His love through them. Our time here in Texas is already coming to a close. We are very excited about the coming days but a little sad to leave home.. (Tx) we just got back! We still have 3 days, I know we will be making more memories, but these are a few things we've enjoyed while we’ve been here:

- Helping Brad and Jessica settle in to their new home

- Playing games with the whole Johnson family 

- Making predictions about Max's arrival and sharing in the anticipation and excitement

- Taking Johannah and Jillian to the pool... so happy that they are finally here and excited to see how well they are adjusting 

- Laughing with my parents until we all 4 can't breathe

- Helping Jared work on his house 

- Going to a wedding and knowing almost every person there! (Also, looking at the row behind us and realizing that at some point every single lady on the row has taught me from 2nd grade - 12th grade)

- Always seeing someone you know at Wal-Mart (no matter the time)

- Having dinner with Grannie and Grandad and enjoying their company and laughter

- Driving an 1.5 hours to meet Mawmaw and Aunt Ronda,  Uncle Rusty and Dalton half way to the lake for dinner at the "Sirlon Stockade"

- Catching up with good friends 

- A chance to adjust to the humidity before Costa Rica

- Seeing our church family and feeling the love that they exude 

- Always having a job lined up

- Listening to stories around the dinner table from really good story tellers

-The tradition of the "last supper" before any big trip... We have had about 3 "last suppers" already and 3 more to come. We have both gained about 5+ pounds from these "last suppers". 

Great is THY faithfulness!

We have 95% of our monthly support. We have been amazed these past few months watching God work through his people. The LORD is a faithful provider and continues to prove Himself to us daily. 

Right now we are in Texas. We made it out of Arkansas. It was quite a trip, we made it to Texas last Saturday night at 10:00. We are staying in an apartment behind my parents’ house for the 16 days we are home (only 7 more). Josh has been working during this time. We have already seen a lot of family and friends. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Max (our nephew). I am really glad that we have this time to spend with family and friends before we begin the next part in our journey. And a little time to adjust back to humidity. It is so refreshing to be in fellowship of loved ones. 

Only 1 week until take off :o)

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Fundraising update:

100% Start fund

90% of monthly support

0% project fund

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