One of the faithful

One of the brothers who is most often in the ministry around where we live.
Been 30 years in the truth and still going strong.

Iguana on the road

Not much outside the norm happening these last few weeks... just focusing on the tract distribution for our assembly in January.

However in today's territory we came across an iguana!!
I obviously wanted to use my rubbish-phone to take some closeups but was told to not go too close since they can attack... and they use their tails as weapon of choice.

They used to eat iguanas before and these animals are supposed to be delicious...
But since they now are in decline and protected they can't be "Tica lunch" anylonger...
Thus as you see here... they safely run around with little risk of ending up on the dinner plate ;)

Another good thing here

All countries got pro's and con's and Costa Rica is no different.
One good thing here is that the local farmers sometimes drive around and sell their produce door to door.

Today when we arrived home from the ministry one was outside our apartments selling fresh avocados.  We got 6 freshly picked for 1000 Colones (approximately £1 Pound).

Not bad :-)

Last few weeks have not been typical

Last few weeks ministry has not been "typical" because we have an assembly coming up in January.... thus we are currently in an invitation campaign and we will be for another 2 weeks or so. 

The assembly is at Polideportivo de Pérez Zeledón which is in the centre of San Isidro.
Dates the 2nd 3rd and 4th of January.

We are inviting people using the tract in this photo.

Is this the best on the planet?

As many are aware; Costa Rica is one of the larger coffee producers on this of the planet... so one naturally expects that they know what they do ... or?

Well personally I am a huge coffee drinker and I am extremely fuzzy when it comes to taste and quality.  For this reason I'm afraid Starbucks and these type places don't do much for my taste buds.  Their coffee is often bland and not strong enough... besides that they put in cream/sauces and other type of junk so the "pure coffe taste" is at times non existing!

I been a few places here in San Isidro and some make really good ice-coffee and stuff.... but I think I now found the place that makes the best pure coffe ever.  
Actually can't think of any place in the whole world where I had a nicer cup :)

1.  It starts when they make it; sitting in the opposite side of the building one can still  smell the aroma across the whole place (even though they have open doors and open windows due to the heat in the country).
2.  Then once you drink it.... its hard to explain. .. its so strong it beggars belief,  after a zip the taste keeps staying behind in your mouth for up to 15 min!!!
3.  Besides that there also seems to be so much coffeine thats its like taking a drug ;) one can feel the effect for ages after drinking a "cortado" here.

Here is a photo taken with my rubbish phone to show you how it looks like.... it's a shame you can't taste it remotely.

Corn

Corn in this country is white and not yellow.
It is not as sweet as yellow corn either.... its more neutral in taste.
Even the firmness differs. ... this white one is hard to describe. .. its a bit like chewing gum ;)

No time?

When we waited at the central bus station today we wondered.... why does not the central travel hub/station in this town have a clock?
It would help both drivers and the public to know when the busses leave.
Or just to help travellers know what the time is.

Well, one of the little mysteries of life in Costa Rica it seems ;-)

Volunteering for talk nr 3

They had a hard time finding someone who could to step in to do the nr 3 talk in San Isidro this week
I thought my level of Spanish is probably good enough now.... so I volunteered .... and the brothers were in agreement.

Happiest man on the planet?

I never ever NEVER met such a positive and happy person as this brother. ... it simply beggars belief when you are around him.

He is a "top man doing a top job" in the congregation and this place would not be the same without him!!

Cute today, yummy tomorrow

In the campaign today and passed this cage in the territory full of chickens.
Small cuties innit? Well not for long because they will be Tica lunch later LOL.

Another exceptional thing also happened. .. we met the first person here who claimed he does not believe in God.

Special campaign started

We have our assembly coming up in a few weeks time so today Tuesday our invitation campaign started.
I took the group and we headed off to Tierra Prometida in San Isidro to preach this morning.

On the way home we went to a couple of return visits and one was home. 
As we left to take the bus home a house close by had a lovely aroma all around it.
Mily recognised the smell and said it was some sort of Coconut and sugar mix they do cakes with.

We asked and sure.... she was right so we then asked if we could buy some..... but as we were about to pay for them they refused to take any money and said it was a gift even though we insisted.
Costa Rica hospitality :)

Hmmmm.... I know a black lady that will go there to buy cakes for as long as we live in this country.

Met this brother

Met this brother when we were out this week.
He used to be with us but has now moved 1hr away and we never see him anymore.... except for on this occasion when he was out trying to make a living selling bread in San Isidro city.

We just been to Panama

We had to go in/out of the country to get a 3 months visa extension and we are currently sitting on the bus going home.

There are lots of horror stories about people making this journey.... but we had no problems at all.... thanks to Jah.
Thus we have now been in Panama as well.... but it only lasted 1.5 hrs and then we returned back to Costa Rica again. "Easy peasy" ;)

On the way back we ended up in  a taxi with the funniest driver in Costa Rica.
Here is one of his jokes. ....
Q....
Why are all hurricanes in this part of the world named after women?
A....
Well, because after they been here... they leave an economic disaster after themselves....  and they also taken your house, your car and all your other material possessions before parting.

Funny and unexpected

Two surprises in the ministry today
1. In the city we found a poster written in English ???
2. Also, the name on the poster was equally surprising !!!

This elderly sister

This elderly sister is going fantastically strong even though she is very fragile.... she is one of the most zealous preachers in the congregation and everyone in our territory knows her and she is highly respected by all.
Very skilled ....and fantastic Christian qualities. .. an example to us all :)

Pyjama trousers

How to dry pyjama trousers after the wash???
Put them on top of the fan.... then you get an additional bonus of it looking funny whilst drying ;)

Gallo pinto

This is how Gallo Pinto with fried plantain (type of banana) looks like.
It's very yummy ;-)

Pancake evening

Invited 1 bro & 1 sis over in the evening with their respective kids for pancake.
But we only have 2 cheap chairs to sit on so we had to take turns sitting down.
We had chocolate with the pancake. .. and as you can see here the bro took this literally ;)

Preaching last Sunday

We went to a tiny village outside San Isidro that is called San Ramon Norte (fairly close to where we used to have our personal territory earlier).
Although a very enjoyable day there is no  chance of having return visits here.... it's way to difficult and to far to return without a car.... there is no public transport there.

Below is the village pub and main road.

An old hard working lady in a remote house.

A poster in the village shop encouraging the youngsters to not get into drugs.

And finally some shots of various brothers and sisters out preaching.