This morning started like no other this whole year....when we stepped out of the house this morning we heard some loud bird calls in the trees above our house. We looked up to find two toucans singing in the trees! We've seen them only a handful of times this year and never from our house. What a beautiful way to start the day!
With Thanksgiving
We have so much to be thankful for. Nathan returned yesterday from traveling with the Zeeland Christian group for 10 days. He had a wonderful time and says it was the best part of the year. Some major highlights were staying with a host family near the Poas volcano, meeting and interacting with some middle school students from there, ziplining, white water rafting and a big overnight jungle hike and campout.
Our last day at El Puente was definitely bittersweet. Of course there's many reasons why we're looking forward to returning to Michigan but it was hard to say goodbye to the El Puente community today. They totally loved on us and there was no way I could hold back the tears.
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| After normal morning classes, at 11:30 there was a special farewell gathering of students, staff and parents. I started by showing a 13 minute music video with pictures that highlighted what we've experienced together at El Puente this year. Then director Anna called the kids up to thank them for being a part of El Puente and gave them each a gift bag, including a small note pad in which students, teachers and parents wrote down personal messages and goodbyes. Then George and I were called up and were given gifts to remember our time at El Puente, including a very beautiful and personalized scrapbook that details our time here......tears......more generous gifts and kind words from students and parents.....tears.... students and Anna prayed for us....tears. |
We borrowed a projector screen from our friend Laura and threw a sheet over the chalkboard for our movie screen.
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| Enough tears....bring on the celebration! Thanks to Anna and some of the parents we enjoyed grilled hot dogs for the El Puente community lunch... |
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| and Teacher Ashley made delicious cupcakes for a sweet treat afterwards. |
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| El Puente staff and students (minus a few preschoolers) |
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| Our El Puente colleagues (three Americans and two Costa Ricans) |
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| Twin sisters, Celeste and María, were two of my four second grade English students. They're new to El Puente this semester and it's been so great getting to know them and their family. The twins became good friends with Sophia and their grandma is the one who fixed us the wonderful meal last week. |
We appreciate so much your prayers for us in this emotionally draining, but rewarding and meaningful week. The goodbyes continue as we gather with our small group from church for the last time tomorrow night and then on Sunday afternoon our friend Laura is hosting an open house/farewell party for us after church.
It has been so fun for our family (especially Jenna and I) to follow your blog - especially after being able to visit you last summer. Wow - you have experienced so much and God has used you to plant many seeds. We are looking forward to seeing you back in MI! We will continue to pray for you over the next week as you finish your goodbyes in Costa Rica and travel back to the US. Thanks for sharing so faithfully and allowing us to follow your journey and partner with you in prayer!
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¡Muchas gracias, Dawn & Jenna! It means so much that you have shared in our experience - through your visit, prayers, and by following the blog over the year. We're eager to see you soon!
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