That´s why monkeys don´t live here...

El 1st de Abril

Brought to you by Kim
(Nick and Stacey... yes, Melissa and I are here!)

Last night after we blogged, we had a dance party... La Negra, Manolo, Esteban, and Chilo taught us how to salsa! Then we went back to the cabin with all of our Costa Rican friends. We voted on MVP... MEG for her leadership, initiative, and her HUGE heart for helping others. Our Dorcas award for the day was Manolo... Manolo was trying to show off his muscles by carrying a wheelbarrow across the creek and he fell over into the creek with the wheelbarrow... it was quite amusing!

Today was another beautiful, relaxing day at Campamento Oikamene. We woke up this morning between 6 and 7... most of us took another cold shower and then we all headed to breakfast. We had pancakes, eggs, rice, frijoles, and FRESH pineapple.

After breakfast we all took some time to write in our journals and reflect on the trip thus far. Meg encouraged us to set a group time to journal so we did! After journal writing we hung out together, rested, and prepared for another hike down the creek. Today we decided to hike downstream as a group. Everyone said that the hike downstream was easier than the hike upstream... Melissa and I beg to differ! We hiked until we got to the bridge that leads into the camp and then some of us went back upstream and some went on a mountain hike. The group that went on the mountain hike got to see a waterfall... it was beautiful!

Despues de hiking we had lunch... beef stew, rice, beans, and salad. Then we took another nap before starting our work project for the day. Can we just say for the record that we LOVE the Costa Rican culture and that we are embracing it wholeheartedly!! Our work project today was to finish the campfire pit that we started yesterday. We are hoping to build a fire there tonight!

After we finished the firepit, we just spent more time hanging out and getting to know each other. Kevin took a group up the mountain to pick ´oranges´ ... these ´oranges´were green and tasted a lot like limes! Thanks Kevin! We also added a few items to our Top 10/20 list...

18. That´s why monkeys don´t live here...

19. Why? Dave would let us do it!

Oh and we have an amendment to our prior list... Magic Coffee needs to be moved to number 1 per Nick Errato´s request... Nick, we didn´t mean to disgrace Magic Coffee.

After our relaxing afternoon, we had dinner... steak, rice, and potatoes! Now we are blogging and getting ready for our campfire!

We are really looking forward to going to the YMCA in San Jose tomorrow. Manolo and Alvaro are going with us!

Continue to pray for us over the next few days. We continue to be amazed at how well this group is getting along. Everyone is being so kind and considerate towards their teammates. To those parents who are reading this blog, Melissa, Dave, and I are so proud of your teens. We have enjoyed spending time with them and we are in awe of their leadership, maturity, and their hearts for helping others. As individuals their lives are being impacted by this experience and as a team, they are impacting the lives of those we are meeting in this amazing country.