Costa Rica

Yes, we normally live in Guatemala, but for a few days, we're just down the road in Costa Rica. Technically, we flew here, but we drove along CA-1 to get from the airport to the resort.

This purpose for this trip was really three-fold. It's our last trip before Isaac is born, Heidi's birthday was last week, and we need our passports to be stamped to renew our visas. It turns out that most countries do not have the same sense of humor that the United States does about illegal aliens.

Anyway, it's beautiful here. There's basically nothing to do, which is our favorite thing about the place. It's an all-inclusive resort on the Pacific Ocean. It has several pools, swim-up bars, restaurants, plenty of palm trees to lie under, air conditioning, and cable TV (which is a big deal to us - we don't have TV at home!). Our room is enormous - not that it really matters much, but it feels nice!

We've been basically relaxing, eating, and... well, that's it. Relaxing and eating. What else could you possibly want from a vacation? We don't cook and we have food. We don't clean and everything is tidy. Rock on.

Okay, I lied a little bit. We have made a few phone calls since we've been here, but mostly just to confirm that God is continuing to work while we're on vacation. It was not a foregone conclusion that all of the paperwork we submitted to the government for this upcoming medical team was going to be approved. Central American governments are not known for their efficiency or ease of use. But God pushed all the paperwork through on basically the first try. The team is approved. And the fee we were expecting? Waived. Like that EVER happens on its own!

Also, Dra. Gamez, our anesthesiologist friend in Guatemala, came through on just about all the anesthesia supplies we need to operate. Again, not a foregone conclusion, but God was on the job.

Carrie and Abby are doing great with the 20-some teenagers in our home this week. God Bless them for being there, helping out, and allowing us to go on vacation on what promised to be a very hectic week!

We have another full day here on the beach, Thursday morning, then we leave to go back home and to work. Think, in just another month, Isaac will be here. Yeesh!

Some pics from the resort...