Stuff the Markhams will be doing

Our 37 day mission to Costa Rica is really a short time, but one we look forward to with great joy!

We'll be staying at Apartotel Obelisco (www.apartotelobelisco.com). Best as I can tell from my friend that gave us an eyewitness account, it is 20 townhouse-like dwellings located around a central swimming pool. We have a full kitchen, a master bedroom and bath, another bedroom with two twin beds, and a sofabed in the living room. The girls will share a room, while Brad will have to make do with the sofabed, or perhaps we will buy an Aerobed if we can find one. The establishment also features maid service every day, Costa Rican breakfast each morning, and laundry service for $50/month (what a deal!)

We'll be tutored by a lady named Nidia each day from 8-10 am. The kids will go from 8-9 then Vickie and I from 9-10. She received high praise from friends of ours that were tutored by her last year. We hope to come back much more able to converse in Spanish!

We'll work each day at La Palabra de Vida in the library, supporting the staff, or whatever we are asked to do. We are 100% flexible and looking forward to the variety of activities required to make this institution work so well.

We're taking 300 Spanish language K-6 library books with us in 5 extra suitcases. Although US Airways charges baggage fees, it really was the cheapest and safest way to bring the books. When we get them to the school, it will be fun to see how the K-6 area of the library will shape up.

Thanks to all of our wonderful supporters who blessed us with gifts, we have $6000 remaining that we will use for additional resources on this project.

We plan to spend our evenings and weekends immersing ourselves in the city of San Jose and the surrounding areas. We have a trip planned to Poas, an active volcano and national park. I'm sure we'll find more opportunities to enjoy this beautiful country.

We are going to rent a 7 passenger Mitsubishi Montero for our stay. Unfortunately, anyone coming to Costa Rica has to pay the Collision Damage Waiver for car rentals, which added up to quite a large amount over 37 days.

My sister, Anne, will visit us from January 12-19. She is a career educator and fluent in Spanish and French. She will work with us at the school and we are looking forward to her time down there.

I can't wait to go! Today was my last day at work and I will be back at Byron Generating Plant in the middle of February.

God's blessings. Bill