New blog address

Hey folks - changed the blog address to www.kathleendoll.blogspot.com - please change your link if you have one on your blog!
Blessings!

The last days in Costa Rica, and the first days back home...

Is it true that I've been back in Canada almost a week already?! Well, I've finally got the internet connection and the time to spend properly on this blog.

Here we go...

So the last night we all spent together was done right - 5 stars! We stayed at a beautiful hotel called "La Condesa" which means "The Countess" - it was her summer home, back in the 1600s, and what a beautiful sight it is. Also a great place to take pictures!

I greatly appreciate DeLynn and Gloria, the Directors of PVM. They have blessed and challenged me throughout the years, and aided my growth!
My last day in Costa Rica, I got to do something I've never done before...attend a real live Costa Rican soccer game! We had a blast.
Here we're eating frozen jello...a great treat in the sun for only 70 cents.Jeremy and Missy demonstrate the team rivalry. Jeremy is dressed in La Liga colours, while Missy sports the Heredia jersey. La Liga won 3-1.

What good times. What great friends made. I always am shocked at the depth of friendship that one can attain in only 7 weeks. To think that many of us were strangers at the beginning is such an odd thought now, after all that we walked through together. I am blessed.

I have to admit that at the end, I was ready to come home. I was missing people...especially a couple of little ones that are rapidly growing here. Thankfully I was able to come home in time for Charlee's 2nd birthday party, with a fun pixie/fairy theme. Here's the little pixie herself.

And here's the crew of troublemakers...

Here Sophie makes her escape...

Another fun event was today's triathalon! Gary competed in his first race...and did great! Here he is at the very beginning...ready to go!

Charlee and I cheer him on...well, we try.

And he finishes!

Here's one of my favourite families. It is a blessing to come home and feel that I truly am at home with the Daveys. Getting lots of kisses and hugs (and hair-pullings) from Charlee and Bodhi are a huge benefit of living with little kids.

Well, that's about it for now! Work starts "officially" on Friday. Otherwise, I'm bumming around for a few days...and enjoying it immensely!

In the airport. On the way home. In disbelief that I left Costa Rica...again.

Today's been a very reflective day. I'm about to board my third flight today...perhaps the length of the day has added to the "reflectiveness" of the day.

I promise that I will comment later on some of these brilliant thoughts that I've been having today...as well as add some more fun pictures from the last couple of days in Costa Rica - the "true end" to the summer for me.

In the meantime...I'm about to board. Sleep tonight will be blissful, I am sure.

The almost end to the summer...

So we are saying good-bye to our last team tomorrow. Is it really that time already?

Let me share with you, in picture form, the stories from this last week.

To begin with, Nate tried to kill Chad...but Chad was okay with it...

The Canadian staff came together, dressed like Costa Ricans...to prove that we love all cultures.

Missy and I considered changing professions as Costa Rican dancing ladies...but then changed our minds.

Dan and Stephen tried to join Nate's gang...but we converted them.

And then, getting past all of that, we headed into Barva to do outreach with the team. A large part of my outreach experience - and highlight - was working at a centre for youth with disabilities. This centre is an extension of the church's ministries. Here I am with my new friend Cindy, who is one of the reason's that the centre started. Her mom, Ligia, is the one that felt led to provide a place for people like her daughter to go and spend time together with people who just want to love them. I was privileged to join a few youth from the team and spend the mornings at this centre, singing songs, sharing Bible stories, making crafts, and playing with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.
Here is my new boyfriend...he was insistent on blowing kisses my way.
Here we are...singing and dancing. These adults LOVED to dance, and insisted that we do one of the songs over and over again.
Here we have the craft from the first day, which was a big hit!

This seemed like a good idea at the time...probably a better idea for an inside game than an outside one. But it was fun to chase balloons anyways.
Joe had a fun time...and started a lot of bubble wars.
Here's craft from day 2, featuring David and Goliath, another big hit. I thought the whole thing was kinda "Veggie Tales" style for those of you who know and love Veggie Tales. I think this is how the whole phenomenon got started...socks filled with rice.

Well that's all I have for now...when I get more pics from my fellow team members, I will add more for your enjoyment. Also, in a few days, I should have some great pics of fun staff times to come...and perhaps some teary good-byes. We shall see... :)

Countdown.

I can't believe that I fly back to Canada in 6 days.