Tuesday

The River - This was my first day with Crissia down at the river where the poorer Ticos in the town live! It was pretty smelly, dirty and run down! Shacks for houses, litter everywhere! It was a big shock and pretty sad to see! Crissia is trying to teach the ladies and children particularly the young girls to make things (decorative boxes) so eventually they can make them and sell them on a stall!! She's great with them, there was lots of giggles and jokes (in spanish) even a joke involving me! When I say 'laura' apparently it sounds like the word 'parrot' in spanish! Crissia shares a bit of the bible at these workshops too!

On my return I found my mystery visitor! Stewart Hughes! For anyone who doesn't know! We went to school together and happened to be in Costa Rica at the same time! Stewart and his friend Spencer have cycled from Cancun down to here! 3000 miles! Crazy! Sleeping in hammocks wherever they go!

After alot of chat it was bed time!

Wednesday

Early morning surf with Ethan, Crissia and April at the south end of Jaco!! Was fun, not too big and worked on my paddling! Building my strength and stammina! The boys (Stewart and Spencer) wanted to just chill all day! Understandably so we just ate and chilled all day!

Thursday

Another morning surf with Ethan April and Shaun this time! At cocacobana near Aprils house! it was a little bigger but caught a few good ones! definately seeing myself improve! :)

From 430-630 me and ethan opened the skate ramp but no one turned up so i swept a bit and tidied up for Christian Surfers youth club at 7!

A bunch of kids came down to skate, chat, eat, watch a surf movie and Damien gave a talk on a bible story and we listened to worship music! was cool that people wanted to stay! Met a guy called Randy who speaks English and has a fro like me! I told him to come back next week!

Friday

Surf... Can anyone else see the common denominator?? :) just me and ethan this time! Then road tripped to Orotina with Crissia in her pink jeep!! After pizza in the park, between me and Ethan we managed to drive it back to Jaco safely! Then it was time for Vida's 'desire day' party for her birthday! Girls night, massages, pizza (yes for the second meal in one day) icecream, brownies, bananagrams (game) lots of chit chat then a movie! it was super!

Saturday

Surf...

Last week I met a girl called Rio at church from Oklahoma! I invited her to Jaco to hang out! so She came about 1 and Ethan and I took her for a swim in Jaco! We were loving ducking under the waves and getting a bit beaten however we nearly drowned Rio which Ethan found very humorous! Rio and I then went for a smoothie at Vida and Maurices cafe and chatted for hours about everything! Even some deep chat about God and struggling with things! Thank you lord for the opportunity to share!

Ethan and I dined at the local soda 'Isagas'! another 5 dollar quality meal! Costa rican Style!! Then the gang... april ethan blue and I went for icecream... Gelato to be exact! Peanut butter flavour... I reccommend!! Movie at Aprils then time for bed!!

Sunday!

The early morning skype chat with Conor made me sleepy and i accidently missed house church at Hannah and Shauns!! Opps! I got out of bed and did chores... Such as washing all the bedding as Chip the dog had got into the building and slept on them all! Long Story! I also did a grocerie shop! A frantic phonecall and I had my bikini on, sun lotion on, board waxed and ready to go! 15 mins it took me to get out back in the water (apologies if you don't understand the terminology) Bascially that means 15 mins of paddling like mad and getting pounded by waves as they crash! eventually I got out back and caught a few good waves!! It's a holiday weekend so it was really busy so slightly intimidating as a novice!

The monsoon rain came down hard this afternoon so we grabbed lunch from the Wok (chinese food) and watched a movie with April, Hannah, Ethan and the baby!! (Fishing Salmon in Yemen - bit odd)

Just home and started my pasta salad I'm making! waiting for Ethan to come and we are going to cook up something for a while!

Praise God for an incredible week!!! Im learning so much here! My passion for God is grown, my surfing is improving, im so enjoying becoming a part of this community!! I have made great friends!

I don't really miss home! I miss people I love but 2 weeks down and im dreading leaving this place but still 5 weeks to go!!

God Bless

Lottie xxx