The other day we had a special gathering to share some of the details of our calling and to give the children a little taste of what it’s like to be a missionary.  Much fun was had by all.  Here are some of the highlights.

Being a long ways away doesn’t mean we stop being friends.  We decorated postcards with cutouts from magazines to make it easier to keep in touch.

Costa Rica is home to over 1,200 known species of butterflies.  Some undiscovered varieties were seen flying around the room.  Contrary to nature, this one later grew its pipe cleaner body and curly antennae.

If you could only take one suitcase, what would you put in it?  Matt’s word problem gave kids a chance to flex their math skills and think it through.  Suggestions and approximate weights were given, but remember, your bag can’t weigh more than 50 lbs.

Gallo Pinto is Costa Rica’s signature beans and rice dish, often served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  The primary flavoring, Lizano sauce, makes it quite tasty.  We brought a double batch, wondering if the kids would be interested.  When I wandered back to the snack table, this is what was left.  It looks like all the little Mikeys liked it.  We also enjoyed some bananas and oranges because the warm, wet climate makes it easy for them to grow there.

Houses in the tropics are more open because the weather is warm year-round.  Often a small gecko will keep you company, usually out of sight, and nibble any bugs that wander in.  God created them with a special ability to climb and even run on vertical surfaces.  Our beaded versions couldn’t zoom across the walls, but they were still a big hit.

The result: happy faces with a little more understanding of what it’s like to go new places.