MANUEL!!!!!

This is Manuel opening up his Nike book bag that we gave him for Christmas. What a joy it was to see all of the children opening up their presents together..

MICHAEL AND MANUEL!!!!!

We picked this young boy to buy a gift for during the Robleato party. Michael spent some time with him finding out about his story. He may be leaving Robleato's soon. What a praise!!

ROBLEATO CHRISTMAS TREE

All the bags around the Christmas tree were full of presents for all 100 of the children.

DUSTIN AND ELLIE WORKING AT THE ROBLEATO PARTY

Dustin and Ellie

distributed cotton candy and presents to all the children while they were playing games and opening presents.

Beautiful girls at Robleato!!

I was in the face painting center. I had just painted these girls faces when I took this picture. It was hard not to take each one of them home with me.

ROBLEATO ORPHANAGE PARTY

This is the group of children from Robleato's Orphanage in Costa Rica. All the missionaries got together and planned a big Christmas party for all the orphanes in this orphanage. Wow!!! how amazing. There were about 100 orphanes in this particular orphanage who are there because their parents didn't want them or they couldn't take care of them. I can't tell you how much of a blessing it was to be a part of making their lives a little happier at this time of year.

MICHAEL'S BIRTHDAY NIGHT

We took Michael to TGI Friday's for his birthday. It is just like the one in the states. They import all their ingredients from the states.

MICHAEL AND CINDY TURN 40 IN COSTA RICA

My friend Candy made me a cake for my 40th Birthday which was on Thanksgiving Day. I can't think of a better day to celebrate my 40th.

CHRISTMAS IN COSTA RICA

This Christmas tree is decorated at one of the malls not far from our house. Christmas decorations have been out here since October- Incredible!

THANKSGIVING IN COSTA RICA

This is the Thanksgiving feast that we shared with about 80 IMB missionaries. We are so thankful that we had a time with our families in the States and with our mission family here in C.R. to share times of thankfulness and remember how God has blessed each of us.

Ellie and her buddies

This is Ellie and her friends. The one beside her is Mia Luginbill who will arrive in Ecuador in April of next year. They were enjoying their spiritual emphasis week in the gym.

Dustin and the gang!!!

This is Dustin, little Frederico, Ellie and Gloriana. The night we ate at there house for dinner, Michael and Frederico went to a specialty meat shop where they cooked the meat right there and they brought it back all cooked. Ana had made sweet potatoes and corn while I made a salad. For desert, Ana made a homemade Apple pie. Ana and her husband did all this because they knew we missed some of our favorite foods in the States. We also were able to practice our Spanish eventhough Ana can speak fluent English. She lived in the States for one year and learned to speak English.

Ana and me!!!

Ana is my dear friend and I will always remember how much she helped me with my Spanish especially when I knew no Spanish at all. She understands what it takes to learn another language. She lived in the States for one year and is now fluent in English. What a great lady she is!!!

Our dear friends in Costa Rica

This is Ana, Frederico, Gloria and little Frederico and of course Dustin and Ellie at the house of Ana and Frederico. Ana was my conversation teacher my first tri and now she is Michael's conversation teacher. We have grown to love this family dearly and will miss them terribly when we leave. Ana and Frederico love to travel so they are coming to visit us in Ecuador.

Halloween!!!

Costa Rica does not celebrate Halloween but the kids did go to a little festival where they played games. This is Caroline and Coleman Cannon with Ellie on Halloween night. They were given these teeth in a goody bag. Coleman is in the same class as Ellie. The Cannon family has been with us since our training in Richmond last October and now they live right across the street from us. They will be serving in South Costa Rica when they leave language school in December. We sure will miss them so please keep them in your prayers as they begin to pack and leave school for their field of service.

Dustin and Ellie on the beach in Nicaragua

Dustin and Ellie enjoyed playing in the sand and football on the beach the several days that we were there.

Dusitn surfing!!!

This is Dusty Boy surfing for the first time with big waves. You can't see the big wave that he rode in but he was soooo proud of himself.

Ellie surfing

This is Ellie surfing for the very first time. She and Dustin had the best time.

Michael doin' some shopping on the beach

This is Michael with a local Nicaraguan who was selling handcrafted pottery. We purchased this piece to remind us of our time in Nicaragua. This Nicaraguan told us that it took one week to make this one piece of pottery.

Our view from the hotel

It was very rainly the whole time we visited Nicaragua but we had a great time of relaxation from school and San Jose city life. A much needed time of R and R. This was our view from our hotel room in San Juan Del Sur in Nicaragua.

OUR TRIP TO NICARAGUA

This is a picture from our Hotel standing on the beach of San Juan Del Sur. We had to leave San Jose again after 90 days for our passports so we decided to go to Nicaragua. We went with another family, the Ostertags.

ELLIE'S HAMSTER, "SNICKERS OR HAMMY"

I WISH THIS PICTURE WAS A LITTLE CLEARER BUT THIS IS HAMMY. HE IS THE CUTEST LITTLE THING. ELLIE HAS SOOOO ENJOYED HAVING HIM. THANKS NANA FOR ADDING HIM TO OUR FAMILY.

SOCCER UNIFORMS!!!!!

THIS IS DUSTIN AND ELLIE SPORTING THEIR UNIFORMS FOR SOCCER. THEY ARE BOTH COACHED BY AN INCREDIBLE COACH WHO USED TO PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL COSTA RICAN SOCCER TEAM. THEY CALL HIM "PROFE." THEY BOTH ARE LEARNING SOME GREAT SKILLS. IT IS INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE TALENT ON THESE TEAMS.

DIA DE INDEPENDENCIA

THIS IS DUSTIN AND ELLIE THE MORNING OF THE DIA DE INDEPENDENCIA IN COSTA RICA. THE TRADITION HERE IS VERY BIG: THE CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER PARADE AROUND THEIR SCHOOLS AND NEIBORHOODS WITH THE HOMEMADE LANTERNS YOU SEE HERE IN THE PICTURE. WE ALSO PARTICITPATED WITH THE CHILDREN MARCHING AROUND THE SCHOOL SINGING THE COSTA RICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM.

Mom's visit

This was all of us at the waterfall at Arenal when Mom came to visit. This waterfall was at the end of a long hike that Mom took like a trooper.

The whole gang

This is everyone who was baptised with Ellie and our pastor, Walter. He was praying for them after the baptism.

Actual Baptism

Last but not least,

This is our pastor, Walter, and Michael baptizing Ellie at Camp Brittany in th swimming pool.

Dustin and Ellie

This is Dustin and Ellie in the river at Camp Brittany in Atenas, Costa Rica

David, our Big Brother, at the baptism

This is David Brown, our big brother when we arrived here. His has continually been a part of Dustin and Ellie's life here in Costa Rica.

Friends in Costa Rica

This is Doug Jett and Dustin at the baptizm. Doug is a good friend of ours here in Costa Rica. We found out just a few days ago that his uncle was a good friend of Jim Lamb and went to seminary with him. Wow, what a small world!!!

Dustin and the Boys

This river was on the campsite of Camp Brittany. This is Dustin enjoying some good 'ol swimming in the river with the ticos from our church.

The Gang on Ellie's big day!!

These are the Luginbill children who attend school with Dustin and Ellie now, and they will be going to Ecuador and attending school with Dustin and Ellie there as well. We were so thankful that they came with us.

Baptizm Day

This is us right before Ellie got baptized in the swimming pool. What a great experience!!!

Volcan Arenal

This is the volcano that our family and my mom got to witness as we were staying at this particular observatory. Increible!!! God is truly powerful and almighty. We saw evidence of Him every where we went.

DUSTIN AND ELLIE

I ALWAYS LIKE TO UPDATE YOU ON HOW THE KIDS ARE DOING AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE CHANGING. EVERYONE WOULD BE SO PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM AS THEY ARE MATURING AND GROWING IN CHRIST.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEM AND US AS WE CONTINUE OUR VENTURE HERE IN COSTA RICA!!

LOVE, MICHAEL,CINDY,DUSTIN AND ELLIE

HOME IN PANAMA

WE TRAVELED TO PANAMA TO RENEW OUR VISAS AND MEET THE NATIONALS IN PANAMA. WE WERE SO HUMBLED BY THEIR PRESENCE. THIS LITTLE GIRL POSED FOR THE CAMERA AS WE PASSED BY HER HOUSE IN THE BOAT TAXI.

HOME IN PANAMA

THIS IS ANOTHER HOME THAT WE PASSED AS WE WERE RIDING THE BOAT TAXI TO EACH ISLAND

HOME IN PANAMA

THIS IS A HOUSE THAT SOMEONE ACTUALLY OCUPIES. WE ARE ALL SO BLESSED.

THE BOAT TAXI

THIS IS THE ACTUAL BOAT THAT TOOK US TO THE ISLANDS TO SEE THE INCREDIBLE BEAUTY BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE INCREDIBLE POVERTY.

THE WOLLETT FAMILY

ISN'T THIS A GREAT PICTURE OF US!!! WE ARE ON A BOAT(WHICH IS A BOAT TAXI) IN PANAMA GETTING READY TO GO TO AN ISLAND WHERE MANY POOR PEOPLE LIVE AND WORK OFF OF THE WATERS IN THE MANGROVES.

ELLIE AND HER NEW FRIEND!!

THIS IS ELLIE AND JAMIE, THE BOAT CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER. WE WERE ON A MISSION TRIP IN PANAMA WHEN WE MEET THIS PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL.

ELLIE AND HER NEW APRON!!!!

Our home and language helper, Auroita, here in Costa Rica made Ellie an apron because she knows how much Ellie likes to cook. Ellie was totally surprised at her new apron.

DUSITN AND ELLIE ON THE FERRY

On the way back from our mission trip to San Jose, Doug arranged for us to ride the Ferry on the Gulf of Nicoya. What an incredible ride. We saw so much of God's beauty!!!! You all would be so proud of Dustin and Ellie while on this trip. Ellie will be baptised here in Costa Rica with other nationals in the church that we are attending. We will be sure to video it so all can see this exciting moment in Ellie's life.

A PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL

This little girl is from Cabellita and her mom is from Finland and her dad is Costa Rican. We met her parents and they were so warm and kind. They invited us one day into their home for lunch. They have a mission in Costa Rica as well.

SCHOOL CHILDREN OF CABELLITA

This was the second school that we went into while we were in Nicoya. Dustin was able to share his testimony with them as Michael translated it in Spanish. What a great moment because just one year ago, Mark Grumbles of the Operation -Go was translating for Michael.

CHILDREN OF SANTA RITA

These are some children that were attending school the day we showed Max Lucado's film about telling the truth. These kids are so open and hungry to hear the word of God.

ESTABLISHED CHURCH IN NICOYA

THIS IS EFRAIM'S CHURCH IN NICOYA. THE MISSION TEAM HELP TO START TWO MORE CHURCHES IN AND AROUND THIS PARTICULAR CHURCH BY SHOWING THE JESUS FILM TWICE IN TWO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

CARLA, OUR FERVENT LEADER!!!

Everyone should be so proud of Carla Little who arranged this trip for the mission team. Carla is an incredible woman who loves the Lord with all her heart and has so much to give. She is with the pastor that we worked with named Efraim.

OUR NEXT "MAN OF PEACE"

This is Lisa, Michael's sister, and a little boy named David. He is the most incredible young boy that we have ever met. He just took to Lisa so well and he was so on fire for the Lord. We know the next time we go to Nicoya we will see him on the front row of the church serving in some capacity.