I need to go on another service trip, its a very humbling experience, and I think I really need that right now...

When we first arrived in Costa Rica I made friends with this dog. Her name is Monroe, and she liked sneaking in our room when we weren't watching : )

Saving the Osa. That is our main focus in Costa Rica.
My church goes every year.

I fell in love with these kids. I painted this picture above, you can see it in my post "Stephanie Hillman Design"

ha ha, this kid was funny. I called him "cara divertida" or funny face. I'm kinda rusty now with my Spanish, but he understood : )

The kids here are so grateful for their education. It was there day off and they came to help paint their school. It's lovely

I fell in love with this little girl

(above) in the process of building school desks so the kids don't have to sit on the floor
(below) almost finished.

the final product. I have never worked so hard in my life. But it is worth it.

The group. I love my church!

We had to have a little bit of vacation time. We went kayaking through the mangrove forests and then into the "Gulfo Dulce", a gulf off of the Osa Peninsula. It was absolutely beautiful.

mom and I on the ocean.
We saw sting rays, and lots of fish, and a pelican that thought he could eat me. yum!

I fell in love with the scenery. It is amazing there.

Bark of a tree

Poison Dart Frog

Hairy looking worm thingy growing out of the rock. weird.

Spider Web in a Bromiliad

We stayed at the "Danta Corcovado", spanish for bent moose.

Hallway to the kitchen. Everything was outside... and I mean everything

even the bathrooms!

my favorite place to relax after a long days work

this is where we ate. they made delicious food

Last time I went to Costa Rica it really humbled me. The kids there are amazing, they are grateful for everything they have, even though its not much. When I got back to the states it made me realize how much we spoil our children here. Sometimes I wish I could go back there. Someday