Costa Clems

As you know a beta test is when you have a program or piece of software or hardware that is almost ready to launch, but you need to find out what the problems are going to be or see if there are any bugs.

Basically right now, as in, from yesterday January 27th when we arrived back on the farm until May 4th, we are doing a beta test of our move to Costa Rica… and yes there are bugs, as in about 100 baby cockroaches that nested in the clothes and mattress that I left behind for us. Also we found this little guy… not sure what kind of caterpillar it is and also not sure if that giant thing coming out of his rear end is an antennae or a stinger… not gonna find out.

But those aren’t really the bugs we are trying to work out. The feasibility of this move depends on two critical things:

1. Can we live month-to-month on a budget of $2500 (the monthly amount that we are required to have in order to become permanent residents)?
2. Can we handle this life?

Number one isn’t really too much of a concern, I don’t think; we can’t eat out very much, we need to be careful with our expenses, and we need to save up emergency funds for things like car breakdowns, repairs to roofs, and medical issues. Besides that there are regular bills: electricity, water, gas, insurance, and internet. But pretty much everyone, everywhere in the world has to learn to live within their means. It means making some choices and decisions about how you live and what you can say yes to, but you have an income, you have fixed expenses, and you learn how to live on the rest.

This is the reason we are trying to raise $60,000. This would be our living expenses for 2 years, and would allow us to continue to re-raise that amount in one time giving or ideally we can eventually get to the place where we have raised that amount in monthly commitments to enable us to devote more time to what we are doing here with the church and the community of La Malinche and less time raising money to do it.

Number two is not much of a concern for me either and the whole point of this thing is about living a different kind of life. Learning to not seek comfort and ease everywhere we turn, but to learn dependence on God and each other to get through the difficult times. But if the difficult times include waking up to giant spiders on our faces we may have to talk.

{ Insert from Jenna:

Hi folks. While Bill is not too concerned with our ability to handle this life, the other three of us are not necessarily in the same boat. While the parrots, howler monkeys, butterflies, breathtaking scenery and delicious produce are all reasons to be enamored with this place there are of course many things we are daily struggling with. The bug bites are intense (Bill mentioned cockroaches but they don’t bite like the other 2000 species that love our blood type). The diligence that is required when keeping up with kitchen [and other] messes is great–don’t leave anything out or the bugs and rodents will have a feast immediately or while you’re sleeping. The upkeep and maintenance on the property is overwhelming, projects always on the list. The amount of energy it takes to get simple things done–things that would not take much time at all in Seattle–is incredible which leaves you quickly tired and feeling like you did not get much done in a day. Then there’s the homesickness. Missing daughters. Missing siblings. Missing friends. Missing family. It is hard to not long for ‘home’ despite the view, the fun discoveries, the perma-camping, the fresh fruit, and the conviction we have to be here. But I digress. The kids and I look forward to acclimating to all the things, including the weather! }

Anyway, the next 3 months are critical for us, working with the church weekly, learning to live on a budget, learning to live the Pura Vida of Costa Rica. These are the things you can be praying for and if you have the means and desire to help us reach that fundraising goal, we greatly appreciate it. We are so thankful for the support and help of friends.