Viga Corona completed 10-29-09

Dear Wheaton MIM Guys, Sorry I didn't send all the updates, but here are the last two. The picture of the viga corona shows that the structural part of the building is now done. The property is very quiet and empty now. Guess we'll have to eat up here in the house...what a concept! Thanks for all your hard work and for fellowship! School starts a week from Monday!!! As usual, please be praying for English teachers...we still need three! -Matt

Click on picture to enlarge.



Today, the team completed the final concrete pour and the cubicles, and moved three large piles of construction steel from one building to the new building so it will be pre-positioned for building the roof on the new building. Work on the pipeline and the library continues during the last few hours we have here in Costa Rica. The library work is almost done - the team is sorting, labeling, and shelving a pile of children's books with titles such as "Porko von Popbutton", "Romeo and Two Juliets", and "Liver Cookies". While all of this has been going on, Bonnie has been working along steadily on her murals - patching up some of the older ones and creating some new ones. LPDV has a set of "steps to nowhere" (no, this is not Alaska, Minnesota, or even the WInchester Mystery House) which did go somewhere before a wall was built between LPDV and a new housing development. The wall now has a new mural at the top of the steps showing an open door through which the viewer can see Narnia. The pipeline will be about 75% completed when we leave - the critical parts (road and driveway crossings) should be complete so that the local staff can finish the rest of it in their spare time. Thank you for praying. Everybody on the team seems to be feeling well again. Colorado MIM2009 team.

Back Home on Monday AM

The Team was delayed in San Jose because of a mechanical problem with the plane. When fixing the problem the circuit breaker blew and the problem got worst. We had a 2 hour delay and spent the night at a Best Western in Charlotte, NC. Got on the 7:30 flight, but had a 1/2 hour delay to de-ice the plane. They gave us water while we waited for the repairs to be completed.
Again the Team thanks you for all your prayers and support to make this mission trip very successful.
I will post some of the additional work that will start up again after Wednesday when the Colorado Team starts making more concrete and start their work projects.
Please pray for the Befus family and that the school will have a full staff of Christian teachers and also for the Colorado team during the next week and a half that all goes well and that the team is safe and healthy.
Wally Korol<><

Last Work Day

Saturday was our last work day. We made more concrete and finished the columns and laid the rebar for the beams. The Colorado team will be making concrete and pouring it when the rebar gets boxed in.
The painting crew finished off painting the book shelves for the library and all of our projects and more were completed.
The Wheaton Academy students also did a lot work at the school. The Lord led them to the school for a reason. We pray for the area where their ministry was suppose to be and the people who were affected by the earthquake.
There still is plenty of work to be accomplished by the next team.
There is one picture that shows Walter and Joe praying for two lady's that were asking us for money.
The Mission trip maybe over, but God's work is being done in Costa Rica and His Spirit is present here at the school.
Pray for the school to have good Christian teachers and that the school has a great start for their new school year in February. Pray also for the Befus family now and during the school year that the Lord will give them the Holy Spirit working in their lives, wisdom and perseverance serving in Costa Rica.
We will be on a 3:35PM flight and hope to arrive in Chicago around 11:30 tonight.
Wally Korol<><

Work Day and Downtown San Jose

The work day involved making concrete and filling up 7 columns. Also a group painted the library cabinets and touching up some of the classrooms. Wheaton Acamdemy filling up the new building's floors with gravel and compacting it down.
We did go downtown to San Jose to experience that. A lot of people going everywhere. Stopped off for some coffee at a hotel, checked out a souvenir place, and ate out a a Denny's type of fish place.
We came back to the school and the water was shut off because the tank at school was running low and needed to be replenished. Water came back on in the AM.
Another rat met his or her demise overnight, I didn't look.
Today will be more of the same as Friday. The painters will use a sprayer today for the book shelves.
The group from Wheaton Acacdemy will be leaving later today back to Wheaton.
I will update the blog before we catch our flight back on Sunday afternoon.
Wally<><

Trip Back from the Ocean

We arrived back to La Palabra de Vida tonight from the ocean. We do know the weather is terrible in Chicago and are praying that it will get back to normal temperatures.
We were able to see some wildlife so I added pictures of some alive critters and some plantains, (platanos)Like bananas. We had a safe trip back tonight ate dinner and had devotions and are ready to start another busy day making concrete and other projects that need to be done. Wheaton Academy have been digging trenches for a water system. The ground is hard and there are other pipes running throught where they dug. Enjoy the pictures.
Wally<><

Work Day 4

Pictures of some of the Wheaton Academy students who had another busy day.

The rat that we saw on Friday came back, but was captured Monday night by the rat trap.
More cement columns were poured. The rebar project has been completed. Metal beams have all been painted. Progress is being made in all areas.

There was a chill in the air tonight. Jackets were downed by many during our devotions tonight. My thermometer showed 71 degrees.

Side Note: I was able to arrive in Costa Rica at 2:30 today. Thank you again for all your prayers for my family and myself.

Work Day 3

Following email is from Matt Befus.
We survived the trip up Pico Blanco. We took a LONG time to get both up and down, and that along with Lisa running out of gas (twice) on the way to pick us up caused us to miss church in the evening. One of the Leadertreks-Wheaton Academy teams is here working at the school as of today. They planned to work at a church, but they can no longer get there because its in the area affected by the earthquake. The church itself is okay, but there is no access. So...we have 18 able-bodied juniors and seniors here. They are doing a conversational English program with our students in the English-orientation class, and they will be working a VBS program in by brother's church on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The rest of the time they will be filling and compacting the four classrooms and digging a trench of the irregation system (from the well to the top of the hill).

Side note: My Dad's wake and funeral went well. Had good conversations with family members and friends. Thank you again for your prayers during this time.
Hope to get on the 6am flight back to Costa Rica tomorrow Lord willing. If the flight is delayed because of the Blizzard Ashley and I will keep each other company waiting for our flights to depart O'Hare. Ashley needs to get back to Waco to teach her 1st grade class and to graduate this May from Baylor University. She also has a indoor track meet this Saturday and needs to be ready for that. (Pole vaulting)
Wally Korol<><

Sunday

I'm not in Costa Rica, but todays plans was not to work. There should have been a group going out on a hike with Matt up Pico Blanco. At the top it's 2271 meters (7450 feet). When I took the hike with a STAMP Team in 2003 the whole journey took 6 hours. We will have to wait and see how everyone did. Another group were to go with Walter on a site seeing tour by the older part of Costa Rica and maybe a coffee plantation.
Monday and Tuesday will be work days.
Wally Korol<><

Work Day 2

Day two of rebar, concert and painting. Last night in the building where everyone is staying we saw a BIG rat run from one end of the room to the other. Never saw a rat in Costa Rica before especially where we sleep. It went out the hole we hope it came in from? We also had a good conversation about the end times.

A side note I got on the 8:40 plane back to Wheaton. In Wheaton at 9:45. My Dad's wake will be on Sunday and the Funeral will be on Monday. Ashley will be catching the 6am flight to Dallas and I will be catching the 6am flight to Costa Rica to finish the mission trip.
The Holy Spirit is difinitly present on this mission trip in many ways seen and unseen. Wally Korol<><

A Day at Work

The team started out with the morning devotions and breakfast. Rice and beans yummy.
Today on the job a lot was accomplished.Bending rebar, making cement and painting metel beams. Tomorrow will be another day of the same.
God is good.
Wally<><

Arrival with a Earthquake

We left Chicago to Charlotte, NC and then to San Jose. The airport had a lot of people waiting for their planes and all the stores were shutdown and we heard it was because of a Earthquake. Pictures on the news looked bad. One sceen had the road opened up with a big gap and a tour bus was on its side in the gorge.
So far two people were killed.
I did feel a little movement in the Befus home, but didn't freak out as much as Lisa did. They have a higher sense of feeling for Earthquakes.

At dinner "Chicken Licken" My wife Carol called to inform me that my dad passed away this morning while we were flying to San Jose. He was in a rehab home and doing well.

I will be calling the airport tomorrow and see when I can get a flight back home. US Airways just started to fly down to Costa Rica.

Please keep our family in your prayers.
Wally Korol<><

Last Team Meeting Before Take Off

The Team had another good and productive meeting.

We all need to be at College Church's Commons Building on Thursday January the 8th at 4:30AM. We plan to leave at 5am.

We depart O'Hare airport on US Airways flight 1809 at 7:35AM.

We should arrive in San Jose at 2:30PM.

Airline locator record is BPRKTG G6FELB

Don't forget your Passport?

At College Church on Wednesday February the 18th the MIM CR2009 trip will present a PowerPoint presentation to the Wednesday night prayer group at 7PM.
Team members will have an opportunity to talk about their experiences on the mission trip.

Praying for a safe and on time trip.

Also pray for the people of Costa Rica.
It maybe a beautiful country, but its people are in spiritual darkness.
La Palabra de Vida School is a place where God's light is being shown.

Wally<><