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<><

Team Picture

The Lord has put together a Team of men for this mission trip to Costa Rica.
Our meeting today went well and many thing were accomplished during our time.
Everyone is looking forward to the work that is waiting for us at the school.

Continue to prayer for the Illinois Team and the Colorado Team who will be coming down the day before we leave.

Continue to pray for team members who are raising their support.

Our next meeting will be on Monday January the 5th.

THURSDAY JANUARY 8, 2009
Meeting at College Church Commons parking lot at 4:30 AM
Depart for O’Hare Airport at 5:00 AM to US AIRWAYS Terminal
DEPART: Chicago Flight 1809 7:35 AM
ARRIVE: Charlotte 10:29 AM
DEPART: Charlotte Flight 1773 11:23 AM
ARRIVE: San Jose, Costa Rica 2:30 PM

SUNDAY JANUARY 18, 2009
After saying our farewells to our great and wonderful hosts we will depart for the airport at 1:15PM
DEPART: San Jose Flight 1774 3:35 PM
ARRIVE Charlotte 8:37 PM
DEPART: Charlotte Flight 1788 10:20 PM
ARRIVE: Chicago O’Hare airport 11:23 PM

Wally<><