Well, it has been three weeks here in Costa Rica for the Mattix family. We have learned a lot already, and we are excited about what God is doing in our lives. We have been through a lot of Spanish classes already. We have studied, practiced, and attempted to speak Spanish with several people. In fact, one of our classes is called Interaction 1. We meet with our teacher once a week, and they help Sherry and I with a "text." Then, we need to go out and find ten "Ticos" (what Costa Ricans are known as). We practice our Spanish with them. This is really helpful because many Ticos are very willing to speak with us and correct our Spanish. This might sound rude, but it really is not. It really is good for us as we are trying to learn how to communicate effectively in Spanish.
We have already experienced many things. We have been to downtown San Jose four times. We have been in a taxi cab several times, already. We have been on the bus system, to the orthodontist, to the kid's school several times, to the market, to several malls, and eaten much Tico food. Our main mode of transportation is our "los pies," or our feet! We walk everywhere: to school, to the grocery store, to Burger King, etc. It is different to not be able to jump in your car and run up to the grocery store for milk. The closest grocery store is about 500 meters up a steep hill and across a major, heavily traveled road. It is not really that difficult. We are receiving a lot of benefits from it. The physical exercise is good for us.
About the orthodontist, Kaylee needed braces, and here they cost a lot less than the United States. Dentistry and orthodontia are world-class here. People fly here from all over the world to visit the dentists and orthodontists. They are really nice at Kaylee's orthodontist, and they are taking really good care of her.
Speaking of the kids, they are all doing well. The attached picture is the kid's school bus. They get on the bus at 7:10 every morning and arrive back home around 3:00 p.m. unless they have soccer practice. Chaz had a viral disease called hand, foot, and mouth. It basically involves painful sores/blisters on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and in the mouth. He had a huge, painful sore in his mouth that took a couple of days to clear up. He is much better now, and he is adjusting to school, slowly. He had a rough time for a couple of weeks, but he seems to be focusing now. The girls are doing well. Kaylee is making a lot of new friends, and she is really enjoying soccer. Chariti is her normal sweet self. They have both been busy with a lot of things. They are spending the night at their friends homes, hanging out with other MK's, and getting to go on outings with other youth.
We would love to hear from you all. Our phone number is posted on our website www.mattixfamilynews.com, and it is not an international call. If you live in or around Springfield, MO, then it is a local call for you. Otherwise, it would just be a long-distance call for some of you. Please call and let us know how you are doing. If we are not home, we do have voice mail. We WILL call you back (unless it is really late at night). Also, we can receive mail quite easily. We would love to hear from back home. It is really nice to see other missionary's face when they receive a letter or package from back home. We go to our mailbox with great anticipation every day. Please feel free to send us something, anything (Charley likes cinnamon fire Jolly Ranchers, and we all love any gum or candy). If you would like to drop us a card in the mail, contact us by phone or email. We can give you the information you need to send something by mail.
We are all enjoying being here with friends we have known for a few years and making new friends. They will all be our friends for the rest of our lives. They are partners in prayer and ministry. It is neat to see who God has brought together here in Costa Rica. One thing we know is that God is still calling people into the ministry. He has a great sense of humor as well. There are many different personalities and callings here. It is really amazing! Not all of us are easy to get along with, but we are all a part of the call of God to reach the lost. We are all children of the same God. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we have the same goal: to see the unsaved come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are humbled by His call upon our lives, and we are excited to see God working in the lives of others.
May God bless all who read this post.
Charley & Sherry Mattix
