Taste of Costa Rica

John and I have been experimenting with a micro enterprise idea that we had with a family that lives in El Llanito.  The concept is based on offering tourists the opportunity for an authentic hands-on cooking experience. 

Most tourists fly to the airport, get in the airport shuttle, and then travel by all the little tico homes and go straight to their luxury resort. There is usually a huge assortment of expensive adventure seeking tours to choose from during their stay;  white-water rafting, zip-lining, exploring mangroves, etc.  This venture would interest those curious about the Costa Rican culture and most importantly the Costa Rican food (I have to think some people who travel all the way here might be curious).

The family that lives in El Llanito has a simple tico home with tons of banana trees and tropical flowers outside. 

Isa is an excellent cook. She has worked at many restaurants in the very bustling tourist town of Tamarindo (10 minutes away...which is also our target market) and she is currently the cook for the public school of El Llanito.  Their family is ready to open their home to show others an authentic experience.  She will be showing people how to make fresh fruit batidos, tortillas/empanadas, typical dishes (arroz con pollo, casados), and coffee the CR way.

John and I would of course love to help this one family, but the goal is much bigger...it's all the people of El Llanito.  If it is successful (meaning people actual choose to go on this tour) the plan is to give 20% of the profit to the school and the community. It could actually have a huge impact....I think back to last year where kids were in school with no electricity for 2 months (meaning no fans and no way to cook their school meals).  Dollar by dollar it could really make a difference.

With all that said...we did our first trial run 2 weeks ago (which is where these pics came from). We worked with the local private school, Country Day, and brought 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to El Llanito. There was 41 kids and parents total. Half the group did a service project at the school along with the kids of El Llanito while the other half were going through the mini-food tour.  We got some great positive feedback and also things we definitely need to change, but overall there was tons of energy around the idea. We had parents (who are Americans/Canadians living here permanently) saying they would love to bring their friends/families here when they come visit, etc.

So, with all that said, we are printing up flyers and trying to finalize a few very critical parts (English/Spanish speaking tour guide/transportation). I was the tour guide for this last group (and I think I did a mighty fine job) but I don't think it's in my long term plans.... and we want to make this thing sustainable.  :)

For those living in Costa Rica if you have any of the below items that you would like to donate or know a contact of someone in the restaurant industry that might want to donate let me know:
20 glasses, 20 sets of silverware, 10 big plastic bowls, 2 sets of measuring cups/spoons,  20 plates, 20 coffee cups,  20 small plates, 10 cutting boards
(All of this would just make it more formal as the business inventory versus their family resources or using plastic).

I would love to hear comments/suggestions on this. John and I were just thinking that this was a great idea and if we put some effort into it it could really make a difference...we will see...things seem to move much slower in tico time!!!

John helped lead the service project while I was over with the food tour....good times!!

Shoes anyone???

Quick update on another cool experience we got to be a part of this week.

We got an email that a guy (Otto Orf) that works with HandsonSports Foundation was going to be coming to the area and bringing soccer cleats and balls for the kids that live in different pueblos. I believe he may come down every year or every other year to help out the communities of Guanacaste. This year Scott and Staci were able to get his support to help out the community of El Llanito.

So, last Monday we got about 30 pairs of cleats from Otto's organization. After we matched up all the shoe sizes with all the kids' shoe sizes there was a small gap.  So, to close that gap and to make sure all the kids in the school got a pair, Serve One decided to fund the rest of the shoes. Muchas Muchas Gracias!!!

So, to say the least there was a local shoe shop owner that was super happy with our arrival on Thursday morning and then we got to go give out all the cleats/shoes to some super eager kids on Friday.

The kids were actually super patient with the process. The english teacher, Gerald, and another teacher at the school, Gentry, helped with the hand-out process and were able to get the kids to control themselves from all this excitement. The timing was cool too because it was the last day before Semana Santa, their one week Easter break. So, I'm sure they will break in all their shoes this coming week!

Here is Jeremy, one of the kinder grads from last year in his official 1st grade uniform with, ofcourse, his new pair of cleats...

Again Thank you Serve One and HandsonSports Foundation for making this possible!!

Serve One Another in Love

Last Monday, John and I went to El Llanito to give out some goodies from the organization we are helping...'Serve One Another in Love'.

The founders of Serve One, Scott and Staci, came down to Costa Rica the Thursday before. Their plan was to go say hi to all the kids on Thursday and then on Friday distribute all the goodies they had collected for the kids at the El Llanito public school (backpacks, notebooks, deodorant, toothbrushes, brushes, soap, etc).  Unfortunately, like most news in Costa Rica, they found out on Thursday while they were with the kids that the teachers were going on a one day strike on Friday.  So, since Scott and Staci were going to be gone by Monday, John and I got to help distribute for Serve One.

The kids were thrilled to be receiving their own backpacks. They eagerly got in lines to get their boy or girl backpack. And starting pulling out all the different things they had just received.

I had a little fun with the pics and I think the kids did too. We started using a few props for our pics...they were cracking up.

The teachers also had a field day because they got new trash cans and some new materials (glue/pencils/etc) for their classrooms. AM also gave us some flyers that had been dropped off in Potrero. All the posters had small bible verses on them and all the teachers picked out a couple for their classrooms. It was fun because we teach adult english in the kindergarten classroom on Monday night. And 2 of the posters were already hanging that night!

All the kids had huge smiles and were so thankful for all the supplies! Thank you Serve One and Scott and Staci for all the donations to El Llanito!!

 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' -Acts 20:35