Dear Readers,
I wanted to wish you all the best for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and share with you what we do with local folks when we are here in Costa Rica for the holidays. We help with a project that provides a Christmas in Costa RIca party for 37 children from poor families. First they are bussed to the golf course and get to spend a couple of hours in the pool playing with water toys (none had ever swam in a swimming pool before). Next we serve them a nice lunch with ice cream and cupcakes (that they get to decorate themselves). After that we give them all gift bags with things like new shoes and various presents based on their age. When they are ready to go home, we fill the bus with two large baskets of food and necessities for each of their families. Melts your heart to see the joy and surprise in the eyes of these children – but that’s what Christmas in Costa Rica is really all about, and it really feels great to be a small part of it all.
Hats off to the local friends who work on this for months ahead with bake sales, silent auctions, donations, and much more, in order to provide the funding and to do the shopping for all the gifts and groceries that are donated.
After the long day we go to one of our favorite beach bar/restaurants, La Vida Loca, for some adult beverages and conversation.
Best Wishes,
Jim & Sharie