Hey there friends and family!
Our time in Panama turned out to be great as we had a fabulous time at the Panama Canal and learning about the history and operation of the administration of it. Although we were feeling a little sick after climbing the Cotopaxi Volcano and for Nathan with getting his face scraped up, it has been on the mend and we are both feeling considerably better. We also had a safe, yet long, travel to Costa Rica (16 hours), so we are also very thankful for your prayers as we continued along the way…the 5 hour border crossing from Panama to Costa Rica will, however, be an experience that both of us will remember for the rest of our lives.
Arriving into Costa Rica this last Friday, we were picked up at the bus station by a wonderful and cheeful couple: Manual and Sonia. Manual and Sonia are friends with Nathan’s grandma and so we were able to stay with them during our weekend in Costa Rica, and they really just opened our eyes to a new aspect of Costa Rica that we never would have been able to have otherwise.
We have been able to have authentic Costa Rican food with them (including rice and beans for breakfast, which was a treat for both of us after being away from Brazil for so long, go out for a Spanish Restaurant meal (as Costa Rica was inhabitted by the Spanish), visit the La Paz Waterfall gardens (that receive 14.5 feet of water per year, and see various creatures such as the jaguar, tree frogs, birds, monkeys, sloths, etc. along with the massive waterfalls there). Overall, this couple really took us into their home and showed us a great and sincere kindness while we were with them and it has been a great blessing to stay with them.
In all of our travels so far, we have really seen the Lord’s providence for us and His hand of protection as He has been meeting our daily needs. We now look to be heading through the most dangerous part of our trip (Nicaragua, Hondorus, El Salvador, Guatamala, Mexico) with reports that even the south part of Mexico has begun to be dangerous, so continued prayers would be appreciated and valued as we continue to travel into the unknown frontier. May the Lord receive the glory from our lives in whatever state He determines to place us in. 
Only Jesus,
Nathan and Jon
