TeamDuggan

It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep will do to clear the mind.  Even with some very involved personnel meetings and group meetings the day was invigorating.  Later, after a short shopping stop (can’t tell what…it’s almost Christmas after all), I found myself sipping coconut milk from a chilled coconut standing on the beach and watching some amazing surfing waves crash down.  The weather is cool for this time of year, maybe high sixties with a stiff breeze and everything is verdant green with incredible scenery and views.  I forgot to bring the camera along to the beach, so I’ll try to grab some shots over the next couple of days and post them here.

Keri loves her new curtains and is looking forward to Saturday when they will block out the sunlight and she can sleep blissfully late. Thank you to those whose shop carried the gorgeous fabric( Front Door Fabrics), those who purchased fabric for Keri and Anna, the hands who carefully stitched both sets of curtains, and the transport of fabric from Costa Rica to the US and back again.

The time in Charlotte flew by, and although I spent a long time relishing the new Trader Joe's(we left the day it opened August 2007) and hadn't bees…the thought of shopping for those items we need, but don't like to transport was left for tomorrow. Thursday we had brunch with the Anderson family(thanks guys!) and every item on our "things we can't find or afford in Costa Rica" list was in a box at their home–lovingly provided by cheerful hearts(you also know who you are) prompted by God. Upon arriving at the airport Saturday AM, Brian handed me an envelope that simply said "Duggan luggage"….and the cash inside paid for our three duffles of things–ladies' items for our area conference, Christmas decorations and those necessities from Trader Joe's and the box of groceries AND a snack box on the plane(we ran to our connection, with little thought to lunch on the way)….we are humbled by the cheerful hearts of those who so blessed us during our time in Charlotte, those who pray when prompted, and those who welcome us with open arms when we arrive on US soil. We love you! Our hearts are cheerful and ready and available to bless those brought across our path-in Costa Rica, Latin America, and parts beyond!

Getting a visa to live in Costa Rica is not easy…their government structure doesn’t really match our own, so when you have to have a state certified copy of a marriage license or birth certificate, our own government says something along the lines of, “Huh?”.  One of the items we need is a state certified police record that shows we have no criminal record.  That isn’t something that US law enforcement is set up to identify and provide.  First of all, it’s more difficult to prove a negative in our own country, whereas in a country the size of Costa Rica, there is really just one law enforcement body.  Doesn’t matter….we still have to get it.

So Cathi and I visited our local sheriff’s office in Montgomery County, NC.  Now just imagine trying to knock on the door of your local sheriff’s office and actually get an audience.  Not exactly the way we do things here.  But this sheriff is a fellow Christian and has a son headed to Japan as a missionary.  He went out of his way to help us and has promised to do whatever it takes to get us the papers we need.  As we sat in his office I noticed several very nice pieces of art that depict the characters from the Andy Griffith show.  You know the one, where the sheriff doesn’t carry a gun unless there is some real reason to do so.  As we talked with Sheriff Jeff Jordan we realized he uses many of the same techniques that Andy Taylor did on his show.  He carries authority easily on his shoulders and doesn’t let either the love of or the fear of power get to him.  He purposely has that artwork in his office because, as he says, “When people are in this office they are usually very stressed and I just tell them, Folks, this is Mayberry, and we can work this all out, so let’s relax and talk this through.”  Sure enough, he has that sense about him that makes you think it’ll all work out in the end. 

We had a wonderful time speaking with him and knew that God had led us there instead of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg route.  Thanks Sheriff Jordan!