Just ask

I learned a very valuable lesson today. You have to ask....

We have been having lots and lots of rain the past few days. Keep in mind that it is the rainy season but this is extra rain from the hurricane that hit Nicaragua. So that means A LOT more rain than usual. With this extra rain people have become even more insane on the road! I know that doesn't seem possible but it is. Because of this I have had to try to find new ways to get around. There is a second way out of Santo Domingo but for some reason every time I have tried it in the past I get lost. Not lost like I have no idea where I am but lost in that I come out in a place that I didn't mean to and it's usually out of the way. The whole point is this. Today traffic was again crazy so I took the second way. There was still lots of traffic so it was a little crazy. While I was driving I asked God to help me find my turn so that I would come out exactly where I needed to. Of course you know what happened right?! He did!!! Now I know the way exactly. I know it's a little thing but He's interested in every part of our lives he just is waiting to be asked.

Christmas in August

We are preparing for our annual Christmas gift giveaway. We are preparing a census to have a list of all the children 10 and below that live in the precario. We are also revising our map. All of the houses have new numbers. It's been a lot of work, but I hope that it will mean less work when Christmas comes and it's time to give out the gifts. We gave away about 750 gifts last year. I'm sure we will exceed the 1000 mark this year. Part of why it's taking so long is each house has 5 or 6 kids. That's a lot of writing. Juliana has been helping me each Saturday. I don't even think I'm 1/2 way through and we already have over 400 names. There are lots and lots of kids, and those are only the ones that are 10 and under. I'm very tired today but I know this will make a difference when December comes.

Guatemala

The first part of August I was able to take a trip to Guatemala. It was beautiful! The people were very friendly and most spoke English which was very good for me. (My Spanish still stinks!) I went there to meet up with a group from True North Church. They are partnering with a church in Guatemala. So that's where we spent most of our time. The church has started a new church out in a much poorer community and they also provide a health clinic there as well. That was one of the purposes for this trip. The team came to assist with a health clinic. The clinic was for 3 days. Two of them were at the church in the small town, but one day we went on the road to a refugee village and saw patients there as well. That was pretty cool. It reminded me some of the precario but the houses were definitely in better shape and not so many people crowded into one small area. I have a few pictures, not many because I am terrible at taking pictures. I'm usually busy doing other things. So anyway here are a few and some of them are of here too. I will have more of just Guatemala later. The team is compiling a CD with everyone's photos so as soon as I get that I will post it.
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGIn

Ladies Bible Study

First I want to update everyone on Arlene. She had another God moment when she went to get the medication she needed. First of all the medication is very expensive. She knew that, so she borrowed money to get it. (I'm sure with a ridiculous amount of interest) She found out that 80% of the money was for the clinic and %20 was for the actual medication. When she got there the people at the clinic told her that she didn't owe them anything just to pay for the pills. She had that much money of her own so she was able to take the borrowed money back right away and avoid the interest. God is amazing! Oh yeah and the medication is already working. She is feeling much better. The depression is gone and she has had much more energy.

The second thing is our ladies surprise me every week. This past week they made me stand in awe of how far they have come. When they came to bible study the each had a bag of something. One person had a bag of rice, one beans, one sugar, and the list goes on. That in itself was not so unusual, but then they put all their things together. That was something new. I finally had to ask, my curiosity got the better of me. They told me that there was a lady in the precario who has been very sick and is very poor and hasn't had any food, so they decided to take some to her and to pray for her. OK, maybe it doesn't sound like a big deal to you but to me it was HUGE! Here's why. At some point in timewe have had to deliver food to every one of the ladies because they haven't had any food. So I am very surprised that they didn't just tell us so we could take food to her. They didn't even ask us for anything, no money, no food, nothing. We were invited to go and deliver the food and to pray for her. They said they all had been blessed and they just wanted to pass it on. They had to have lots of faith to give away food. They had to know that they would be provided for when the time came that it was them without anything. They have all been there too. They all were so excited that they decided to do it again the next week. This time I was invited to participate. I was not able to because of my trip to Guatemala. They told me not to worry about it, that I could do it with them the next time. They have grown so much. I am so proud of them!

The Diagnosis

Remember the lady that we took to have a test run? Her name is Arlene. She was not feeling well and had been to her doctor who referred her to a specialist who had done an xray. This is were they found a growth in her brain. She needed another test that was very costly. Because God is so good he provided that money for her and we were able to be part of that. We took her for the test and she was very nervous. She was very excited though to be able to share her testimony about God providing the money she needed for this test. The test did not take long and we were back on our way to the precario. She picked her results up and made her appointment with her doctor. I am so happy to report that it was NOT cancer! It's a cyst that is in the middle of her brain and it is treatable with medication. She has already started the treatments and is beginning to feel much better. The feelings of severe depression are lifting and she has more energy. Needless to say she is praising God! I am just so thankful that I got to be part of this whole thing. Pretty cool!

A trip to the dentist

I went to the dentist today. I know that sounds a little scary considering I'm in Costa Rica. The dentists here only go to school for 4 years. Actually it was a very good trip. My dentist speaks English which is very helpful when someone is working on your mouth and you can't think of the Spanish word for-- ow that hurts! Just kidding! There was no pain involved, either during the process or when I was paying. I had my teeth cleaned, a tooth repaired and a cavity filled. All of this only took 30 minutes! That in itself was pretty amazing. Also I didn't get a shot of any kind. No need for one. She uses a water drill that doesn't hurt one bit. When it was time to go and pay it only cost me $50 for everything! Isn't that the craziest thing you've ever heard of?! Even with dental insurance in the states I had to pay at least $100 just to have my teeth cleaned not to mention the other procedures I had done. So if you need any dental work done you would save money even with the plane ticket to have it done down here in beautiful Costa Rica. Just thought you might like to know.

God's Gift

Just wanted to share a God story with you. On Thursday I received my support check from the church. It was for a lot more than I was expecting. So much so that I was able to pay off all of my credit card debt! I felt sick to my stomach though. I couldn't decide if it was because I thought it was a mistake or I felt unworthy or what it was. I couldn't sleep so I decided to read my bible. I opened to the verse that says: "It is better to give than to receive". So now the good part....
There is a woman in our ladies bible study at the precario who has been having some health issues. The doctors have recently found a tumor in her brain. She needed another test. The amount of money needed for that test is the exact amount of my tithe for my church check and my last check from work! I was able to tell her at bible study on Friday to make the appointment for the test. I made sure that she knew that the money was a gift from God and not from me. She made the appointment and called last night to tell us. I couldn't sleep at all last night. I was worried about her and about what we would do next once the results came in. I finally fell asleep and when I woke up I heard from the Lord not to worry about it; I wouldn't do anything, HE would do it all! We went to the hospital today for the test. The results should be in and she should be able to meet with her doctor in the next day or two. Another awesome part of this story is that she has been able to share her faith. When they told her how much the test would cost they figured they would never see her again. She told them she would be back. She said the Lord had told her everything was going to be fine. She had faith that God would provide a way. When she went to make her appointment yesterday they were VERY surprised to see her. She was able to tell them about her gift from GOD!

The Door of Hope

I wrote briefly about our new ministry in my last newsletter but I wanted to add to that. It is called the Door of Hope because that is what we want to provide for these girls, hope. Our first girl in this program is Juliana. Phil Jones, one of the founders of Blood N Fire Costa Rica, has known Juliana for 10 years. When he met her she was living in a precario. She is now 17 and lives in a better situation. They were able to buy a VERY small house that has running water. She lives with her Mom, three of her sisters and one brother. It is only a 2 bedroom house. She has other sisters that don't even live with them. They live in extreme poverty and she has seen many men come and go out of her house. Most of her siblings all have different fathers.

She recently has become involved with a married man that is 40. He was taking her out to dinner buying her alcohol and paying attention to her. Of course he said he cared about her, then he said he didn't want anything to do with her. Which is just a head game these men play so they can get the girls to do whatever he wants to get him back. He has been back in contact with her but she hasn't really had the time to spend with him since she has been coming to stay with us on the week ends. That was part of our plan all along. We are also hoping to teach her that she is better than that.

We read the bible with her daily while she is here and encourage her to read at home as well. We talk to her as best as our Spanish will allow. We want to show her God's love is enough. HE is all she needs.

She really looks forward to coming. She is teaching us new games. She cooked dinner for us last night. It was very good. She also has started acting like a teenage girl again. She really enjoyed our trip to the precario. She talked to the kids and handed out suckers. It was really a nice day.

The picture at the top is Juliana with LCI team member Caroline before she came to stay with us.

Feria

Jennifer, Juliana, and I went to the feria today. The feria is an open air market. It's very Costa Rican. People go every Saturday morning to buy all of their fruits and vegetables for the week. I drank from a coconut while I was there. I wouldn't say it's my favorite but it was ok and it was definitely an experience to watch them chop the top off with a machete! I also ate a fruit I've never seen before. Juli said it was a manzana agua. Water apple is how it translates. It was very good. It was sour which is something I like. We also bought a few other things I have never tried before and Juliana is preparing dinner with them. I'll have to let you know how that goes. So far it smells wonderful!

Pictures

While the team from Life Connections International were here there were lots of pictures taken. I have put a few in an album and would like to share them.
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGIn

LCI Team

The team from LA came to visit. They were with Life Connections International. We have a very excited time with them. They were here for a little over a week. They helped us of course with our "Beca" program. We worked in the precario, had a cook out and all that fun stuff. They also helped us move our things from our storage into our new place. While we were there the van got filled with bees! It was a little crazy. We drove with the back door open for a little ways but they refused to leave. Phil had to get out and use a branch to swat them away. Then on Friday that week we had a flood in the house! We had gone to ladies bible study in the precario and when we got home there was at least 3 inches of water everywhere! Shoes were floating, everything was wet and had to be washed. Luckily we have ceramic floors throughout the house so everything got really clean by the time we were done. To finish up the time the team had here we went to the beach. It was beautiful of course. I actually got to see monkeys in the wild. It was pretty amazing.

So the ministry is already beginning to change. One of our beca students is at a huge crossroads at her life and needs a place to stay. We are praying about this situation right now. Our heart is that we have her move in here with us. It will be a big change for her as well as us. We are looking forward to the learning process that we will go through with this new program.

Our first team arrived this afternoon. We are on our way to the beca program. I can't wait to see the kids! I have missed them terribly. We got a report that they are doing very well. For the most part everyone's grades are up. That is great!

Back in Costa Rica

I made it! I am traveling with another girl from Stevens Creek. We had our flight to Miami cancelled before we go to the airport in Atlanta. We found out we would be routed through Dallas which meant there was a possiblity of meeting up with Phil who is the founder of our ministry. Anyway that did happen and we were going to be on his flight. While we were waiting they asked for volunteers to take a later flight. They gave us $500 flight vouchers, hotel accommodations, and food vouchers. Isn't God great! Now I will have enough to make another flight back and forth to the states. Yeah!!! But it gets better. They also bumped us up to business class. I've never flown this before. The seats are much larger, they serve you a drink as soon as you sit down. Dinner was a three course meal with real glass ware and real linens. Unbelievable! I felt a little bad for the people in the back. So we got in late Thursday instead of Wednesday which means we lost a work day.

We made up for that yesterday though. We have lots of work to get ready for our first team that's coming from LA. They get here Monday. I was able to get to the precario yesterday. The ladies were having bible study. They were all very excited to see me and even more so when I told them I was here to stay not just for a visit this time. The babies are not babies anymore. Well speaking of lots of work, I need to get started on some.

In the states

Well I'm back in the states. I had a great year in Costa Rica. I learned so much. It's a little hard to be back though. I start back to work on August 8th. I'm sure that will help. I'm trying to get moved into my new place. I miss everyone in CR very much. I'm planning a trip in December. We have two of our beca girls that will graduate this year so I definitely have to be there for that. I would also love to be there to help with Christmas again too. Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible to be in Costa Rica.

Pictures

Here are some photos from my trip to the states.

Miraculous Healing

I should have posted this a month ago but of course I'm always behind. While a team from Atlanta was here we had the opportunity to witness a healing in the precario. In our ladies bible study is a lady who has a 8 year old daughter named Cindy. Cindy's grandmother also comes to our bible study as is very much part of Cindy's life. Cindy had been bitten by a mosquito, which had somehow placed a worm of some kind in her arm. The worm was some kind of flesh eating parasite. Another lady at the bible study told us about it to see if we could help. We took her to our doctor that helps us in the precario. He said that he thought that was probably what it was too but to be sure she would need a culture. The treatment would be injections directly into the site of the wound for 14 days. The medication was very expensive and there were only two packets of it in the WHOLE country! We were to take her to the clinic on Monday for a culture. In the meantime we had a team come in from Atlanta. While we were walking through the precario with this team we saw Cindy sitting and crying. Her arm looked TERRIBLE! There was a large hole that was full of infection and bleeding. We stopped to pray for her and her mother. Our plan was still to take her to the clinic on Monday and this was Saturday. We were back in the precario the next day and Lucia, Cindy's grandmother told us about the miracle. Right after we left she and Cindy were listening to the radio. There was a preacher on speaking about faith and healing. Lucia asked Cindy if she believed that the LORD could heal her. Cindy said yes. Lucia told her to touch the radio and they prayed together. Immediately the wound stopped bleeding! We were in awe! God is so great! We had Cindy come by on Monday to see her and the wound was already starting to heal. Two months later it's completely gone. There's a scar but I think that's to help her share her testimony.

Back in Costa Rica

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this. We were very busy moving and then I went to the states for Phil and Jill's wedding. I spent lots of time in the car. We made it back to Costa Rica on Tuesday afternoon. We had Beca on Wednesday. The kids were glad we were back. Thursday we went book shopping for the kids, grocery shopping because of course there was no food in this house and I would like to add not one clean towel. What's up with that?! We had ladies bible study today. It looks like most of our thieves are back in Nicaragua. We don't know exactly what happened, but the ladies said it's been pretty quiet. We are busy preparing for our next team. They will be here on Friday evening. We also have 5 baby baskets to deliver while we are getting ready for the team. It's good to be back.

Beca

We took three days to get the kids their uniforms. They used to take all of them at once. I don't think so! So we took 3 small groups. It was definitely easier. The girls of course took the longest to pick their things. It really wasn't that bad though. Jen and I have been packing up their supplies in their backpacks. The first night for them to be with us is the 13th. We will get a book list then. The kids here have to buy their books for school. That's part of why it's so expensive for them to go. There are lots and lots of kids that can't afford to go that's why this program is so good.

We've also been busy trying to move. The rent for the ministry house was going to be raised so we are moving into a new place. We still have lots to do. The sorting and purging has to be done by Phil. No one else can do it. We just have to convince him of that. The new house is a little smaller but it will work out really well for the Beca. Here's some new pictures.
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGHo

New School Year

Well we have been preparing for the new school year. We have been trying to decide which kids should be included in the Beca program. That is always a hard thing. You want them all to be in it but there just isn't enough room or money for that. We have our first meeting on Saturday. We meet with the kids and their parents to go over the program, answer questions, take pictures, schedule shopping trips. We take the kids to buy their uniforms and shoes. That should be lots of fun. After the kids get their list of books, we get to go shopping for them. Of course none of the books from last year will work so we will be buying new ones. It's crazy!

Happy New Year

Here's some pictures for December.
http://joyncostarica.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AYtnLly1buGHb