April 2008

G is for gente. Gente means people. We have been counting all the people in the precario. We recently renumbered all the houses in the precario and made a new map with the new numbers. That was lots of work but well worth it when it came time to use the map for the census. We are completing this census first of all to get an accurate count of how many people are there but then also we will place this information in a data base that will allow us to make reports, pull data that will allow us to help the people there much more effectively. We had a large group of volunteers last Sunday and we were able to get to 119 houses out of 486. We have a long way to go but it has been fascinating to hear everyone’s stories. The people have been very excited to have us doing this census. If we miss their house they send their kids running after us to make sure we know they are there and they want to be counted. Isn’t that how we all feel? We want people to know we are here and we matter.

H is for hay. Hay means there is or there are. Well there is a new tutoring center. The Lincoln students have opened their second tutoring center this week! We are so excited. We are using a building near the school to tutor the kids in the neighborhood. We had nine kids our first week. That’s pretty cool. They are working hard to start tutoring centers all over Costa Rica. They are meeting with other schools to partner with them to start tutoring centers in their own neighborhoods. They are awesome!

I is for interceptar . Interceptar means to intercept. That is exactly what I did at the last camp we had for the 10^th grade Lincoln students. In the process I broke a finger. As soon as it happened I said I thought I broke it but when it came to going to the hospital I decided that it was most likely just jammed. Hey, we were in the mountains and it’s quite a drive to a hospital, plus who wants to sit and wait and have them tell you it’s just jammed and you are a baby?! Well it hasn’t gotten much better so I went to hospital and it is broken and of course not healing as it should. They said at first they wanted to re-break it, but when I saw the orthopedist he said they couldn’t control the break enough to guarantee that it would make it better. So I will keep my finger just as it is. I think that I’m retired from my football career though. Sad day…

Please make donations to Stevens Creek Community Church with Costa Rica in the memo.

www.boywithaball.com

Email: joyncostarica@yahoo.com

Phone: (706) 522-4386

The Gift of Love

Tonight was home group in the precario. This is just a time to get together read the bible and share what the Lord is doing in our lives. We started the group within the last 2 months. We had been meeting in the office but the more time we spent in the precario the more people asked us for a meeting in the evening. We decided that we should have our home group in the precario every other week. It has been really great watching everyone grow closer to the Lord and closer to each other. Most of the time when we have any sort of meetings the women always come. It is very difficult to get the men involved. Things are slowing changing. One of the women that has been part of our ladies group from the very beginning has been praying continually for her husband to come to know the Lord. He has now attended a men's group meeting, a leaders meeting, and now home group. Yay!!! We had 4 men at the meeting tonight. The gift part was that each one of them spoke about how friendship has brought them around. They said if it hadn't been the friendship that we showed to them they wouldn't be there and they wouldn't be where they are in their lives either. That was such a precious thing to hear especially this time of year. Love it's as easy as that and it changes lives.

A gentle reminder

I was able to take some time in the states recently. It was a great trip. I got to visit with family and lots of friends as well as attend a really good conference. I got back last week. It is great to be back! I flew in on Thursday night and Friday jumped right back in to everything here. Friday night is our time to go downtown with coffee and cookies for the homeless and the prostitutes. I had really missed that while I was in the states. I was really looking forward to going. I left at the usual time about 9pm. I decided that I should try to get a taxi. I did wait and wait, so I decided to just walk to the office. While I was walking I felt like I heard "you are not this naive". Hmmm... Well I guess so I'm out here walking by myself after dark. Anyway I was fine no one robbed me or anything like that. We went downtown as usual. I did get a ride back to my house so no walking alone after midnight. After I unlocked the door and stepped inside I noticed that I was standing in broken glass! That was a strange feeling. I didn't even see the hole in the window when I walked up. Then once I was inside I couldn't decide if I should stay inside or go outside. I called Mark (the owner) and he talked to me while I waited for the police to come. It all worked out fine. Nothing was stolen. We think it was some kid or a drunk that threw a rock through the window. I'm just glad I wasn't here when it happened. From now on I'll get a taxi and try to take a little more notice of things as I let myself in at night.

Joselyn

For the past few weeks we have been having conversations with a teen prostitute. A couple of the girls on the team have tried to deepen these conversations by meeting her during the day. They had set up meeting after meeting after meeting and she would never show up. We were praying about how best to get through to her. We came up with sitting down with her on Friday night while she was working and talking while having a burger. She agreed to this and there was a small window of opportunity. She allowed some of the team members to take her home in a taxi. While having time to talk we found out that she turned 16 on Friday night and that she is 2 months pregnant. Because the door was opened a couple of the girls were able to meet with her again yesterday for lunch. It is a slow process but there is progress being made. We just want to have a relationship and help her in any way that we can. She made the comment that she is ready to leave the streets. We will try to help with that. I will keep you posted on our progress.

Recovery

Tuesday was our regular ladies bible study day in the precario. We had bible study and had a great time with the ladies. Of course there are always twice as many kids as their are ladies so that's always fun. After bible study as we were walking out we were able to visit with Tito. He is home after his brain surgery. It really is nothing short of a miracle. He looks terrible of course but he's alive! His scar starts at the top of his head and goes around the side all the way to the top of his neck. He is REALLY swollen and black and blue but he was able to talk and visit with us for a few moments. His speech is improving as well as his motor skills. The doctors are very hopeful about his recovery. They were able to get all of the tumor out. We of course prayed with him for healing but also to thank God for the miracle of being able to have the surgery.

Tito

There is a young man in the precario with a brain tumor. He is only 22 years old but seems much older since some of the effects of the tumor are stroke like. He has lots of trouble speaking and walking really doing much of anything. While going through all this we have been able to get to know him and share the Lord with him. He is illegal so the hope of him being treated is very slim. When the doctor started the clinic we introduced him to her and asked if there was anything she could do for him. She said she would try but she didn't have much hope for what could be done. It has been a very long process. He had his surgery Monday. It was 8 hours long! We don't know what the surgeon's prognosis is but his mother said he woke up and was able to ask and answer lots of questions. I'd say that was a good sign. I'll be sure to keep you updated on his condition. It's been months since this all started but it happened and now with the Lord's help he will live a normal life. So pray for him and his family and thank God for everything he has done so far. Because of the tumor he has been open to hear and accept Jesus.

Tutoring Center

I think I have already mentioned the tutoring center. We are going into the precario on Wednesday and Saturday mornings to provide tutoring. Saturdays have really taken off. We have around 30 kids each Saturday. We were a little concerned this morning because we didn't have as many tutors as we have had in the past. We set up and got ready anyway. Things really started picking up. We had 6 children that needed help in French. French?! Are you kidding me? They weren't high school students by the way they were in 2nd and 3rd grade. Well the Lord always provides. We were visited by some people from YWAM. (Youth With A Mission) Jokingly we asked if anyone spoke French. Of course one of the guys did. It was great! I think he had a good time and the kids loved having a man teach them. Pretty cool stuff.