Monday, July 18, 2011
Home safe and sound
We are all home now. We had a good day last day at the base and accomplished all kinds of work projects around the base, even without any electricity. We finished the day with a great time of worship and communion with the staff and the team from Manitoba and then an encouragement time with our team.
The trip home was relatively uneventful too. We were worried about a tight connection in Houston but our plane landed a half hour early which gave us just enough time to make the connection comfortably. It certainly would have been challenging without that extra half hour.
The flu that went through the team continued to bounce around the team on Friday and on the trip home but it didn't really lay anyone up again. It just made some people feel rotten for a while.
But we all made it home safe and sound. All would agree that it was a successful trip and everyone was glad that they went.
I will now post another set of pictures that I picked out a few days ago but never got time to post. Perhaps some other team members will post their summary thoughts about the trip so keep your eye on this blog for a while longer.
The trip home was relatively uneventful too. We were worried about a tight connection in Houston but our plane landed a half hour early which gave us just enough time to make the connection comfortably. It certainly would have been challenging without that extra half hour.
The flu that went through the team continued to bounce around the team on Friday and on the trip home but it didn't really lay anyone up again. It just made some people feel rotten for a while.
But we all made it home safe and sound. All would agree that it was a successful trip and everyone was glad that they went.
I will now post another set of pictures that I picked out a few days ago but never got time to post. Perhaps some other team members will post their summary thoughts about the trip so keep your eye on this blog for a while longer.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The recovering wounded
It has been a very busy few days with our activities going right until bedtime so I have not had the chance to post. Sorry about that. Now I need to update you on the past three days once again.
Monday was park day. We rented a private park in Guarari and a bus and met the kids there. This is always a great day. It is a chance for the kids to get out of the nieghborhood and relax and be kids. The weather was great in the morning and the kids had a great time swimming in the pool, playing soccer, and playing on the swingsets.
Unfortunately, shortly after lunch time it began to rain and soon it was pouring. However, Gabe came to the rescue by challenging some of the kids to a race in the rain. Soon most of the kids were running in the rain and sliding down the big hill in the pouring rain and it wasn't long before Tristan and Phil joined them.
We finished the day with singing in the large dining building We sang many of the same songs we have sung with them all week long. When they put on a spanish version of "I can only imagine" by MercyMe it was difficult for many of us to keep it together as we knew our time together was coming to a close, yet were reminded we would be reunited one day in heaven. Despite the rain, there were plenty of tears as we saw them off at the bus. There were some very significant relationships formed and many found it very difficult to say goodbye.
We then returned to the YWAM base, but the emotional day was not over yet. After dinner, there was a team meeting where we debriefed the emotional day and then encouraged the terrific group of teens from Heredia that we had the priviledge of being part of our team. We then had a great prayer time as we prayed for them. Shortly after the meeting, their parents came to take them home with some more emotional goodbyes.
The day took the toll on the team not just emotional but physically as well. Peggi got very sick that night and many others were not feeling well. Tristan slammed his knee into a board and was walking painfully. And several of the team were tricked by the cloudy morning and got bad sunburns - especially Gabe who now resembles a lobster. And all of us were emotional and physically exhausted. We felt like the walking wounded.
The following day we had the priviledge of visiting Paul Jesperson at Roblealto, an orphanage and school where he teaches. He showed us around this incredible place. We met a couple of the home parents and some of kids although many were away with extended family as it is a school break for them now. This is an amazing facility that takes in children in trouble and gives them a great home, a great school, team sports, psychologists, therapists, and more. After touring Roblealto we went to Paul's home and enjoyed the hopitality of his wife Uli and their two sons.
We returned to the YWAM base for lunch and that afternoon we went to town and did some shopping. However, the day still wasn't over. After supper, we were invited to Norma and Fernando's home. As his health has him housebound, he really wanted to see the team. We spent a couple hours talking and praying with them. It was a good time with them and another late night.
Today we had a fun day and drove up the mountain to an area with waterfalls and animals. This area was devastated by an earthquake a few years ago and has been unaccessible until recently. It was a good day to rest and recover our strength.
Tomorrow, we have a work day at the YWAM base working on several projects. It should be interesting as we were just informed that the power company has told us that we will not have power all day. We also need to pack for our return trip on Saturday.
Monday was park day. We rented a private park in Guarari and a bus and met the kids there. This is always a great day. It is a chance for the kids to get out of the nieghborhood and relax and be kids. The weather was great in the morning and the kids had a great time swimming in the pool, playing soccer, and playing on the swingsets.
Unfortunately, shortly after lunch time it began to rain and soon it was pouring. However, Gabe came to the rescue by challenging some of the kids to a race in the rain. Soon most of the kids were running in the rain and sliding down the big hill in the pouring rain and it wasn't long before Tristan and Phil joined them.
We finished the day with singing in the large dining building We sang many of the same songs we have sung with them all week long. When they put on a spanish version of "I can only imagine" by MercyMe it was difficult for many of us to keep it together as we knew our time together was coming to a close, yet were reminded we would be reunited one day in heaven. Despite the rain, there were plenty of tears as we saw them off at the bus. There were some very significant relationships formed and many found it very difficult to say goodbye.
We then returned to the YWAM base, but the emotional day was not over yet. After dinner, there was a team meeting where we debriefed the emotional day and then encouraged the terrific group of teens from Heredia that we had the priviledge of being part of our team. We then had a great prayer time as we prayed for them. Shortly after the meeting, their parents came to take them home with some more emotional goodbyes.
The day took the toll on the team not just emotional but physically as well. Peggi got very sick that night and many others were not feeling well. Tristan slammed his knee into a board and was walking painfully. And several of the team were tricked by the cloudy morning and got bad sunburns - especially Gabe who now resembles a lobster. And all of us were emotional and physically exhausted. We felt like the walking wounded.
The following day we had the priviledge of visiting Paul Jesperson at Roblealto, an orphanage and school where he teaches. He showed us around this incredible place. We met a couple of the home parents and some of kids although many were away with extended family as it is a school break for them now. This is an amazing facility that takes in children in trouble and gives them a great home, a great school, team sports, psychologists, therapists, and more. After touring Roblealto we went to Paul's home and enjoyed the hopitality of his wife Uli and their two sons.
We returned to the YWAM base for lunch and that afternoon we went to town and did some shopping. However, the day still wasn't over. After supper, we were invited to Norma and Fernando's home. As his health has him housebound, he really wanted to see the team. We spent a couple hours talking and praying with them. It was a good time with them and another late night.
Today we had a fun day and drove up the mountain to an area with waterfalls and animals. This area was devastated by an earthquake a few years ago and has been unaccessible until recently. It was a good day to rest and recover our strength.
Tomorrow, we have a work day at the YWAM base working on several projects. It should be interesting as we were just informed that the power company has told us that we will not have power all day. We also need to pack for our return trip on Saturday.
Monday, July 11, 2011
A few days worth of updates
Well, it has been a few days since an update. So I will need to tell you about Saturday, Sunday, and today.
Saturday was another day in Guarari. We spent the morning on our work projects as well as playing with the neighborhood kids as usual. However, in the afternoon we were not doing the VBS program. This time we participated in the regular program that Melanie, Norma, and Fernando do each Saturday at the community center. It was similar to the VBS programs we run and it was good to see how they run things.
Sunday we went to the Heredia church and were tremendously blessed with an incredibly warm welcome. The worship was great and we were able to share with them in both testimony and drama. It was also terrific to be able to meet the families of the Heredia teens on our team and let their parents know how much we appreciate them. We were also surprised when Eduardo, the contractor we have been working with, showed up at church with his son, who has been attending VBS. The men have really connected with him and Gord had invited him to church.
After church we did some touring around town, hanging out in a local park watching the skateboarders and touring a small coffee plantation. Then returning to the base to relax for the evening.
Today was our final day in Guarari doing VBS. We were nearly able to complete the work projects. The septic trench was completed and the wall only had a few hours of work left which the contractor will finish tomorrow.
We may have finished the wall today, but Eduardo asked the men to go with him to get some tools. This turned out to just be a trick to get them to come to his house where his wife served them tea and he proudly showed them around his house and gave them a craft his wife made for them. This was truly an honor for those that went there and all considered this to be well worth the delay of work.
We finished the day in Guarari with a prayer time with the team, Norma, and the women there. With Terry interpreting the prayers, it was a moving dedication of the building and the work that will be done in it.
There were some tears shed as we said goodbye to some of the women and kids that won't be coming to the park day tomorrow. It was particularly hard for the men to say goodbye to Eduardo.
Tonight we had a sharing time with the team at the base. There were many touching stories shared that brought many to tears. We also prayed for Liseth, one of our Heredia teens, that will be missing park day tomorrow to get some medical tests to investigate bad headaches. Tomorrow will be a tough day for us as we say goodbye to the Guarari kids. It will be just as hard to say goodbye to the Heredia teens who we have come to love and will also go home after supper tomorrow.
The rest of the team is already in bed so I need to get going.
Saturday was another day in Guarari. We spent the morning on our work projects as well as playing with the neighborhood kids as usual. However, in the afternoon we were not doing the VBS program. This time we participated in the regular program that Melanie, Norma, and Fernando do each Saturday at the community center. It was similar to the VBS programs we run and it was good to see how they run things.
Sunday we went to the Heredia church and were tremendously blessed with an incredibly warm welcome. The worship was great and we were able to share with them in both testimony and drama. It was also terrific to be able to meet the families of the Heredia teens on our team and let their parents know how much we appreciate them. We were also surprised when Eduardo, the contractor we have been working with, showed up at church with his son, who has been attending VBS. The men have really connected with him and Gord had invited him to church.
After church we did some touring around town, hanging out in a local park watching the skateboarders and touring a small coffee plantation. Then returning to the base to relax for the evening.
Today was our final day in Guarari doing VBS. We were nearly able to complete the work projects. The septic trench was completed and the wall only had a few hours of work left which the contractor will finish tomorrow.
We may have finished the wall today, but Eduardo asked the men to go with him to get some tools. This turned out to just be a trick to get them to come to his house where his wife served them tea and he proudly showed them around his house and gave them a craft his wife made for them. This was truly an honor for those that went there and all considered this to be well worth the delay of work.
We finished the day in Guarari with a prayer time with the team, Norma, and the women there. With Terry interpreting the prayers, it was a moving dedication of the building and the work that will be done in it.
There were some tears shed as we said goodbye to some of the women and kids that won't be coming to the park day tomorrow. It was particularly hard for the men to say goodbye to Eduardo.
Tonight we had a sharing time with the team at the base. There were many touching stories shared that brought many to tears. We also prayed for Liseth, one of our Heredia teens, that will be missing park day tomorrow to get some medical tests to investigate bad headaches. Tomorrow will be a tough day for us as we say goodbye to the Guarari kids. It will be just as hard to say goodbye to the Heredia teens who we have come to love and will also go home after supper tomorrow.
The rest of the team is already in bed so I need to get going.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Carolyn's Chronicles
So...apparently being one of the leaders does not exempt one from being the brunt of many a joke. I won't go into how many times it's happened so far. Suffice it to say both young and old have laughed at my expense (and yes, Kirsten, the falling out of bed incident STILL comes up). Thank goodness I'm on the bottom bunk this year.
This team of 16 has been so much fun, working together on the construction of the building, playing with the children, helping make empanadas, remembering at the last minute the supplies we need to divide up for VBS, moving table and chairs, then moving them again; loading supplies then unloading them, only to load them up to come back to base to unload again in the YWAM building.
Some memories? Playing "slaps" with one of the teens - Carlos laughed so hard when he faked me out EVERY TIME!! Seeing how much "our" babies grew since last year. One is now walking, blows kisses and bats her eyes at us. She loves to dance and giggled at the sock puppets. Our other baby is a "mama's girl". She still gets handed to us, though - and she wanted to stay with me rather than get passed off to someone else....yeah me! Having one of Shaneen's special girls from year's past remember her when I showed a picture on my camera then want to show all her friends. She attached herself to me after that. The ladies asking who my "esposo" (spouse) is, then when bringing Ralph over they say something to each other and start laughing uncontrollably. We still don't know what they said (maybe that Ralph is too skinny and I don't feed him enough?) :)
Coming back for a third year gives a totally new perspective as you see how much the children grow physically and love to see you again, how much the women want to bless us sacrifically (it still doesn't "feel" right), and how much our team members connect with the kids just wanting to demonstrate their value in our eyes and in God's.
Today Melanny had the children learn the verse Romans 12:5...a good reminder to us as a team and to SGAC that "we are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other".
Apparently I'm typing too much...Mike is asking me when I'm going to be done. He's really bossy! Good night!!
This team of 16 has been so much fun, working together on the construction of the building, playing with the children, helping make empanadas, remembering at the last minute the supplies we need to divide up for VBS, moving table and chairs, then moving them again; loading supplies then unloading them, only to load them up to come back to base to unload again in the YWAM building.
Some memories? Playing "slaps" with one of the teens - Carlos laughed so hard when he faked me out EVERY TIME!! Seeing how much "our" babies grew since last year. One is now walking, blows kisses and bats her eyes at us. She loves to dance and giggled at the sock puppets. Our other baby is a "mama's girl". She still gets handed to us, though - and she wanted to stay with me rather than get passed off to someone else....yeah me! Having one of Shaneen's special girls from year's past remember her when I showed a picture on my camera then want to show all her friends. She attached herself to me after that. The ladies asking who my "esposo" (spouse) is, then when bringing Ralph over they say something to each other and start laughing uncontrollably. We still don't know what they said (maybe that Ralph is too skinny and I don't feed him enough?) :)
Coming back for a third year gives a totally new perspective as you see how much the children grow physically and love to see you again, how much the women want to bless us sacrifically (it still doesn't "feel" right), and how much our team members connect with the kids just wanting to demonstrate their value in our eyes and in God's.
Today Melanny had the children learn the verse Romans 12:5...a good reminder to us as a team and to SGAC that "we are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other".
Apparently I'm typing too much...Mike is asking me when I'm going to be done. He's really bossy! Good night!!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tips from Phil
As I sit listening to dogs bark, chicken caaa and Texans talk, I think about our trip thus far. This trip has been a little different for me. Instead of being here as a family, I'm flying solo. (literally hahahahahah) But even without the emotional support of my parent and father the feeling of purpose that I have is still the same. Today (Friday) we found ourselves sort of stalled out in our work projects, so it was all hands on deck to play with the kids before the offical VBS day started. As I trotted though the chaos, giving seemingly unending piggyback rides, I again realized the most important thing that we bring down to these kids is love. More specifically, God's love. Somtimes our stories don't work out, the CD player jams, and our crafts fall apart, but the thing that we give that really lasts is love. Our time with the kids is limited and they spend 359 days without us. But if we can share with them God's love, it will be with them no matter what their circumstance or situation. They can rely on a love that never fails.
Costa Rica Tip #1: don't try to scare the dogs, you are more scared of them then they are of you
Costa Rica Tip #2: don't eat breakfest in bed - it quickly becomes lunch for Da roches
Costa Rica Tip #3: THE EARPLUGS THEY DO NOTHING!!
Costa Rica Tip #4: THE SOAP IT DOES NOTHING!!
Costa Rica Tip #5: When all broken spanish fails, a funny face is all you need
Costa Rica Tip #1: don't try to scare the dogs, you are more scared of them then they are of you
Costa Rica Tip #2: don't eat breakfest in bed - it quickly becomes lunch for Da roches
Costa Rica Tip #3: THE EARPLUGS THEY DO NOTHING!!
Costa Rica Tip #4: THE SOAP IT DOES NOTHING!!
Costa Rica Tip #5: When all broken spanish fails, a funny face is all you need
Mark's ramblings
A word from Mark:
"Well I'm here again, AND LOVING IT :) Well when we got here found a makeshift work day on base, and guess what? I flew a few thousand miles to fix fence in the horse corral, yah I know living the dream. But honestly, I'm so happy to be back. The last few days with the kids has been awesome. There are no words that can describe what you feel in your heart when the kids coming running to you with their arms open wanting you to hold them. It just melts my heart. Also the work project has been great I love working this hard. Well, thats about it for now. See ya'll later."
"Well I'm here again, AND LOVING IT :) Well when we got here found a makeshift work day on base, and guess what? I flew a few thousand miles to fix fence in the horse corral, yah I know living the dream. But honestly, I'm so happy to be back. The last few days with the kids has been awesome. There are no words that can describe what you feel in your heart when the kids coming running to you with their arms open wanting you to hold them. It just melts my heart. Also the work project has been great I love working this hard. Well, thats about it for now. See ya'll later."
Riley says...
From Riley:
"Hi right now I am being held against my will and forced to write this blog post. JUST KIDDING!
The first few days of weather has been fairly nice with not to much rain. Sleeping for me has been fine apparently someone has been snoring loud lately but if I have woken up it's because I am either hot or cold and when I am awake I haven't heard a thing. VBS has been good. My group which was day 2 was today and it went well."
"Hi right now I am being held against my will and forced to write this blog post. JUST KIDDING!
The first few days of weather has been fairly nice with not to much rain. Sleeping for me has been fine apparently someone has been snoring loud lately but if I have woken up it's because I am either hot or cold and when I am awake I haven't heard a thing. VBS has been good. My group which was day 2 was today and it went well."
Some thoughts from James
From James:
"Hi everyone.
This guy, Terry Keith, seems to know how to speak to me. The other day, he taught on prayer and somehow, I felt as if I heard it for the first time. The Lord has shed a knew light in my life and I have started a new journey. I will explain another time.
We have been having such a good time some of us cannot believe it is Friday already. The prayer team at home must be very busy because, as I said, we are feeling very blessed. See you soon."
"Hi everyone.
This guy, Terry Keith, seems to know how to speak to me. The other day, he taught on prayer and somehow, I felt as if I heard it for the first time. The Lord has shed a knew light in my life and I have started a new journey. I will explain another time.
We have been having such a good time some of us cannot believe it is Friday already. The prayer team at home must be very busy because, as I said, we are feeling very blessed. See you soon."
Wise words from Kelsey
Kelsey says,
"Hola! The trip is going well. It's crazy hot here! and it's only there winter! So in summer it must be crazy hot. Today for VBS there was a puppet show. It was pretty cool. For the craft we made sock puppets.
The Heredian teens are really nice and were getting along really well. I'm teaching them English and they are teaching me Spanish. I think they learn faster though, or I forget really easily! I love the driving here! It's like driving in Italy? It's awesome!
I love doing VBS with the kids it really really fun. They are so creative! I thought we were as kids here in Canada.. no we waren't at all. Hi mom! and dad! and Taylor! and my baby girl Onyx! I love you :)
I saw my first cockroach and it was on the wall in the kitchen then another in the sissors bucket down in Guarari. I got a flip flop tan! :D
I am sitting on the deck and there is a moth beside me on a jar of food for hummingbirds. Then it flew into my hands.
This blog writing thing is hard! It takes me forever to think of what to write!"
"Hola! The trip is going well. It's crazy hot here! and it's only there winter! So in summer it must be crazy hot. Today for VBS there was a puppet show. It was pretty cool. For the craft we made sock puppets.
The Heredian teens are really nice and were getting along really well. I'm teaching them English and they are teaching me Spanish. I think they learn faster though, or I forget really easily! I love the driving here! It's like driving in Italy? It's awesome!
I love doing VBS with the kids it really really fun. They are so creative! I thought we were as kids here in Canada.. no we waren't at all. Hi mom! and dad! and Taylor! and my baby girl Onyx! I love you :)
I saw my first cockroach and it was on the wall in the kitchen then another in the sissors bucket down in Guarari. I got a flip flop tan! :D
I am sitting on the deck and there is a moth beside me on a jar of food for hummingbirds. Then it flew into my hands.
This blog writing thing is hard! It takes me forever to think of what to write!"
Connected Again
Sorry about not posting yesterday. We have been having trouble with the internet connection at the base. So if you were expecting an email or facebook reply from a team member this is why you haven't received it. There are many things you take for granted in Canada that may not work in Costa Rica.
We have now finished two of the three VBS days we had planned. Each day we have a worship session in the morning and leave for Guarari by 9am. After spending the morning with some preparing for the VBS program and some working on the work projects, we then do the VBS program in the afternoon.
Both days have gone very well. God has been good. The VBS days ran smoothly and the work projects are progressing nicely and we should be able to finish them both.
We had a great God moment yesterday. After supper, Monica, one of the teens from Heredia, got a piece of wood in her eye at the base. We tried to clean it out for quite some time and were beginning to think we needed to take her to the hospital. Ralph realized that one of the team members in the other group was wearing scrubs. So he went to the other team to ask if he was a doctor and if he could look at Monica's eye. He was not only a doctor but an optometrist. He was able to remove what was in her eye and give her medicine drops for her eye. God's plans are amazing!
Well, you have probably heard enough from me. Let me see if I can get some others to post.
We have now finished two of the three VBS days we had planned. Each day we have a worship session in the morning and leave for Guarari by 9am. After spending the morning with some preparing for the VBS program and some working on the work projects, we then do the VBS program in the afternoon.
Both days have gone very well. God has been good. The VBS days ran smoothly and the work projects are progressing nicely and we should be able to finish them both.
We had a great God moment yesterday. After supper, Monica, one of the teens from Heredia, got a piece of wood in her eye at the base. We tried to clean it out for quite some time and were beginning to think we needed to take her to the hospital. Ralph realized that one of the team members in the other group was wearing scrubs. So he went to the other team to ask if he was a doctor and if he could look at Monica's eye. He was not only a doctor but an optometrist. He was able to remove what was in her eye and give her medicine drops for her eye. God's plans are amazing!
Well, you have probably heard enough from me. Let me see if I can get some others to post.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
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