The California Express

A few weekends ago I was blessed with the opportunity, thanks to some very generous friends, to fly to California in order to celebrate the marriage of a good friend from college. It was speedy trip; in less than four days, I visted seven to nine cities, depending on how you're counting. Regarldess of the rapid pace, it was a wonderful time with friends, filled with laughter, eating, dancing, and late nights. Thanks to flexible friends, I was even able to squeeze in a few hours with family. Bryton wanted to know if I was staying until our family vacation to Tahoe in June. Sadly, no, but at least I got to eat dinner with them and put the girls to bed.

Reading Groups

Shortly after opening the Tutoring Center, we realized many of our students greatly struggled in the area of reading, which was impeding all other areas of learning. When there are a lot of kids at the center, it's difficult to take the time to sit and teach the basic concepts of reading to a student who needs one-on-one attention. The most obvious solution to us, was to start reading groups based on students' level of abilities. This in turn, would allow us to provide more focused, customized attention to each student in order to help expedite their learning. We thought it was a great idea. Parents seemed excited. Wonderful!

No one came.

Almost a year later, after having a consistent group of struggling readers come every Tuesday and Thursday morning, we decided to try again. We made invitations, talked with moms, recruited extra help, and everyone was excited. We decided to keep it during normal tutoring time on Tuesday mornings since the students were already faithfully coming then.

First Tuesday, not a single student, not even for regular tutoring. But they all showed up the next afternoon, with no clear explanation for why they hadn't come the day before.

Second Tuesday, the majority of students showed up, though many were late. The kids seemed to really enjoy the reading activities and individualized attention.

Third Tuesday, two students came, but only because they had test to study for. The rest came in the afternoon or the next day. Again, with no reason or apparent concern regarding their absence.

It's hard not to be frustrated at this point. We have put a lot of effort into planning and preparing these lessons and activities in order to help our students develop the skills they need to succeed in school. Many of these kids are several grade levels behind. On the surface, parents and students seem very excited about what we are doing, but for some reason they don't take full advantage of it. I know there could be a million reasons culturally, economically, even spiritually, why the kids aren't coming; but it's hard to know how to proceed. Do we keep planning and waiting to see who shows up? Do we try to develop something different? Are students not coming because of something we are (or are not) doing? Is there something we are not seeing? These are all questions I have. This is where development work gets more complicated than just helping kids. I know I value reading, and I know the community values it as well. But the way those values are pursued and to what extent they are held, varies greatly. I don't want to just force my community to learn to read my way. I want them to be able to discover a love for reading that reflects their own pursuits and values. Knowing how to provide the opportunity to do that is challenging. Learning how to see past my own biasis and way of thinking is difficult. But in doing so, I know that I can learn from community as well. They have many valuable things to teach me. It may not be the specific skills of reading, but it could be just as vital. God has made each one of us with something of value to share, regardless of where we live, how much money or education we have, what language we speak, or what we look like. I pray that through this humbling (and at times frustrating) experience I can be open to receive, as well as, to give to my community.

Girl Time!

Ever since our trip to Leaves and Lizards last year I've been toying around with the idea of starting a girls' group- a special time for the older girls in the tutoring center. I wanted to create a time where the girls could be kids instead of mini-moms, a time where we could talk about the decisions and pressures they're facing, a time where I could pour into them letting them know how truly special they are. In Costa Rica 7th-12th grade are all part of high school. As most individuals take longer than 6 years to complete those grades, it is quite common to have 12 year olds and 21 year olds on the same campus. As you can imagine this can lead to all kinds of problems, especially with young girls being swept up by much older guys. Sadly this is not at all uncommon.

As I look at my older girls at the Tutoring Center, I want them to be able to go into high school with not only the educational tools they need to succeed, but also to be grounded in who they are in Christ. I want them to realize they have a community of people here to support them and go to when they need help.

This last week was our first club. I brought in fresh flowers and special coffee mugs from my house to make the Tutoring Center feel more homey. Erin made delicious chocolate, chocolate cookies. The girls were super excited! A couple girls couldn't come this week because of things going on at school, but we decided to start anyway. I often let myself get so caught up in creating the perfect situation where everyone can attended, that we never end up having the said event. I didn't want that to happen with the girls' group. I'm still don't know how everything is going to unfold, but that's okay. On Friday I realized the most important things about this group is just spending time with the girls and listening to them. After our club time officially ended, I was waiting for Jeff Dixon and visitors to come by and ended up spending nearly another 2 hours just hanging out with the girls, talking about what life was like in their neighborhood. In some ways this time may have been even more impactful than our morning of playing games, eating cookies, and decorating journals. I pray that God will use all our time together to build into these girls in order that they will know just how special they really are.



The invitation for the girls.


Coffee and Cookie Time! Erin Janzen is helping with the Girl Group, which is a huge blessing.


Decorating journals. (L to R) Erin, Alicia, Hazel, and Catalina

Los Mendoza Sotos

If you've been following this blog for awhile, you've probably notice there are two girls who are frequently in pictures and posts regarding the Tutoring Center: Alicia and Catalina. These two have been the most faithful attendants of the Tutoring Center since the beginning.




Alicia and Catalina come from a big family who's parents immigrated from Nicaragua, which is typical for Los Guido. But there are many things that set them a part from the average family here in Los Guido. All six of the kids share the same father and mother, who are still together. Both parents have steady jobs in construction and cleaning. This is good for the family income, but leaves the kids at home alone from 5am till 6 or 7pm. Another thing that makes this family different is a strong value of education. Despite the fact several of the kids have learning disabilities and Mom has no free time, she continues to push her kids to do well in school, never allowing dropping out to be an option.


This family is very dear to me, and I have been praying for them a lot. Even though there are many things that set them apart from the average family in Los Guido, they face many of the same daily obstacles of poverty: the struggle to financially support a big family, safe play areas for the kids, support in school, positive role models, and most importantly emotional and spiritual support for each member of their family.


Alica, Catalina and Belkys on our trip to Leaves and Lizard

Shortly after Alicia and Catalina started coming to the Tutoring Center, they also started coming to Sunday school at the church. Then they brought their younger siblings, Roger and Marjorie; and then their older sisters, Hazel and Belkys.


Catalina and Marjorie decorating cookies for Thanksgiving


Roger working on his key holder during our vacation workshops

At the beginning of this year Giannina, the pastora, and I were able to visit Darling (Mom) on one of her few days off. During our visit she expressed a strong desire to be part of a fellowship of believers, but she doesn't have much time and didn't think her husband would support it. Giannina encouraged her to come just once a month to the women's meeting so she could be supported by other moms in the community. Today Giannina told me that Darling has been coming to every women's meeting for the last month. Also, over Semana Santa, she came with all of her kids to every activity the church had. Darling and her family no longer are isolated. They can be encouraged and supported in all aspects of life by this family of believers.


My prayer is that as we continue to support kids educationally and reach out to their whole family, we will see God transform their lives and break the bonds of poverty and isolation in all aspects of their (and our) lives.

Visits

After a busy week with our first team, I was blessed by a week long visit from one of my best friends, Nicki Appel. This was an extra special treat as Nicki is currently living in England, and it is a bit more challenging to travel to Central America from the UK. Unfortuantely I was sick most of the time she was here, but we didn't let that interfer wtih enjoying out time together and the beautiful tropical climate.


Lunch at the Tutoring Center. Nicki came and put her high school Spanish to good use.

From Easter in California

Enjoying the sunshine at Esterillos. We made sure everyone had plenty of sunscreen, especially Nicki.


San Luis Obsipo Reunion. (Me, Josh, Leah, and Nicki) We had a great time reminiscing together.


While this isn't a great quality picture, we had a fabulous time enjoying the international art festival going on. This was the free salsa concert in the park. There were people dancing everywhere. I loved it.


A couple days after Nicki left, still unalbe to talk from my sickness, I boarded a plane for California. Here in Costa Rica everything shuts down for Semana Santa, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. I took advantage of the week off to go to California and meet my new niece, as well as spend time with the rest of my family. It was quick trip, but no matter how short the time is, it's always great to be with family.




Jasmine Marie Williams


Putting Papa to work de-boning the chicken.


Cooking with the girls.



Easter lunch with most of the family. We were just missing Benje and Blake.


Hanging out with little Jasmine.

From Easter in California

Celebrating Dad's birthday!!!


Quick stop in SLO to see Sara and Blake (but I don't have a picture with Blake, sorry)

Spring Update

I just finished my Spring Update. For those of you who didn't get it through email you can download it here.
Spring 2010
If you'd like to be part of my email updates let me know.



This is a picture of Ricardo and Giannina (pastors at the church where the tutoring center is) with the lovely ladies who were working alongside me in the Tutoring Center for a week. We had a great time together, and they were a huge blessing to me and the students. Thank you, Ladies!

Birthday Week

March 2nd is my birthday. I always love birthdays-- mine, friends', complete strangers', doesn't matter. I just think they are a great excuse to go out of your way to make someone feel like royalty. I have a roommate who shares this view, but she takes it to the extent of a birthday week. While we didn't intentionally do that, I feel like it's been a whole week of fun and refreshment. We kicked of the weekend with a double birthday celebration up on the northern pacific coast in Tamarindo. We met up with friends and spent 2 days soaking up the sunshine and dancing around in the waves. The weather was perfect, and it was a wonderful change of senery. Upon returning to the city, my birthday was celebrated eating my favorite meal with my friends and teammates, eating cake with kids at the Tutoring Center, watching a documentary at an outdoor showing, and sharing a delicious meal with dear friends at my favorite restuarant.

Now the birthday week is wrapping up, with another fun weekend with friends centered around lots of tasty food. I'm remained through all the shared meals this past week, how much joy it brings me to prepare and share food with others. It is was makes me feel part of a community. Since I was in college I've had the tradition of doing Family Dinners once a week. I make a bunch of food and then whoever can come, joins together for food and fellowship. When I look back on my time in San Luis Obsipo or Visalia, most of favorite memories center around these times or relationship built through these weekly meals together. I'm sure there are other ways to create community, but sharing food is definitely my favorite. One of the things I love about the SI staff, is that everyweek we share a meal together after our staff meeting. It is in these times that life is shared, relationship fortified, and community is built. Recently, I've been longing to start up Family Dinners again. To be honest, my biggest inibitions is wondering who I could invite and if anyone would actually come outside of my teammates. It is my dream that it would be a community representing the diversity of life around me, but I don't understand the cultural norms well enough to know if it something that would work wtih Costa Ricans. In many ways community already appears to be firmly established amoung Costa Rican as a results of proximity of extended families and life, long friends. Most people have lived in the same neighborhood their whole life. Sometimes it seems like no one has time or interest in being part of another community. But there are many of us who don't have those connections. And while the majority of us are from the US, maybe it's okay to start there. Perhaps in time, it will grow to fullfill my dream.

This week full of meals with friends has given me hope. Maybe it's time to step and start Family Dinners again.




Look at Laura's amazing birthday surprise! It was the best tiramisu any of us had ever had.


My birthday dinner at Cafe Mundo




Marlo and Me


Girls' Night wonderfully turned into Girls Weekend (though we did let the boys come back for dinner)


Master Chefs: Taylor, Me and Marlo