"Busy but Good"

So it’s been awhile since I’ve written in this space. Rather than trying to update you on every detail of the last couples months, I’m going to employ the phrases I’ve often used of late when answering how I’m doing, “Busy but good.” We had a busy but good 3 months of teams working alongside of us. It was great to see the exchange between our Costa Rican Students and the American/Canadian students. It was a privilege to be able to help facilitate the sharing of God given talents and insights. I know that many lives were touch through the time together. Thank you so much to each of you who shared part of your summer with us and to those who helped support them to be here. We are all in this together.

Since the teams ended, we’ve had a shift of focus that has also kept me busy but good, Transition. While I still have several months left here in Costa Rica, there is lots to do to prepare for transition that will be taking place both in the Center and for me personally. I’d greatly appreciate your thoughts and prayers during this important time. One huge praise, is we’ve hired one new teacher for the Center and are in the process of interviewing another.

These next couple months in the Center will be full. I'm busy trying to put in writing everything I’ve learned and set into place over the last 3 years, spending extra quality time with my girls, training a new teacher, and all the regular day-to-day responsibilities of running the Center. When I get home from work, most of my time is spent studying for the GRE (if anyone has any pointers, I’d greatly appreciate them) and researching grad schools and scholarships for a Masters in Education. All exciting things, but it easy to get tired and stressed out looking at all that needs to be done. My desire for these next few months it that I can be diligent in completing the tasks and preparations I need to, but still be fully engaged in my kids and the community here. There is so much that I love about life here in Costa Rica, I don’t want to miss out on any of it in these last few months.

A few of my highlights from the Summer

Taking the girls to on a scavenger hunt in downtown San Jose

Having an AMAZING intern, Amy. She was a huge help and a great addition to the Center! Thank you so much, Amy!!!

Celebrating the summer and Dustin's birthday at one of our favorite restaurants. They have the best secret sauce!

Hiking through the incredible countryside of Costa Rica.

From Summer 2011

Sitting on my roof to enjoy breath-taking sunsets.

INA

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to join all the SI Costa Rica sites and take our older kids to the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA). INA is a government run trade school, particularly geared to providing quality job training to youth and adults from economically challenged communities. All of their services and trainings are completely free, but the students have to show that they are motivated and committed. Many of our students had heard of INA, but had no idea what they really offered or how to get connected. This trip was a great opportunity to show our kids what is available to them, if they are willing to work hard. Many of my girls couldn't stop talking about all of the exciting possibilities and areas of study: textile design, tourism, food preparation , hair stylist, etc. Many of our kids have the motivation and commitment essential to succeed, they just need help getting connected to the resources that are available to them. It's exciting when we get to help build that bridge.

My Girls

Our whole group

From Summer 2011

It's the simple things

A refreshing Saturday morning.

Sunshine.
A cup of coffee.
A book of poetry.
Laundry on the line.

"Prayer is waking up to the presence of God no matter where I am or what I am doing.

When I am fully alert to whatever or whoever is right in front of me; when I am electrically aware of the tremendous gift of being alive; when I am able to give myself whooly to the moment I am in, then I am in prayer."

~ Barbara Brown, An Altar in the World

Chapati and Hip-Hop

With the start of summer teams, we've had a great influx of wonderful people willing to share their gifts and talents with us at the Tutoring Center. Both groups, so far, have been a great help in the day-to-day activities of the Center-- tutoring kids, directing craft time, and playing incessant games of tag during "recess".

They have also been extremely generous in sharing their special talents with us during Girls' Group. Last week, Praise, who's family is originally from the southern part of India, taught us to make chapati while sharing about the culture and custom of her home country. The girls had lots of great questions about the country they initially had difficulty locating on a map. Through listening to Praise share, the girls learned that something are the same no matter where in the world you live. And they loved making and eating the chapati. It was a great learning and growing experience for all of us.

This week we in Girls' Group we're having a hip-hop class lead by Amy, our great intern. I can't wait!!!



Naomi, Atalia, Amy, and Praise cooking up the chapati.



Deborah, carefully rolling out her bread. I think she spent 15 minutes just trying to get the perfect shape.


Ready to enjoy the finished product!

Goodbye, Blake

Earlier this month, the inevitable came to pass- Blake had to return to California to finish university. While I knew it was coming, it was still incredibly sad to have to say goodbye to him. Being able to share life in Costa Rica over this past year, has been such an amazing blessing. He is the bridge that connects my two worlds, that some often seem not to touch--the States and Costa Rica. Blake is someone who continues to inspire me in the way he lives his life--serving and loving others, laughing and appreciating the small gifts in life, questioning the status-quo, and not settling for mediocre. Thank you, Blake for sharing your life with us. Costa Rica will never be the same for it.

Carrying on our family tradition of Saturday morning pancakes


Celebrating Maria's birthday at one of our favorite restaurants


Shenanigans in the kitchen with Cailah


The kids at the Center loved having Blake around. In addition to being a great teacher, he really brought out the kids' personality.


Blake and I had a long list of thing we wanted to explore while he was here. We finally made it to my favorite coffee shop, during his last week here.

A Special Visit!

This last week was Holy Week, which meant most things were closed for a week of rest, reflection, and time with friends and family. We followed suit at the Tutoring Center, except for one special event on Wednesday--Cafecito with Leah!
Leah, my dear friend and our assistant teacher from last year, came to pay us a visit during her Spring Break. The kids were so excited to see her. They haven't stopped asking about her since she left last December, wondering when she's going to come back to visit. During her time living here Leah made a big impact in our kids' lives through consistently loving them in a myriad of ways--intently listening to their silly stories, patiently working on reading syllable for the 20th time, and developing creative art projects each week. It feels like she is still here with us. On Tuesday when we started back to the normal classes at the Center, several of the kids couldn't understand why Leah wasn't there, why she had to go back to her job in the States. One child said, "But she belongs here." I agree. Thank you Leah for a wonderful week.


Leah and a few of the kids


Leah and I went to the beach for a few days. It was great time of relaxing and catching up on each other's lives. It was a really refreshing week!

Tropical Weather and Scarves

Even though Costa Rica is far from being a cool climate area, scarfs are big deal. When the weather drops below 60 F, everyone breaks out their winter wear. The girls in Tutoring Center have been asking me to teach them how to crochet so they could make their own scarves. Unfortunately, back in college when everyone was learning how to crochet scarves and beanies, I was too busy studying in the library or cooking Family Dinner. So week after week, I have to keep telling the girls, "Sorry, I know you think I know how to do everything, but I don't know how to crochet." But then I had a great idea.

In Girls' Group we've been talking about how we can share the talents and interest God has given us in order to better our community. To help get us started, I invited my friend and fellow staff member, Maria, to share with us her talent of crocheting. The girls were so excited! The plan was for Maria to come once and teach us the basic stitch. But the girls are so in to it, we're doing a whole series. Right now crochet-floral hair clips are all the rage. Maria is teaching them how to make this cute barrettes for themselves or to give as gifts to their friends. Some girls even talk about selling them once they get really good. The materials needed are cheap and easy to get, so it's a great pastime for the girls. By the time the temperature starts dropping again, the girls will be able to make beautiful scarves in all their favorite colors.




(L to R) Maria, Lisbeth, Yendry, Stefania, and Cindy


Shawdin, Yurly, Cata, and Deborah all deeply concentrated on practicing their first stitches. It was great to see the girls helping teach or re-explain it, as some learned faster than others.


Alicia, trying to figure out which side of the yarn the needle is supposed to go.

Thank you Maria for sharing your gifts with us and having patience as we learn!