Ministering in their own communities

A program that SI-Costa Rica has started this year that I have not talked about much is an internship program that we have with two young men of the Los Guido community where I work.  William and Justin are the two guys who have been interning with us in our ministry sites about three days a week since the first part of 2013.  William works with my friend Cailah with the children in a community called Las Fuentes.  He is involved in outdoor recreation activities, indoor games, helping coach a high school aged boys' soccer team, and being a positive role model for the kids of that community.  Justin was working with Diego in our sports' ministry, playing a lot of soccer with kids in different communities as well as helping being a mentor to them.  He is currently working with our Microfinance ministry with coworkers Cindy and Diana.  The agreement we have with them is that they work with us as interns, they attend night school three evenings a week to finish their high school education, and in turn, we financially support them in their training for future jobs.  For William, that has meant helping him to attend an institute to learn basic electrician skills, and for Justin, that's helping provide healthy food and bus fare for him to continue training with his minor league soccer team that he is a part of.

One of our goals with these young men is that they would learn more about what it means to be a man of God and a role model in their communities when men are so often absent in the lives of the families.  They both have lived in Los Guido their entire lives and have experienced difficult and challenging life situations themselves.  It has been so encouraging to see how they have grown to be more responsible and to really love the work that we are doing in their own and nearby communities.  By choosing to stay off drugs, to be respectful in how they talk to women and authorities, to study God's Word, to be accountable to us as their site leaders, they are challenging what the world around them tells them they should grow up to be.  

I have been able to interact regularly with these two young men in the setting of my English class.  We have gone through several transitions in what the format and time of my class looks like, but it is encouraging to me to know that they both value studying English.  Part of their jobs as interns is working with the teams that come from the States to work in our ministry sites, and it is to their benefit if they are able to communicate with these team members in English.  Little by little, I have seen them grow in their skills, but I would still love to see them learn so much more. :)  When I moved to Costa Rica to join SI, I never thought that I would be working with teenage boys, but it has really been a joy to get to know these guys and walk part of life's journey with them.  Please pray for William and Justin as they work with us, as God is working in their hearts and in the lives of their family members.  I have such high hopes and prayers for them and their futures and know that God can use them greatly if they are willing and available!

Justin eating a lunch staple: Cup of Noodles

William helping to prepare empanadas for a Culture Night activity

Both of the boys play on our SI-Los Guido soccer team and did very well this season.

Playing ping pong at a banquet for one of our short term teams

The second time Dad and Mom came to visit

As is now a tradition, Dad and Mom came to visit me the first week of September again this year.  This week was chosen specifically because it was the week that the USA national team came to Costa Rica to play the Costa Rican national team for a World Cup qualifying game.  After kind of a lot of drama and it being nearly impossible to find tickets, we were able to purchase them and attend the game.  And what a game it was!!  The Costa Ricans were quite pumped up to beat the USA after the game that the two teams had played in Denver, CO earlier this year where the USA won during a massive snow storm.  Wisely, we did not announce that we were US citizens or cheer against the Ticos while at the game, and the Costa Rican team ended up winning 3-1.  A lot of national pride was shown by the Tico fans and it was really fun to see how excited they were with the win.  Costa Rica and USA have both qualified for the World Cup next year so I will have to decide who I'm going to root for.  :)

Top row of the end zone seats, and Dad sporting the Tico jersey.

I was blessed to have my parents help out for two days at the Tutoring Center.  They helped teach English, Dad played a lot of soccer and a simple version of baseball, Mom taught a craft lesson of making washer necklaces at girls' club, they baked cookies, corrected math problems, prayed for us, etc.  I'm proud of them with the limited Spanish that they know and how they were able to make connections with the kiddos that I work with on a regular basis.  And it is encouraging to me to know that they now have a bigger picture of what my work here with the kids of Los Guido looks like and be able to share that with friends and family in the States. 

A bonus of having Dad and Mom come to visit is that they want to do some of the tourist things that I don't do that often since I am a resident here and also living on support.  :)  We spent three nights in Manuel Antonio National Park and had a wonderful time!  We saw sloths, monkeys, snakes, butterflies, frogs, iguanas, and many other animals.  We zipped through the canopy on a wonderful zip line tour.  We hung out at the beach and Dad and Mom spent a good hour boogy boarding in the warm ocean.  We ate yummy food and drank delicious coffee.  And I am so thankful for my trusty Suzuki that I was able to take us around in this visit.  A great time spent together and I am blessed by the adventurous and wonderful parents that the Lord has given me.  Maybe next year Peter, Toni, Kate, Aaron and Courtney can also make a trip! :)