Hope and a Future

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

[Photo: Adam and Diego]

There are a lot of words that jump out to me during this experience in Costa Rica. But I think the word that jumps out to me most is "future." I am amazed at the progress made already in the two and a half years in Jasmín. I've heard stories of how Jasmín was not a community, but a dark place. But now you see hope. The future at that time was a community that loved each other, with glimpses of hope for a better future. I see that dream come to life today...and its only beginning! There's a part of me that wants to go back and see how this community used to be. Whether it be the people of Jasmín, or the men and women in the centers, I long to see the transformation in their lives. All of us on this team are blown away by the numerous testimonies of God working in lives, redeeming people to himself. But you don't have to see their past to know that God is working in their life and building a better future for this community.

I see it especially in the children. God has called the people of CCA and of E91 to make a difference in this community by impacting the children, the "future." Through scholarships to a quality education and tutors, these children will receive hope and a chance to make a difference within their community. It is their best chance to escape the misery of poverty.



[Photo: Jesús]

I've seen it most through Jesús, the boy taking all the pictures. who our Junior High ministry supports. We hear sad stories of how Jesús and his family have no income, thus no food. They rely on the food they get through the feeding center and from our team. Even though he almost literally has nothing, I see a hope and a future for him. And God has a hope and a future for him. There is a joy about him. You can see it when you talk and joke with him. I can't wait to see Jesús grow up. I can't wait to see him get into the CCA school. Or to see him graduate high school and eventually college. I can't wait to see the way God will continue to work in his life. I even envision God using Jesus to bring about radical change in Jasmin.

[Photo: The teams from E91 constructed a home for German and Maria and their three children Kendaly, Bryan and Allan.]

The future is bright for Jasmin. We will see God work through families, even those we don't know yet. We'll see new people from our church experience what God is doing in this place. Little by little, God is redeeming this community, and we have the privilege to see it happen!

Thank you God, for what you are doing through the lives of these beautiful people in Jasmín. Thank you that you've allowed us to be part of the journey. Thank you for their future.

Adam Bisesi
Student Pastor

Through the Eyes of Jesús

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 18:3

Have you ever wondered if children have something to say about poverty? Have you ever wondered if they might have something to say about the injustices of the world? What would change in our perceptions of poverty and our judgments about the poor if we viewed them through the eyes of children?

Located on a steep hillside named Jasmín, in homes of cardboard, tin, fragments of cement, and wood, subject to seasonal mudslides, hundreds of children simply exist. One of these is a 12-year old boy named Jesús. In his world, sickness, hunger, lack of education and many social problems dominate.

“Through the Eyes of Jesús” is a project giving you a front row seat to life in Jasmín. Through the photographic eyes of Jesús, featured kids have become a gateway into their community – illuminating the life of their families, their neighbors, and joining them on their real-life journeys. We will follow the lives of these courageous children through photos and videos as they tell their stories and participate in changing their community.

We have purchased a digital camera and have been training Jesús in the use of this camera. He possesses a good artistic sense for composition. By giving him additional skills and means of photography, we hope that he will be able to explore his surroundings and understand his relationship to it, and perhaps discover some technical and interpersonal skills that he can put to practical use some day.

Jesús lives with his mother, Ely, and his aunt, Virginia. He has two younger brothers -- Isaac and Jordy. He is a unique young boy who easily connects with others. And he "gets things" most 12-year olds do not. The normal routines of daily life in a place like Jasmín give him insights that even most adults don't have. It will be interesting to see how God uses him, and what he has to say about poverty, his Gringo friends, and God's work in Jasmín -- as seen through his eyes, the eyes of Jesús.

Stay tuned!

Relationships

This is my 1st trip to Costa Rica with East 91st Christian Church, and I say 1st because after only spending 3 days down here, I feel that I will be coming back here in the future. I really get the sense that developing lasting relationships with the people here is the most important thing that we can do. Building homes and serving different ministries is very important but without trusting relationships none of the work can be accomplished. It seems that the people we are working with have seen relationships come and go, but the ones that continue to last (the relationships with Larry and Carole for example) really change lives and create a bond that allows all the work done so far to continue.

In my case, I see some of the relationships that I have developed already, will need some form of continual communication to last. Who knows what may come of those relationships. I have many ideas swirling in my head, especially in regards to the soccer / futbol programs that are being created at CCA and with the kids of Jasmin. I’m really starting to appreciate my relationships that have developed over the past few days. Especially those with The Pribles, Maximo and his family, and Edson the soccer and physical education teacher at CCA. I really hope to develop some relationships with the children of Jasmin and the surrounding communities. These children are the future of this community and I would love to see the relationships that are being built with the love of God change the lives of the people hear. It already has.

-- Craig Woodfill, E91 team member

Reading Craig’s comments on relationships, we cannot help but think of our trip to Fraijanes on Wednesday, the area devastated by the earthquake, and our visit with our close friend and brother Pastor Roy.



The situation there is desperate. Two hours after the earthquake, Shalom Christian Church decided to open their facility for all the people who lost everything, including 66 families from their own church. Since that time, they have been doing everything they can to provide for these homeless people . . . temporary shelter, food, medical assistance and clothing. They are serving 1200 meals per day and have over 120 people sleeping on their floor, among them many, many children as well as Pastor Roy. During the earthquake, as his house was collapsing (see photo to left), Roy saved his daughter’s life by pulling her out of a creek by her hair.

Pastor Roy is carrying some heavy burdens but is walking by faith. “It’s very hard. But at the same time, it’s good. Because every single day we have to walk by faith . . . waiting for the chicken, waiting for meat, waiting for clothing, waiting for everything, every single day. It’s very hard. I don’t know for what reason God put me and put Shalom Church in this position, but we hope to do the best we can in order that He can look good.”

We don't know how Pastor Roy and the families of Shalom Christian Church will get through this without the help of churches like E91 who share their burden. When asked what we can do to help, Pastor Roy responded, “The most important help is to see you here . . . to know that so many people are praying. God hears the prayers of so many people. The second thing is money, because the church has not received any income for around four weeks. We cannot pay the salaries of our employees. We have more than 600 volunteers waiting for my call, who came here to build houses. But we need the financial resources.”

Organizations like Habitat for Humanity are holding back support until the government takes action. The government of Costa Rica is going to bring solutions for some families, but only the families that own their own property. But there are a lot of other families . . . poor families, who’ve worked on the plantations, who’ve lost their jobs, and who don’t own any property. According to Pastor Roy, “If we don’t do anything, nobody will do anything for them.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: “Two are better than one. Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him.”

From the beginning of time, God has made it clear that it is not good for His people to be alone. Especially during difficult times, it is critical that we are walking in fellowship with other Christians. When a crisis hits, it’s overwhelming to face it alone. But if we have supportive friendships, we will find strength in their comfort and encouragement. God wants to develop us into the kind of friends who can strengthen others.

Pastor Roy is not discouraged: “You know we believe that this is not a crises. This is an opportunity . . . an opportunity for the Kingdom of God and for the church to build houses, to bring hope, jobs and love to these people.”

Maximo Cisneros, E91’s Latin America Coordinator, wanted me to add: “We hope our friends and team at E91 will pray, encourage and support Pastor Roy and Shalom Christian Church, and let’s go build the Kingdom together.”

-- Larry and Carole Prible, E91 team members

Donations to the earthquake relief effort can be made in one of two ways. (1) A check payable to "East 91st Street Christian Church", specifying the "Costa Rica Fund" on the memo line. Please mail it to the church or place it in Sunday's offering. (2) A check payable to "Love At Work" and mailed to 5977 Heaton Pass, Carmel, IN 46033. 100% of all contributions will go directly to earthquake relief through our partner church, CCA, in Alajuelita, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Appeal by Pastor Alberto and Maximo for Fraijanes

Hello, Larry,
 
First of all, we would like to thank you for volunteering to be the spokesperson on behalf of CCA and carry the news about what is happening here as a consequence of the recent earthquake that happened in Costa Rica on January 8, 2009.  All the help that you can get for us will be highly appreciated.
 
The earthquake has directly affected us, specifically in Fraijanes, a small town on the skirts of the Poas Volcano, where our CCA sister church "Comunidad Cristiana Shalom" – Shalom Christian Fellowship is located, under Pastor Roy Soto.  The Pastor's house was damaged almost in its totality, 70%, and it is just impossible for Pastor Soto to move back there.  Pastor Soto and his family are currently living in different quarters:  he has been able to rent a small place for his family, but he stays overnight at his Community Centre.  Even as Pastor Soto has been personally affected by the material loss of his home and the emotional impact of the earthquake on his family, he has really been a true shepherd and pastor for his congregation during these difficult times as well as a community leader for his community and other neighbour communities as they process the event, its dramatic consequences, and the immediate solutions.  Pastor Roy helps and assists every one with a hopeful heart.
 
Also, 50 families of our sister church Shalom Christian Fellowship lost their homes.  Many families are now temporarily in refuge at the church's facilities within the church building; in camping tents on the synthetic grass; and in the church's Sunday school classrooms.  Besides, the church has a regular staff of 19 who depend on their salaries to live and provide for their families.
 
During the church services no monetary offering is being collected.  Last Sunday, as Pastor Soto was going to dismiss the congregation and to give the benediction as usual "May the Lord be with you on your way home…," he struggled or words with a knot in his throat.  (What to say?  May the Lord be with you as you walk to your camping tents?)  In quiet reverence, people slowly got up and left still in uncertainty and sadness.
 
CCA has decided to pledge assistance and commitment to CCS at all costs.  We have indicated to Pastor Roy that we would at least pay his salary and half the staff's salaries for the following six months.  Each one of us will sacrifice whatever is necessary to meet that goal.
 
We know that Roy is very resourceful, and, more so, we know that the Lord is with him.  We consider that in a six-month term he will be doing as best as ever.  However, at this point Roy really needs our spiritual, emotional, and financial support.
 
You know, Larry?  Before the earthquake stroke, Roy had in his electronic signature the following prayer:  "Let us pray for Shalom Christian Fellowship.  We need miracles to happen here!”  So, let us tell you that a great miracle has indeed happened.  God allowed this earthquake to happen.  It may sound confusing, doesn't it?  I don't think that was what Roy had in mind.  However, all of us, Roy and we, know that God is in control.  He is a sovereign God, and EVERYTHING turns into goodness to all who love God.
 
This is the moment when we can have the privilege, the honour to help our brother.  A very close friend indeed.  Would you like to be part of this as well?
 
If you asked us how you could help, our answer will be please get cash donations.  Roy will know how to administer them wisely as he has demonstrated his wisdom in previous situations being trustful and loyal.
 
Let us be caring and responsive during this reconstruction task.
 
Peace, Larry

Donations to the earthquake relief effort can be made in one of two ways.  (1) A check payable to "East 91st Street Christian Church", specifying the "Costa Rica Fund" on the memo line.  Please mail it to the church or place it in Sunday's offering.  (2) A check payable to "Love At Work" and mailed to 5977 Heaton Pass, Carmel, IN 46033.  100% of all contributions will go directly to earthquake relief through our partner church, CCA, in Alajuelita, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Pastor Alberto on "12 Homes, 12 Days"

A collection of thoughts from Pastor Alberto on the significance of the “12 Homes, 12 Days” project:

“For the past couple of years, we have been building one or sometimes two houses a month in Jasmín. But this month, we are building twelve! Some have said ‘We’re crazy!’ But what a wonderful thing -- twelve families will be sleeping in their new houses tonight. We did it!”

“I asked one of the mothers, ‘What is it like in your shack in the winter?’ She said, ‘When I go to bed at night, I sleep with an umbrella in my hand.’ Saturday morning, we were with all of the families, and we prayed with them and celebrated. Ruth, one of the homeowners, stood up and said, ‘Because of you, twelve families will have dry houses this year. God bless all of you and praise our Father in heaven!’”
















Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

“You know, there’s a young man in Jasmín who really doesn’t like me. And I don’t know why, but he is always saying bad things about me and about CCA. I’ve tried many times to develop a relationship with him, to break the barrier between us. I would talk to him, but he would have nothing to do with me.”

“However, yesterday, he came up to me, and he asked me, ‘Do you know who’s moving into the second house over there?’ And I said, ‘No, I really don’t. There are twelve houses, and I haven’t met all of the families.’ He said, ‘It’s my mother-in-law. And I want to apologize. I don’t even know you, and I’ve been saying bad things about you. I’ve never been to your church. But you are building a house for someone you don’t even know. And I know her, I’m her son-in-law, and I’ve done nothing. I was wrong, and I need to apologize to you. Forgive me.’”

The people dwelling in Darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16

“Jasmín has been an example of the anti-kingdom . . . how much Satan can push down a people. So much sickness, poverty, suffering and darkness . . . and people who have lost their faith, lost their hope. It is a huge spiritual problem. Many people have probably been praying for them. But as the people of Jasmín see us building more and more houses for them, they are recovering their hope, they are recovering their faith, and we are pushing back the darkness. We are pushing back the darkness with hammers and a saw.”

“So we have to work, we have to get our hands dirty. There must be evidence that we are winning the battle. Every yellow house is something we can show . . . every man or woman in our Restoration Centers . . . every elderly man we pick up on the street. We are winning. Every time we take a child from Jasmín and give them a scholarship to CCA’s Christian School . . . we are winning.”

“Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit, and he would walk the streets and bring help to to people, undoing the works of Satan. He was doing spiritual warfare. Usually spiritual warfare is only surrounded by prayer, but that’s not changing the situation. Our mission is to keep on doing what Jesus did. I don’t think the church has any other mission. The way we do it is by undoing the works of the Enemy. Our war is not about destroying the Enemy, it’s not ours to do. On the Day of Judgment, God is going to do that. What we can destroy are his works.”

As the last of the gringos departed Jasmín on Saturday, a young boy named Eliazar came running to Larry and Carole asking, “Are you bringing another group of gringos tomorrow?” “Yes, Eliazar. We (E91 and CCA) are not going to leave this community. We are going to be here until the work is finished.”

Thank, you, gringos! God bless you! We love you! Larry and Carole




















More evidence of the victory -- Zaida and Christian graduated from the Restoration Centers on Sunday morning.













Victoria and Victor in their shack -- more to do.

"See"ing Jasmin

This is a blog update from several of this week's team members. We of course saw Jesús this morning and he was up to his normal antics -). We were communicating to him that Gary had wanted us to tell Jesús hello from him, and in typical Jesús-type humor, he pretended that he had NO idea what we were talking about because our Spanish is "so bad." We have learned to decipher his kidding, though, and as with so many of these kids we are getting to know them and they us. The personal connection we continue to build with them is most definitely a highlight of this trip and a true reward for coming to Costa Rica more than once!

This morning we started work at Jasmin earlier than the other days, and it was there that the Davis family performed a wondefully coordinated object-lesson for us about "SEE" -ing the things that God wants us to see, even if they are unpleasant, and especially when they are things we don't WANT to see. They encouraged us not to put the blinders back on once we return but to stay engaged in our minds, hearts, and actions.

There have of course been many situations we have "seen" which have been hard, hard for us emotionally to be sure. We have seen women struggling to carry water up steep hills; we have seen a man sitting by a trash heep who was trying to open a filled trash bag with his teeth; we have seen a little girl, five years old, who is deaf, and who is also handicapped, and still in diapers. Her mother, isolated and without resources, lovingly cares for her as well as an older man, unrelated to her, but who is unable to work because of injuries to his leg.

As we have realized all week, however, we cannot respond if we don't at first see, feel, and communicate the hope which we all need in Jesus. We see yellow houses on the hillside which as Pastor Alberto has said is a visible sign that we are fighting the enemy. We have even named these houses (partly to help us know what each other is referring to!): You may see pictures of what are affectionately known as "Niagra Falls" which we reach by crossing a drainage ditch,

Banana Tree, where there is, logically, a banana tree, and where Kevin, in throwing a shovel, hit the banana tree, and the shovel actually stayed lodged in the tree! Last but not least, there is "Eagle's Nest," which is very difficult to get to, steep, and narrow. Praise God though that through assembly lines we have managed to carry everything up so far but the panels and a few roof boards!

The steps leading to "Eagles Nest"

As many of you know, we have also seen Hector, someone Larry hired to work with us, come to Christ before our very eyes. And there have been times as well when we have seen someone struggling with something and have surrounded that person with prayer. God has blessed us by allowing to participate in small ways in the power of His redeeming love and healing. Our brothers and sisters in Christ in Costa Rica have also in numerous ways encouraged and challenged our own faith.

It is difficult to put into words some of the experiences we have had. It is difficult to summarize the highlights of one day, let alone one week. Bear with us as we come home but know we want to talk about so many of the moments we have yet to describe.

Thank you to all of you who read this and support us daily in prayer. We can FEEL it. There isn't much snow here, it isn't cold, and there aren't as many decorations as there are at home. Yet being here couldn't make for a better Christmas!

A view from Jesús continues

Jesús has been taking more pictures than can possibly be shared on this blog alone. There are improvements in his skills and he has even started experimenting with the video features on the camera.

On Monday, Jesús went with our team back to the Men's Restoration Centre. Last week, two of them men in the center advised Jesús not to take drugs, even if a pretty girl offered them. Jesús took this advice serious and said that he would never take drugs. On our return, one of the men who advised Jesús last week, told us that having given this advice to Jesús he now felt more motivated to complete the program. He shared with us that he felt that if he told Jesús not to take drugs, he had to follow that same advice. He told us he felt encouraged to finish, and stronger in himself to be able to see through what he started by coming to the Restoration Center. This gentleman is standing on the right in this picture, taken by Jesús.

Jesús has also taken many pictures in Jasmin. All of his friends and family live here. He has spent his life here, and his pictures are simple and show the world in which he has grown up. The following pictures show his world from his perspective. In many ways, it shows more easily life in Jasmin, than words can describe.