"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!