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.

6 Houses Complete

The good news so far this week is that there are now 6 houses completed. If I remeber the numbers correctly, there are two houses with the floor ready to be laid. Two more houses are ready for the foundation to be put in. The final two houses have not been started.

One of the hardest things for the families we build houses for, is that before construction can begin, their old home has to be torn down. This also means that the family needs to find somewhere to go while the new house is being built. We have one family who really has no where to go once we tear down their old house. They will have no where to sit during the day, and no where to sleep at night. This family is one of the homes that has not been started. All of the other families had already torn down their old house and were staying with friends, or in a smaller room on their property.

Please pray for this family, that they find shelter during the days that we are putting up their new home. Pray that we would have the compassion and understanding that is needed for this family. Also pray for the safety of the team, that even as we hurry to build these houses, that our priority would be safety, not speed.

Work Is Progressing

Mariela, Maria and Vanessa help raise the first wall on their new home.

Work is progressing on the 12 houses/ 12 days project in Jasmin. One house was finished yesterday, 2 more will be finished or almost finished by the end of today. Work is very hard. We are having to carry everything up the hill---boards, panels, concrete bases, and for the most part we haven’t had volunteers other than our own team.


The rains returned but the work went on.











Yesterday Stephan, Kevin, and Tim (who are the “runners” who see that the right materials get to each work site at the right time), were a bit overwhelmed. Many boards were needed at a site up near the top of the hill. They prayed, telling God what they needed was a small army----turned around and there were 7-8 little boys carrying (no, running) boards up the hill!

The Proyecto Magdalena (Women’s Build) has had many workers and we hope to get that house roofed by the end of today. Some of the women from the Women’s Center will be helping us today.

We had lunches with the men and the women at the Centers yesterday and everyone enjoyed it very much. It’s so good to share a meal and socialize with these very special friends

Women from the Center came out to help with the Women's Build.

Tour of CCA’s Ministries -- A View from Jesús.

On Monday morning, Jesús accompanied the team on our tour of some of CCA’s ministries -- the Men’s and Women’s Restoration Centers, the Home for Elderly Men, and the Children’s Feeding Centers.

One of the most powerful moments came when we asked the men at the Center, “What advice would you have for a young boy? What would you want to say to Jesús?” Here’s what they had to say:

“One of the saddest things, what hurts the most is seeing kids in places like Las Tablas. Living there, doing drugs -- ten and eleven-year olds. It’s so evil. Just like hell. That’s the only way to describe it. How old are you, Jesús?”

Jesús: “I’m twelve.”

“Say ‘No!’ Because you need to know how much you will suffer. It’s easy to get into it. I have ten years now trying to get out of there. I have only fifteen days of being here. For ten years, I was trying to get free of that. They are going to offer it to you as a wonderful thing. But it is a trick. Don’t ever try it. That’s my advice. As nice as it looks. Maybe some nice young girl will come to you, a very beautiful girl, and offer it to you. Don’t be deceived. It’s very tricky. That’s what happened to me. Turn around and walk the other way.”

Then Marco spoke. Marco’s been in the Center before. He almost finished the program but went back on the streets. He had actually helped build Jesús’ home (one of our Smart Model Yellow Houses), and he said, “I know Jesús. I’ve been up in Jasmín. And I worked by your side. You’ve grown. You’re the oldest of your brothers, aren’t you? You are a good boy. You have a wonderful mom. Your little brothers will follow your lead. Be a good example for them. I can see -- you are close to the Lord now. Stay there. Never take it even once. God bless you.”

Later, we asked Jesús about his impressions of the day. He said, “I felt very good about going with you in the van and being a part of it. What I liked most was the time when the people from the Men’s Center encouraged me. And it was also encouraging to see them there, trying to help themselves get out of drugs. And I wanted to cry when the young girl at the Women’s Center (15 years old) said she had lived in the streets, slept on cardboard . . . and how she had been abused. It was sad.”

We asked Jesús if he knew any people like those he met in the Centers? “Yes, there are some in Jasmín. I knew the father of the girls -- Vanessa, Maria and Mariela. He used to live in their house. Rosa (their mother) and Gerardo (their father) would both go off to work, and the three girls would stay in my house. Then one day I saw him when he was in the streets using drugs. And we saw him sleeping on cardboard in the streets. Yes, I guess I know someone like that.”

Is he fearful that someday he might fall into that trap? “No, absolutely not. I wouldn’t be in a situation like that . . . ever! No one has offered it to me yet. When I am walking the streets, there are people smoking, doing drugs. I don’t even like the smell. No, I won’t do that!”

Do you think that you are poor? He thought about it for a moment and then said, “Yes.” What do you think you can do to improve your situation? “Finish my studies. Study a profession, one I like. I can do it. I like to study. I get good grades. I didn’t have to go to school the last couple of weeks because my teacher said I had done well and I didn’t need to.” We encouraged Jesús to pursue the tutoring opportunities we’re providing. And if he’ll work hard and apply himself, there are scholarships available. But he needs to do his part.

Does it make him sad to see Vanessa, Maria and Mariela in a house like they have? “Yes, sure. When my mom would go away, I used to go and stay at their house. And water would come in -- the house would be full of water. When the rain would start, their mom and everyone would start putting buckets in different places where the rain was coming in.” What a childhood memory.