Children At Risk

It's taken me a while to decide what my next step after DTS should be. When I first arrived here in San Jose for my DTS, I was just following what God had spoken to me. It was hard for me to just follow, but God has really been teaching me to just trust and follow him, to not look to the right or left. Within the first couple weeks my attention was caught by a secondary school that YWAM offers called Children At Risk. This is also a 12 week school. So what is this school?

"For the first time in Central America, University of the Nation's "Children at Risk School."

Across the globe and across our mission, God is emphasizing to us the importance of caring for the 'fatherless' - a passion very near and dear to His heart. His heart breaks over the needless suffering of His little ones and He is calling His people now to commit to make children our priority.

The needs of children are overwhelming - over a billion children live in poverty and millions face abuse, disease and death every day.

Listen as God calls to us:
"seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless"

Again and again our Heavenly Father is showing us His heart:

"true religion is to look after orphans." (James 1:27)

"Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)

"A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation." (Psalm 68:5-6)

The Children at Risk School is taught through University of the Nations, the training arm of Youth With A Mission. The course is an overview or introductory course for people who are interested in working with children at risk. The school will be running for the first time in Costa Rica in January 2009. Students from many nations will come to the San Jose YWAM base and spend three months in the classroom learning from various teachers who are experts in their field. Through lectures, discussions, small group interactions, community life, assignments and research the students will learn in creative ways. After the three month lecture phase, students will begin a six month internship in Latin America learning from and serving people and programs that work with children." -facebook

http://is-is.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41940454622&v=info

My plan is to return for the three months of class in January and see where God leads from there. I've really come to realize how much children make up a part of who I am. In Margarita the children would flock to us every possible moment of the day. During our time there I can to realize just how much joy they bring into my life and how alive I feel when they're around. Not all come from healthy families, but my heart desires to help those children and to love those who feel alone, or might be abused, or might just need a friend.

Thanksgiving

Wow, I can not believe how quickly time flies by. As I've mentioned before there is a One Story conference happening in the base here in San Jose. Last week our DTS participated. It's such a cool way to share the gospel. We're taught how to accurately and Biblicaly take stories from the Bible and tell them in a story form. This is especially helpful in communities where there isn't yet a Bible translated. Telling stories orally is a major part of many societies. If you want to learn more check out: ywamonestory.org

Since there are many people here on the base we had our Thanksgiving a couple weeks before. It's amazing how one is able to go into a place without knowing anyone and finding a family. As a family we took time as a base to reflect on all the good things God has given us: our new base, our staff, and the personal things God has given us each individually. Fun times call for fun pictures :)

On this Thanksgiving I just encourage you to take personal time with God and give him thanks for the things he's done in your life, the things he is already doing, and the things he's going to do. He really is awesome.

Tilaran and Monte Verde

Outreach is practically finished and we're now back in San Jose. This week we're apart of a conference called One Story. We're taught how to verbally share the gospel through story form and the such. This week is combined up of "lecture phase" and "outreach phase". It's our last whole week of DTS.

We spent about 20 days out "there". We spent time in a small town called Tilaran. This was a lot of fun because Rebeca, a girl from our team, is from this town. We were spoiled a lot by her parents. Image outreach in Fort Wayne, hmm... We were involved in a lot of the church activities here as well: youth nights, church, we were also a part of an English church service (since there are a lot of retired English speakers in this area). My favorite time was when we were involved in a service the church had in the plaza on Halloween. Even though it's not a national holiday for the locals they still celebrate, so the church had a service in the gazebo. We shared a drama and a testimony.

I think our time spent in Monte Verde was over all my favorite time. This is a small tourist town. We spent our mornings downtown sharing the love of God in any sort of form possible. Free hugs, worship, served Gallo Pinto to taxi drivers and anyone else on the street, free cookies. We were able to build relationships pretty easily. A couple people were even confused about seeing a mixed group of foreigners and Costa Ricans giving and loving. In the afternoons we had a team devotion (it rains every afternoon and is freezing) and at night were involved in the church services. I loved this time.




My Familia Rara (Weird/Strange family)that's what we call our group. I'm going to miss them soooo much.



Making cookies :)



Spending time with youth.



Almost every town we stayed in we've been spoiled by the locals. They have a true grasp on the meaning of humility. Virginia has blessed us immensely.



Serving Pinto and Hugs




Our whole team got sick :(


Students from the University we spent time with one morning



Abrazos Gratiz