Goodness! Where to begin?
It's been a full couple of days since we last wrote. Besides the successful VBS programs we've run (successful meaning lots of kids showing up and getting loved on, our teens being loved back, and the teens doing a fantastic job with each of their roles on the team), we have been enjoying lots of laughs, lots of tears, incredible, challenging conversations with teens, and making lots of new memories. It's been so good but, well -- exhausting. A good kind of exhausting, but boy will we crash when we get home!
Saying goodbye to the kids at each of our sites was a challenge for our teens (and for many of the sponsors). The Costa Rican's love is so abundant and since time is slower here, I think the kids really enjoyed the experience of time to love, time to build relationship. We are just so busy, busy, busy in our culture. Simple things like jump rope and Duck, Duck Goose aren't appreciated because we're too busy. Not so here. There is time to stand around throw a football, jump rope, play children's games, talk, listen to music, be silent. From my perspective it felt like the kids really enjoyed the pace of life here because it allowed them to build relationships. When it came time to say goodbye they found it to be very, very difficult.
During the evening worship services there have been some incredible workings of the Holy Spirit and some significant battles being waged for the kids' hearts. The enemy is doing his best to win their hearts and God will not let them go. (Amen!) It's been an honor to be here praying with them, crying with them, and sitting in silence before God with them. Please continue to lift them each in prayer because we are still having tough conversations even here at our recreation site.
Speaking of our recreation site, let me just say that when CCA decides to spoil your kids they know how to do so BIG TIME. The resort we are staying is called Los Lagos and it has the best pools! Multiple pools and slides are filling the kids' free time. The hotel is beautiful and we are all thrilled with access to large, spacious bathrooms that we only have to share with 3 people instead of 43 people. (It's the little things in life, folks. And yet, they are still most excited about being able to flush our TP when we get home to the USA. ha!) The food has been AMAZING all week but in the last 2 meals here in Fortuna...well, it's an understatement to say that we've all over-indulged. I would post pictures but it would only make you feel bad for missing out.
Today we are heading out to enjoy the zip lines through the jungle and then a pizza lunch. Afterwards we will come back to the resort for rest time (in plain English: pool time). After another big dinner tonight we will shop in town for souvenirs. We leave here at 2 am to make our long trek to the airport for our early flight out. (Heavens!)
Keep praying for us and we'll see you all tomorrow. Adios!
It's been a full couple of days since we last wrote. Besides the successful VBS programs we've run (successful meaning lots of kids showing up and getting loved on, our teens being loved back, and the teens doing a fantastic job with each of their roles on the team), we have been enjoying lots of laughs, lots of tears, incredible, challenging conversations with teens, and making lots of new memories. It's been so good but, well -- exhausting. A good kind of exhausting, but boy will we crash when we get home!
Saying goodbye to the kids at each of our sites was a challenge for our teens (and for many of the sponsors). The Costa Rican's love is so abundant and since time is slower here, I think the kids really enjoyed the experience of time to love, time to build relationship. We are just so busy, busy, busy in our culture. Simple things like jump rope and Duck, Duck Goose aren't appreciated because we're too busy. Not so here. There is time to stand around throw a football, jump rope, play children's games, talk, listen to music, be silent. From my perspective it felt like the kids really enjoyed the pace of life here because it allowed them to build relationships. When it came time to say goodbye they found it to be very, very difficult.
During the evening worship services there have been some incredible workings of the Holy Spirit and some significant battles being waged for the kids' hearts. The enemy is doing his best to win their hearts and God will not let them go. (Amen!) It's been an honor to be here praying with them, crying with them, and sitting in silence before God with them. Please continue to lift them each in prayer because we are still having tough conversations even here at our recreation site.
Speaking of our recreation site, let me just say that when CCA decides to spoil your kids they know how to do so BIG TIME. The resort we are staying is called Los Lagos and it has the best pools! Multiple pools and slides are filling the kids' free time. The hotel is beautiful and we are all thrilled with access to large, spacious bathrooms that we only have to share with 3 people instead of 43 people. (It's the little things in life, folks. And yet, they are still most excited about being able to flush our TP when we get home to the USA. ha!) The food has been AMAZING all week but in the last 2 meals here in Fortuna...well, it's an understatement to say that we've all over-indulged. I would post pictures but it would only make you feel bad for missing out.
Today we are heading out to enjoy the zip lines through the jungle and then a pizza lunch. Afterwards we will come back to the resort for rest time (in plain English: pool time). After another big dinner tonight we will shop in town for souvenirs. We leave here at 2 am to make our long trek to the airport for our early flight out. (Heavens!)
Keep praying for us and we'll see you all tomorrow. Adios!
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