Yobel in Costa Rica

I greatly appreciated all the support that I had while in Costa Rica, so it's about time I update you on how the trip went.  All 9 of us Coloradan women made our way to the AMCA house in the San Francisco area of San Jose where our trip together began.  It's a great place for groups to stay, and we ended up sharing the house with a group of girls from the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders.  Needless to say, they made the house pretty lively, but I enjoyed getting to chat with them and hear about the work they were doing.

AMCA House is the yellow one

Lots of bunk beds to provide plenty of room for groups

The shared eating/meeting area

From the other perspective looking back at the kitchen

The AMCA house has a chef that cooks for the groups.  The lovely lady in the apron made us a delicious breakfast and dinner every day!

A small taste of the amazing plant life in Costa Rica right outside

We hit the ground running on Monday morning with an intro from Christina to Costa Rica and the ministries we would be working with.  Christina was one of our partners from Food for the Hungry who helped us all week.  She and her husband (Luis Diego) and two boys (Joseph and Benjamin), live in San Jose and work with many of the children of the mothers that we were working with.  They were great to spend time with and I was so thankful for how much they helped organize our time and always watched out for us.  We were given a short amount of time to go find food for lunch; our first little venture out on the streets.  I very quickly found that there was a produce stand just down the road selling fresh drinking coconuts!  

I was a happy camper!

We also successfully completed our first mission of finding the post office.

If you ever need to know what it looks like in Costa Rica

We made it back just in time to leave for our first day of training.  This involved walking about a mile to a bus stop and then catching a bus that took us on about a 25 minute ride into the neighborhood where we were working.  I honestly never figured out where we were; I just got on the bus and got off when I saw the "God is Love" sign.  I was glad we got to always take the public transportation because I think it gives you more of an opportunity to see real life and interact with more people.

Bus Cementerio

Jessie & Barb - teammates and roommates

We held the training at a place called the Bethesda House, which is where one of the groups of women meets regularly for their Bible study and sewing.

Welcome!

Space was tight, but we made it work.  We had about 35 women and 3 brave men in the training.  It was great to see how eager the women were to be there.  Most people live on "Tico time" which means they may show up an hour or two late.  But for the training, everyone showed up every day on time and sometimes early.  That was a big deal!  We had a fantastic head translator who translated everything we taught from the front.

Andres translating for Amanda V.

For those of us who were not fluent in Spanish, we also had a translator for our small group discussions.

Yorleny - so thankful for her friendship and translation skills!

The first day was a little chaotic with trying to figure out how to arrange all of the chairs and learning how everything worked.  But it was still a great day of having the women dream big and share their ideas of what they might want to do.

My Day 1 Group

These women have big dreams and ideas to share!

Day 2 was more organized.  We had assigned groups that we ended up keeping for the rest of the week.  It helped to have consistency and be able to get to know them better so that we could build on each day.  It was exciting to hear them share, see light bulbs come one, and watch their confidence build in just a few days.  I discovered that many of them already have some sort of small business going - jewelry making, sewing, food - but they want skills that will help them take their business to the next level.  Many of them are selling on the street, but want to have a store.  Some of them have little shops, but want to know how to be more profitable or manage the business better.  They all had great skills and talents already, so they were ideal candidates for the training.  During training they were able to learn about budgeting, saving, pricing, customer service, marketing, and more.  We take so much of this for granted, but I heard from multiple women how eye-opening these topics were.  They shared experiences with each other.  They helped each other.  They had great questions.  Some of them were even ready for a more in depth training on running a business because they were wanting to know more about tracking inventory.  If we had any problem, it was that the women were too eager to share and talked a little too much.  

One of the most tangible learning moments I saw in my group was using a calculator.  There were a few women in my group who had never used a calculator before.  They were very  hesitant to even try using one at first.  They kept trying to hand it off to other women so that they could just copy the answers.  The teacher in me insisted that they be the ones to use the calculators.  Hands-on is the best way to learn and I knew that they could.  So I had them keep practicing until I could visibly see them start to relax and feel more confident.  By the last day, they were grabbing the calculators and calculating their own budgets and were so proud when they were able to determine their profit.  It was a great reminder of why I love teaching so much.  Seeing the entrepreneurs' faces light up was such a joy!

During the training there were several skits that made for some good laughs and great visual demonstrations.

Providing great customer service to get Yorleny to buy the
red shirt that would look so nice on her

How NOT to make the sale - trying to sell a dead chicken
to someone who wants a live chicken

We also got to talk about how God made each of us unique.  We all have gifts that He has given us that we can use to serve Him and serve our communities.  We talked about how things are so much more beautiful when we all use our unique gifts and talents.

Everyone always got excited about the coffee break.  We were in Costa Rica after all.

They love their coffee!

Coffee breaks also offered a great opportunity for more
discussion and follow-up on topics just covered

The whole thing seemed to fly by and before we knew it, it was the final day and what everyone had been looking forward to - Graduation!  They had invited a local missionary to come and play a few worship songs before the ceremony.  It was a beautiful time of praise and thanksgiving for what God had provided throughout the week.

Even though I hardly understood a word, I always love hearing people sing praises to God in their heart language.  I can only imagine how amazing that will be when all nations, tribes, and tongues stand before the throne.

After that, each entrepreneur was called up individually to receive their certificate.  This was such a big deal.  Many of them have never graduated high school, so this may be the first certificate they have ever received.  They cheered just as loud and big for each person from the first to the last.

Proudly displaying her earned certificate - she has owned
her own hair salon for 14 years and will use this training
to improve her business even more

After graduation, a seemingly endless round of group photos ensued, but I don't blame them :)

The whole graduating class of entrepreneurs

My group of wonderful entrepreneurs!
Saray, Evelyn, Maricella, Karen, Priscilla & Carmen

Yep, we just took up the whole street.  Good thing there
are rarely cars driving through.

I was so thankful to see the training in action.  I loved seeing how it empowered them to make a difference in their own communities.  I loved that we were leaving them with tools and knowledge that they could use.  They didn't need us to stay and do it for them.  As I mentioned before I left, these are women who are struggling through abuse, single motherhood, joblessness and more.  But you would hardly know it.  They are full of ambition.  Full of love.  Full of life.  And after this week, more full of hope for a better future.

Outside of training, we were given a lot of freedom to explore the city and get a little bit more taste of the culture.  One morning, a group of us set out on an adventure.  Elizabeth, one of the girls on our team, was born in Costa Rica.  She wanted to find the hospital that she was born in, so we were on board to help her find it.  It was kind of a comical experience with none of us really knowing where we were going, Elizabeth having semi-fluent Spanish, and watching bus after bus go by because it turns out we were waiting on the wrong one.  We ended up finally just getting on one that seemed to be going the right direction.  We soon found out that our angel was on that bus.  Elizabeth just asked the couple beside her if they knew where the hospital was, and the woman replied that she worked right beside it and would walk us there.  Perfect!

Elizabeth at her place of birth - Clinica Biblica

Of course we took a little stroll inside, which I'm sure looked
very suspicious to the staff, but we couldn't help ourselves.
It was very nice inside and probably the nicest bathroom
we got to use in Costa Rica ;)

On Tuesday morning, we were there for the Costa Rica vs. England game in the World Cup.  That was so fun to see the excitement of the whole country.  School was cancelled for everyone, streets were full of people selling flags, and everyone had their jersey on.  Our hosts graciously invited us to their home to watch the game with them.

It took a little work to get the rabbit ears just right

What's a game watching party without snacks?  We made
guacamole, which apparently is not a Tico thing, but they
enjoyed it anyway

It also turned into a hair salon because Yorleny would like
to be a hairstylist, so why not let her practice on us?

The picture doesn't do it justice, but this was
a cool braid she put in my hair - "Magic"

The game was a bit anti-climatic with the score being 0-0 in the end, but it was still fun to see the national excitement, and it meant there was still another game to come.

Thursday morning, we all took a trip to downtown San Jose to see the sights and shop at the big market.

The National Theater

Downtown - looks like a pretty typical big city

Lots of cabs and buses

I thought this was funny and also a great idea;
a little area out front for people who just
wanted ice cream

Luis Diego took us to a really fun restaurant
with traditional Tico fair and decoration

Great atmosphere

Slightly random/crazy/eclectic decor

I love anything served on a banana leaf!

That is a giant plantain covered in cheese.
Never seen anything quite like that before!

I will go ahead and warn you that I'm going to end on a heavy note, but it is an important part of the trip that cannot be left out.  In fact, it may have had the biggest impact on me of the entire trip.  

For our final evening together, Kylie took us all out for a dinner downtown.  In the process, we stumbled across the largest brothel in all of San Jose.  At first glance, it looks like a fancy hotel with a casino.  It's right by all the nice restaurants, has a nice sign and exterior.  But a closer look reveals that it is surrounded by Caucasian security guards, Tico pimps, and mini-skirted Tican chicas.  Not a single window is open to allow you to see in.  This unexpected run-in gave us another picture and another side of the Costa Rican story.  It gave us another understanding.  It disturbed us and shocked us, but it impacted us in a way that we could not have planned.  It's something that I've read about and heard about, but never before had it been so right in my face.  My heart aches for the girls.  I pray that they find freedom from captivity, release from darkness, true hope, and complete healing.  

It all circles back to Isaiah 61, what Jesus came to do and what He still wants to do for these precious children of His.  Hopefully through empowering work like Yobel is doing, this life of slavery can be prevented. 

There are organizations doing great work in this area if you want to learn more:

http://freethegirls.org/

http://www.restoreinnocence.org/

http://love146.org/

http://iempathize.org/

http://ijm.org/

"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

Costa Rica Bound!

In just a matter of days now, I will be jumping on a plane to Costa Rica!

Why, you might ask.  Well, for many reasons - the tropical climate, the beauty, the mangoes, the soursop, the adventure, to get away from work for a while.  I will enjoy all of that, but the main reason for going is because of the opportunity to experience an Exposure Trip with Yobel.

Their approach has opened many doors in hard to reach countries

Yobel International is a non-profit here in Colorado Springs.  Their vision is "Empowering communities to pursue the hope of freedom and abundant life." They do this through a variety of ways, one of them being business training to encourage entrepreneurship and small business development around the world.  They have seen that this can set people free from poverty and the risk of unjust labor.  The greatest part is that they are driven by a desire to follow the teachings of Jesus to love our neighbors and set the captives free.

Graduates of another Yobel business training

So, June 22-27, my team of 9 of women will be traveling to San Jose together to train about 30 women who live in a neighborhood of inner-city San Jose that has been left behind as the rest of the city succeeds.  It needs some revitalization.  The women are primarily single mothers, many of whom have a history of abuse and some coming from a background of prostitution.  A woman who goes by Dona Isabela has been working with the group of women in this area for years to build relationships with them and invest in their lives.  Dona Isabela owns her own sewing business, but she realizes that not all women want to sew.  Her dream is that these women would be able to live out their own dreams through entrepreneurship.  She would really like to eventually have a coop where women can come sew, be hairdressers, bakers, or pursue any other dreams they may have that would benefit them and the community.  Talk about setting the captives free, proclaiming good news to the poor, and release from darkness.  She heard about Yobel's business training and invited us to come and deliver it to her friends.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for these women!

We are also partnering with Food for the Hungry Costa Rica.  A couple in San Jose runs the organization to provide food services and after school programs for children in the neighborhood we will be working it.  They will be another connection in the community as they already know the mothers and can help us navigate a new culture.

I write all of this and give you all this background because I know how important it is to have as much prayer support as possible.  Prayer always precedes God doing mighty things!  So I'm asking you to partner with me.    Here are some prayer points:

• Safe travel to, from, and in Costa Rica
• Good health for the whole team so that we can all be fully present at the training
• That the women's hearts and minds would be prepared for what God is going to do through the training
• That the training would not only equip them with essential skills for starting a business, but also bring them hope, joy, life, and freedom
• Unity for our team - none of us knew each other prior to this trip
• That meaningful relationships would be built
• For childcare so that the women can focus on the training and not worry about their kids
• That God will do mighty things beyond our imagination in the lives of these women that in turn transforms their community!

I am getting so excited just writing this out and thinking about next week.  I cannot wait to see what happens and be able to share it with you.  Thank you in advance for your covering of prayer.  It is always such a blessing to know that people are supporting you from all over the world.

I will also be staying for a second week just to explore and enjoy more of Costa Rica.  Might as well once you're there, right?!  My awesome mom and dad will be coming down to join me for that week, so you can continue to pray for our time together too.

I will leave you with this.  You may have noticed I've been using bits and pieces of this passage throughout, but here it is in full.  This is what it's all about.  This is what Jesus came to do.  It could also be a good passage for leading your prayers:

Isaiah 61

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord

for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

that have been devastated for generations.

5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,

you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame

you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace

you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;

I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

In my faithfulness I will reward my people

and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations

and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge

that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness

and praise spring up before all nations.

Making the Most of a Long Winter

This winter seemed to go on and on and on.  Just when I would get my hopes up that the weather was getting warmer, another snow storm would hit.  We even got 2 or 3 snow days, which is usually unheard of in my district.  But I think that every year that I have lived here, I have gotten better and better about not letting the cold get me down.  I've learned how to bundle up properly and brave the winter weather so that I don't want to just sit in my cozy, warm house all the time.  So what did I do to make the winter more fun this year?

First, the best way to enjoy the snow is snowshoeing.  I tried out Meuller State Park to do something new.

Good snow coverage; apparently there is a road there

My favorite kind of snow: beautiful but still sunny

It's always worth the climb to the top to get views like this!

A cool finding, but can you imagine that someone actually
lived in that at some point?  I can't imagine in the winter for sure!

The old water pail is still hanging

and the springs from a mattress

I just thought it was a cool tree all twisted

Never ceases to amaze me

Snowshoeing has definitely far surpassed snow skiing on my list of fun winter activities!

We followed this up with a trip to Cripple Creek to see the Ice Festival. There were some pretty impressive ice carvings by some very talented sculptors.

The Batmobile

The Genie from Aladin

Inside the Flintstone House

There's Barney!

Probably my favorite piece of the whole festival

To make winter fun, it's also important to continue random and not so random celebrations.

Birthday parties at work
(this was actually made by one of my co-workers
and his wife.  They are quite talented bakers!)

Strawberry marshmallows - my first try at fresh fruit

A creative Valentine

Homemade fortune cookies!

More fun when you can put your own messages inside

Cookie decorating with sugar-crazy kids

They love that icing!

Nothing warms you up an a cold day like...

a huge pot of chili!

Enough for the whole admin building!

With two co-workers from New Orleans,
we definitely celebrate Mardi Gras with a
King Cake.  Who got the baby?

Random holiday gifts to let my School Assessment Coordinators
know how much we appreciate their hard work.

White Chocolate Cheesecake Day!

Sharing a new cereal to celebrate.
I would highly recommend this as a dessert cereal!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Marshmallows for PB&J Day
My first double layer marshmallows

I gladly welcomed guests to my home.  Nothing will cheer you up like time with good friends.

There are still days when it snows so much that you have no choice but to stay inside where it's nice and cozy and warm.  

 Those are the days that it's good to have a craft project.  This one was inspired by an idea my mom had seen.

I've always wanted to play with chalkboard paint

I picked a fun color and my mom suggested
the antiquing paint to give it a little more character

In progress

A little added touch

Voila!  A cute little chalkboard made from an old cabinet door.

Even when it snows some more...

I decided to not let it stop me from enjoying one of my favorite treats...

froyo!
It's still delicious even when it's below 0 outside

It continued to snow all the way into May.  I was definitely ready to see the end of that and feel the warmth of the summer sun.  But overall, I felt like I handled the extended winter pretty well this year.  It helps when you get better coats and better shoes and learn how to layer properly.  It makes winter more than purely survival when you choose to still have fun and embrace whatever comes!