Tico Tuesday, March 27th

So, it's not Tuesday anymore, but, happy greetings to you on this day! Yesterday I was unable to get Tico Tuesday out since I got home from camp in the evening, and after having dinner with some of the leaders, I desperately needed to shower and go to bed. The past 5 days at camp were amazing in so many ways. I learned and grew as a person, leader, and a cross-cultural missionary. I grew to love my 2 co-leaders and the 6 girls in our cabin and had some really wonderful experiences, along with some really tough, upsetting ones.

 Our detective/secret agent theme was hilarious, and we used codes for a number of things: X-70 referred to camp leaders, X-10 mission completed, X-14 give a hug away, X-13 volunteer to pray, etc. My girls loved making up new codes: X-19 was juice, X-100 please, X-G gracias, and X-101 you're welcome. We had so much fun! A few highlights include a number of our girls opening up while sharing as a cabin the second night, one of the girls in my cabin wanting to improve her handstand in the water after seeing mine, helping kids learn to float and swim, the rally (mud course with different activities along the way), watching my girls perform with younger girls and set a good example for them, having a couple boys run at me full speed to say good morning and hug me, watching the "outsider" of my cabin become more integrated, and more!
On the bus on the way home yesterday I sat with two boys. I asked them what their favorite part about camp was and they responded the Bible lessons and getting to share and bond with others. I had expected them to say the pool! Praise God for all the work he did at camp, and please continue to pray for the children to open their hearts to God, walk with him, and live in a way that is pleasing to him.
More stories in the upcoming Chronicle!
X-G for all your prayers and support!
Love,
Carrie

Tico Tuesday, March 19th

Happy Tuesday!
I knew it was coming, but it wasn't until after 6pm today when I remembered:today is my 4 year anniversary of serving here in Costa Rica! 4 years. That's how long high school and college each took! That's how long we lived in New Jersey, and longer than we lived in West Virginia and Massachusetts. Pretty crazy!

Now, there have been a number of HUGE changes over the past four years, but they have all worked out for the better and I'm continuing to learn more all the time. I cannot thank and praise God enough for his faithfulness and all that He has done in my life over these past 4 years. I pray he has used me to show him and his greatness and love to others and that he continues his work in and through me!
In other news... camp for the Bible Home starts on Friday! Please pray for all of us: leaders, staff, and all the kids. God has awesome things in store for us as we go on Mission X-AJ (the AJ is in English since it sounds cooler). We are going to be Agents of Jesus who go on special a special mission each day and learn to value, care, protect and serve. My co-leaders (not pictured) and I had one last meeting tonight to make sure we have everything ready. It's gonna be so great!
Thank you to all of YOU who have journeyed with me over the past four years and for those who have joined in at some point along the way. Your prayers, love and support help keep me going here!
With joy, love and gratitude,
Carrie

Tico Tuesday, March 12th

It's undecatuplets!! (11 babies born at once)
Ok, not exactly, but I have suddenly become a mother over this past week! Thankfully, it's only temporary and part time at that, but whew, being a single mom of 11 is plenty of work even if it is only 10-15 hours at a time! Unfortunately, one of the house moms from the Bible Home is temporarily out of commission since she was placed on bed rest (she has a toddler of her own and another baby on the way). So, for the past few nights, I've been staying with the kids at the Porvenir house. I covet your prayers as I try to maintain peace and order in the house and help and love on these children as much as possible. It's been a challenge for sure, but God has truly given me grace and brought the kids and me this far with only a couple serious concerns. This is also helping me be able to empathize better with the rest of the house moms, since I'm getting a fuller taste of what it is like to be in their shoes.
Most motherly moment so far? My little roommate calling out "Mami! Mami!" in the middle of the night to have me take her potty. It was all too tender and sweet until it took forever for me to fall back asleep. There's a dose of reality for me!
Please keep praying for the kids, the 3 of us who are covering, and the house mom! (She's due back on Sunday, but my last night covering is tonight.)
Thanks!
Carrie

Tico Tuesday, March 5th

What a great Tuesday it has been!
I was going to tell you about the great training retreat we had for camp leaders this weekend, but I just got some FANTASTIC news!

The final permit we need to start construction of the Los Guido Child Care Center has just come through!! The land has already been cleared and "coincidentally" I was there TODAY with my fellow Christian Education workers! We didn't know the good news yet at the time though. It was so exciting to be able to walk on this property for the first time. I'd been in front of it outside the gate, but it was such a joy to enter and pray on this property that has been given us. For those who may not remember, Roblealto was donated this property over 10 years ago and we have slowly been progressing, getting plans, permits and funds through tons of red tape. But PRAISE GOD the last permit has finally been granted and construction can begin!! This is huge! The need in Los Guido for a child care center is enormous, and the need for the light of the gospel in this dark and violent place is just as big. Please join me in praying for everything to keep marching forward, for God to provide the rest of the funds we need, and for this center to be a beacon of hope and love in the Los Guido community.
More pictures below!

With great joy, 

Carrie

 

This is the property! (My head is covering the part of the sign that says Roblealto)

This is land that belongs to a government housing project (they're the ones who donated us the land for the child care center). Looks like they'll be building soon too!

 Gorgeous view, isn't it?

This is the whole plot!

  This is Javier, the Christian Ed. Assistant at one of our child care centers. Today he told us he wants to be the director of the Los Guido Child Care Center. We're all for it --he would be great!

 Don Mario, our wonderful speaker, and the former Supervisor of Christian Ed. is now on Roblealto's Board of Directors. He drew a sketch of the center for us in the dirt and then was explaining more about it before we all shared verses and prayed for the new center.