Tico Tuesday, December 23rd

Another year has rounded up at the Bible Home and the Roblealto Child Care Association. 

Wednesday I went up to the HB to say good bye to the kids and witnessed some scenes I hadn't seen before. Most of the kids go home by bus and their families pick them up. However, some families have cars and come and pick their children up. I had said good-byes to children before, but I had never seen any kids say good bye to each other before. That was really heart-wrenching, especially for girls who were returning to their families permanently. They were both in “Exemplary Women” with me, so it was really hard for me to say good-bye to them too, but watching they say good-bye to each other was even harder. Thankfully there are opportunities to see them again in the future.

The final activities we had with personnel were fun. We played Bingo and I learned more about the game I ever knew was possible, and on the last day, each program's personnel put together a special presentation. At the Bible Home we kept ours very simple—learning a simple parody the day before. Other programs got a lot more elaborate. It was all really fun though.

Now I'm in the States enjoying quality time with my family and enjoying some much needed rest and vacation.

May God grant you rest and quality time with loved ones as well and may we all delight in the miracle of the incarnation of Jesus our Savior and Lord!

Carrie

Tico Tuesday, December 16th

It's that time of year when we just have one activity after another.

Thursday was our annual Christmas and Thanksgiving service and in the evening I went to the movies with my girls from "Exemplary Women."

Friday afternoon was the graduation for Kindergarten and 6th grade, Sunday we had a "Christmas afternoon" with special recognitions for children and families who will be leaving us and some gift giving and then a traditional tamal in the houses. Tonight at the Bible Home is the closing bonfire and fireworks, and tomorrow the children go home. It's quite a whirlwind and if I find it surreal, I can't imagine how the children must feel with so much activity.
Once more, there are a few particularly special children I will really miss. These three are of them. Two have been in girls group (someone took a picture when went to the movies but hasn't been able to pass it to me yet. I'll be sure to share it when I do!) with me, and the littler one has grown and matured so much this year: I am proud of all of these girls and all the other kids who will be leaving us for good tomorrow. God has done amazing work in their lives and I am so glad to be an instrument he used to carry out a little piece of it. Please pray for the children and their families as they go through this process of family reinsertion and reintegration. Be praying as well for the families who continue with us and the new ones who will join us in January. We got to meet several of them yesterday and look forward to what God has in store for them.
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support of my service to God here!
Love,
Carrie

Tico Tuesday, December 9th

It's that time of year...things are winding down and we are preparing a number of children to return to their families for good.

 Last week we had the annual activity in which we give them a taste of the PROAA, our adolescent followup program, and encourage them to get involved. As usual, there were games, fun, and lots of pool time included. One of my favorite parts was at the beginning though. A few kids from the Bible Home and I were exploring, and the recreational center we were at has a lake and turtles! Have you ever had the chance to look closely at a turtle and watch it slide its head in and out of its shell? It was fascinating! I loved it. The kids were pretty impressed too. I love stopping to admire God's creation, and pausing to see the work he has done in the children at the Bible Home this year. He has done some amazing work and we have many children who are not the same as they were before! A week from tomorrow they will be returning home for good, while the rest go to be with their families for a month. Please pray for the children as they prepare for this.
May they make right decisions and apply everything they have been learning at the Bible Home in their homes with their families.
And may we not forget to stop and wonder at God's creation and all he is doing in us and those around us!
Carrie

PS. Please keep my mom's side of the family in your prayers. My grandfather is not doing well. He will get to go be with Jesus soon, so we rejoice in that, but we lament that he will no longer be with us here.
PPS. So, my Chronicle didn't make it out last week. Sorry 'bout that. It will either come next week or December and November will have a combined Chronicle. :-) 

Tico Tuesday, December 2nd

Good grief, I could write you a Chronicle just with the events of this past week! Speaking of Chronicles though...one should be headed your way tomorrow or Thursday! 2 Thanksgiving celebrations, a fun recreational activity, decorating for Christmas, and more!!

I think this picture is the most fun to share...At the annual recreation activity for Bible Home staff and their families, we had the opportunity to have our pictures taken with our families (all in clown gear). So, instead of having my picture taken by myself, I grabbed sweet K, the girl who is in charge of laundry and cleaning the offices at the Bible Home. She is a dear girl right about my age--a single mom working hard to finish studies (she just graduated from college this weekend and has already started further studies!) and raise her 6ish year old son as best as she can. I gave them a Jesus Storybook Bible earlier this year and they are already reading it through for the second time! I love it when K comes to clean my office because we always have a good chat. Life has been hard for her, but she is growing in her relationship with God, and that is beautiful to see!
Anyway, the recreational activity was fun. I got to swim in a nice big pool and play a homemade version of scattergories and just hang out with my coworkers. We went to the place where the first water slides in Costa Rica are...but I was enjoying the big indoor pool so much, I forgot to go outside and use the slides! Oh well. Maybe I'll have the opportunity to go back someday...
May you have some spontaneous fun this week and make the most of every opportunity you are given!
Love,
Carrie