Greetings from Los Anonos, Costa Rica

I've spent some time today, setting up this blog (glob or blob, as I've heard it called by some.) I've done a little research and I see that some blogs are very fancy, some are very heady, some are short and to the point and some are very artsy. I hope that I can make this blog simple and to the point and a blessing to all who read it.
We have just finished with our fifth team this year. The Vermont team was a group of 20 and we were so very blessed having them. I'll be writing a newsletter, which I will post here as well, with some of the God stories. God's mercy continues to fall on Los Anonos.
It is important for all to know that Harvest Hands is supported by The Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Mechanic Falls, Maine.
At the present time, every Wednesday, from 5-6pm, we have been working with the local Vineyard Church here, of Escazu, ministering to around 120 people. Eighty-five are children. It is such a blessing to watch this grow. It really has the makings to be a church.

Newsletter, July 2007

July 2007
Greetings! Enjoy these updates from two of the teams that visited Costa Rica and worked with Rodney and Cindy at Harvest Hands during the month of July.
John Manning from the Seacoast New Hampshire Vineyard writes,“ The Seacoast Vineyard team was able to help completely repaint one of the Funda Vida kitchens. This was a blessing to the team to see the results and expressions of the local people as they expressed their gratitude for the hard work. Our team also had the privilege of working with the LaFrance’s as they establish themselves in Los Anonos. Our team was able to repair the roof that was leaking and begin repainting the front of the school. In addition we were able to participate in Harvest Hands ongoing outreach to the community by attending a local church service, participating in prayer walks and helping host an outreach to the community children.
Several members of our team reported this trip as a life changing experience. Many seem to be moved by the contrast of our materialism as Americans and the contentment of the Costa Rican people in the little that they have. Some reported a deepening of compassion for the poor. One gentleman received a deep healing after suffering from the pains of divorce. 
Chris Traut of the Vineyard Church of Columbus reports, “ I don’t consider myself the most prophetic person in the world, but when we first arrived at the Harvest Hands house Rodney and I went onto the deck which overlooks Los Anonos. In the village I saw a cross and sensed something like an invisible bomb radiating out from that cross into the entire village and echoing again and again. The power and reality of our message hit me in a way I had never experienced before. Here in the midst of all the pain, poverty and hopelessness, the resurrection life of Jesus was doing a new thing.
Another day we went to the soccer court. There we met a young boy, maybe about one and a half years old. This boy was very dirty, his clothes needed washing, he had stains on his face, big brown eyes, olive colored skin, and the gentle frame of a toddler. He had obvious boogers crusted around his nostrils. I looked at this little boy and marveled at how absolutely beautiful he was. 
I looked at what was crusted around his nose and I knew all that it meant about this little boy and so many like him there. Images came to my mind of my wife and kids back home, how tenderly my wife cares for our boys, hugging them and kissing them, wiping their hands when they’re done eating and wiping their noses when they are runny, reading them books, teaching them how to pray, and just playing with them all day long. Everything about this little boy told me before I knew anything about him, that he didn’t have people around him to do that. I asked him to look at me and took a corner of his shirt, Momentito (one moment), I wiped his nose, it was more difficult than I thought, they had been there quite a while. 
For the next hour I marveled at our team and the kids there, did we know what we were doing? Our simple presence there with them, painting their faces, giving them piggy back rides, holding them, it all told them you are valuable, you are worth someone’s time and attention, you are fun, you are beautiful. Before we left we gathered all the children, probably 30 or so, in a circle and held them, prayed over them, spoke words of life over them. Rodney took some time and shared some prophetic words for several of the children and as he did, to me, it was as if love and joy and gratitude for the children’s lives was radiating from his face and eyes (I don’t know if I’ve ever known anyone who could communicate more love from their expression than Rodney).
This is truly the heart of God manifested in the flesh for the people of Costa Rica. Thank you for your prayers and your support. 
Debbie Martel for the Harvest Hands Team

Newsletter, June 2007

Harvest Hands Newsletter - June 26, 2007

Dear Harvest Hands Friends and Family,

Dick shared our monthly Harvest Hands newsletter with you last month. And now, I have a few updates for you. I’ve written this three times and it keeps getting longer!
First of all, the “thank yous”. I (Cindy) want to thank all of my family and friends for supporting me during this time of my dad’s death, or I should say, my dad’s beginning a new life in Heaven! To all of you who visited Fred and Dot during my time here in Costa Rica, thank you! To all of you who spent time in the hospital with us, thank you! To all of you who helped out with the memorial service, the prep time and the wonderful buffet afterwards, and to all of you who came, thank you! And to all of you who have visited my mom and who will visit my mom in Ledgeview Living Center, thank you! The body of Christ is truly a body and I could not have gotten through this time without my body parts! Thank you for your prayers. God is faithful to pour out His grace.
It is now summer in Maine. Here in Costa Rica we are coming into “winter” or the rainy season. It’s just about always sunny in the mornings, and it’s almost always guaranteed that we’ll have rain in the afternoons. As I sit here, the beautiful mountains are slowly being covered by clouds. We’ll start to hear a little rumbling, our “chicken-dog”, Biscuit, will come into the house to shiver and hide and then the rain will begin! It’s so very refreshing, even when it is raining so hard that it’s like a liquid blizzard! The rain falls like God’s grace.
It is not unusual to have people stop at our door asking for food. Some, such as a lady who visited last week are in truly desperate need. She, her husband and two daughters moved from Nicaragua three months ago. Her husband had been looking for work and will be starting tomorrow. They have been three months without an income. She asked if we had any beans that we could give her. Fortunately, we did, but no rice. But we were able to give her some other food, as well. We would like to have a little extra on hand for times like these.
The ministry in Anonos is going well. Last week we had our first meeting in our new location. It is an open air gym next to the river. We had two different teams who came to clean and prepare it for our first night’s fiesta. We had about 85 children, 28 teenagers and about 15 adults. We played games, served hot dogs and a blessed time was had by all. Children and mothers alike were ministered to.
As time passes on there is more and more favor with the people and with the local government.
On Father’s Day, Rodney and our friend Luis had an opportunity to share Dick’s Father Day message in one of the small homes, here in Anonos. A drug addict and his father and mother-in-law came to know the Father in a whole new way. They received Jesus as their Savior! Javier, the addict, who is 23 went to rehab the next day and is doing very well. Our hopes are to start a Bible study in this home. This was a great Father's Day gift for us all, especially for our Heavenly Father! Isn’t is amazing to think that we can be a gift to God!

While our son Josh and Jim Gaunder were here with us, we had an opportunity to minister to a 17 year old crack addict. When we entered the little tin house, there was a man who saw us, the three Gringos and a Tico going in. Our friend Luis stayed outside. The man must have asked Luis what we were doing. After we shared the Lord with the 17 year old crack addict, Jim and Luis had an opportunity to lead this other man to the Lord.

There is not a time that when we visit the community of Anonos that there is not an encounter. Whenever we visit Anonos something powerful happens.

We are close to wrapping up a week with our first big team. There are 11- 9 teens and two leaders. Oh, they have been a blessing! These kids are workers, who love the Lord deeply. Their devotional life may put many of us to shame! As of tomorrow, some of them will have spent three full days digging dirt out of the basement of a church here in Anonos. This is such a witness to the community. And they want to finish what they’ve started. The pastor of this particular church plans on making the space into a bathroom and shower for the addicts and the homeless in Anonos. Keep the Columbus Vineyard youth group in your prayers. May God bless them richly for their hearts!

We also know that prayers are being answered. The people of Anonos, at least most that we meet are hungry, thirsty and expectant. I think of Isaiah 55, where the Lord gives an invitation for those who have no money to come and buy. Strange, how He says to come and buy, without money and without cost. It sounds like an oxymoron. What do they use? How do you buy wine and milk without money?

The local government is considering the relocation of many of the homes in Anonos. Many of these homes sit on the steep riverbank and in danger of sliding into the river, if there was a mudslide. Also, there are all bunched together and if there were a fire, they would all burn. It would create great damage and probably injure many. Many of the people here are from Nicaragua and don’t have papers. The one without papers will be the first to go.

The photos that I’ve sent were taken at one of our outreaches in the gymnasium.


Thank you all, once again for your prayers and your financial support. If anyone would like to support us financially, checks may be mailed to:
“Harvest Hands”
c/o Vineyard Christian Fellowship
P.O. Box 55
Mechanic Falls, Maine 04256

Love,
Rodney and Cindy

Newsletter, March 2007

March 4, 2007

Dear Friends of Harvest Hands,

It has been two months since we’ve sent an update and there is so much to write to you about. Our last letter covered our time here, up through Christmas, 2006. And now, here we are 2 months into 2007!!

The Harvest Hands house is quickly becoming a comfortable home and we are settling in. We now have an almost sufficient amount of furniture. The bunk-beds are finished and we had a Costa Rican friend build us a lovely, simple kitchen table and chairs. We only need some small tables and clocks in the bedrooms, more sheets and a clip on lamp for each bed.

Six of these bunk beds were occupied for two weeks in February by our team from the Mechanic Falls Vineyard, our first official team in the house. It’s amazing how much six people can accomplish! The “comedor” or soup kitchen in Concepcion de Alajuelita got a nice, bright, fresh coat of paint. During that time the kitchen ladies had help and the water tower was repaired, as well. Also, a new shower and a set of outdoor steps were installed here at the Harvest Hands House. The yard was raked and groomed. Visitations were made into Anonos and a children’s craft and teaching were done at the weekly meeting. It’s wonderful to see the interaction between team members and the local people.

As relationships are made, there is a growing trust between those in the community and us. During one of our trips into the city, there was a young lady, named Anna, who we have all gotten to know, on the same bus. And when Terri, one of the team members, twisted here ankle, Anna accompanied us to the hospital and spent six hours with us. Thank you, Lord, for providing help, because the hospital system here is so very different from the states.

Yesterday, Rodney worked with a group of high school students, who are here with Joshua Expeditions. We will work with them on Monday and Tuesday, as well, in two separate communities. We will be offering our time to other teams, when needed.

Our times visiting the community of Anonos, the barrio that lies on the hill below our house are becoming more frequent. Rodney often visits people with a man named Luis, who speaks English and is able to help with translating.

One of our more recent visits brought us to a home of a woman addicted to crack. She is a very pretty young woman, who has very sad eyes and I could say that she even has a sad smile. She is very thin and in need of clothing. Her home sits on the side of the river. It has simple, corrugated metal walls and roof and a dirt floor. On the inside is only wooden framing with no walls. Her floor slants towards the river. It is probably the worst and the dirtiest home that I’ve seen since coming here. Her name is Ruth, but we call her Mary Magdalene, because of her soft heart and her need for deliverance. She is in desperate need of Jesus. Her husband or companion is the brother of her previous husband, who was killed. This man’s face was very swollen from an infected tooth last week. Now that the infection is gone, we will be bringing him to the dentist this week to have it pulled. He, too, is a crack addict.

We also have been working with LaVina in Anonos on Wednesday nights. We use the space in a small Pentecostal church. There is a “program” for the children and another for the mothers. The numbers of children seem to grow every week. I believe the average is about 100 and the room where they meet is very small. Please pray that they would be able to find another building that will meet the needs of the group. Three rooms are needed: one for the smaller children, one for the older children and one for the mothers.

We are sad that our friend, Ellen Martel, will be leaving us next week. She has been going to language school, helping out at the FundaVida center in Concepcion de Alajuelita and with the weekly outreaches in Anonos. It’s been a blessing having her here. Our other long term person, Frank, from Ohio, will be leaving, as well. We look forward to having others who would like to learn Spanish, while helping minister in the poor neighborhoods.

Our language skills are improving, though not as fast as we would like. I (Cindy) have an opportunity to trade off hours of teaching English for hours of learning Spanish. It’s a good way to save money and help a Costa Rican to learn English.

Rodney, Ellen and I had to make a trip to Nicaragua last week. If you are not a resident and are living in Costa Rica, you must leave the country every 90 days for 72 hours. So, we took a three day trip to a lovely beach in the south of Nicaragua. It was a time of rest for us, because we haven’t stopped since coming in November. Nicaragua is lovely and the people are gentle and kind.

I want to leave you with a couple of quotes from “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. This is from his devotional for March 4th.

“It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common sense-basis. ......Practical work may be a competitor against abandonment to God, because practical work is based on this argument--Remember how useful you are here, or--Think how much value you would be in that particular type of work. That attitude does not put Jesus Christ as the Guide as to where we should go, but our judgment as to where we are of most use. Never consider whether you are of use; but ever consider that you are not your own but His.”

Chamber’s prayer for that day, March 4:
“O Lord, by your grace open my vision to You and Your infinite horizons, and take me into Your counsels regarding Your work in this place.”

Blessings to All,
Rodney and Cindy

Newsletter, December 2006

Hello Loved Ones,

December is almost over and we have been here in Costa Rica for a month! It’s been quite a whirlwind at that! I don’t even know where to begin, but to praise God for all that He is doing and all that He will do!

I’m sitting on the deck of the Harvest Hands house, looking out over Anonos. We have bouganvilla on the railings, but through that beautiful flower, I am able to look down at a home with different colors of sheet metal on the roof and a crooked, three tier stairway going up to the door. Someone was quite sick yesterday there, which we were able to clearly hear! We also hear, from our deck, music, children playing, dogs barking, roosters crowing, traffic and horns blowing. A big city bus is now driving by. There is also a hammer pounding and I can hear Rodney in the back yard sawing wood for our coffee table! At night we add to all of this “bombas”, firecrackers and kareoke. For two country bumkins, this is quite an adjustment! There is such life to all of it, however, and we like it! We are even able to sleep through all of the noise!

We were able to serve at a couple of the FundaVida Christmas parties; the children’s party and the teen party in Concepcion de Alajuelita and the mother’s party and the kids party in Anonos. Between FundaVida and LaVina, there were over 1,000 people served and it was such a blessing to participate in these events! We were blessed to have some of our Maine friends join us during these events. These friends also helped us to do work on the house. Thank you John and Shaun, John and Emily!

On Saturday the 24th we attended the annual Christmas dinner at LaVina, a casual “Noche de Paz”, like we have at our church. The on Christmas Eve we were blessed to go to our friend’s home for dinner. She asked me (Cindy) to cook a turkey, because she had no clue how to cook it. As a matter of fact, she sawed her 22 pound, frozen turkey in half with a bucksaw! We had a great time with her and her family.

On Christmas day, we cooked another turkey and shared it with Eladio, Blanca and family. They are the coordinators of the FundaVida soup kitchens and computer centers here in Costa Rica.

Blanca has been such a help to us since we moved in. She has been helping us with translating at the lawyers and helping us to get a cell phone. We need to go back in January for that. She and one of the soup kitchen ladies, Olga, also did a very long day of gardening around the house! She just loves to do that and it was a load off of us!

Many of you may be wondering how the house is coming along. When we moved in, we had no bed, stove, washer and all of the essentials, etc. The first couple of weeks here were for shopping. Thank God that this has slowed down! Trying to find the best “deals” here is always a project, because of the traffic, especially before Christmas! We still need a kitchen table, chairs, a desk and some end tables. Rodney is in the process of building bunk beds with William, our “Tico” (Costa Rican) helper. He asked for 1,200 colones per hour, which converted into dollars is $2.32! He’s been helping us paint and repair, as well, and will build our kitchen table and chairs. All of the rooms have been painted in great colors, except for one, which will be finished by the end of next week. Plus all of the bunk beds will be finished.

On one of our shopping trips for furniture, we went to a little shop that sells furniture from Guatemala. There was no one there to help us, so we looked around for a few minutes. We thought that the furniture (muebles) would be perfect for our little lobby. Finally a young boy came out. Kids are difficult to communicate with, because they don’t seem to realize that they need to talk slowly to “Gringos.” This child was dressed in a faded tee shirt with many holes. He was very dirty and had brown furniture stain on his hands. When he brought us out back to see more furniture, a man came out of the house. We asked him about the boy. He said that he was eleven years old and an orphan from Guatemala. He said that he actually is not an orphan, but his mother lives in Guatemala with four younger children. This child is here in Costa Rica working to support his mother and siblings! Both Rodney and I left feeling that we were looking at a “slave labor” type of situation. Please pray for this kid. He seemed so sad and the man did not treat him very well at all. There are so many children and adults in Costa Rica, who are here earning money to provide for their families back in Nicaragua. The barrios of the Nicaraguan people are the poorest in the country. There is also a very heavy prejudice against the Nicaraguans here.

I (Cindy) started Spanish school almost immediately after arriving. It was good to have a little break, even though I was only in school a couple of weeks. I start back on the 8th of January and Rodney will start on the 15th. Please pray that we will get this language down. It can be so very frustrating to not be able to communicate!

One more wonderful experience that we have every Saturday is going to the “Feria Agricultura”. It is the open-air vegetable market not far from our home. It is such a great place to purchase our produce. They take a long street and close it off to all traffic. The vendors line both sides of the street with their colorful produce, flowers, meats and fish. There are a few little food stands as well, where you can buy breakfast and “pupusas”, little bean, meat and/or cheese filled tortillas, cooked on a grill. There is a little lady, who must be about 80 cooking them. All of this is bordered by an awesome view of the mountains. It’s a pleasure to get up early and shop here. And when we spend $25 we get almost enough food for the week. There is even two Chinese vendors, who sell prepared egg-rolls and tofu for vegetarians! Yes, you can laugh!

We are excited about the future knowing that God is advancing His Kingdom and we are thankful for the church in Maine and for all of the support, prayerfully and financially.

As for prayer requests:

As I mentioned before, grace to learn the language
Time to finish the furniture before our first team comes in February.
We would like to see at least 10 teams coming for 2007.
Continued health - God has blessed us with good health since we’ve been here.
And that we would not lose vision of God’s purpose for us here. In all of the busyness, we haven’t had much opportunity to visit and get to know people in the neighborhood. That will come in time. I keep telling myself that getting the house ready for teams is all part of the vision.