It is the end of October and we have all returned and settled back into the Harvest Hands house here in Los Anonos, Costa Rica. It is a comfortable and welcoming haven. And it's definately time to update our blog!
Our stay in Maine was a busy, but awesome time. We spent our time with family and friends. Our ten year church celebration was a wonderful church family party, which brought back many memories of our church plant and how our church family grew to the blessed body that it is today.
Here in Los Anonos, it has been good working with La Viña, Escazu, helping with their Wednesday afternoon program. With the help of some donations from generous people, we were able to install lighting for the gym, which is where we meet with about 100 children, 20 young adults and 20 mothers.. Having lights there has been great for the whole community. It will help with the work that we would like to do in the future. The lights have made the gym a safer place to gather, as well. God is on the move and we are looking forward to what He is going to do!
October has been an extremely rainy month here. It seems that just about everything is moldy (not quite) and the trees and flowers are flourishing. Because of the amount of rain that has fallen this month, many homes are in danger of mudslides, which is true here in Los Anonos. There is a place across the river that we can see from our house, where there was once a home, which is no longer there because of the rain. Los Anonos has faired well compared to other parts of the country. There are many people who are homeless (over 3,000), or they have homes that they can’t get to, because of water.
One of the things that has been difficult and frustrating is seeing the young people who are addicted to crack, alcohol or other drugs. Sometimes when they go into rehab, they last only two or three days. They then return to Los Anonos, to their old habitat and habits. We know that God doesn’t give up and we thank Him for that!
One of the young men, about 20 years old, that Rodney brought into rehab recently is an orphan. He uses paint thinner to get high. It is so hard to see the young who have no hope and to know that there really is hope for them in Jesus, but they haven’t seen yet. Please pray that God would pour out his love and mercy on Los Anonos.
1 comment:
Los Anonos is a wonderful place to do a mission trip, as the need for Christ love to be poured into a comunity. Children as well as adults searching for what God has so graciously given us. Reach out as a church and send a team and God will richly bless you as well as the people in Los Anonos. I've been on trips to Costa Rica a few times and always come away probably blessed as much as those we have served. God Bless those that are staying there.
Carlos
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