It’s already time for our February newsletter! Since I last wrote, we’ve made a trip to Nicaragua to renew our passports and we have had a wonderful team from Virginia, who signed up to come again in August. We are now planning for our Mechanic Falls team to come down next week.
This month, we thought that it would be good for you to hear from Marsha, our friend and great helper, who has been here for about 8 months. Here's a photo of her at the youth camp where she went as a leader. Also a "clean" photo of her at the end! We have thoroughly enjoyed having her and are not looking forward to saying good-bye in April. So, here is her letter!
“Let us be Your hands, let us be Your feet”, these simple lyrics from a popular Vineyard song ring so true of what we, here at Harvest Hands, are working at to bring a community closer to the heart of God and to be a help to those who are in need.
I have been here at the Harvest Hands house in Los Anonos for the past eight months, celebrating salvations, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the New Year and how each day is a new day with our Savior. These past months have truly been and continue to be an experience that goes way beyond the walls of a classroom.. It it’s not without its hard times, but we wouldn’t be living if we didn’t walk though those hard times and come out on the other end stronger.
Over the past months we have had a great opportunity to work at the local kindergarten, which is such a huge blessing. When the school is in session, I go twice a week to teach English to 40 children, ages four to six. I’ve had great success in teaching vocabulary with gestures. They love learning new words through song. Their absolute favorite is, “Head, shoulders, knees and toes… knees and toes”. They thoroughly enjoy these classes, as do I. If they continue with their learning of English it will be a great asset for their future. Also at the school we have been doing work projects to help with the disrepair, which is endless. All this has helped to build relationship with the school staff, the children, and the community.
In Los Anonos there are so many precious children that catch your attention and get rooted into your heart. It’s so easy to give your love and attention to the children with the beautiful faces and sweet disposition. Those are the ones that become our favorites and dominate our camera film or digital files. God has been teaching me to really open my eyes wider and know with my whole being that ALL children are precious and worthy of our attention, because they all need it and they all crave it.
One of these children that has captured my attention is Maria Fernanda. Her photo is included in this letter. Maria is ten years old. She was born with a mental disability that affects her learning, her speech, and her social interactions. She has problems with personal and physical boundaries and she becomes a fighter when provoked by the taunts of her peers. Her home life leaves a lot to be desired. She lives with her mother, grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins and her younger brother Daniel in a house that is severely run down and dirty. Her family doesn’t know how to manage her when she gets in fits of anger, misbehavior and frustration. Instead of loving discipline to correct her misbehavior they yell and hit her. But I have seen her family love her and protect her from the taunts and teasing and that brings me joy.
When I see Maria I see a bright young girl with a fire in her heart and a girl with a loving spirit. I see the way she treats her dolls; she gives them tender care. She is also very quick to run up to me when I’m walking and plant a huge kiss on my cheek and hug me tightly. She can be very difficult to work with, but with patience I’m learning it all comes out right. The other day on Wednesday evening when we have our weekly program with La Vina, Maria was in my group. The topic was Esther and how a young girl can make a difference because she has the strength of the Lord on her side. Maria was very attentive and it’s my prayer for her that she will become that difference and that little acts of loving-kindness would reach into her soul and transform this special little girl.
Thank you for your support and prayers, we feel them all the time, and thank you for helping to make a difference here in Los Anonons, Costa Rica.
Marsha Ames
