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CR Update

Queridos Amigos, Beloved Friends,

Thanks to all of you who continually read my blog and stay updated on what is going on here with the school and in Quepos. This last week, I got to share my life with Julie Van Loo, a great friend from high school who came down to visit. Because of the rains, the trip didn't turn out as planned, but we had the chance to spend some time together and see God work in different ways!

Storm and Flooding Update

Thank you again to all of you who kept us in your prayers last week. Tropical Storm Tomas left quite a mark on Costa Rica- many

lives and homes were lost in the flooding and landslides. We were able to give five bags of clothing that that ZCS Rainforest group had donated on their last trip to families in Parrita (a town about 30 min from Quepos) who had lost their homes and everything in them when the river swelled.

While the rain has stopped, there is still a lot of damage to both personal and public property. The Manuel Antonio road, which sunk in over a meter, making travel up and down the mountain limited to an old one lane dirt road.

Glimpses of Grace

The majority of our students come from unchurched homes. I love sitting in on Bible class because most of the students are hearing these Bible stories for the first time. When they heard about the snake in the garden, tempting Eve, they were irate! And wanted to kill that snake!

Last week, we were discouraged because two students dropped out for reasons unrelated to the school. As a class, we prayed that God would bring more students. Shortly after, twins joined our preschool. On their first day, I asked the kids if they had realized that God had answered their prayers. Our 5th grader shouted from the back of the classroom, "God did a miracle!!" And the students sat with smiles on their faces. We took the time to thank God for what he had done, and one by one the students again prayed that God would bring more classmates to the school.

Fifteen minutes later, during a grammar lesson, a woman came to the door. She said that she was interested in putting her fifth grader in the school. The classroom erupted, in front of the guest, with shouts of joy. I will never forget this moment- because their faces radiated -in awe of a their God who hears and answers.

Continued Prayer Requests

While we see God working in the classroom, our main concern and prayer request continues to be that the legal process of accreditation would be completed quickly. The most immediate and specific need is a suitable building/property that will meet all the requirements of the ministry of education.

A second request continues to be funding for the school. As it is rainy season, many families struggle to pay even partial tuition. We are talking about starting a program of micro-loans for families, especially mothers, to have an additional source of income.

A Personal Note

Admist rain storms, classroom details and piles of legal paperwork, God has brought this verse to mind over and over again.

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." Acts 17

He has taught me that my role, first and foremost, is not to be a school director... that he has me here, in Quepos, so that I would seek his face. He needs nothing from me- but invites me into what he is already doing.

Whether plans change, whether there are challenges or glimpses of his grace, he asks me to recognize who he is and who I am in him.

As always, I have a hard time keeping updates short :) Thanks for reading this far, and continue to check out my personal and school blog to see more pictures and updates on life in Quepos.

Dios les bendiga! God Bless!
Un abrazo fuerte! A big hug!

Anna

aslenk.blogspot.com

elpuentecr.blogspot.com

Julie Visits!

Last week, Julie came down to visit. She came down just in time... for the Tropical storm. We were house bound for five days straight! Not the vacation that was planned, but we had a lot of time to catch up and laminate school supplies!

SUN!!!! The sun came out on Sunday and we took advantage of it... we also fried...

Our bus ride to San Jose was about 6 hours long... compared to the normal 3 1/2... They closed the bridge in Parrita for over an hour and a half. Look how excited Julie was to wait! :) Its okay... on this stop she learned that ticos point to things using their lips.


We saw some of the damage and flooding on the bus ride up to San Jose... This was three days after the rain had stopped- the streets were lined with furniture and clothing that was outside to dry out.

The old one-lane train bridge (some of you have experienced) that collapsed

Baby Judah hanging out with his tias! Love him!

Tropical Storm Tomas takes out Roads...

Friends and Family,

For those of you who follow world news or have seen my status updates on Facebook, you know that Costa Rica has been experiencing extensive rainfall due to the tropical storm that was projected to hit Haiti.... and we woke up this morning to more rain. For the last three days, the rain has been nonstop, causing rivers to overflow, landslides that have taken lives, and road closings making aide and relief more difficult. Many families have had to evacuate their homes, and many homes have been lost.

The Quepos center/downtown area and the neighborhood in which I live has not flooded so far. We are thankful that we still have water and electricity, and that the school is above water. Rains are supposed to stop later today.

We have had to cancel school the last three days as the country is in Red Aleart, and as many of our students homes and the homes of their relatives have been affected by the rain. Next door neighborhoods have experienced up to a meter of water in homes, and travel throughout the country is limited.

Please join me in praying-

That the rain would stop, giving us a chance to start cleaning up.

That roads would open where needed, getting aide and resources where they are needed.

That immediate and specific needs would be made known so that members of our community and church who have not been affected can know where to help.

Thanking you for your thoughts and prayers and sending love from Quepos,

Anna

This is an article from day 1 of the rain- taking out the Manuel Antonio road...
http://www.ticotimes.net/News/Daily-News/Rains-Force-Evacuations-Close-Roads_Wednesday-November-03-2010

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11699598

For those of you who speak spanish, more information can be found at www.nacion.com , the main Costa Rican news paper.

20.000 colones bills

I went to the ATM this week, and out came these new bills! Up until now, the largest bill that Costa Rica had was one of 10.000 colones (about $20)... now we have 20.000 colones (about $40)... dont you wish US $ were as colorful??

Happy Halloween!

To celebrate Halloween, a group of us got together :) Thanks to Donna and Sandy and Mango Moon for hosting!

The girls!

Sheriff and Miss Piggy... I speant waaaaaay too much time making those pig ears...

"Sole"-mates!

Sept. 15th... Independence Day in Costa Rica!

Feliz dia de la independencia!

Today we are celebrating the Costa Rican Independence Day!

As part of the festivities, the kids at school made "faroles" for the 14th of September. Faroles, homemade lanterns that carry a candle, are a typical part of the Costa Rican celebration. In 1821, Delores Bedoya ran through the streets of what is now Guatamala City (the political capital of Guatamala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica at the time), carrying a farol and calling citizens to gather in the center of town, where a council was meeting. On the 15th, Independence was declared. In rememberence of this event in history, Costa Rican children make faroles and gather in center of town, letting the spirit of independence shine bright!

Dia del Nino (Kid's Day!)

On September 9th we celebrated "Dia del Nino"- a holiday that celebrates kids! We celebrated at El Puente with cupcakes, ice cream, traditional field games, and a pinata! Everyone had a blast!

Keilyn taking her best shot at the pinata (I love this picture! look how excited everyone is!)

Vielka and Valerie getting ready for the egg race



Somehow the "Big Kids" ended up as the bottom of the wheel-barrel... not every day you see a 4 year old taking the drivers seat with no doubt she can handle it :)

Wedding Bliss!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Randy and Sarah DeVries!

September 4, 2010

Jewelry Party!

Thank you to everyone who came to the jewelry party! It was a huge success! Thanks for buying jewelry, donating school supplies, and spending some time with us!

Shout out to Sarah Hamm who helped me make all the jewery, to my mother who spent hours making food, to my Grandma Hulst who made 400 jewelry tags, and to Stacey Vanden Bosch who hosted the party at her lovely home!

Through someone else's eyes

Life in Quepos, through the eyes of Sarah Hamm... I love seeing the pictures that people who come to visit me take... enjoy these as much as I have.

Sarah, I love you and seeing Quepos through your eyes! Thanks for an amazing month, roommate! I miss you, laughing together, beading together, praying and studying together, and making home-made wristguards... good.times.

National Park Adventure and Henderson the Sloth

Sarah and I went to the national park! And it was an epic trip :) we found new trails and made some of our own! check out some of the beautiful sights...

White-faced monkey and baby

Viper. One of three snakes I have seen in three years... and this one is a dangerous one!



This places me in awe of our creator...

This makes me think God has a great sense of amusement and humor in his created things

Wow. Thats a big leaf...

And last but not least... we got to see a three toed sloth, eye level. Sarah named him Henderson. Check out the video...

First Week of School

Back to school!

While I am feeling the affects of getting back on a schedule and being surrounded by children all day long, I am thankful for a new school year, new students, and a relatively smooth start! We are still looking for a preschool teacher, but have a few prospects and are trusting that God will put the right person in place... until then, I've put on my preschool-teacher hat!

It wouldn't have felt like a normal week without Kai's show-and-tell. Last year he brought his pet dog, baby crabs, various insects, and a chicken (he even took the liberty to throw the chicken off the stairwell, to show the others how it could fly).

This week, Kai brought in a baby turtle. He said his name was "escalera", which means "stair"... when I looked at him quizzically, he proceeded to explain to me what a stair was ("You know teacher, those things you climb up to get to the classroom"), not thinking that I would question why a turtle would take on such a name.

This prompted a discussion about the future careers of our students. Aleasha thinks Kai will be a veterinarian. Maybe a zoologist. We laughed, because Keilyn, (age 4) spends most of the recess time looking down the drains, gathering objects off the playground and dropping them in to see how they fall and land. Maybe this is the start of her physics career.

While it was in good fun, it brought us back to our childhood, and the common question we heard-

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

The average child is Quepos is not asked this question. Perhaps because most do not have the means or are not given an education that allows them to pursue such aspirations.

We've connected with a college teacher who wants to Skype in and have her class give a presentation and have a dialogue with our students. We asked if they would talk about college, what they are studying and why. We hope to that our students will understand that college could be part of thier future.

As we start this school year, I am reminded of the importance of dreaming big dreams. Not just because.

But because we have a God who wants us to embrace who he is.

Because to dream big, we need to let God be as big as he really is.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

At El Puente, it is our prayer that we will be able to love and equip our students in such a way that a door is thrown open before them. May they dream big dreams and believe in a God who can do immeasurable more than they ask or imagine! May they live lives in the power that comes from Jesus Christ and may God be given glory through each one of them, influencing the Quepos community for generations to come!

I love asking the question: What if my dreams were bigger? Where would I begin to see God work? It is a challenge, not only as I look at the school, but as I look at my personal life as well.

Thank you for your continual support, encouragement, and prayers!

Dios te Bendiga! Y espero que nos veamos pronto!

God bless, and I hope to see you soon!

Love, Anna

Jewelry!

To raise money for the school, we are selling handmade jewelry made from Tagua. Tagua is a unique and beautiful seed that is known as the "vegetable ivory". It is dyed various colors and is cut to different sizes and in different shapes.

We will be holding a jewery open house on Sept. 2nd, in Holland. All are welcome! If you would like more information, let me know or check out the event page on my facebook!

All proceeds go to support the school (and kids like Michele who would otherwise be unable to afford a private education!).

Sometimes I forget...

It is easy to forget that I live in a very beautiful place...

Reminded once again of Romans 1:20


For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Click on the pictures to enlarge

Open your heart

Haver

This is one of my favorite quiet places.

It is a small park just past the pier in Quepos. Past the busy construction of the marina, tucked into a quite cove off the Pacific Ocean. The gaudy hotels are hidden by the peninsula that protects it.

Fishermen climb the costal rocks, spearing crabs to use as bait.

The tide fills pools between the rocks along the shore.

And I love resting my feet upon the painted red fence.

Sarah and I have started a routine. A routine rooted in the Jewish tradition- of spending time in the word together, discussing it, letting it disect us. It is the practice of haverim. Friends and comerades.

And I couldn't think of a better place to sit. To be in the word. To speak and share its truth.

Pez Vela Marina

A quick look at the Pez Vela Marina in Quepos- they continue to work on it and boats are starting to dock. It will be interesting to see how the new port will affect the economy, demographics, and tourist industry in Quepos...

Click on the picture to see it larger and clearer..