Left Behind - CR Service

    


2012 "serving" in Costa Rica

      Yesterday the trip man texted that the Brazil team did two school presentations, but he gave no specifics. Maybe they acted out skits similar to the one in the video above from our 2012 Costa Rica service trip (I love the giggles of the children).

    Today's text update is: "We will do ministry in an orphanage and then have a good meal and celebration event of their week. The students are in good spirits and did well all week... they still like each other."  

   Good news, and thanks for praying! EDA = Saturday.

Left Behind - CR & Lions & Tigers & Bears

      Yesterday's Brazil team update is: (In my husband's own texted words) they presented programs "in the pit of hell." Lions! and tigers! and bears! oh, my! I texted back for clarification and he replied, "The pit is reference to all of the sin and demonic activity where we were (drug deals occurring close-by in dilapidated neighborhoods). We did a prayer walk to bind the spirits and open hearts." That might sound a bit extreme, but heavy oppression can be felt in parts of many foreign countries.

      Last night the service team was able to have fun outside in the rain, and when I texted that Evangel had won their basketball tournament, they started singing in the rain.

     During 2012's Costa Rica service experience, one of the faculty sponsors aptly primed us for a long day of ministry. We packed into a Cincel University classroom with its students for a GRRReat start to the day. With prayer, we were triggered and dispersed.

    The short video above is Dr. Stringer's brief pep talk that I now similarly pray for myself as well as for each student on the Brazil service team: Help me to be a part of the answer to someone's prayer today.

Left Behind - CR Tortilla Shaping 101

     
      All is well in Brazil with my husband's 2013 service team. Last night one male student shared his testimony and became an overnight celebrity. All of the girls individually wanted their picture taken with him, so the team willingly stayed after service as well... ministry is their essence. Last night's departure was considerably delayed and their overnight sleep lessened... good thing they are all young and strong. Tonight, the team helps with a youth service. Wish my hubby was closer than a text away.

We applaud this student's skills. The secret ingredient is grated cheese

      Last year in Costa Rica the delicious chalupas at lunch were inhaled. After they quickly disappeared, a couple of us were still hungry. Missionary Mary led us to a hidden, secluded place... the school's kitchen! The cook stirred up a batch of dough, just for us, and taught us tortilla-shaping skills. 

My cooked tortilla tasted bueno

     The mouth-watering cuisine was fresh-off-the-griddle warm and scrumptious. Our embedded reporter fulfilled his service, catching every step of the process; I had to capture that cook's sweet-servant essence.

Left Behind - CR Awe

        
      The 2013 service team is keeping busy. My husband says they experienced good services yesterday, and the students LOVE Brazil and Brazilians. He is taking videos and enjoyed an interesting chat with 83-year-old missionary Doris Johnson. She has been in Brazil for 55 years. One student has been vomiting. Brazil's temperatures are quite hot. It's a good thing there is nothing that Gatorade and prayer can't remedy.

Hillside march at one of the schools to the b-ball court

      Returning to 2012's elevating Costa Rica service team memories, we experienced unexpected aerobic activity, many times "marching" up steep hills... even at the schools. 

     One particular march was through a primitive, impoverished hillside neighborhood. The school children to whom we ministered lived in that neighborhood. The old song says: "Walk a mile in my shoes" and Missionary Mary arranged for that. It was a steep descent, at least 75 steps (no exaggeration) down, down, down. We knew that what goes down must come back up, and I wasn't looking forward to it! After a brief intermission, we ascended, up, up, up, step-by-endless-step... unbelievably winded. Good thing Daniel and Tim had this old lady's back and I exercise regularly!

     I photographed only one of the primitive casas (or homes), trying to not be a Peeping Teresa. The crude structures were a "spit distance" or less from the steps. A casa (with its chickens) is pictured in the short video above.

     At the very bottom of the hill we discovered an unexpected surprise... rolling, lush, green hills, AND a brilliant orange, Flame of the Fire tree, ablaze with color and beauty. I was awestruck. The tree more than lived up to its name.

     “So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.” (Happy March 2nd birthday Dr. S)  ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

      Missionary Mary shared with us a story about when the current school principal first started her position. She sent a student home who had forgotten their notebook. Once she learned of a student's vigorous journey to and from school, she felt terrible... she now uses caution to ever request a student do that again.

Left Behind - CR Awwww

 

 

     

     My husband's Brazil service team updates include (from short texts and emails): The group is ministering in services, they have asked my husband to speak, and my husband might have witnessed some drug deals. Thank you for praying for special protection and anointing.

     Hopefully there is someone capturing their wonderful experiences, because they are lacking this memory-capturing videographer and photographer. That was my unofficial calling for 2012's Costa Rica trip; I wanted every precious moment, despite having one of the university's thorough, talented, and professional embedded reporters traveling with us (a treasured copy of his documentary is in our possession). This year, "castaway" Wilson will have to do, and lest I become a bit "Chatty Cathy" with others, earnest blogging of additional Costa Rica memories will hush "Cathy."

     The pictures in this post were taken after our Sunday morning church service. Faces, faces, faces are in today's blog. I love the sweet young faces and the sweet wrinkled faces.
     

     A short story from this day is: After service, our team is outdoors kicking a soccer ball with the children. I, of course, obsess on Flip videoing. Suddenly, to my right I hear a faint, "hola," and I magnetically pivot to find that sweet voice... It is an adorable 7-year-old, donning a crazy purple hat sculpted by fun missionary, balloon-guy Tim. I melt!!! and reply "Bonita" (telling her she is pretty) and then "Hola"... those are the only two words I can pull out of my Spanish memory bank. What a precious smile as I lower to her height to smile back and attempt to chat. 

     

     Here is a little background about the short "Awwww" video clips above: 1) Government-&-LACC-donation-funded Linda Vista private-school children thank our team for our 2-day, painstaking, sweat and tears painting of their large gym floor, an interesting green shade ... and if I had helped, there might have been a little blood added; 2) an energized LACC school assembly that reminds me of a flash mob dance or Gungnam-style dancing... maybe Psi copied them; 3) last but not least, there is the "Hola" clip.

Left Behind - CR Chicas

 

       The Brazil service team is settling in, eating rice, beans and fish for yesterday's lunch. Their accommodations are in a school dormitory, and yesterday they trained outdoors for serving (skits, etc). Rains came and moved them inside... then floors started flooding. Moving upstairs didn't help things...the rain pelts were too noisy from the roof overhead.

     Overseas experiences are many times uncomfortable, wet, dirty, and questionable. That is why this germaphobe insomniac is "left behind" this year. Amazingly, I received an A+ on last night's sleep report card. Maybe the meal and movie with my mother-in-law is what did the trick.

     Now, I return to memories of beautiful Costa Rica. I LOVED that country, and we had a sharp group of students. The people, scenery, and experiences still flood into my mind. Blogging about 2012's service trip continues to provide left-behind-therapy.

     Some situations, actually, were quite less than ideal, as you will see in the noisy video above (and notice the white plastic chairs--South American churches must own a market share). Our gifted and talented Evangel students were versatile troopers. And, how can I complain when serving others introduces me to a, thousands-of-miles-away, kindred-spirit namesake? (Notice a picture of the smiling Chica and me--she approached pointing to my name tag and then to hers).

     Muchos Gracias to bueno Missionary Mary Mahon for these treasured Costa Rica experiences, and for instilling confidence into CR middle-school-aged girls through Club Chicas De Promesa... Mary's email is mary.mahon@agmd.org and to donate to her AGWM account, mail to: 1445 Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65801 and indicate: # 220672  OR to the Chicas de Promesa account is: #14489 

      Adios, amigo!
     

Left Behind - CR Mellow Santos

 

        The Brazil team has arrived to their destination, Sao Paulo, but did they sleep well? Overseas flights and accommodations can be primitive. But, wait! That IS a part of the adventure. My husband is probably a little loopy with jet lag, but he is safe!

      This "widow" earned an A- on her sleep report card last night. The house echoes; there are no "thuds," "clunks," or other-person noises that go "bump" in the night; and, my being isn't... quite... right. I am free to buy almost anything! Surely this "left behind" one can see some special advantages? Hmmm...

School's Quad Baptismal Tank

     I now return to additional, therapeutic, 2012 Costa Rica service trip reflections. It is Day Two, and our team is touring a small Bible college. There are no out-of-the-ordinary sights... just classrooms and a small, insignificant "quad." We file into a crude but adequate instructional room to view the tail-end of a subject being taught in Spanish. The professor introduces our group as we are seated, and I think: Yawn, this is just a low-key, introductory day for our jet-lagged service team.

     A student cradles his guitar and strums a few chords. His mouth opens and his first vocals immediately catch my attention as mellow magic begins. He fills the room with a mesmerizing, hypnotic-like... lullaby that reverberates off the walls. My insightful husband captures this "missions moment" as spirits melt. Santos means holy, and we seize this special "ooomph" to activate our service adventure.