For the third time since moving in (and each time while the girls and I are at school), monkeys came into our backyard and provided some free entertainment for the guys. They enjoyed feeding them bananas and watching them jump around the trees.
10/30/12
October 30: Monkeying Around
George and Nathan had a backyard distraction this morning while doing home-school work (George does Bible, English, math and science with Nathan in the mornings and then Nathan attends El Puente after lunch for Spanish and Social Studies).
For the third time since moving in (and each time while the girls and I are at school), monkeys came into our backyard and provided some free entertainment for the guys. They enjoyed feeding them bananas and watching them jump around the trees.
For the third time since moving in (and each time while the girls and I are at school), monkeys came into our backyard and provided some free entertainment for the guys. They enjoyed feeding them bananas and watching them jump around the trees.
10/29/12
October 29: Pajama Day
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| El Puente students got to wear PJ's to school today and many students also brought along their favorite blanket, pillow and stuffed animal. They earned (and voted on) this special day by pooling together all their 'money' that they get from good behavior, completed homework assignments etc. |
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| In going along with the slumber party theme, the kids got to watch part of a movie during morning recess. 'Pippi Longstocking' was chosen since the students are reading the book in English class. |
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| Students enjoyed numerous bowls of popcorn and homemade arepas (a thick tortilla with cream cheese) while they watched. All the students enjoyed the special day and I'm sure it will serve as motivation to work hard to earn another special day in the future! |
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| Praisin' in our PJ's....on Mondays we always sing together for half an hour after morning recess. Today we sang, but just not as long since we let students have a longer than normal recess because of the movie. |
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| We sang and did the motions for a new song today..."I'm inright, outright, upright, downright, happy all the time" in both English and Spanish. It's exciting to see what a large base of songs (in both languages!) the kids have and their enthusiasm to praise God. The question El Puente likes to ask: What if the most well educated students in Quepos are the ones who grow up hearing about Christ and learning about His love? Praise God that El Puente Christian School is making an eternal difference in these students' lives! |
10/28/12
October 28: Lessons on flexibility
Lesson #1:
Tuesday's post talked about getting out of one's comfort zone. We experienced that this weekend. Our friend Laura from church asked if George and I would help her lead singing at the English service today. "Help" meaning sing behind microphones like members of a praise team. We both like singing but neither of us have any experience with leading people in worship. We agreed to sing with her, although somewhat reluctantly.
Friday night we spent a couple of hours at church practicing with Laura and a guitarist from church. He was not familiar with any of the four songs we had chosen and we didn't have music so he tried his best to listen and was pretty quick to catch on to a couple of the songs. So, we ended practice feeling OK but still somewhat nervous about not only singing in front of people but now having to sing a cappella for some of the songs.
We were asked if we could put the song lyrics on a Power Point presentation for the projector so I worked on that yesterday. When we got to church today, we found out that due to a technical difficulty the Power Point presentation with lyrics was not compatible with their projection system so we had no lyrics for people to see! After a few frantic minutes talking with Laura about what to do, we decided to just go ahead and sing the songs we had planned even though three of them were new and it would mean people would just have to listen to us sing.....we were planning on people singing WITH us not just listening to us! It was definitely outside my comfort zone but it actually went OK and I really appreciated the pastor's comments afterwards because he knew we were feeling out of our element: "If you want to put on a show you can go to Vegas. If you want to worship remember that God looks at the heart...it doesn't matter if you sing perfectly or not."
Lesson #2:
Our whole family was excited for a cooking lesson today! We have enjoyed some delicious empanadas at church from a family who has sold them after services trying to raise funds for a church retreat. Our friend Laura arranged a cooking lesson with the woman for after the service today. Last week Sunday we went over all the details and I had my list of ingredients to buy. Friday night we confirmed it all with the woman who was also at church when we were practicing. Yesterday, I bought all the ingredients.
Today, we arrive at church with all the stuff and the woman says she's too busy getting things ready for a special afternoon service at church so it wasn't going to work to stay and make empanadas together after the morning service. The planner in me wanted to ask, "didn't you know about your other commitment last Sunday (which I know she did)?"...or again on Friday night when we confirmed? Laura said she's had many similar experiences in her 10 years here....from our cultural viewpoint we'd rather just get told up front if there's a conflict and it's not going to work but maybe that seems too rude in others' eyes. We're learning the importance of flexibility!
It ended up being the sunniest day we've had in a week so since we had an unexpected free afternoon we spent a couple of fun hours at the beach - something we haven't done in a number of weeks so we still ended up having some fun family time after church (although a disappointing evening watching the Tigers).
Tuesday's post talked about getting out of one's comfort zone. We experienced that this weekend. Our friend Laura from church asked if George and I would help her lead singing at the English service today. "Help" meaning sing behind microphones like members of a praise team. We both like singing but neither of us have any experience with leading people in worship. We agreed to sing with her, although somewhat reluctantly.
Friday night we spent a couple of hours at church practicing with Laura and a guitarist from church. He was not familiar with any of the four songs we had chosen and we didn't have music so he tried his best to listen and was pretty quick to catch on to a couple of the songs. So, we ended practice feeling OK but still somewhat nervous about not only singing in front of people but now having to sing a cappella for some of the songs.
We were asked if we could put the song lyrics on a Power Point presentation for the projector so I worked on that yesterday. When we got to church today, we found out that due to a technical difficulty the Power Point presentation with lyrics was not compatible with their projection system so we had no lyrics for people to see! After a few frantic minutes talking with Laura about what to do, we decided to just go ahead and sing the songs we had planned even though three of them were new and it would mean people would just have to listen to us sing.....we were planning on people singing WITH us not just listening to us! It was definitely outside my comfort zone but it actually went OK and I really appreciated the pastor's comments afterwards because he knew we were feeling out of our element: "If you want to put on a show you can go to Vegas. If you want to worship remember that God looks at the heart...it doesn't matter if you sing perfectly or not."
Lesson #2:
Our whole family was excited for a cooking lesson today! We have enjoyed some delicious empanadas at church from a family who has sold them after services trying to raise funds for a church retreat. Our friend Laura arranged a cooking lesson with the woman for after the service today. Last week Sunday we went over all the details and I had my list of ingredients to buy. Friday night we confirmed it all with the woman who was also at church when we were practicing. Yesterday, I bought all the ingredients.
Today, we arrive at church with all the stuff and the woman says she's too busy getting things ready for a special afternoon service at church so it wasn't going to work to stay and make empanadas together after the morning service. The planner in me wanted to ask, "didn't you know about your other commitment last Sunday (which I know she did)?"...or again on Friday night when we confirmed? Laura said she's had many similar experiences in her 10 years here....from our cultural viewpoint we'd rather just get told up front if there's a conflict and it's not going to work but maybe that seems too rude in others' eyes. We're learning the importance of flexibility!
It ended up being the sunniest day we've had in a week so since we had an unexpected free afternoon we spent a couple of fun hours at the beach - something we haven't done in a number of weeks so we still ended up having some fun family time after church (although a disappointing evening watching the Tigers).
10/27/12
October 27: Quirky Quepos
Today's blog title was inspired by our weekly walk to the market today. Either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning we walk down to the ocean front for the weekly farmer's market where we buy our fruits and vegetables for the week. We also often buy some homemade mozzarella cheese that we use for quesadillas or tomato-basil sandwiches. Last week, we stopped for the first time at the stand that sells a number of American styled baked goods (breads, pies, cinnamon rolls). We passed on the baked goods but decided to give in to our craving for dill pickles since we hadn't had any since leaving Michigan. The week before that our extra stop was for a coconut (served with a straw and the kids drank the juice out). Today's extra stop was for a large glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.
On the way to the market I challenged Sophia to see how many things she could spot that she wouldn't see on a walk from our house to downtown Zeeland. Thus, the title of the blog post since most of these things are 'peculiar or unexpected traits' or 'different from the usual or normal'. What she noticed is definitely normal for Quepos, but definitely not usually seen in Zeeland.
I should have been taking notes on her list because by the time we had gotten home her list exceeded 20 things but I'll include about half of those here to give you an idea of what she observed:
"We don't see.... in Zeeland":
1. Tropical vines hanging over the sidewalk that hit you in the face if you don't watch where you're walking
2. shrubs and palm trees planted along the sidewalk and houses wall to wall to each other
3. mosaic tiled benches in the sidewalk
4. garbage holders in the sidewalk
5. security bars over everyone's windows
6. gates in front of houses (like ours below:)
7. bamboo stalks piled on the sidewalk
8. drunk people sleeping on the sidewalk
9. a pet shop on one side of the street and the jungle on the other side of the street.
10. a banana, papaya, orange or star fruit tree in the yards....earlier this week I almost got hit by a falling star fruit that fell inches from me while I was walking down the sidewalk. The guy riding by on bike chuckled as he saw my reaction to this unexpected event
11. vendors on bike selling fresh warm breads, shrimp and turtle eggs (which is supposedly illegal)
The last one comes from the market and it's what I find really interesting....
12. people buying just 1 stalk of celery or any amount they need - you don't have to buy the whole bunch! It's taken me 3 months to figure that out. It makes a lot of sense though because the celery stalks and leaves are about twice as long as back home and the whole bunch takes a LOT of space in the fridge
10/25/12
October 25: Student Spotlight: Santiago
Confession of the day...If I wasn't in love with George and I were 35 years younger this little guy would be my preschool crush. He's adorable, very smart, an eager learner and belts out praise songs to Jesus.
Here's an introduction to Santiago, one of the preschoolers at El Puente. I just started meeting with him twice a week so we can work on his emerging reading skills.
How old are you, Santiago? 5 years old
Who do you live with? My mom and my older sister Verónica (13)
What do you like to do in your free time? Be with my mom and play with friends
Why do you like to come to El Puente? I like to learn
What do you like to do at El Puente? I like to do centers. I especially like to color and paint.
What do you like about living in Costa Rica? I like the trees, the singing birds and the flowers
What do you want to be when you grow up? A firefighter
What do you know about Jesus? He's the King and He died for our sins
What's your favorite song to sing? I like all of them.
Here's an introduction to Santiago, one of the preschoolers at El Puente. I just started meeting with him twice a week so we can work on his emerging reading skills.
How old are you, Santiago? 5 years old
Who do you live with? My mom and my older sister Verónica (13)
What do you like to do in your free time? Be with my mom and play with friends
Why do you like to come to El Puente? I like to learn
What do you like to do at El Puente? I like to do centers. I especially like to color and paint.
What do you like about living in Costa Rica? I like the trees, the singing birds and the flowers
What do you want to be when you grow up? A firefighter
What do you know about Jesus? He's the King and He died for our sins
What's your favorite song to sing? I like all of them.
10/24/12
October 24: Hump Day Hallelujahs
As we celebrate another hump day, we pause to give thanks for...
1. A home that keeps us dry: October is supposedly the rainiest month of rainy season but we have not had any more problems with water in our house. It rains numerous hours a day right now and in the last 24 hours it has pretty much rained non-stop. It makes for some slower internet and loud conversations at times as we try to talk over the sound of rain hitting our tin roof, but the upside is that in the last couple of weeks we've enjoyed the coolest temperatures we've had since getting here in early July (still in shorts and t-shirts every day but not sweating all the time!)
2. Donations and pledges: we have 93% of our fundraising goal met with donations and pledges. Thank you for your generous support!!! If you'd like to help us reach our goal of $36,000 you can use the PayPal link (yellow Donate button) to the right of this post.
3. "School is going better": quoted by one of our kids today. We're thankful the last couple of weeks have gone really well. We know a lot of you have been praying for us in this area and we really appreciate it!
4. Building relationships in the community: We are really enjoying the opportunity to get to know the men at Casa de Amor rehab center. See post from October 21 for more info. This coming weekend we have plans with folks from church so we can hopefully share about that in a few days.
5. Sports on TV: Although it has taken a while to get adjusted to our small living space, our kids are thrilled to have more TV channel options here than they do back home. They're big fans of Animal Planet and we're also thankful to be able to watch the Tigers and Lions on TV...an educational experience of course with Spanish commentary :)
1. A home that keeps us dry: October is supposedly the rainiest month of rainy season but we have not had any more problems with water in our house. It rains numerous hours a day right now and in the last 24 hours it has pretty much rained non-stop. It makes for some slower internet and loud conversations at times as we try to talk over the sound of rain hitting our tin roof, but the upside is that in the last couple of weeks we've enjoyed the coolest temperatures we've had since getting here in early July (still in shorts and t-shirts every day but not sweating all the time!)
2. Donations and pledges: we have 93% of our fundraising goal met with donations and pledges. Thank you for your generous support!!! If you'd like to help us reach our goal of $36,000 you can use the PayPal link (yellow Donate button) to the right of this post.
3. "School is going better": quoted by one of our kids today. We're thankful the last couple of weeks have gone really well. We know a lot of you have been praying for us in this area and we really appreciate it!
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| Nathan, Emily and Angelina show off their art projects that they finished today - we've been working on projects that focus on the basic element of line. The next projects will focus on color. |
5. Sports on TV: Although it has taken a while to get adjusted to our small living space, our kids are thrilled to have more TV channel options here than they do back home. They're big fans of Animal Planet and we're also thankful to be able to watch the Tigers and Lions on TV...an educational experience of course with Spanish commentary :)
10/23/12
October 23: Amazing or Normal?
I have been reminded over and over again these last few months how incredibly important the community of believers is in building Christ's kingdom. We all have different roles that we play based on our gifts, abilities and passions. Yes, I am the person who Santiago literally sees sitting at his side at El Puente, helping him with his early literacy skills. But April wrote the unexpected Facebook message saying she prays for us and wonders if she can do more. Really? That's amazing! It's been years since I've seen April. I had no idea she reads our blog. I can't believe it, God. Thank you for this encouragement!
And then there's Andrea. Really? She reads the blog? That's amazing! And her timely words of encouragement? Incredible! And William? We graduated from high school together 22 year ago, haven't seen him since and he donates $500 towards our expenses this year? God, that's amazing!
Right? It is amazing, don't you think? Or, is it actually normal? Should I be shocked at the many ways - both big and small - that God has 'wowed' us so far? I think in our human minds, it appears amazing that God can work so many details out for His honor and glory. However, I wonder if He shakes His head at times at His children and says, "'Duh! This is what I do! This is NORMAL for me! Take a step out of your comfort zone and look what I can do! I won't leave you hanging. It might not be smooth sailing all the time but trust Me. Rest in My Presence."
I saw this graphic posted on Facebook this week and checked out the corresponding blog post. The secular world might call it 'magic'. That 'magic' for me would refer to the amazing (normal?) way God goes about using His children to work together to bring shalom and hope to a broken world. Getting out of our comfort zone might mean difficult times when we're stretched and pruned. It also includes times of joy, celebration and reassurance knowing that we're not in this alone. We have a God who invites us to be aware of His 'marvelous Companionship' (Sarah Young's Jesus Calling) and provides us a marvelous community of believers with whom to share and celebrate the 'magic'.
Thank you for being a part of our marvelous community. You are having an impact in Quepos.
And then there's Andrea. Really? She reads the blog? That's amazing! And her timely words of encouragement? Incredible! And William? We graduated from high school together 22 year ago, haven't seen him since and he donates $500 towards our expenses this year? God, that's amazing!
Right? It is amazing, don't you think? Or, is it actually normal? Should I be shocked at the many ways - both big and small - that God has 'wowed' us so far? I think in our human minds, it appears amazing that God can work so many details out for His honor and glory. However, I wonder if He shakes His head at times at His children and says, "'Duh! This is what I do! This is NORMAL for me! Take a step out of your comfort zone and look what I can do! I won't leave you hanging. It might not be smooth sailing all the time but trust Me. Rest in My Presence."
Thank you for being a part of our marvelous community. You are having an impact in Quepos.
10/21/12
October 21: Casa de Amor (House of Love)
Our Sunday morning was routine....crepes for breakfast which has been our tradition for years and then off to church. If we go by bus like we did today, we walk to the bus station at 9:30 for the 9:45 bus which drops us off about 3/4 of a mile from church and then we walk the rest of the way (except today another family from church saw us right after getting off the bus and they let us pile into their vehicle which was really nice). Like most weeks, the service lasted 2 hours and we returned home by bus around 1pm.
Today's highlight was returning for the third time to Casa de Amor, the Christian drug rehab center that our friends from church have invited us to get involved in. Our two families and another couple from church joined the 10 guys at Casa de Amor for a few hours of fun, worship and sharing a meal together.
Our time started this afternoon with us teaching the group how to play one of our family's favorite group games: Fishbowl. In case you're not familiar with it, you write down a bunch of words on little slips of paper and put them into a bowl for the three rounds of play. The first round you take turns for 30 seconds describing the words to your team and you see how many they can get in 30 seconds. The second round you use the same words in the bowl but you act out the words. The third round you again use the same words but you are only allowed to say one word that you associate with the word and that you think would make your team figure out what word is on the paper.
After a lively game of Fishbowl, we transitioned into a time of singing, worship and a devotional. Like last week, I helped out with the singing and George led the group in a devotional. He's leading us through the heroes of faith from Hebrews 11. A delicious meal was prepared by our friend Laura, the woman from our church and one of the guys from the home and then I made a dessert again for the 20 of us....it's a perfect excuse to get to make something yummy but not to have it tempting us around the house all week!
The three opportunities we've had to hang out at Casa de Amor has really been a huge blessing to us - we feel very much at home and the guys have made us feel like family. We are grateful for the fellowship and the relationships we are forming with the guys and hope to continue our visits there 2 Sundays each month.
The guys have some pretty dramatic life stories and committing to the nine month program at Casa de Amor is a huge decision on their part. We consider it a privilege to share in their experience at the home and pray that God would continue to use all of us to help each other grow in our faith walks.
Today's highlight was returning for the third time to Casa de Amor, the Christian drug rehab center that our friends from church have invited us to get involved in. Our two families and another couple from church joined the 10 guys at Casa de Amor for a few hours of fun, worship and sharing a meal together.
Our time started this afternoon with us teaching the group how to play one of our family's favorite group games: Fishbowl. In case you're not familiar with it, you write down a bunch of words on little slips of paper and put them into a bowl for the three rounds of play. The first round you take turns for 30 seconds describing the words to your team and you see how many they can get in 30 seconds. The second round you use the same words in the bowl but you act out the words. The third round you again use the same words but you are only allowed to say one word that you associate with the word and that you think would make your team figure out what word is on the paper.
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| Angelina guesses what her teammate is acting out |
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| After meal time, the kids got a free art lesson from Jonathan, an extremely talented self-taught artist. Angelina was particularly thrilled with the dog he drew for her. Jonathan even gave them an art assignment (something he drew and they need to try to copy it without tracing) - they're excited about this homework! |
The three opportunities we've had to hang out at Casa de Amor has really been a huge blessing to us - we feel very much at home and the guys have made us feel like family. We are grateful for the fellowship and the relationships we are forming with the guys and hope to continue our visits there 2 Sundays each month.
The guys have some pretty dramatic life stories and committing to the nine month program at Casa de Amor is a huge decision on their part. We consider it a privilege to share in their experience at the home and pray that God would continue to use all of us to help each other grow in our faith walks.
10/20/12
October 20: El Puente's History - Part 2
6. Why do you think it's important that there's a Christian School in Quepos?
El
Puente is the only Christian school in the region. With tourism comes
many "side effects" within a community. Quepos has high levels of drug
and alcohol abuse, sexual exploitation, and dishonest business. Our
desire is to teach our students Biblical values and show Christ's love,
hoping to equip students to be leaders in their community, showing that
same love to their families and neighbors.
7. What is the vision and dream of El Puente?
It is easiest to share our written mission statement:
El Puente Costa Rica is an inclusive, bilingual school that exists to
change lives in Costa Rica and the United States to the honor and glory of God.
The vision for El Puente Costa Rica is that it is:
Inclusive
El Puente Costa Rica educates students from all socioeconomic levels in the Quepos area
through the use of native Christian teachers in Costa Rica, Christian teachers from the United
States, and in conjunction with the mission efforts in Costa Rica and the United States.
Bilingual
El Puente Costa Rica teaches half the day in English and half in Spanish to provide kids with
a bilingual foundation so they can break out of the cycle of poverty and abuse prevalent in
parts of the Quepos community.
Life Changing
El Puente Costa Rica gives children in Quepos the opportunity to be light and salt by using
their English skills to make a difference in the Quepos community and in Costa Rica. It also
provides a connection point between bilingual students in the United States and in Costa
Rica. This international relationship helps students from both countries to see that the world
is a big place and that the gift of a second language enables them to communicate and to
build relationships in this global community.
Honorable and Glorifying to God!
El Puente Costa Rica pledges to dedicate everything they do to the honor and glory of God.
In addition to growing God’s kingdom through Christian teaching, the school will actively
pursue ways to work with Christian colleges, universities, and missionary groups in both
countries.
8. What makes you excited to be a part of El Puente's story?
For me, it is an honor and privilege to work at El Puente. It is an
opportunity to join what God is doing. Just a few weeks ago, I had the
chance to go back to West Michigan to share El Puente's story in an
effort to start fundraising for the new building. Being able to share
and talking to others about potential partnerships encouraged my heart-
there is so much potential with this project! Partnerships with
churches and schools, missional and educational projects! It excites me
to see what we can offer our students- many of them would never have
this opportunity if El Puente didn't exist. It has been an amazing
journey thus far, and I am excited to see where God takes it! My prayer
is that God is glorified each step of the way.
9. What is El Puente's most urgent need right now?
As
I mentioned before, in order to grow and become sustainable, we need a
new facility. Through the generosity of a local business man, we have
been given property for the new school in the form of a trust. The
building plans and permits are being processed- now all that we need are
the funds to build! With $250,000, we will be able to build an
elementary and preschool, with a total of 9 classrooms, an office space
and a library. While
the number may seem daunting, we deeply believe that all resources are
the Lord's and that this six figure number is well within His ability to
provide!
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| This goofy and good looking group with Anna represents the first graders and above. El Puente would love to be able to move out of its 2 bedroom condo facility to its own building so it has room to accept more students and have an even greater impact on the Quepos community. We invite you to join us in praying that God provides the necessary funds. It would be a huge answer to prayer if El Puente could have a new building when the new school year starts in February. |
10/19/12
October 19: El Puente's History - Part I
Thank you so much for your prayers!!! We had a great week at school and praise God for your support and encouragement as you share in this journey with us.
We'd love for you to know more about El Puente (The Bridge) Christian School and how it got started so I asked Anna, the director, to answer some questions:
We'd love for you to know more about El Puente (The Bridge) Christian School and how it got started so I asked Anna, the director, to answer some questions:
1. How long have you lived in Costa Rica?
I moved to Costa Rica in January 2007, so this winter it will be 6 years! Time flies!
2. What brought you originally to Costa Rica and how did you get involved with El Puente?
I originally came to Costa Rica to nanny and
homeschool for a family that was moving to Quepos to start a condo
development project. Once I got here, they had decided to put their
kids in one of the private schools so that they would learn Spanish, so I
worked in their management office and tutored their kids. One of the
main struggles for the family was the education- both what the kids
learned in the classroom and the environment (attitudes and behaviors)
they were exposed to. Personally, my heart was burdened for the
brokenness in the Quepos community- the socio economic gaps, the social
problems, and the deterioration of the family unit. We started asking
the question- how can you best show Christ's love in the Quepos
community and equip the next generation to a catalyst for change? Two
years, two private schools, and many conversations later, the family and
I partnered with Zeeland Christian and started a small homeschool. The
question that we have loved to ask and dream from the beginning has
been "what if the most well educated students in Quepos are the ones
growing up knowing Christ's love?"
3. How long has El Puente existed and how have you seen it grow or change?
El
Puente started in January of 2009 with five students. By the end of
the first year, we had eight students and had started exploring and
better understanding the education system in Costa Rica. Over the last
three years, we have had to be flexible- working between two cultures
and systems and trying to find a balance. We have had to figure out the
procedures and steps that need to be taken legally and with the
Ministry of Education, and our student population has more than tripled.
We have more students, we are in a bigger facility, we are closer to
reaching our goal of accreditation, we have welcomed visitors and
teachers from all over the world- through all of this growth and change,
our vision and our desire to serve our community for God's glory has
stayed the same.
4. What challenges and hurdles has El Puente faced?
On
a weekly basis, we have people stop by or call, asking for more
information about the school and showing interest in enrolling their
children. One of the fears that parents have had from the beginning is
that we are not currently accredited by the Ministry of Education. I
have a list of parents who have said "contact me when you have the
paperwork- and I will transfer my child". They are interested in the
education, in the bilingual aspect, and in the Christian values that are
being taught- but they want the school to be recognized by the Ministry
first.
The first step in the accreditation process is
building approval- the hurdle that we have not been able to get over.
We have moved twice and have looked at several different properties to
rent, but without any luck. When I went to talk to the engineer for the
Ministry of Education, his response was simply " It is very hard to
find an existing building that meets all the requirements. Just build."
Because we have not had a building, we have not been
able to submit paperwork for approval. This has both limited our
ability to grow and become sustainable. We have had to fundraise to
cover the majority of operating costs, as the majority of our students
receive some sort of scholarship.
5. How have you seen God at work in the history of El Puente?
I
have seen God's faithfulness in so many ways over the last few years.
First and foremost, we believe that this project is the Lord's and not
our own, that He will open and close doors and that it is our
responsibility to be obedient. While sometimes it has been hard to
trust, we have continually seen His faithfulness in His provision. We
never have a large surplus of funds, but on a monthly basis, through the
generosity of individuals all over the US, we have always had enough to
pay our bills and staff each month. We have received donations of
school supplies and books, we have had volunteers come to teach and fill
in, and we have parents who are encouraging and supportive on a daily
basis.
Even more than meeting for our physical needs as a
school, I have been blessed to see the Lord nurture the spiritual and
academic lives of our students. Whenever I have been discouraged, God
has given me glimpses of the bigger picture- what He is doing in the
hearts of each child. This manifests itself in the dreams that our
students express. After a conversation with a teacher, a student went
home and told her mother that she wanted to wait to have kids of her own
because she wanted to be a veterinarian and go to college. Her mother
had her when she was 16, and works three jobs to care for her and put
her through school. We see God working to bring change in the next
generation.
More encouraging are the words and prayers we have
the privilege of hearing our students share. We have had students stand
up in class and say "I want to be a disciple of Jesus". As the
students pray for their loved ones and for the school, I truly see that
what we are doing is so much more than teaching math or English.
10/18/12
October 18: Recipes
Here's the recipes I talked about on Friday's post. George and the kids are asking when I'm going to try making them on my own because they loved them and want them again!! If you give either a try, let me know how it turns out!
Arroz con pollo (Chicken and rice):
1-2 uncooked chicken breasts, cut in small pieces
1 cup green beans, chopped in small pieces
1/2 cup green or red pepper, chopped in small pieces
1 cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 stalk celery, chopped
2 Tb canola oil
1 Tb achiote paste (annatto paste....a NATURAL blend of spices - you'll find it by the Mexican products in the international foods aisle or at a Mexican supermarket)
1 small chicken broth packet
1 Tb Salsa Lizano (a Costa Rican condiment - may be hard to find in US)
4 Tb chopped cilantro
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 cups rice
salt to taste (optional)
Directions:
Cook 2 cups rice.
Heat large pan over medium heat. Add 2 Tb oil.
Add green beans, chopped pepper, onion, garlic and celery.
Add achiote paste and stir well.
Add chicken and chicken broth packet.
Simmer 15 minutes
Add 1 Tb Salsa Lizano, chopped cilantro, shredded carrot and salt (optional)
Combine cooked rice with the chicken/vegetable mixture and mix well.
Picadillo de Verduras (Chopped Vegetable Medley):
2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped in small pieces
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped in small pieces
1 chayote, peeled and chopped in small pieces
1 cup green beans, chopped in small pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 stalk celery with leaves, chopped in small pieces
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup red or green pepper
1/2 Tb achiote paste
1 Tb Salsa Lizano
3 Tb fresh cilantro, chopped
1 small package of chicken broth - (or one chicken bouillon cube?)
Heat sauce pan to medium high.
Add 2 Tb oil
Add onion, celery, pepper and garlic
Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes
Add 1/2 Tb achiote paste and stir
Add other veggies and chicken broth packet/bouillon cube
Add 1 cup water
Turn down to simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes or until veggies are tender
Add 1 Tb Salsa Lizano
Add 3 Tb fresh cilantro, chopped
Stir and enjoy!!
Arroz con pollo (Chicken and rice):
1-2 uncooked chicken breasts, cut in small pieces
1 cup green beans, chopped in small pieces
1/2 cup green or red pepper, chopped in small pieces
1 cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 stalk celery, chopped
2 Tb canola oil
1 Tb achiote paste (annatto paste....a NATURAL blend of spices - you'll find it by the Mexican products in the international foods aisle or at a Mexican supermarket)
1 small chicken broth packet
1 Tb Salsa Lizano (a Costa Rican condiment - may be hard to find in US)
4 Tb chopped cilantro
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 cups rice
salt to taste (optional)
Directions:
Cook 2 cups rice.
Heat large pan over medium heat. Add 2 Tb oil.
Add green beans, chopped pepper, onion, garlic and celery.
Add achiote paste and stir well.
Add chicken and chicken broth packet.
Simmer 15 minutes
Add 1 Tb Salsa Lizano, chopped cilantro, shredded carrot and salt (optional)
Combine cooked rice with the chicken/vegetable mixture and mix well.
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| Arroz con pollo (left) and Picadillo de Verduras (right) |
Picadillo de Verduras (Chopped Vegetable Medley):
2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped in small pieces
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped in small pieces
1 chayote, peeled and chopped in small pieces
1 cup green beans, chopped in small pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 stalk celery with leaves, chopped in small pieces
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup red or green pepper
1/2 Tb achiote paste
1 Tb Salsa Lizano
3 Tb fresh cilantro, chopped
1 small package of chicken broth - (or one chicken bouillon cube?)
 |
| West Michigan folks, I know you can buy chayote at Meijer or at the Mexican supermarkets around town. |
Heat sauce pan to medium high.
Add 2 Tb oil
Add onion, celery, pepper and garlic
Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes
Add 1/2 Tb achiote paste and stir
Add 1 cup water
Turn down to simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes or until veggies are tender
Add 1 Tb Salsa Lizano
Add 3 Tb fresh cilantro, chopped
Stir and enjoy!!
10/17/12
October 17: Student Spotlight: Nazareth
Age: 9
Grade: 3rd
Who do you live with?
My mom, brother (14) and grandpa. I also have a dog, Bronny.
What's your favorite class?
I like math and Spanish best.
What do you like to do in your free time?
play on the computer, play videogames and play with my friends
A criminologist
What's your favorite TV show?
Victorious on Nickelodean
What's your favorite song that we sing at El Puente?
Eres Todopoderoso (It's a Spanish praise song meaning 'You are all powerful')
How long have you attended El Puente?
9 months
How does El Puente compare to your other school?
It's a lot better because it's smaller and kids don't fight and insult each other like at my other school
Why are you glad that you're growing up bilingual?
Costa Rica has lots of tourists and it helps a lot if you can speak more than one language, especially if you want a good job. When I’m older I’d love to travel to other places.
Why do you love Jesus?
Because He saved my life
10/15/12
October 15: Praises & Requests
Praises:
1. Restored health: the kids and I are all feeling well again2. Zipline experience: we're so grateful for the incredible adventure our family was able to enjoy on Saturday because of others' generosity (see previous post for more info and pics)
3. Animal Shelter: Although Friday was a holiday in Costa Rica, today was actually the day most schools, including El Puente, had off for the long weekend. The girls are always very jealous that Nathan and George help out at an animal shelter every Friday morning so today they were all able to spend some time there. Their favorite part was being able to hang out with some new puppies.
A few weeks ago we had gone with Laura's family to Casa de Amor for a time of fellowship and worship with the 10 guys at the home and our whole family left saying we couldn't wait to go back. The men had warmly welcomed us and we felt 'at home' for the first time in Quepos. Unfortunately, due to sickness with the guys at the home, Laura's family and our family it took weeks before it worked to return but yesterday we finally made it back! We hope to get into a routine of going twice a month with Laura's family and whoever else from church wants to join us.
We started with some time playing games and working on the meal that we'd share together. Then Laura and I began our time of worship with some songs before George gave a devotional and we ended in a time of prayer. We then shared a delicious meal together organized by one of the guys and for dessert I made a big batch of homemade chocolate cupcakes and hot fudge sauce along with ice cream. It was fun because most of the guys came back for double and triple servings of the dessert. It seemed like hot fudge was something new for them and they seemed to love the combination with ice cream and cupcakes. Once again, 3.5 hours seemed to fly by and we're thankful for the way that we are all mutually blessed by our time of fellowship and worship at Casa de Amor.
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| Girls got an origami lesson from one of the men. |
Requests:
1. Allergies/Skin irritations: George has been suffering some pretty uncomfortable skin issues in the last month. He was trying some home remedies and over the counter medications but today finally got some stronger medicine. Please pray that the medicine will help alleviate the discomfort he has been dealing with in recent weeks.
2. Return to school: George and I plan to return to El Puente tomorrow. We are grateful for the time we had last week to reflect and pray. We have been learning a lot through the process. Thank you for your continued prayers!!!!
Please pray that:
- we can let go of the differences that frustrate and challenge us
- we would not let our role as parents interfere with our roles as El Puente staff
- our relationships with the teachers could be restored
- we'd focus on what unites us - we all want El Puente students to understand that Jesus loves them and for them to be able to grow up being lights for Christ in a city filled with heaviness and brokenness
10/14/12
October 13: A Generous Zipline Gift
Today we were the recipients of an extremely generous gift of adventure (over $300 value) : a zipline/canopy tour. We had met Scott and Tracey at an English church service soon after moving to Quepos (the church we attend hosts an English service once a month). When we were introduced to them, they told us they're involved in starting a zipline/canopy tour and said we could be their guests sometime - we just needed to be patient and wait until they had another group that we could tag along with.
The zipline/canopy tour is not open to the public yet but they just recently received permits so they can start charging if they want. Currently, they are interested in people's feedback so they invited us to go today and the only thing they asked is that we give them honest feedback on the experience. What a deal! They even invited us for lunch at the nice restaurant in their hotel afterwards. We were totally not expecting that but they said they would like to do that for our family and it would also give us a chance to reflect on our experience while it was still fresh in our minds.
The zipline/canopy tour is not open to the public yet but they just recently received permits so they can start charging if they want. Currently, they are interested in people's feedback so they invited us to go today and the only thing they asked is that we give them honest feedback on the experience. What a deal! They even invited us for lunch at the nice restaurant in their hotel afterwards. We were totally not expecting that but they said they would like to do that for our family and it would also give us a chance to reflect on our experience while it was still fresh in our minds.
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| While we got our equipment on, we also got to meet the other participants on the tour: a diverse group of four 17 year olds from Peru, one whose parents own part of the zipline company. These teenage guys were very friendly and we were amazed at their diverse backgrounds. They each speak 2-4 languages and they have lived in the States, India, Turkey, Russia and now Peru. |
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| We had to do some walking/hiking in between some of the lines and there were also some canopy bridges we needed to traverse. |
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| Nathan leaving one of the platforms - there were 12 of them in all! |
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| Because of her size and the length of many of the ziplines, Sophia often was accompanied by one of the guides. She was able to do a couple of the shorter lines by herself. |
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| George of the Jungle on the longest zipline in Central America - this particular one over the canopy spans 1.2 kilometers and lasts about 90 seconds. |
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| Nathan flying high over the jungle canopy |
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| Our legs got a workout climbing up this huge tree to one of the platforms. |
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| Nathan gets help harnessing up at the final platform.... |
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| We were let down to the ground with two ropes |
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| Can't help but smile at the end of an amazing adventure together that we got to enjoy because of the generosity of Scott and Tracey. |
10/13/12
October 12: Fun Friday
After a rather intense (but necessary!) week of reflection and prayer it felt good to be able to end it on a fun and lighter note.
En la cocina (In the kitchen):
One of my goals for this year is to be able to learn some authentic Costa Rican recipes and I haven't had a chance to do that yet. Knowing that I would be home for the first time when Anna, the woman who cleans our house once a week, would also be coming I decided to give her a call Thursday night. I asked her if she'd be willing to give me some cooking lessons on Friday and she graciously agreed. She makes us a delicious big batch of gallo pinto (rice and beans) every week so I figured she probably has other yummy recipes too.
I was living my dream! After talking through some options, we decided on arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) and a vegetable picadillo (chopped up vegetables that are boiled together and seasoned). We went together to two neighborhood stores to get the necessary ingredients. Along the way, there was a comical and confusing language moment which happens a lot to us here because Costa Rican vocabulary is quite different than what we're used to. While we were going over the grocery list Anna used a word I had never heard of before (vainica) and I asked her what it was. What she described to me sounded just like green beans but when I asked her the 'text book' term that's often used (judías verdes) for them and the Mexican word used (ejotes) she didn't recognize either one. I set out for the store thinking I was going to get introduced to a new long, green vegetable. Nope! When Anna asked the store clerk if she had vainicas, she went to the fridge and handed us a bag of ......fresh green beans!
En la escuela (at school):
October 12, known in many countries as Columbus Day, is an official holiday in Costa Rica but it's called Día de las Culturas (Day of the Cultures). It recognizes the mix of European, Indigenous, American, African and Asian cultures that make up Costa Rican culture. El Puente, like most schools in session, spent part of the day celebrating the holiday with students. The El Puente kids performed a drama about the conflicts between the Indigenous peoples and the Spanish explorers. Nathan played the role of an indian chief, Angelina was Queen Isabella from Spain and Sophia was a Spanish soldier. All students and some moms helped out with bringing a bunch of different foods for a little feast for all to enjoy after the program.
En la casa de nuestros amigos (at our friends' house):
We have found it's been difficult to feel connected to a community here. People are friendly and cordial but not overly welcoming to newcomers from a social perspective. However, there is one other American family that attends our church and they have been a huge blessing to us! They have lived in Quepos for 10 years and say they still struggle with the lack of community feeling. Because they know what it feels like, they have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome and have really helped us in settling in. We have had each other over for meals and we always look forward to dining and talking with more than just the five of us! Tonight they invited us over for homemade pizzas and a movie. I made homemade hot fudge sauce and we picked up some ice cream on our walk over. It was a great night of fun and fellowship -- we're so thankful for these new friends!
En la cocina (In the kitchen):
One of my goals for this year is to be able to learn some authentic Costa Rican recipes and I haven't had a chance to do that yet. Knowing that I would be home for the first time when Anna, the woman who cleans our house once a week, would also be coming I decided to give her a call Thursday night. I asked her if she'd be willing to give me some cooking lessons on Friday and she graciously agreed. She makes us a delicious big batch of gallo pinto (rice and beans) every week so I figured she probably has other yummy recipes too.
I was living my dream! After talking through some options, we decided on arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) and a vegetable picadillo (chopped up vegetables that are boiled together and seasoned). We went together to two neighborhood stores to get the necessary ingredients. Along the way, there was a comical and confusing language moment which happens a lot to us here because Costa Rican vocabulary is quite different than what we're used to. While we were going over the grocery list Anna used a word I had never heard of before (vainica) and I asked her what it was. What she described to me sounded just like green beans but when I asked her the 'text book' term that's often used (judías verdes) for them and the Mexican word used (ejotes) she didn't recognize either one. I set out for the store thinking I was going to get introduced to a new long, green vegetable. Nope! When Anna asked the store clerk if she had vainicas, she went to the fridge and handed us a bag of ......fresh green beans!
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| Both recipes are DELISH!!!! Now we're all hoping they turn out as well when I try them on my own. In case anyone is interested I will try to post the recipes in a blog post soon. |
En la escuela (at school):
October 12, known in many countries as Columbus Day, is an official holiday in Costa Rica but it's called Día de las Culturas (Day of the Cultures). It recognizes the mix of European, Indigenous, American, African and Asian cultures that make up Costa Rican culture. El Puente, like most schools in session, spent part of the day celebrating the holiday with students. The El Puente kids performed a drama about the conflicts between the Indigenous peoples and the Spanish explorers. Nathan played the role of an indian chief, Angelina was Queen Isabella from Spain and Sophia was a Spanish soldier. All students and some moms helped out with bringing a bunch of different foods for a little feast for all to enjoy after the program.
En la casa de nuestros amigos (at our friends' house):
We have found it's been difficult to feel connected to a community here. People are friendly and cordial but not overly welcoming to newcomers from a social perspective. However, there is one other American family that attends our church and they have been a huge blessing to us! They have lived in Quepos for 10 years and say they still struggle with the lack of community feeling. Because they know what it feels like, they have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome and have really helped us in settling in. We have had each other over for meals and we always look forward to dining and talking with more than just the five of us! Tonight they invited us over for homemade pizzas and a movie. I made homemade hot fudge sauce and we picked up some ice cream on our walk over. It was a great night of fun and fellowship -- we're so thankful for these new friends!
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| Laura and Kim's oldest son is in the States. Their three kids in Quepos are Sam, 18, Corinn, 15 and Gabriel, 10. |
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