After a year...

Nelson Mandela said, "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered. "

It has been over a year since I returned from what seems now like such a short time spent in Costa Rica. So many things are the same in my circle of influence, but like Mandela discovered, I too have altered.

I hope to start using this blog again... even if for my own use to get my thoughts written down about current issues. No promises though. (So, Mom... don't check it everyday. But I still love you.)

It's been awhile...

I hear people say, "I never thought a [insert span of time] ago that I'd be here." Here, implying, a situation or circumstance or who they've become. I've been saying this recently.

Now, the thing is, is that when people say this it can go both ways... positive or negative. All around me people are being laid off from their jobs, moving, getting engaged/married, having babies, grieving someone or a relationship, etc.

For me, it seems everything is new. A year ago I was in Costa Rica, and I never thought that I would be here. Here, meaning... blogging again, living with my dad until I can move until my first apartment by myself next month, volunteering at the free medical clinic, having experienced love and heartbreak, still learning Spanish, and not thinking about moving back to Costa Rica as soon as I can.

Where I will be when this month rapidly ends, I don't know. I'm hoping that I will have grown as a person, learned more about myself, and learned more about who Jesus is.

Cindy

The last, but certainly not least, person that I would like to introduce you to is Cindy. She is our rock here at Harvest Hands. Cindy keeps things under control, knows what's going on when things seem like they could get crazy, and keeps us in good spirits.

There's no doubt that part of keeping us in good spirits is due to her fabulous cooking! Cindy can cook up anything... really. We will eat vegan much of the time, especially when teams aren't here. So, we eat very healthy and tasty! Asian dishes are some of her specialties, as well as great Costa Rican meals. You can't do a short-term trip here and think that you will lose any weight - there's just too much great food!

While we are all still in the process of learning Spanish, Cindy has it down the best. When the phone rings or someone comes to the door, we give it our best shot. However, usually Cindy is called to the scene to clear up any uncertainties in translation.

She is a nurturer, encourager, great supporter and always looks out for our best interest... as a team, a family, and in doing ministry. Her faithfulness and dedication to any task is an amazing example. Cindy, I will miss you dearly!!!

The sounds

I'll be flying out of Costa Rica in less than two weeks. I'm already thinking about things that I'll miss. Mostly I'll miss people. My family here: Rebecca, Rodney, Cindy, and Tito; those in Anonos, friends from church, and the staff at Funda Vida.

When short-term teams leave the house, Rodney always prays that they would remember the sounds. There are so many sounds that seem like they only fall on my ears; they belong to no one else. I hope that I will not forget them.

Rebecca's faux-phone alarm going off in the morning; the egg-man's muffled megaphone screams "trenta huevos para un mil"; a kid in 'little managua' plays on his flutophone late at night; a bird outside my bedroom window sings the same tune all day long; the doorbell at Supernova indicates that more friends have arrived at church; and not lastly, but my alarm going off in the morning, telling me that God has granted me one more day in Anonos, to be with His people.

The visionary

To continue my blogs on introducing you to those that I live/work with, allow me to introduce Rodney. Rodney is the "D" in the house. The "D" is in reference to the DiSC Inventory. D for dominance... the man with the plan. I believe that we actually have all four letters represented here at Harvest Hands, which makes for a great team!

Rodney is originally from Massachusettes, but has spent most of his life living in Maine. He is a surfer at heart, has successfully planted a Vineyard Church in Mechanic Falls, ME, where he served as Associate Pastor. He used to travel to Costa Rica for the surfing years ago, and that led him eventually to bringing down short-term teams to do missions work. He and Cindy have been living here full-time since December 2006. His background in contracting also makes him invaluable when it comes to setting up and overseeing work projects.

Rodney has a big heart for the poor and tons of compassion for those that are addicted to drugs. His vision to see a church planted here in Los Anonos is just one of many visions that he has. He would like to see a Harvest Hands in Nicaragua in the future - a much more difficult area.

Meet Rodney, and it won't be five minutes later that you will get the privilege of hearing a great story of what God has done in his life, or in the lives of those in Anonos. He sees where God is moving, and I hope that I can learn how to dream as he does.

Gahanna Team

This past week, we hosted a team of seven people. Six were from New Life Church in Gahanna, Ohio and one person from New Hampshire. They were all amazing (and that's an understatement)!

I have been praying that someone would come to Anonos that was capable of painting a great mural... low and behold... they came! There used to be a mural in the local gym that was depressing (and that is also an understatement). It was old, dark, had no relevance to the community, was not of good quality, etc. The team from Vineyard Columbus cleaned the wall and primed it to be ready to receive a mural. See pictures below for before and after. Everyone here was saying how great it is and how it brings joy, light, and happiness to the area.

The team also did work in the school, painting at 25 de Julio where there will soon be a new Funda Vida center, took a woman into rehab, helped a guy with getting to the hospital that had been stabbed with an ice pick, home visits, and much more.

I sincerely hope to see each one of them return to Anonos in the future: Pastor Brian, Patti, Amanda, Cat, Steve (he has my vote for President), Eric, and John.

Before - Ugly mural, ugly back wall...

After - Great mural in Los Anonos!!! Very bright and happy!

After - Multi-colored back wall that is very fun!!!

Team in front of their work!!! :-)

Surprises

I made it into Newark, NJ at about 1am on Tuesday. The pastor from Rodney and Cindy's church picked me up. I've been staying with their family and friends at the Vineyard Eastern Regional Pastors' Conference in Bushkill, PA. The conference has been great, and I'm enjoying getting to represent Harvest Hands here. Our hope is to make some connections with other churches that would be interested in partnering with the ministry long-term and/or through short-term mission trips.

While being here at the conference and in the States, I've experienced some surprises...

1. It is hard to break the habit of not throwing TP into a wastebasket. Flushing TP is a luxury that we in the States take for granted.
2. Fuel and fast-food are more expensive than I remember them being five months ago.
3. I can understand everyone's conversations around me. I am even noticing that I am understanding stranger's conversations/comments that pass by me. Oh, how I pray I don't lose what little Spanish I have acquired over the past four months!!!
4. Some worship songs are just better in another language... I prefer Dulcemente Quebrantado about ten times over to Sweetly Broken.
5. The church family from Rodney and Cindy's church feels like extended family. I feel so welcome and supported by them. I hope the relationship continues.
6. My grandma, aunt, and cousin surprised me at the hotel last night! They were driving through PA (about 8.5 hours from home) and made a point to see me. I was able to have dinner and spend a couple of hours with them after the evening session. :-) It was great to have a surprise visit from those that I love so dearly.

There are only five weeks remaining for my stay in Costa Rica, but for now I am looking forward to being back home in Anonos on Saturday.