We have met so many people while we have been here and it's been amazing how all the towns and people are interconnected. I'll give you an overview of what our volunteer efforts are going to consist of.
We are helping out 3 organizations while we are down here.
The first one is called Abriendo Mentes (AM) ( http://abriendomentes.org/ ). They focus primarily on helping two towns (Potrero and are expanding to Brasilito) where they help teach English to children and adults, teach computer/technology skills, facilitate women's groups creating micro businesses, coordinate sports youth programs, host PenPal events, currently creating a town garden and much more. Our first 2 weeks in Costa Rica we were observing classes and programs just to get exposed to all the programs and events to see where we thought we could make an impact, etc. A lot of the volunteering starts around 2pm and can go until 7pm. Lots of the preparation (lesson planning/materials) happens earlier in the day. Classes for English range from kinder to 6th grade and then transitions to adult classes.
In general, the kids are happy to be in classes and willingly attend. I'm impressed with their eagerness, their quickness to love, and their ENERGY! It's been a while (if ever) that I have been around so many kids during the course of a day. I thought I was tired after coming home from a long day at work ... but this is a new type of tiredness that can come after 2-3 hours ... it's crazy! It gives me a new appreciation for teachers and stay at home moms! And it is well worth it!
The second organization is called Serve One ( http://serveonecostarica.com/ ). Serve One is a Christian-based organization that serves the town of El Llanito. Scott & Staci Huggins (a couple from Texas) founded the organization a couple years ago. Their goal is to show God's love through loving on the people/kids of this village and to live and walk through life with them. They have done amazing things to help the community salon/school. Most tico towns have a salon which is community space; however, El Llanito is so small their salon and school are combined. Serve One, through the town partnership, has helped them fund raise and labor to build walls and a roof (so...no more flooding). They help facilitate different vacation bible schools throughout the year (which we were apart of earlier this week). And Staci has started a few English classes for the kinder classes with plans to expand. There is a lot of opportunity and flexibility with this ministry and we are excited to see what God has in store!
This is in El Llanito at the kid's end of session party...they were playing musical chairs.
Lastly, we will be working with CEPIA ( http://www.cepiacostarica.org/ ). CEPIA and AM are partnering together to help expand the above efforts into the town of Brasilito. John and I will be helping with those expansion efforts into Brasilito so it was a great way to connect with both organizations. CEPIA stands for Culture, Education, and Psychology of Infants & Adolescents. They have programs for women, children, teenagers and families across 13 villages.
Here is a map of where we live in relation to where we are serving to give you an idea. The distance from our our house to El Llanito driving is about 15-20 minutes. It's funny because when we first got to C.R. it took us about 20 minutes to drive from our place to Potrero. The other day, John and I noticed how fast we got to Potrero...we were quickly dodging the potholes, passing people and going over bridges like it was no big deal...how we have adjusted!!! It takes us about 10 minutes now...
Blessings!! I'll write more this weekend!!
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