ADE Happenings

Over the past few months (with the help of one of our summer interns and the new focus of one of our staff members, we have been a lot better at keeping the general public up to date on ADE Happenings. There's been a lot going on over the summer. I wanted to share with you all some of these blog posts to give you an ever growing and developing understanding of ADE and what I'm doing here.

Check out the ones that seem interesting to you!

ADE's Zero Down Development and Economic Sustainability Projects
If you ever ask the questions: What is ADE? or What on earth is Lindsey doing in Costa Rica? This should help answer those questions a little. It should at least give you a good little overview of what we as ADE are working on and how. It should also give you a good idea about some of our most current projects.

The Role of the Church During a Disaster
As a seminary class did research up here in this area, one woman wanted to share her findings with our local church. This same woman is now one of our very active Costa Rican board members!

Organic Garden and Fruit Co-op
Something we as ADE are working on as week look to use our hands and the land to serve the Lord and others better here in this community.

Vara Blanca's First Strawberry Fair
Our town (along with some partners) put on a strawberry festival. As this area is full of just that - strawberries - it was a great way for people to really come together over a mutual fruit! We, as the high school, put on a few fun activities that surprising went off very well.

ADE Girls Soccer Team First Game 4-1
Our students are now playing indoor soccer (both a girls team and guys team with a few other community members). I'll be writing more about this, but hear about the first game and how awesome my girls are!

New Talent Search - Congrats to our students!
The students in our school participated in an art day at a local business. Though we as a staff aren't the most artistic group, our students LOVE any type of art they can get their hands on.

Tropical Agriculture and Mission Class
Here you can hear about the class that we hosted here in May called "Tropical Agriculture and Missions" put on by Au Sable and taught by a professor from Eastern University.

Ruth, Boaz & God's Providence

On my way down to Virginia last week, I listened to a series of sermons from my home church on Ruth. As I listened to them I got so pumped and excited about the goodness and sovereignty of God! You can ask just about anyone I saw in the following days that I recommended listening to them, because I was so personally encouraged. Someone once told me that the best sermons are not those you walk away saying, "Wow, what a great preacher" but instead saying "Wow, what a great God." That's the only thing I could think during the 6 hour drive to Blacksburg with my parents sleeping while I drove.

Here's a few specific thoughts of mine:

• God's providence really is over everything and people historically didn't have as hard a time believing that as many of us do.
• If I really believe that God is both completely sovereign and completely good, my perspective on life will be drastically different.
• Naomi tried to get Ruth to go home, but she committed to stay - Often I too don't see the deep need for people to know my God because I think it'd be easier for them where they came from. But by Ruth committing to Naomi and Naomi's God, she got to be a part of history!
• Boaz was a "worthy" man...I want one of those  :)

Listen to these sermons! Click here and you won't regret it.

I hope you're as encouraged as I am. 

Here's one of my favorite songs right now, which fits in well with this theme:

My US church & CR church

From the 16th to the 24th of July, I had the awesome chance to see God connect and work together through my home church in the US (Church of the Saviour - COS) and my church in Costa Rica (Iglesia Vara Blanca). The high school group from COS - that I was a part of way back when - came to spend time with our high school students here and be a blessing to this small rural church.

It was an odd convergence of two of my worlds where many things are different, but Christ unites.

• COS is a church of like 2000 people  -  my church here is about 30 people
• COS is all in English  -  my church here is in Spanish (obvious difference)
• COS brought a group of all high school students  -  the church here doesn't really have any youth involved
• COS is in the Philly suburbs in a pretty wealthy area  -  here we're located in rural Costa Rica

The differences are many, but I really believe that the church here was incredibly blessed and the youth and leaders who came from COS also left blessed. It's an amazing picture of the diversity of the Church. These are often things that divide and separate, but in Christ they can be things of incredible beauty and peace and fellowship. Praise God for how He unites! Galatians 3:26-28

The whole COS group

Helping us with our house  :)

Sharing with our students

Sharing testimonies with the church

Back in the Mountains & Busy

As I warned you, I haven't been as good about writing now that I'm back up in the mountains. I may be a little busier, but I think it's more that when I'm living and working in community (like I am up here) I'm so dependent on other people. It's not always fun and I feel busier as all the work happens not on my scheduled time and often last minute and I have to remain flexible. But I do believe that God calls us to seek community and seek to live that way. There definitely can be some great joys within it also and great opportunities to ask forgiveness and offer grace - living the Gospel every day with each other. With all that said, I do want to continue to update you all on my my last two weeks:

I had my last week of language school July 4th to the 8th. It was a really great week and I got more connected with the other students that week, which made leaving sadder. I definitely got to know better those in my classes (AJ, Mary and Jim). We had a lot of fun together, and became a great encouragement to each other. Jim and his wife Pat are maybe going to come visit me here in Vara Blanca before they leave CR. I'm hoping to go visit Mary in Nicaragua the next time I need to leave the country to renew my visa. And I'm definitely planning on continue praying for and staying in touch with AJ and his wife Brittany as they get ready to move to Belize as missionaries. I really believe that God brought us all together even for this short time for greater purposes. Both my teachers were also really awesome and I wish I could be there learning from them for at least a few more weeks. I left in the middle of learning all the subjunctive rules and so have to try to learn the rest on my own. The work they're doing at ILE is definitely a huge ministry to all of Latin America. I was definitely encouraged and uplifted in my short time there.

The last week was really busy apart from school stuff with some really exciting things. Monday was 4th of July and the people at the institute decided for the first time ever (so I heard) to have a big party. Apparently the Canadians had one for Canada Day and so those from the USA had to do something. It was so fun. We ate stuff off the grill, had some great baked beans, burgers, apple pie and homemade chocolate chip cookies. We sat around and talked for a while (mostly while I held Titus - AJ and Brittany's baby). Then we watched as some of the guys set off some awesome fireworks. It felt very unusual, but oddly comforting.

Then my friend and one of my roommates from college visited me, Laura Welch! We became masters at the buses around the city and did lots of walking around and just spending good time together. My favorite bus ride was one evening when we got on only to be serenaded by a aspiring musician who wasn't really very good but was very entertaining. Our stop came up at the perfect time that we didn't have to give him money but got to see most of his "conciertito". Then we came up the mountain and I got to share with her some of my life here. For me it was so nice to have one of my closest friends in the world here and my favorite times with her was just hanging out amidst the craziness of my last week of classes.

Laura and I eating together downtown SJO

I'm trying to continue my Spanish learning and improving even though I'm no longer in classes. I'm trying to read an easy romance novel in Spanish (pretty cheesy), I'm reading some of my Bible in both English and Spanish, and I'm attempting to continue working through the grammar book and workbook that I was using at the institute. I'll also be practicing a lot, obviously  :)

Now I'm back up here in the mountains and though our students are on vacation until Monday, I've been working away preparing for a group visiting from my home church and the normal work I have to do. I'm glad to be back in my room and bed and with my puppy! Though to be honest, it's bitter sweet to be back here, but I know God has me here and is working. I'll try and keep blogging, but no promises at how often. Thanks for checking in, friends! I love your comments and messages and emails!

Remember Luke 1:37

Lo Mejor / The Best

On Friday I had to lead my conversation class in a Bible study in Spanish. As I was trying to think of what to share and discuss, I was brought back to the verses that helped to bring me here to Costa Rica in the first place. I'll share a little bit of it with you here:

We read- Marcos 10, 17-31 (Mark 10: 17-31)
The story of the rich young ruler who Jesus tells him he needs to give up everything in order to have eternal life. He goes away sad.

Specifically verses 29-30:

• “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.
• —Les aseguro —respondió Jesús— que todo el que por mi causa y la del evangelio haya dejado casa, hermanos, hermanas, madre, padre, hijos o terrenos, recibirá cien veces más ahora en este tiempo (casas, hermanos, hermanas, madres, hijos y terrenos, aunque con persecuciones); y en la edad venidera, la vida eterna.

How awesome is this?! Yes, God does tell us to give up everything we know and are comfortable with, but only so He can give us stuff that's the best and so much more. I was a math minor in college...so I know that "100 x (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields) in this life and eternity" is way better than what He asks us to give up.

Here's a few more examples of this for our lives:

Mateo 16, 24-26 (Matthew 16:24-26)

• Abandonar: tu vida, este mundo  (Give up: your life, this world)
• Recibir: vida mejor, vida real, vida eterna  (Receive: better life, real life, eternal life)

2 Corintios 5,17 (2 Corinthians 5:17)

• Abandonar: lo viejo  (Give up: the old)
• Recibir: lo nuevo, una nueva creación  (Receive: the new, a new creation)

Efesios 4,22-24 (Ephesians 4:22-24)

• Abandonar: el ropaje de la vieja naturaleza  (Give up: the old self)
• Recibir: el ropaje de la nueva naturaleza  (Receive: the new self)

I don't know about you, but I want the things we can receive. They definitely look better than the things we have to give up! The rich young ruler went away sad because he didn't understand or believe this truth: that God wants us to give these things away so that He can provide us with THE BEST (lo mejor).

¡Haga un intercambio!

Trade it in!

--

I was reminded again and again about this over the weekend. On Friday I spend a little time talking with one of the people from the team that was visiting. She was a great encouragement and blessing to me. As she was praying for me, one of the things she said was that I would believe that God is not holding back from me the best. That's so true, though I often don't believe it. He isn't holding back the best from me. He wants to give me the best!

Then at church on Sunday the pastor talked about John 21. This is after Jesus' resurrection where his disciples were out to fish and they hadn't caught anything all night. Then from the shore, Jesus tells them to put their net in the other side. The part that stuck out to me the most is where it says that when they came ashore their net was full of LARGE fish, 153. God didn't just give them any old fish in the water that night. He gave them the best. He set that aside for them, just like He does for us. He wants to give me the best!

He's good! Here's a couple pictures from the group here last week:

The kids leading us in a song with motions.

Singing a song with parts in English, Spanish and Korean!

Newest Favorite Song

The other night I heard this song again (it's been a while) and it quickly got stuck in my head in the best way possible. Then this morning at church it was sung during offering. Amazing. So I thought I'd share it with you all!

Dame tus ojos quiero ver

Dame tus palabras, quiero hablar

Dame tu parecer

Dame tus pies, yo quiero ir

Dame tus deseos para sentir

Dame tu parecer

Dame lo que necesito

Para ser como tu

// Dame tu voz, dame tu aliento

Toma mi tiempo es para ti

Dame el camino que debo seguir

Dame tus sueños, tus anhelos

Tus pensamientos, tu sentir

Dame tu vida para vivir //

Déjame ver lo que tu vez

Dame de tu gracia, tu poder

Dame tu corazón

Déjame ver en tu interior

Para ser cambiado por tu amor

Dame tu corazón

--

(Basic translation)

Give me your eyes, I want to see

Give me your words, I want to speak

Give me your likeness

Give me your feet, I want to go

Give me your heart, so I can feel

Give your opinion

Give me what I need

To be like you

/ / Give me your voice, give me your breath

Take my time, it is for you

Give me the way I should go

Give me your dreams, your desires

Your thoughts, your feeling

Give your life to live / /

Let me see what you see

Give me your grace, your power

Give me your heart

Let me see inside you

To be changed by your love

Give me your heart

Study, study, work

Study spot at the Institute

I hope you've enjoyed the last updates. I'm going to attempt to keep them coming. Believe it or not, I'm not too exciting, even though I finally have some time in the big city. My typical day has stayed mostly the same with lots of studying and ADE work.

For class we started close to the middle of both the grammar book and the corresponding workbook. However, since I've never studied Spanish, there are a lot of basics that I want to learn properly. I've decided not only to go back and read all the first parts of the grammar book, but also to do most of the exercises in the workbook that go with the grammar points. I've done a lot of verb conjugations, pronouns, direct and indirect objects, questions and a lot more practice. I really want to take advantage of this time and, though I'm cramming a lot in, I'll have time here to ask for guidance while I'm here and to practice over the next year and a half. So, most days I spend in my room or one of my other study spots studying!

Around the Institute - admin building on the right

I tried to have a little fun this weekend, also. On Friday after class I took the bus with some classmates to see "Pirates of the Caribbean 4," at the movie theater. It was fun and made me think of Kirsten the whole time, who was leaving for Zambia that night. (If you didn't know, my sister Kirsten will be in Zambia for a month working with a ministry there. Definitely keep her in your prayers!)

Saturday night I went to church with a missionary couple, Bob and B, who live here but have helped us up in Vara Blanca a number of times. It was really great to get to worship the Lord in Spanish but with the words on a screen to sing along. Also the pastor spoke on Luke 15:11-32 about "Influencia positiva a nuestros hijos" (how to be a positive influence to our children). It was Father's Day here in Costa Rica also, and, looking at the example God gives us to be good fathers, it made me so so grateful for both my awesome fathers: My earthly father, whom I love, and points me so well to my heavenly father. I'm so thankful for both, and the encouragement, compassion, and unconditional love that they offer to me. ¡Feliz Día Papá!

Since then I've mostly been studying and working. Keep praying for me in this time as I seek to focus on my studies and the gift it is that I can be here.

Rebuilding the Broken Down Places

Many people’s homes were either damaged or destroyed during the Cinchona earthquake in 2009. Some of these people lived in temporary shelters built by the government for months afterward. Some received assistance from the government in the form of materials to repair their houses. Others whose homes were completely destroyed received nothing from the government.

Over the recent weeks, members of ADE, along with members of two local churches, were able to participate in the restoration of two of these homes.

Teresa

Teresa’s home was not destroyed by the earthquake, however, the road nearby was completely obliterated. A wealthy dairy farmer up the road from Teresa’s home began to lose thousands of dollars a day after the earthquake because he could not get his milk out to market due to the destruction of the road. Teresa’s house stood in the way of where the government wanted to rebuild the road. Rather than wait for the lengthy process of the government negotiating the relocation of Teresa’s home and family, the dairy farmer came with trucks and pulled Teresa’s house down. Teresa and her family were then forced to move into a temporary emergency "house."



Andrés

Andrés is the grandfather of one of our high school students. The side wall of Andrés’s house was damaged by the earthquake and he had to move out and rent the house next door. The government agreed to provide supplies for Andrés to repair his home, but the problem is that he is elderly and blind and was not able to do the work by himself. The government then threatened to take the materials back since he was not able to use them. The news about this spread through the community and a decision was made to take action. 

**Click here to read more hear the rest of their stories and how we got to be involved**

Happy Christmas Eve!

Though it's the day before Christmas, it doesn't quite feel like it to me now. I'm currently sitting at a little internet café about fifty feet from the Caribbean. Up until last Friday or so I've been working a ton, doing everything from painting the house to working on getting organized and advertising for the spring break trips (which if you`re interested in learning more or maybe coming check out the facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=370727355220&index=1 ). Now I`ve had some time for the holidays, which is definitely needed as the past few weeks have been nonstop.

Last Wednesday, Tomas's sister (from Scotland) and mother (from Maine) came to join us. On Thursday, the Dozier family had to move out of their house as it was being rented and moved into my house with me. So my little house has had 8 people in it with mattresses on the floor everywhere. That has definitely been an interesting experience but good and a bonding experience. Over the weekend we did a lot: went to a couple's house for dinner, went to my first Costa Rican wedding, went to the local school's graduation (from Kindergarten and 6th grade only), went to church and had company over. Oh and we've played a lot of games like Boggle, Taboo and Apples to Apples).

Then Monday morning I left early to meet up with my roommate Kim (who had gone home to be with her family in San José for the holidays) and her family as they invited me to go on a little vacation with them. We drove a long time on some crazy roads. We stopped at a number of different stores along the way so that Kim's dad, Rolando, could sell the cutting boards that he makes, sells and distributes. Then we were on our way again. Somehow, he didn't get directions ahead of time and so we would just ask on the side of the road which way to go when we came to crossroads. Overall this tactic worked, except for a pretty important missed turn. We ended up going a couple hours on this crazy rocky/dirt road out in the middle of nowhere that led us to a river, which we found out was just about on the Nicaraguan border (on the Caribbean side), like far northeast in Costa Rica. It's actually a place where a lot of Nicaraguans cross the border illegally and is supposedly a not very safe place, though praise God we didn't have any problems at all. Once we figured all this out, we got back on track and found a place to spend the night).

The next morning we drove another long crazy road and ended up at the right location this time. We took a boat through channels with unbelievable nature and animals on all sides to Tortuguero. This place was beautiful and incredible and very chill. The people are all really friendly and relaxed. There are hammocks all over the place (which I slept in one for like an hour and woke up to a dog sleeping next to me as my guardian and friend). We took a canoe tour with a local guide where we got to see everything from toucans to lizards, turtles to crocodiles. God's creation so amazes me and I took tons of pictures that I`ll have to share with you later).

Yesterday we spent the day in Cahuita, an adorable beach town farther south on the Caribbean coast. The beach is definitely my kind of beach as there`s jungle right next to the sand and sea. I walked along the beach for hours. Right along the path I saw lizards, a sloth, and monkeys. (On a little side note- seeing and hearing all the monkeys really makes me want a pet monkey, but unfortunately it's illegal and I'm told they make very bad pets). This little town is also really cool as it's pretty small and chill right on the water. People here are nocturnal and it's almost like a different culture as they speak a different language and everything. I like it a lot and can definitely see why it's a more touristy area.).

Later today Kim and I are being picked up by the Dozier clan and heading to Panama to spend Christmas day there. Where we're going I hear is even more beautiful and amazing then where I've already been. I'm pretty excited, though it will be a very different Christmas than I have ever had. I'll definitely miss spending the day with my family, but it will be a new experience.).

Thanks for reading this long update. I figured I owe you one as I've been bad at updating this. I'll try and put up more pictures and things soon. I put a few on the facebook event mentioned above, so definitely check it out. I love you all and thanks for your thoughts and prayers!).

1 John 3:16-18

I'm HERE!

I'm finally here! I don't yet have internet where I'm living, so right now I'm sitting at a cute little internet cafe not too far from my house. This is really the first time I've been able to just sit and yet I'm still having to get a lot of work done. There is so much to do. It makes sense though: starting a nonprofit is a ton of work! But it's so exciting and God is definitely working.

Here's what I've been up to over the past week (the first week of December):

  1. Arrived in Costa Rica

  2. Painted/helped build a chicken coup

      Drank coffee black with a bunch of Ticas (Costa Rican women)

      Began learning Spanish with the help of the Dozier kids

  3. Painted the center (a beautiful house that was donated to us to host groups, but needs a lot of work)

      Learned how to catch chickens...and let me tell you it's not easy

  4. Painted the house some more and sang Christmas carols in San Jose both in English and Spanish

  5. Painted the house some more (do you see a trend) and sat through a 3 hour conversation all in Spanish

  6. Went to the local community's church in Spanish

      Celebrated Jordan's 13th birthday

      Saw a monkey in my backyard, talked to it and named in George

  7. Woke up to a tarantula in my bathroom, which I caught at 6 in the morning

      Working a lot on organizing our spring break Spanish immersion trips (let me know if you may be interested!)

      Now probably off to paint the house some more...

Thanks so much for your awesome support and encouragement for me! You all are great :)