"Go As A Learner"

Bridget,  Marcelo, and Paul at Centro Emanuel.

Our first week of language school was punctuated by a large earthquake off the Pacific shore of Costa Rica. There was no damage at school, but classes were dismissed early. Close to the earthquake's center buildings and roads were damaged. The only fatality was the result of an elderly man's heart attack. Apart from the earthquake we enjoyed meeting our teachers and the other students. We are glad to be here!

Photographer, Dr. Alekcey, driver and journalist

We have been reading When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself and finding so many principles applicable to the work God is doing through La Asociacion Proyecto Emanuel (the Association Project Emanuel). Centro Emanuel is located in an isolated area, with rugged mountains, raging rivers and treacherous, narrow roads. We took a trip there at the same time a journalist and photographer were doing a story on the Cabécar people for La National, a Costa Rican newspaper. We tagged along while Dr. Alekcey gave them a tour.

Paul crossing recently built bridge.

People living in the region have identified some needs that the association is addressing. One is to build bridges making it safe to cross the many rivers. Several have been completed. All are built as a cooperative effort of the locals and the engineering staff of Hospital Clinica Biblica.

 

Owner of house and vegetable stand.

Another need is for economic development. Through small loans (micro economics) people can earn a living to support their families. One woman started a small restaurant. A farmer and his son used a loan to raise squash and another man is building a house with a vegetable stand next to it. As these entrepreneurs pay back the loans, funds become available for others in the community to begin businesses of their own.

Anatomy lesson in Dr. Judith's class.

Health care is another area of concern. Dr. Judith is training a team of Cabécar women from the reservation to go into isolated areas and address the high infant mortality among the Cabécars. One health station we visited had a team of four government workers in the area for a few days seeing patients. These visits are infrequent. Therefore, the association offers medical and dental help. Medical airlift is available to those with more serious conditions.

 

Student taking notes from the white board.

Another area to improve is education. At one school only six students attended classes a few years ago because the school was in disrepair. A short term mission team came in and put tiles on the floors, painted, improved the cafeteria. Now two dozen 1^st - 6^th graders attend. We visited the school and it still seems very austere compared to schools in San Jose. Few in the region attend high school because they are ill prepared and it is so far away.

 

Dr. Alekcey talking medicine.

Why do we share about things other than aviation and AeroVital? We are part of a team who's goal is to reach and assist people in remote regions of Costa Rica, in a variety of ways, with the hope of introducing them to Jesus Christ. One of the concepts of When Helping Hurts is, “go as a learner”. This is a guiding principal for how best to reach a people with the Gospel. Indeed, we have come to Costa Rica as learners.

Praise the Lord for:

• Time of refreshment in San Jose.
• Tuition for the first term of language school.
• New supporters.

Prayer for:

Beautiful Cabécar children

• Approval of permanent visa applications.
• Marcelo continues to grow and share what he is learning about the Lord.
• Increased Support - We have experienced a bigger cash drain from our ministry account than budgeted ($2980 for visa application & 30% more a month to live with host family).

Thank you to our financial supporters, prayer partners and support team. It is exciting to see our level of income grow “poco y poco” (little by little) as well as the level of interest in what we are doing.

Serving Him, Paul and Bridget