Wednesday, November 30, 2011

"We've got so much, so much, so much....so much - clap - to be thankful for."

When you move to a new place, it takes a while to make friends, however in three and a half months, we have been blessed by some amazing people who have been very generous with us.  
When we moved here in August, we brought whatever fit into six 32-gallon plastic bins and three suitcases.  We weren’t able to bring everything that we wanted to, but God has provided.
We really appreciate how God has used new friends to give us everything that we need.  Whether loaned to us or donated, we are grateful that He has supplied us these items in addition to the furnished home that we rent:
  • Dish rack            
  • Coat hangers
  • Mirror for the bathroom
  • Fan
  • Twin bed for David
  • Sheets and a comforter set for our bed
  • Bathroom towels
  • Two desks and chairs for our home office
  •  Set of dishes, glasses, and other kitchen items (in addition to what came with the house)
  • Casserole dish
  • Toaster
  • Food
  • Clothing and accessories for me
  • Clothing for David
  • Toys and books for David
  • Car seat/booster seat
  • Step stool for David
  • Bedrails for David
  • One-year membership to PriceSmart (a store like Sam's and Costco)
  • Car

Monday, November 21, 2011

How the Other Half Lives

One day, Enrique, David, and I were playing in the park by our house when a woman approached us asking if we knew of anyone who needed a maid.  We quickly responded, “Us!” and she came over a few days later to begin.

I wanted to pay her fairly, but had no idea what that meant so I asked a friend.  She said that ₡1,500 (roughly $3.00) an hour would be good.  I couldn’t believe that such a low amount would be acceptable, but then my friend told me that if I consider the fact that ₡1,500 is double minimum wage here, then it’s a very fair amount.

Simona is 50 years old and has eight children.  She is from the neighboring country of Nicaragua and has lived in Costa Rica for 10 years.  She (and many, many other people) immigrated here to work towards a better life.

I haven’t been inside of her home, but I have learned a little bit about it and her lifestyle in general.  She doesn't have hot water.  She either takes a cold shower or boils water on the stove and then pours it in a bucket and dips some out to bathe.  I don’t remember how many relatives live with her, but she and her son sleep in a room the size of my laundry room.  Her granddaughter, who is a few months younger than David, doesn't even have those hard, durable plastic plates with cute characters on them.  She uses boring, disposable plates.  Simona's youngest son is 12 years old and he still lives in Nicaragua; his grandmother takes care of him.  Simona was hoping to go home for Christmas to see her son, but she’s going to have to wait until Easter.

Simona mentioned that her oldest son, 27 years old, was mugged about six years ago.  He took two suitcases to the bus station in San Jose and was going to travel to Nicaragua.  He wasn't hurt, but was robbed at gunpoint and everything was taken from him except for the clothes on his back.  He was wearing several gold chains and rings that were taken as well as his suitcases.  Besides being full of clothes, his luggage also contained gifts for his family back home.  Once he arrived in Nicaragua, his grandfather, Simona’s dad, had to sell one of their cows in order to buy his grandson some clothes.

This sad story puts things in perspective for me.  Yesterday, the sermon at our church was about how to be rich.  Not about how to become rich or earn more money, but how to be rich in spirit, to be giving.  The pastor gave a good definition of being rich.  It wasn’t defined by getting the latest gadget, going to Europe on vacation, or owning a second home.  It was defined as having more than you need.  Do you have more than one pair of shoes?  You’re rich!  There are thousands of people in the world who don’t even own a pair of shoes.  Do you have food left over after dinner?  You’re rich!  

You have so much that you have plenty to give away.  To bless others.  What do you have – clothing, food, toys, time, God’s love - that you can give to others?

Thursday, November 17, 2011

What can separate us from God's love?

When your baby is born, you have a deep love for him.  He did not do anything to deserve that love, but you love him because he is yours; he is a part of you.  He came from you. 

As a baby, he does not do anything to make you love him.  He does not pick up after himself.  He does not buy you flowers.  He does not take you out to eat.  He just lays there, eats, sleeps, and cries.  Cries and cries and cries.  But you love him anyway.  Especially when he is sleeping. 

When he grows older and does things that you do not like or says things that hurt you, you still love him.  Even though he does not understand the sacrifices that you have made for him and he takes you for granted, you love him so much.

Did you know that God loves you much more?  Even if you do not love Him back, He still loves you.  Even if you have chosen not to obey Him, He loves you.  If you have no desire to read the Bible and do not go to church, He still loves you.  Even if you do not believe in Hi, God loves you.  What you do or do not do does not quantify His love for you.  God loved us before we even heard of or knew His name.  Before we were born!

There are many verses in the Bible that show us how much God loves us, cares for us, watches over us, and longs for us to know Him, but I will mention just one – Romans 8:39.


"nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."