Day 33: Different. Heavy. Good.

Did you know that in 6 months, I will be married? Pretty dope. 

Today was very different than expected, but very good. 

Have you ever seen the movie, "500 Days of Summer?" I really like it, but a lot of people don't. Anyway, there's a scene where it shows a side-by-side version of what the protagonist expected and what really happened, and it's just really well done. Not happy, but. 

Anyway, I thought about typing out my own version of that for today, like, two columns or something. But I'm far too lazy for that. 

We were expecting that today the girls (team + church + H@ngout) would hang out and go swimming and do stuff together, while the guys (team + church + H@ngout) would hang out and go hiking and talk about Stuff together. The girls did their thing, but all of the H@ngout guys had to back out or change plans. Father's Day weekend is hard for some of the students who don't have positive relationships with their dads. Stuff like that makes me realize all over again how blessed I am to have a dad like mine. Loving, gentle, wise men of God who prioritize their families are hard to find, it seems. I feel so grateful that I got one, and I feel like that has me on good trajectory to become one myself.

So, the guys went to the CDI and we cleaned a little and organized and made plans for some projects we'll do tomorrow afternoon. Then, James and Lagos talked a bit about a really cool survey project that the CDI is doing and James started working to come up with a system of data management for them. He got a spreadsheet set up, but in a way that's both easy for them to fill out for future surveys, and will allow them to pull the data in ways that can be shown to UNICEF later. I got to help James enter some data, which was fun for me. It's so exciting that in one afternoon we've got a system set up that will help the church here for a while to come. 

It's really fun having James here! He brings good vibes and I love being on a team with him. He was on my first-ever FC mission trip (to Monterrey in 2009). He and I got to bond briefly over our dislike of the Piña Colada song today, lol.

We talked a little bit with 'Tavo, who is a friend of Lagos and the church here. He lives on the streets near his family's house, because he struggles with addiction. When he's sober, they let him stay with them, but not when he's using. He's a very kind and honest guy; he was upset when we saw him, because someone asked him to hold onto some money for them, and he couldn't leave until they came back to get it. 

Right now, we're all back at home. James and Izzy are doing something on their computers. I guess I am too! Matthew is cooking Gallo Pinto for the Father's Day Event tomorrow morning. I love that he's making a traditional Costa Rican dish for the Costa Rican (and Nicaraguan) dads. Matthew is so good at living in the culture here. 

So, no hiking, much typing. 

I feel a heaviness in my heart after reading some of these surveys though. It's for people recently arrived in Costa Rica who have young kids with them. Just reading the responses of how many recently-arrived families are living on the street with their kids is very heavy. Reading the responses of the Venezuelan couple who are 7 months pregnant and eating whatever food is given to them each day really shook me. Knowing the ways that the church here is working to help is encouraging, but the world is just a really hard place. This project reminds me of how I felt after our first 2 trips here. Jesus, please come back soon and help your church to know her place in helping others. 

Blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12).

PRAYERS PLEASE
-for the 40 families that got surveyed who are not sure what the future holds
-for everyone struggling with addiction
-for everyone who is hurting or angry for Father's Day
-for all the Fathers out there
-for our time tomorrow morning
-for the church here to be blessed and provided for
-for God's guidance for the church leaders here
-for favor with organizations and good connections

Sam preaching in Spanish

Sam's camera taking mediocre pictures