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I will be sleeping in a boys dorm for 7 nights with the mission team from Nashville on this leafy children’s home campus this week. Not sure yet about Wifi or internet. Atenas, Costa Rica
Last Day of Festival de Vida
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| When I got there the ropers from the nearby agricultural university were doing roping trick – very good! Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| FlashBack, the gringo oldies rock band played for two hours, 1-3 – Then others but I’m gone. Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| The original benefactor of the food festival. Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| You paid 3,000 Colones (about $5) and got to sample 20 different international food entries & vote on the best. Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Individuals & restaurants donated small portions of food to taste. Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
For more photos of food and other vendors, see my gallery 2018 Festival de Vida
At Hogar de Vida Today
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| On Ruta 135 going north out of Atenas is this B&W Sign pointing to (maybe 500 meters on this road) Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| I failed to photograph the entrance sign because I’m attracted to the park-like atmosphere inside! Next time I will include that attractive sign & more of the campus. Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| One of the children’s’ cottages with a worker hanging out the laundry. Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Another children’s cottage on campus. Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Playground Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Rancho, which is what we call a picnic pavilion or covered dining/meeting patio here. Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| 8:30 AM Prayer Meeting every morning with all children, staff and volunteers. The table & chairs is for the children’s snack time after devotional. Breakfast is much earlier! Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica |
After the prayer meeting or devotional time this morning I spent time with Matt, the director in black shirt in center right of above photo. It was good to get acquainted and learn more about how they love and care for their capacity of 35 children (always full). Most of the children have been abused and legally removed from their parents, some of which are in jail or dead. The kids are babies to younger elementary school children, most of which will be adopted within 6 months to a year, though some are not as fortunate and will stay here longer. Two siblings in today’s group will leave next week to live with their adopted new parents in the country of Italy. Wow! They go all over the world!
I met two local American retiree men like me volunteering today and I filled out the paperwork to be a volunteer one day a week. I have eliminated some of my other volunteer jobs for now, so this will be my new one and a good preparation for welcoming my friends from Nashville in April who are coming on a “Mission Trip” here to work in the children’s home. So Nashville guys, keep reading the blog as I plan to share something about Hogar de Vida at least one day a week in my posts except for weeks I travel away from Atenas. 🙂
For more about Hogar de Vida, see their Facebook Page.
Or the Costa Rica portion of their Homes of Life Website.
Copied from their website:
Our Program
Homes of Life oversees two distinct homes for children: one in Costa Rica and one in Guatemala. The missionary work of each home has its own unique objectives and challenges, but both return abundant blessings to the children who are cared for there, as well as to those who generously support this important ministry.
Many of these children arrive completely destitute, without a family’s care or the basic provisions that so many people in the world take for granted. Often the victims of abuse or neglect, the children’s needs are met by the patience and hard work of caring men and women at Hogar de Vida y Nutriciónin Guatemala and at Hogar de Vida para Los Niños in Costa Rica, and by the important support of the child sponsorship program.
We invite you to partner with Homes of Life as God’s loving compassion is demonstrated daily. Consider participating in our child sponsorship programs and spread the word about Homes of Life.
Or go to the website for more information.
Nashville Seniors to Help Children’s Home Here
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| One view of Hogar de Vida campus, Atenas, Costa Rica |
I was recently contacted by a fellow senior adult in the church I attended in Nashville, First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN USA. They were interested in doing a mission trip to Costa Rica and so I contacted the director of the Hogar De Vida children’s home here in Atenas and in short the group from Nashville will be coming in April 2018 for a week of assorted service activities at the children’s home. If you are in First Baptist Nashville and are interested, talk to anyone on the SAALT Council or to the project coordinator Fred Linkenhoker.
If you would like to know more about the non-denominational private Christian children’s home, Hogar de Vida:
Facebook page of Hogar de Vida:
https://www.facebook.com/
And their web page is actually a Costa Rica section inside the web page of their larger program of children’s homes in multiple countries:
The work is being directed & coordinated by the children’s home and I am just serving as one of the team members and sort of a local host to my old friends in Nashville, especially if some decide to stay over for some Pura Vida tourism in Costa Rica.
Speaking Spanish is not required, though very helpful if you do! 🙂
Learn through on-the-ground moments about the world beyond your zip code. ~Samaritan’s Feet Website
Chili Fiesta
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| Billboard at entrance and in town advertising Atenas Chili Fiesta. |
This gringo-sponsored fund-raiser for Hogar de Vida children’s home is in its 8th year and a big help for the Christian home for abused and abandoned children in Atenas, down the road from my apartments. The chili cook off is a major event of the day, but as a parking and traffic cop I did not get to taste, vote or participate in the chili, the multiple concerts or the many vendors, games, raffles, bingo, etc. But I’m glad I got to be a volunteer helper and thoroughly learn one more Spanish phrase, “Directo y a la derecha.” (Straight ahead and to the right.) as I sent people to the parking lot or “parqueo.”
I did get a lunch break and tried Costa Rica BBQ Pork with coleslaw and baked beans, none of which is like we had in Tennessee, but good. The slaw was tangy and delicious, the beans so so, the BBQ sauce sweet and good, and the pork very good.
Since I don’t have photos of the fiesta activities, here’s some of traffic, oxcart at entrance, and flowers in a yard next to the Sabana Larga (fairgrounds and bull fight/rodeo arena). I’m tired, since I worked two shifts, but it was a good day and glad I helped!
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| A Motorcycle Club Came to the Fiesta And a lot of those dreaded Rich American’s SUVs. |
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| The Famous Painted Oxcarts Add Color to Many Events Here Most Are Made & Painted in Nearby Sarchi Village And lots of taxis at left! |
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| Red Ginger Flowers Along One of the Perimeter Roads I Worked Today. In someone’s yard! I frequently photograph yard flowers. |
This is one of, if not the biggest gringo event in Atenas each year. Though a lot of Ticos participated in producing it and attending, it was definitely a gringo event with Texans trying to dominate the Chili Cook Off and old white people in charge of everything. I finally met a lady from Nashville, Tennessee yesterday, my first to meet from anywhere in Tennessee. Fun! But I’ve already forgot her name! And I’m probably known for more for my accent than anything else here, at least among the gringos. At events like this I see people I know from all my circles now: the apartments, church, Spanish Class, and local Tico friends. So it was fun to be in the middle of it and start becoming a part of the Atenas community! There is a good chance I will stay here long-term.
Front Drive & Back Neighbors
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| Front Drive from My Balcony – Fountain by Manager’s House & Pool |
Today I stayed home and did laundry except for a training meeting for volunteers at the Atenas Chili Fiesta tomorrow. It started as a small chili cookoff by expats here in Atenas 8 years ago to raise money for Hogar de Vida, a Christian children’s home (orphanage) for abandoned and abused children just one block from our apartments. How neat!
Because I don’t speak Spanish well enough to work booths requiring communication, I was put on the Security Team. We will be posted around the perimeter of the Sabana Larga (bull fight arena and fair grounds facility). The only ones who showed up for the “training” was me and 5 teen boys from the New Summit Academy which is located directly behind our apartments. I hear their music and chatter some evenings but always before their 10 PM quiet time. I have often wanted to meet them or find out more about the school. I did today!
It is a great special needs high school for just 30 students, all from the states, and I’m sure at a significant price for the parents. It is kind of a follow up school for wilderness programs like Outward Bound (as it was called in my day) and they are quite involved in the local community by volunteering like this and at places like Hogar de Vida. Those who know my relationship with special need schools know that I am excited to live next door to another really good one. Me and the boys will have fun being security together for tomorrow’s fiesta. Here’s the view of New Summit Academy from my back balcony or kitchen window and bedroom window. Now I’ve met these neighbors! And I already like them!
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| Some Roofs of New Summit Academy behind My Apartment seen through our Bamboo Forest & Where I Photograph Birds! |
Another good day in Atenas, Costa Rica, where I keep finding good things happening in the land of Pura Vida! Pure Life!