This week we went to work with children in a program called Casa Viva. This ministry is unique in that it is the only organization that the government, i.e. child services here in San Jose has had a long-term relationship and built trust with. PANI, the only governmental agency in Costa Rica that works as child services asks the children to be placed in the Casa Viva's foster families that have attained to the Casa Viva standards.
At Casa Viva, we were given charge of picking up and playing with 7 children from around the city, as well as to make a space and time for the 4 children and next week, the 5 month old baby that are from the same mother to see each other and be reunited. It has been a HUGE blessing to see how the children thrive on seeing each other. I was most impacted in talking to the 14 year old girl who has basically raised her younger siblings until they were all put into foster care. As one of my students was sharing with us today… he felt her pain and the burden of her life. She was initially sort of downcast and seemingly with low self-esteem but we were able to coax cautious smiles from her. By the end of our time together she had opened up and was smiling and sharing with me and some of the others with more confidence and trust. I found it interesting that both my student and I felt strongly connected or broken over the welfare of this girl. I could sense that she has suffered some sort of trauma to her emotional, spiritual and mental development. She is their life support and yet mentally seems like a kid herself, but physically she looks more like a grown woman. Pray that as we are there longer with them and building relationships and the students are learning more spanish, we can make an impact.
Pray by some miracle a family is willing and able to take in all 5 children, despite that it is almost impossible, i.e. for a Costa Rican family to have enough room, desire or money to take in the 5 together. They need each other. Scott, our school leader, wants to take them in. Eventually, I am sure they will start adopting kids. They just had their 4th. His compassion and heart for the kids inspires me. One day, I hope to be ready for that kind of responsibility as well. If you saw them, you would fall in love immediately just as we have after one afternoon spent getting to know them. Can’t imagine anyone abandoning such amazing, beautiful children in need.
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