Laura - A Life of Ashes Turning into Beauty

Laura is a very tenderhearted, loving and sweet young lady who just turned 17 today. She has been at Renacer for almost three months and is doing fantastic in the program. She and I have a special relationship. I know you’re not suppose to have favorites but she is one of my favorites. When she sees me she just grabs on for a big hug and gives me a big kiss (which is the normal greeting here.)

Laura comes from a background of drugs, abuse and prostitution which has brought her to us. She found herself, like the rest of our girls afraid, searching for something to fill up that hole in her heart. So therefore she turned to the drugs and street lifestyle but was left empty.

Her grandmother took her to church and gave her that foundation that she needed that has helped to bring her to this moment of change. She also is a Christian and she loves Jesus! Laura impresses me at how many verses she has memorized and her knowledge of the Word. She thanks Jesus daily for bringing her here and giving her the opportunity to work through her life and addictions.

Laura has been taught that one has to be doing all the right things to have Jesus forgive her and to go to heaven. Her biggest fear is that she won’t go to heaven because she may not be doing all the right stuff when He returns. She also finds it hard to forgive herself, less alone accepting that Jesus’ forgiveness applies to her at all times. The beautiful thing is that she wants to learn and wants to accept these things but it’s going to require her to undo some of the teaching she’s grown up with. I just love that she is open to it.

Please pray for Laura as she continues in this process and that she will learn that Jesus’ forgiveness applies to her as well and she can find security in her relationship with Him. She has an amazing future ahead of her that will lead many to Christ. She is a passionate young lady who wants to help teens that are going through what she has gone through and is currently experiencing. Talk about an amazing testimony!

The Holidays

Okay this is late! But I’m trying to get caught up.

Christmas was very different this year but really sweet. We started the celebration the first weekend in December with a cookie exchange at my friend’s house in Tres Rios (where the Starbuck’s coffee is grown.) That was a fun time to meet other ladies and get some yummy cookies.

The week of Christmas we had a team from Kentucky come and celebrate Christmas with the girls at Renacer. There were 3 families that came and brought gifts for the girls and staff, played games, did crafts, and shared their love for Christ by loving these girls.

The weekend before Christmas, I went with a friend and a tica family out to Santa Anna (its right over one of the mountains about 20 minutes away in a place called The Valley of the Sun.) It was a cold and sprinkle type day in San Jose but just over that mountain the sun was shining and it was perfect weather for the pool. We had a BBQ tico style and spend much of the day there. Then we headed back into the cold and sprinkles of San Jose. We changed out of summer clothes and put on sweaters (should have brought our jackets) and headed to Central (down town) to watch the Christmas Light Parade.

Christmas Eve was a warm one, even at the top of the mountain with the girls. We celebrated Christmas Eve with the girls with a rally. They played in the mud, in water, and whatever else you could think of. It was such a fun time. After work, I went over to a dear friend’s home Marge Long and spent the evening with her family. We played Phase 10 and ate some yummy food.

Christmas Day was a hot one until afternoon. I was a little sad that morning thinking of people at home with a white Christmas, but I was thankful for the families I had here to love on me and include me in with their families. That morning I went over to another friend’s house and spent the morning with their family playing games as well. Then I went back to the Long’s house in the afternoon for dinner, which was so yummy! We even had pumpkin pie, which is a rare thing here to have.

Then New Year’s Eve I was back out in Tres Rios with their family. Tres Rios is located further out in the mountains and there’s a view of a small valley. Here, all of December, the Costa Ricans celebrate with fireworks and New Year’s Eve is without exception. We went outside and watched fireworks going off all around us and in the valley. It was quite incredible. I didn’t know which way to look. They went off for over an hour or so. It was crazy but beautiful! Next time I want a spot overlooking the entire San Jose Valley, now that would be a site to see!

Over all, the holidays were special and sweet. Though, I greatly missed being at home and in the snow. It’s just awesome to see how God provides all we need at all times. I hope all of you had a great holiday season and an awesome year ahead!

Wendy Advances

(If you haven’t read the story about Wendy yet you can click on the tag below called Wendy to read her story.)

Wendy is the first girl I have told you about (the first of many that you will read about.) I am so pleased to tell you that a week and half ago, Wendy advanced to the next phase of the program, which also means that she changed cabins. What a great success for her! She did this phase in the minimum time that one can. She even passed the most advanced girl in the cabin. (The most advanced in a cabin is the one who has the most time in that cabin, but they advanced by accomplishing their goals for each phase.)

Wendy is the girl there that just makes me so impressed. Every day she looks more and more like a woman, growing in her faith, spending more time laughing and cracking jokes. It’s amazing to watch the transformation that God can do in a life when we allow Him to. I’m so excited to see who she grows into being and even more excited to see her reunite, at the end of the process, with her son and the mom that she be to him.

Praise God for all He does in lives and that He doesn’t leave us in our mess and troubles! He will rescue us! We must cry out to Him and hold on to Him! Thanks for your prayers for Wendy!