The Barretts in Costa Rica: Youth Service Project

April 6, 2009 16:17 by

Saturday I (Daniel) was invited to tag along with the local International Youth Group on a community service project. It sounded like fun hanging out with teenagers and we were going to help clean up a family's home. We traveled to the foot of the mountains, about 15 minutes away, and when we arrived at the family's home I could not believe my eyes. It was some of the worst living conditions that I have ever seen or smelled. The house was made of rotted wood boards and tin siding. It had 2 small beds, a chair, a dirt floor kitchen and a pit toilet that had filled and spilled over into the kitchen. Roberto, his wife, his daughter and 2 grandchildren live in the house. It was devastating. We worked all morning cleaning and removing trash from inside and around the house because $5,000 was raised by a missionary family to build them a new block house. The family was so blessed by all of the work that was done in the name of Jesus. I was so honored to be able to serve them with the love of Christ. The youngest grandson was about Thomas's age and the Lord put it on my heart to go back in the near future with some of Thomas's clothes for him. I also want to take Sarah and the boys back to minister to them as well. I will take some pictures of their new home to share with you while we are there. The Lord has given us such a desire to just serve those in need--whoever it is that God puts in our path. Please join me in praying for this family and for the thousands more like them who so desperately need their physical and spiritual needs met in a mighty way.