When we got back Ben was interviewed for a radio station in Nebraska. Its a short 60-second clip check it out:
Showing posts with label costa rica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label costa rica. Show all posts
24 June 2010
14 October 2009
Andando Por Las Calles (Walking the Streets)
I spent last Tuesday in one of the poorest neighborhoods of San José, Costa Rica. As soon as we arrived I began talking with a pastor who works in the neighborhood on a regular basis. He turned to us and said:
Sure enough, the entire time we were in the neighborhood these two children would wander past us on a regular basis, showing up for a meal the pastor offers to children of the neighborhood every Tuesday and sticking around for the afternoon bible club. I never did get the opportunity to talk directly to these children as they often shirked from attention and kept to themselves. But the image of those two children will always be with me. This little girl and her brother are the type of children for whom Casa Viva is offering hope.
It is children like these who are sleeping in a bed, loved by a family, eating three meals a day, and attending school. When I think about these two children who continue to wander the streets of a very dangerous neighborhood, my prayer is that God would intervene on their behalf and cause the local government and local churches to act on their behalf.
¿Ve a estos dos niños? Su padre los abandonó y su madre trabaja de cinco en la mañana a siete cada día. Los vi andando y andando por las calles cada dia.As I looked at these two children, a 5 year-old girl and a 3 year-old boy. my heart was broken. I couldn’t believe it. These two little children, fending for themselves on the street every day from 5am-7pm!?! Could it be true? How could a father and mother be in such a desperate situation that they let their children wander through such a neighborhood all day?
Translation: Do you see these two children? Their father abandoned them and their mother works from five in the morning to seven each day. I see them walking and walking the streets every day.
Sure enough, the entire time we were in the neighborhood these two children would wander past us on a regular basis, showing up for a meal the pastor offers to children of the neighborhood every Tuesday and sticking around for the afternoon bible club. I never did get the opportunity to talk directly to these children as they often shirked from attention and kept to themselves. But the image of those two children will always be with me. This little girl and her brother are the type of children for whom Casa Viva is offering hope.
It is children like these who are sleeping in a bed, loved by a family, eating three meals a day, and attending school. When I think about these two children who continue to wander the streets of a very dangerous neighborhood, my prayer is that God would intervene on their behalf and cause the local government and local churches to act on their behalf.
16 August 2009
Comparing US vs Latin America // Child Abuse
I do not know how many of you get the newspaper... my wife will tell you I am one of few people my age who read it on a regular basis. But one thing struck me yesterday. On one page of yesterday's Chicago Tribune three of the attached four articles were on the same page.
One question I get a lot is, "Why aren't you working here in the US? There are children in horrible circumstances down the street, facing physical and sexual abuse, negelect, etc."
This is a tough question because it is true children are suffering around the world. For the most part here in the United States these children have advocates fighting for them: teachers report physical abuse, police respond to domestic violence, local governments have taken a stand for children. On the other hand in developing countries the cries of these children often go unheard.
As an example of this it is reported that 80,000 babies die of physical abuse in Latin America and has a population of 569 million. 80,000!
It is estimated that similar deaths in the US total 1,200 (population 304 million).
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Aug 5 Chicago Tribune
Aurora woman gets 9 years for abusing son, 3
Tribune staff report
...in June to one count of aggravated battery to a child and two counts of domestic abuse. She was sentenced July 29 by Kane County Judge...at the insistence of her boyfriend, brought the child to a hospital two days later for treatment. ...
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August 5, 2009 |story
Mich. man, 31, arrested in sex assault on boy, 11
Associated Press
...was arrested Wednesday. The charges including first-degree criminal sexual conduct stem from a report of an assault on the child on July 11. The man was being held in the Clare County jail. He faces up to life in prison if convicted. Harrison...
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August 5, 2009 |story
Ind. officer accused of taping sex acts with girl
Associated Press
...2008. Forty-five-year-old Lawrence Ross Frame was charged Wednesday with possession of child pornography and five counts of production of child pornography. He faces 15 to 30 years in prison on each production count and up to 10 years...
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August 5, 2009 |story
SC man charged in Iowa baby's death seeks delay
Associated Press
A former Iowa City man accused of killing his infant son nearly four years ago wants his trial delayed. Brian...trouble breathing at Dykstra's home in Iowa City. The child was taken to a hospital and died the next day. Dykstra wasn...
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One question I get a lot is, "Why aren't you working here in the US? There are children in horrible circumstances down the street, facing physical and sexual abuse, negelect, etc."
This is a tough question because it is true children are suffering around the world. For the most part here in the United States these children have advocates fighting for them: teachers report physical abuse, police respond to domestic violence, local governments have taken a stand for children. On the other hand in developing countries the cries of these children often go unheard.
As an example of this it is reported that 80,000 babies die of physical abuse in Latin America and has a population of 569 million. 80,000!
It is estimated that similar deaths in the US total 1,200 (population 304 million).
----------
Aug 5 Chicago Tribune
Aurora woman gets 9 years for abusing son, 3
Tribune staff report
...in June to one count of aggravated battery to a child and two counts of domestic abuse. She was sentenced July 29 by Kane County Judge...at the insistence of her boyfriend, brought the child to a hospital two days later for treatment. ...
----------
August 5, 2009 |story
Mich. man, 31, arrested in sex assault on boy, 11
Associated Press
...was arrested Wednesday. The charges including first-degree criminal sexual conduct stem from a report of an assault on the child on July 11. The man was being held in the Clare County jail. He faces up to life in prison if convicted. Harrison...
----------
August 5, 2009 |story
Ind. officer accused of taping sex acts with girl
Associated Press
...2008. Forty-five-year-old Lawrence Ross Frame was charged Wednesday with possession of child pornography and five counts of production of child pornography. He faces 15 to 30 years in prison on each production count and up to 10 years...
----------
August 5, 2009 |story
SC man charged in Iowa baby's death seeks delay
Associated Press
A former Iowa City man accused of killing his infant son nearly four years ago wants his trial delayed. Brian...trouble breathing at Dykstra's home in Iowa City. The child was taken to a hospital and died the next day. Dykstra wasn...
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22 April 2009
08 October 2008
Casa Viva // Autumn Newsletter
The latest Casa Viva newsletter should be hitting your mailbox this week! If you want a sneak peak of the newsletter you can download the Autumn 2008 Welcome Home.
In it you'll find a great article by Jill Aspegren on the importance of connecting children to families and communities. Lack of connection is one of the biggest faults of orphanages and institutions.
When Children turn 18 they are shown the door in institutional settings, whereas at Casa Viva children develop connections with extended family members, church communities, brothers and sisters. They have a place to go home to celebrate Christmas the rest of their life, they have an uncle who owns a tienda down the street that might give them a job.
In it you'll find a great article by Jill Aspegren on the importance of connecting children to families and communities. Lack of connection is one of the biggest faults of orphanages and institutions.
When Children turn 18 they are shown the door in institutional settings, whereas at Casa Viva children develop connections with extended family members, church communities, brothers and sisters. They have a place to go home to celebrate Christmas the rest of their life, they have an uncle who owns a tienda down the street that might give them a job.
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