Costa Rica

A Little About Alajuelita: 
Alajuelita is a low-income, urban suburb of San Jose, which is the nation’s capital and the largest city in Costa Rica. Due to this, Alajuelita has many of the same challenges as low-income, urban environments in the United States.

According to the last census, the unemployment in Alajuelita is a staggering 65%. Drugs and alcohol are widely used and very inexpensive to buy. Prostitution is legal in Costa Rica and many of the women in Alajuelita work as prostitutes, which is often the family’s only source of income. It is not uncommon to walk down the street and run into someone that is "cracked out" and passed out in the middle of the sidewalk. Some of the houses we visit are smaller than one room in your house, with dirt floors and the walls made out of scrap tin, and wood. Making use of anything and everything they can find to make a home.

Another interesting thing in Costa Rica is the things I've come across that are SUPER expensive! Which begins to explain the poverty. Some examples...right now a gallon of gas-$6.50; sandwich meat $4/5 (not boars head); a block of cheddar cheese $10/12, shredded cheese $5; a stack of 3 plastic drawers $35; anything electronic is at least double the price here.

 For the children here schools are very over crowded and public education is not the greatest and the teachers do not get the proper resources they need. One of the things is really enjoy is going into the schools and helping with their English classes. It is a time to love on the children and help them develop their English skills. 

Costa Rica is definitely a beautiful place that also has it's challenges. But these challenges are never too difficult for God. There is a reason He has brought us here and with Him on our side we are doing what He needs us to help His people here in Alajuelita. It is such a blessing to see the lives that are transformed through His power!!!