Today I visited Hogar Luz which started out as a home for children with special needs but has grown with the children they had until they now have older adults as well. They have about forty some people, the youngest of which is about 3, the oldest somewhere around late forties.

Situated southeast of San Jose on more or less the foothill of Volcan Irazu, the home is well designed in the open architecture typical of this area. We found the residents in the patio, the porch/yard area, enjoying a beautiful afternoon. One little boy, Adam, pursued us in his wheelchair and I had the chance to take him out and play for a bit. Aged four, he is scheduled for his second surgery to correct spinal issues on the 18th of this month and will be in a full torso cast for three months. That will be hard for him to take as he enjoys being able to move around, something many at the home are not able to do.

We went with a couple who needed to scout the place for an upcoming service day for their youth-group. I had visited the place at Christmas but wanted to learn more about how they run things, are funded, etc. Having two siblings with special needs I have a more personal interest in such places, though they are still mentally and emotionally hard places to visit.

A pastor, also a licensed psychologist, who was also with us and whose church is quite involved at the home said, “Whenever I have a lot of problems, I come here for a while.”

It is definitely a place that demonstrates God’s love and yeah, it changes your focus in life.

- MWL

Last week Monday and Tuesday afternoons I tagged along with the directors of La Cumbre, the camp I've been helping at, to visit a few camp/adventure locations. Monday we visited a place called Fossil Land that bills itself as an educational adventure place. Rappelling, camping, caving, paintball, gym soccer, and hiking are some of the activities they have. Interesting place, carismatic owner with a pretty big vision.

Tuesday we visited Roble Alto, one of the first and largest christian camps in Costa Rica. It was interesting to see the difference that location makes in what the camp offers and also how the established networks, coupled with the directors' approach, forms and shapes the overall development.

~MWL