Faces of San Jose

 We went out into the city today to pray for people and share the love of Jesus in a practical way...by giving out juice and cookies. On our way back, Rodney spotted this lovely woman sitting in the middle of the Paseo Colon, or main shopping street, in downtown San Jose. We stopped to pray for her. She is 81-years-old and her name is Amanda. She has a house, but no family. She told us she walks to downtown to ask for money. Her feet were covered with a small cloth and she had an old, beat up pair of black shoes by her side. Rodney asked if she had any problems with her feet. She said no, other than they were very cold. She has no socks. So I ran over to one of the nearby stores, bought a pair of knee high fuzziness, and ran back out to where Rodney, David, and Nanis were praying for Amanda. I gently peeled back the cloth and put each sock on her tiny feet. Rodney encouraged us to pray blessings over her as the socks were going on. What a humbling thought to think that while I complain when the sock monster eats one of my socks in the wash (but I can just go get another pair out of my drawer), here is an elderly woman who could be my grandmother sitting outside on the hard cement with no socks at all! Please think of Amanda in your prayers tonight. That she would stay warm, sheltered, and well fed.

This is Marito (little Mario). He is very famous in downtown San Jose. He sits on the streets every day playing his 2 stringed guitar and singing to whoever will listen, also hoping to make enough money to support himself.

Every person has a story.

One thing I have learned while being in Costa Rica is to take time to listen to those stories. 

The stories of the forgotten ones. 

The ones who live on the streets 

or have been estranged by their families or have left their families out of anger, shame, or hurt. 

The ones who most people just walk by without a second glance.

These are just 2 stories among thousands.

Join with me in praying for them.

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 NIV