Today we met a lady who decided to find a higher calling. In 2004, with the above diagnosis, Bleu decided to go to Bible school. After 2 years, she decided that she needed even more, so she sold her things and left the USA for Costa Rica, more specifically the town of Jaco. Jaco, on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica, is well known for its waves and surfboarding. It was once a beach retreat for locals, but in the last 10 years or so, Americans and Europeans have over run the town. And with the foreigners, prostitution (which is legal in Costa Rica) also invaded Jaco.
Bleu's original plan was to set up a free daycare program for children of prostitutes, but that plan did not pan out. Instead, she came into an extremely poor part of town twice a week to color with some of the children. Currently (obviously she had more than 3 years to live!), she is minimally paid by a local church to offer a homework program 5 days a week. It is her hope to run a full school program within the community in the future. Many of the children don't go to school, especially the teenage boys who are lured by the "fame and fortune" that surfing apparently offers.
Can one person make a difference? Yes. Bleu has brought light and hope into her community. And if at any point in my journey, I am discouraged, wondering if I'll ever be able to make a dent in the world's problems, I will remember Bleu and be encouraged. So yeah, I'm feeling it, I'm feeling Bleu!
No comments:
Post a Comment