Volunteers

CALL OF GOD: God has called each of us to be involved in His Great Kingdom, and some He has called to be a part of the blessing of Hogar de Vida. A personal call of God to and for the ministry of Hogar de Vida is essential. You need to know, that you know, that you know God has called you, be it for one week, one month, one year or one lifetime. Being obedient to God’s call has its overwhelming blessing, but also its costs and struggles. Satan hates obedient children of God and does whatever he can to steal, kill and destroy. God’s call is your guarantee that you are in the right place, at the right time, for the right purpose regardless of your situation or surrounding circumstances.

SERVANT’S HEART: Serving is the reason Jesus came to earth, even to the point of death on the cross. We can do no higher honor than to follow Jesus’ example and serve those around us. A servant’s heart operates when it is convenient and when everything we had planned is interrupted. A servant’s heart doesn’t mean doing everything, always for everyone, but it does mean being available to be used by God, when He sees need.

FLEXIBLE ATTITUDE: Being flexible will take on a whole new definition. The missionaries’ beatitude is “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not break”. The culture in Costa Rica is different then the culture of your home country. Not only is the culture of Costa Rica different, so is the language, the social system and the lifestyle. Therefore many things may not make sense, be as you expected, or happen as planned. There are many positive aspects of the Costa Rican culture which is the reality of every culture. Looking at the differences as right and wrong, could increase your frustration. Considering the differences as just that, differences will enhance your enjoyment of the positive aspects.

OPEN MIND: An open mind avails you to give and receive all that God has planned for you. Possibly more important than what you give is what God desires to pour into you. God never misses an opportunity to allow His children to work out their salvation and become more like Him. You will have as many opportunities as you give the Lord opportunity.

TEACHABLE SPIRIT: If the culture, the humidity/heat, the bugs, the children, the dust, the language, or just life doesn’t cause you to exercise some amount of self-control or a deeper dependence on the Lord, pinch yourself to make sure you are still alive. God promises us that iron sharpens iron and this is most apt to happen in a setting outside your “comfort zone” of home. The Lord uses iron sharpening iron through a teachable spirit to develop in you more of who He created you to be.

WORK ETHIC: Most of the day is spent in hard, manual labor both in the homes and on the property. Cooking is mostly from scratch and takes the better part of the morning for the preparation of the main noon meal. Laundry is washed daily, hung to dry and folded or impeccably ironed. In a household of 12 to 15 laundry piles up quickly. The duty of laundry is even more demanding when there are babies. Cloth diapers are often used and need to be scrubbed by hand before washing them in the machine. If you don’t know what a cloth diaper is, ask your mom or grandmother. Cleaning of the homes is a daily routine that involves disinfecting the bathrooms, washing and drying dishes, and cleaning the ceramic floors. The outside work involves mowing the grass with walk behind lawn mowers, helping with the cows, painting, repairing and building, all done with out the convenience of a Home Depot Hardware warehouse down the street.

CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH: The national language of Costa Rica is Spanish and therefore the primarily language spoken at Hogar de Vida by the staff and children. Not only is it important to speak and understand Spanish, it is essential. All of life happens in Spanish. The more effectively you communicate in Spanish the less frustrated you and others will be.

LOVE FOR CHILDREN: Our kids live with us because their biological parents were unable to provide a healthy, safe and nurturing home. Their previous life experiences, coupled with their age and unique personality, add a dimension to child rearing that necessitates a God given love for children. Working in a children’s home is 24/7 and requires the strength of God’s love for children.

AVAILABILITY TO BE BLESSED: At times you may be tired, sore, frustrated, stretched or pushed beyond your preconceived limits. But for those who possess the availability to be blessed, they will be – to full and overflowing, hundred fold.

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