Casa De Amor

Casa De Amor is the name of the program(mission) down here in Costa Rica. Currently there are 9 men in the program that can really only sleep 8. The guys have devotionals or bible studies 6 days a week from 7am-8:30. They work the rest of the day until 4pm or so. They do duties around the house where they are mostly cleaning up. There are contantly leaves falling and dirt being tracked in. There is never a shortage of work around the program. The program is right next door to a cemetary where all the addicts used to live for years. Just last year the police came in and kicked them out and burned up all the old junk that was left behind. Yes, they set the entire cemetary on fire! One of the objectives is for the program to be self-sufficient at some point in the future. Kim Stillwell is the man whom started the program and heads up the fundraising. He is constantly going around the city mainting relationships and keeping his face fresh on peoples minds. He has gotten many small contracts around the city that are mostly cleaning up the streets or maintining the cleaning of past projects. Unfortunately littering is quite popular here. The guys have bible study at night also where some local men/pastors come in and share with them. The guys have quite a bit of down time also where I have been fortunate enough to be around and tune in on learning spanish. The guys get to wath a movie or two throughout the week and once a week we go to play soccer or go to the beach and swim. Casa De Amor is a small humble house, but it is definetely special. Kim has had an arcitech draw up plans to build onto the program that already exists, only we are waiting on God to provide the funds. Also Wood Mizer has donated a saw mill that eventually will make it down here so the guys can learn a trade. There is a farm that has a whole bunch of teek wood that the guys will be chain sawing down and then cutting it into planks for the use of building homes. How do the men get involved with drugs???? Well, not much different from the states. Drugs are readily available and the dealers are ready to sell it for cheap. The police aren't active in stopping the selling of drugs, so it is pretty much as easy as just walking down the the beach front and getting some. They will ask you if you want anything too. I have been asked many times. From what I have observed there is not much for teens to do here at night....which can lead to searchng for new things to do for excitement. I have heard many stories where the drug dealers will like up a joint or a crack pipe for you if you want to try it. There are many addicts that have gotten hooked this way. The dealer would get them to use it many times....they would get hooked....then the dealer will get them to sell for them in return for their day fix. It is pretty disgusting to think that humans do this to one another. Dealers themselves were most likely in the same situation growing up. Dad sold drugs, uncle sold drugs, ect. ect. now they are in the family business. They have never known anything else, just business as usual. Guys get hooked on drugs for many reason....escape, peer pressure, stupidity, lack of guidance, hanging with the wrong crowd, bad decisions....thankfully God uses it to bring many to Him. That is what this program is for. It gives men the opportunity to form a relationship with Christ and learn how to be a disciplined follower who can go out into the community and be a productive member of society. Please write me if you have any further questions. Love Bryan