“I touch the future. I teach!” Christa McAuliffe
One week from today, the Utah Team will be settled in Copey and growing acquainted with some of the best folks they will ever want to meet. Their first day will include spending the morning at the Learning Center working with volunteers and interacting with the students. They will arrive in Costa Rica next Sunday morning and will reach Copey later in the afternoon. 
Getting to Copey will provide some adventure with the traffic, roads, and the amazing scenery along the way. Once in Copey, one of the most striking sights to see will be the burned down church located in the center of this small community.
Carolyn Johnson, Principal of Meadow Elementary School leading the others to Copey, commented in a recent note to me… “I was telling my son about our trip and he was stunned by the generosity you all display. He has a 16-year-old daughter and expressed that he would love to see her involved in something like this. I am retiring this year, but would absolutely love to have an opportunity to get some young people involved, if you think that would ever be a possibility.”
I shared with Ms. Johnson our deep belief in “possibilities”. “Friends” are true “Possibilitarians”. Most things we have done started out as only a “possibility”. I am looking forward to her retirement! In the meantime, we hope to build a strong partnership with the school to provide student interactions for educational purposes. 
And, let’s not forget the purpose of their trip to Copey. Ms. Johnson, teachers, and students in her school led the way for the collection of school supplies and materials for the Learning Center. The quantity of this collection is huge and four educators will personally deliver the goods to the Copey Learning Center.
Next week’s Post will provide an updated report on the delivery and hopefully some great photos will be available. Until then, we wish them well and safe travels.
Larry and Cindy Windes
Copey and its surroundings has some really great folks with unbelievable talents. Recall Larry and Cindy. The proposed new Learning Center which is currently on hold was designed by Larry, a transplanted retired architect from Phoenix. Now, Larry is busy on a new project…“Fold-A-Mansion”.
This unique house under construction near Copey has great potential. It has all the usual accommodations any home would have. Larry and Cindy will host the Utah Team next week for a few hours and will treat the team with a visit to the construction site.
They have resided in the area for about 10 years and have a great understanding of the many facets of Costa Rican life, culture, and its people. Hearing the American perspective on Costa Rica from this couple will be a significant and enjoyable experience for the Utah Team. Oh yes, if you want to know more about the “Fold-A-Mansion” project, let me know.
Final Words!
Each day I am reminded how messed up this world is and see little ahead to be optimistic about. The news is full of accounts showing the dark side of folks and only occasionally something positive slips into the news day. At times it all just seems too hopeless to do anything that matters or makes a difference.
Then, there comes this ray of light. My sanity is saved. I do not get lost in the craziness confronting us each day . I can get temporarily distracted but I do not get lost because I have seen this project touch others in ways I never anticipated. It is very humbling and I have come to see “Friends” or friendships as engines that can do things. These engines are fueled in a large part by our “agape” relationship and purpose.
“Friends” have become involved in many different ways. There are volunteers in the Learning Center, workers participating in the “Pathway Project”, supporters for our scholarship fund and other fundraising efforts, those who keep us on their praying lists, those who apply their positive energies to help us succeed, and so many I do not know much about all making up the family of “Friends”. I think the attraction is because we do share the hope of a community and believe we “can make a difference”. And…We Do!
Yes, you are right Arthur, we do make a positive difference. It is important for us to shine a light on the darkness that we see and hear often in today’s world. I sing a few verses of “This Little Light of Mine” often and make up verses of my own. I was reminded of one of those verses when I saw the two girls in the photograph….”These bright eyes of mine, I’m gonna let them shine.” We have hope and light ahead as we witness in these young children already making such a difference. Thanks to Ms. Johnson, the students, faculty, and staff for making a positive difference. Keeping the faith!