Summer 2011

HomeGo Local!

TM

It tastes better. We know and understand this in the tropics— it’s pretty difficult to eat bananas in Chicago when you’ve experienced them in Costa Rica. Locally grown solutions are closer to the heart of the community, the touch and feel of the neighborhood. Children learn to live as part of their community, not separate.

It costs less. The international community knows that you can find most anything in Costa Rican markets these days, you will just have to pay the price for the imported goods. Local solutions for children are significantly less expensive—no buildings to build, no major investments to protect. The value is in the people, not the facilities.

Local children. Local families. Local churches.

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It shifts the responsibility. The local government has the legal responsibility, the local church holds the Biblical responsibility for children in need. Local solutions allow outside help to work behind the scenes—encouraging and motivating, but keeps outside influences from assuming all responsibility. It opens up spaces for God to act. We believe in the spiritual discipline of hospitality, we recognize that God flows into situations where we welcome the stranger in the name of Christ. We have countless stories where opening a front door has led to the transformation of not just children, but of the Casa Viva families, churches and others.

It connects children to living communities of people. Healthy families are connected to communities—their work, their church, their neighborhood. When a child needing care enters the family community, they gain access to the scope of their alliances. They become known, their names and stories become specific, and their futures shine brighter.

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Five Reasons Why It’s Important to Go Local:

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Test the SoilYou have to know what will grow. Our local staff started an organic process of understanding what the unique elements would be to care for children in families in Costa Rica. Our pilot started to take root, and as it did—we watched and tweaked and listened and discussed and learned together.

Clear the LandEver worked to remove a big tree stump from a field? It’s a process. Deeply entrenched root systems spread out along lines you didn’t imagine existed. Policies and protocols. Philosophies and research. Work on the frontier isn’t easy—every issue becomes a question, every difficulty a discussion that needs resolution. Our biggest obstacle? Inserting a new solution into old ways of thinking.

Farming takes vision and faith. From day one, all the work is done with the harvest in mind. Our pioneering vision? To see a pivotal shift take place in the care of children who do not have a safe place to sleep. Our dream is to see those children connected with local families who are connected to local churches. Casa Viva set this work in motion over seven years ago to begin clearing a small plot of land.

Plant for the HarvestThe story of Casa Viva is long and involved, it twists and it turns, but the answer is YES. Yes to engaging churches on behalf of children. Yes to inviting families to open their front doors. Yes to working with the local government. Yes to connecting children to families in the name of Christ. Yes. Yes. Yes.

All the Elements for Life

Casa Viva is the only foster care

Remarkably, Casa Viva is the only foster care program

in all of Central America.By Jill Aspegren

A Local ChurchGod calls his people to be a body of believers that make a di�erence in the world, people who are salt and light.

A Local Family�ey are the solution. �eir key

is an unwavering commitment to plant a seed of hope in the heart

of a child. �e child’s greatest need is connection, and our

families have plenty to give.

A Local StaffJesus didn’t go to the lofty places. He went to the streets, to the �shermen and tax collectors. Jesus was the quintessential “local.”

The Child’s Biological Family

If God can transform this family, and the child can be

restored back to her own family, everybody wins.

Local GovernmentCasa Viva both respects our partners in child welfare, and encourages them to act in the best interests of children.

The Seed ProvidersPioneering e�orts require an investment. Together with you, we are providing enough momentum to allow a local solution to �ourish.

God’s DesignThat we should care for widows and orphans is God’s idea. He sees those on the margins, children in danger, and asks

his people to see them too. “God places the lonely in families.”- Psalm 68 vs. 6

God Brings the GrowthIn the end, the essential elements remain in God’s hands – the sun and rain and wind. We work diligently, professionally and with love, but it is God

who brings about transformation. It’s always a sense of joining with God to accomplish His purposes, and being amazed by the life He creates.

A Picture of the Casa Viva Solution

MarcosYeryNuria

EduardoCarlosLupita

AlexanderFernando

MiguelKarinaHenryLilianaSaraHazel

AlejandroRuthJosé

ManuelCarmenTatianaOscarNormaVirginia

LuisGrettelValeriaMiltonRicardoMarvinCristianYolandaTanniaStevenDaniloPedro

MonicaMarielosSusanaPatricia

MarianelaAdriánMartaDiandraMayra

These names are just a few of the children, families, church

coordinators, government partners, biological families and

staff of Casa Viva Costa Rica.

Remarkably, Casa Viva is the only foster care program

in all of Central America.

A Local ChurchGod calls his people to be a body of believers that make a di�erence in the world, people who are salt and light.

A Local Family�ey are the solution. �eir key

is an unwavering commitment to plant a seed of hope in the heart

of a child. �e child’s greatest need is connection, and our

families have plenty to give.

A Local StaffJesus didn’t go to the lofty places. He went to the streets, to the �shermen and tax collectors. Jesus was the quintessential “local.”

The Child’s Biological Family

If God can transform this family, and the child can be

restored back to her own family, everybody wins.

Local GovernmentCasa Viva both respects our partners in child welfare, and encourages them to act in the best interests of children.

The Seed ProvidersPioneering e�orts require an investment. Together with you, we are providing enough momentum to allow a local solution to �ourish.

God’s DesignThat we should care for widows and orphans is God’s idea. He sees those on the margins, children in danger, and asks

his people to see them too. “God places the lonely in families.”- Psalm 68 vs. 6

God Brings the GrowthIn the end, the essential elements remain in God’s hands – the sun and rain and wind. We work diligently, professionally and with love, but it is God

who brings about transformation. It’s always a sense of joining with God to accomplish His purposes, and being amazed by the life He creates.

A Picture of the Casa Viva Solution

P.O. Box 120Wheaton, IL 60187(630) 427-4040info@casaviva.orgFollow the Casa Viva Blogs.Visit the New Casa Viva Web Site.www.casaviva.org

“She’s delightful!”

Follow the Local News

TM

A Profile of One of Our Favorite Locals

Her smile says it all. She’s traveled the Casa Viva journey from almost the beginning. She leads our holistic care team as they do it all—supervising the care of children, walking alongside the Casa Viva families, encouraging the biological families, engaging the church response, and interacting with the local government offices. She’s standing on the edge of a whole new world of care for children in her region. She can see it off in the distance and daily makes the choice to plant the seeds, care for the young growth, and hope for the harvest. Her name is Sonia Barrientos, and we’re thrilled to have her on our team.

Seed the Local SolutionIn 2011, Casa Viva Costa Rica will achieve a major milestone – the majority of our funding will come from local Costa Rican sources instead of international sources. That’s thrilling.

However, the dollar amount represented in the 43% for 2011 is still larger than the need from the year before, because the whole pie keeps growing as we care for more children.

Would you consider a special gift to partner with Casa Viva as we create an entirely new, local solution for children separated from their own families?

We thank you for partnering with us for the children.

Casa Viva Costa Rica 2011 Budget

Casa Viva Costa Rica 2010 Actual

Follow the stories of children, families, churches and the Casa Viva staff as we put into practice the

paradigm shifting ideas of Casa Viva.

cvcr.casaviva.org

43%International Sources

33%Local Government

18%Local Churches

6%Local Donations

52%International Sources 12%

Local Churches

1%Local Donations

35%Local Government

Working with children at risk is first a spiritual work. Examine your own heart

and be refreshed for the journey.

www.casavivagreenhouse.org

Walk with Us Daily on the Casa Viva Blogs

Casa Viva Costa Rica Casa Viva Greenhouse