We spent our 4th of July in classes during the morning. In the afternoon we had a Independence Day party at the school. It was a fun afternoon spent roasting meat on the grill at the school, eating with one another and enjoying one another’s company. It was a lot of fun.
But what I really want to talk about is service. There is a family (fellow students that started the same time our family started) at the school that has served continually throughout the year, working harder than the rest of us for the sake of all of us. The Hetzel family has consistently worked on the behalf of the students and faculty since they arrived in Costa Rica. Richard is the campus expert on technology and administration, and Krista has worked for two trimesters as social events coordinator (by title for one trimester, and by helping a lot the next). Their entire family will show up for an event two hours before the rest of us to set up and then stay an hour afterward to clean up. Richard has helped create a technology room on campus, worked on the sound system for the chapel, and helped where needed within the administrative areas. One Saturday Richard and their son Nathan cleaned the school gym, which, I imagine, was a grungy job. We all noticed the gym needed cleaning, but one person did something about it. When the rest of us were going through culture shock and feeling selfish, they have pushed through their selfishness by being generous with their time and energy. I am reminded that God told us to “Love our neighbors as ourselves” and that the greatest of those among us are the ones who humble themselves in the service of others. The Hetzels have served behind the scenes without much recognition or acclaim. I have learned a lot about sacrifice from watching how the Hetzel family served the rest of us. Thank you Hetzels!
cairesonmission 