explain plz.

so i realized that i talk often about the precario and dont explain what it is. id like to explain this area so that you might understand and have a better grasp of the environment and how best to pray for it.

when i say, the precario, im refering to one of many precarios throughout costa rica. the specific one that i work with is called los cuadros de guadalupe. it has quite a reputation, ive noticed. when i tell people i work in los cuadros their eyebrows ALWAYS go up haha. anyway, the inhabitants of these precarios are squatters, all living a small area of land, thats owned by no one...talk about crazy...you could leave your shack one day, and come back to find some other family has moved in...the neighborhood is created of makeshift houses made of whatever can be found or bought. i would venture to say that MOST precarios residents are illegal foreigners to costa rica, such as nicaraguans or those seeking refuge in the country. los cuadros is mostly made up of costa rican families, which makes it unique. most of these precario neighborhoods are on the outskirts of san jose or other major cities. red viva, an organization working in costa rica, which i will explain later, works with various food kitchens throughout 12 precarios. when studying these areas, the directors of these food kitchens where asked about the issues facing children in their neighborhoods.. the most common responses were as follows...
1. trafficking and addiction to drugs, usually occuring within parental figures
2. insufficient police force
3. immigracion
4. little parental responsibility
5. unemployment
6. families with MANY kids
7. parental neglence
8. dropping out of school
9. domestic sale of liquor
10. insufficient economic resources
11. children not in school
12. prostitution
13. extreme poverty
14. deliquency
15. teenage and childhood pregnancy
16. inadequate sewage system
17. streets without asphalt

I say all of that not to get an emotional response or to make you feel sorry for these children and their families. i speak in truth as a petition to pray for los cuadros de guadalupe and so that when you see these childrens photos, you might be called to pray for their wellbeing. needless to say, this first year i will be working in the neighborhood but almost as an investigative journalist slash missionary...the reality of these peoples living is so dramatically different than mine, im taking my time understanding, relating, and partaking of this precario.

i hope that helps you better understand the word precario and what it looks like to live there.

one last point is about my wednesdays. along with un corazon samaritano, i have begun to work with red viva, another organization that does a ton here in cr and throughout the world. im part of one facite of this organization, which is a network of comedores or food kitchens for children in 12 different precarios. my work will be visiting these comedores and helping them organize, encourage them, and find out what their needs are and how red viva can help. im just estatic to be able to encourage them in what they do, because their work is extremely taxing...the work they do is extremely important for these neighborhoods because there is still an issue with malnutrition in costa rica. ill have to share some more research about this another day..my fingers tire....