The next Chapter & Big Toy!!!

What does it hold?  Where will we live?  What jobs will we find and what direction?  So many unknowns face us as we move back to the Northwest... many more than when we decided to swap continents two years ago. 

One thing we know for sure, there is still much to do for our girls.  Before we left Santiago, we worked closely with Sister Rosita and a wonderful handyman, Maestro Hugo.  The great project? (drum roll please) A Playground toy for the back patio at the hogar.           YEAH!!!! :)


I strongly believe that one of institutions biggest struggles is providing stimulating environments for their kids.  Lack of climbing toys, photographs, and access to books are common, if not the norm.  It is no different at the Hogar.  The girls do not have a safe place to play, climb and be kids. They use what ever is in their environment, and hang upside down with only bricked patio to break their fall. 


Our first inspiration for the Big Toy, came last December.  An amazing family, with big hearts, donated enough money for Christmas that helped us dream bigger than we had ever before.  We wanted to do something fun with the money, and just for the girls... after all, it was a Christmas gift!  In January, at the peak of summer vacation Matt and I started talking with Maestro Hugo.  After a lot of research into playground safety standards, and consulting of many 5, 6, 8 and 12 year olds (as well as a few staff and directors) we had a good plan. But, best laid plans... can easily be thwarted by the 5th largest earthquake in recorded history. Playground plans were put on hold. 

Well, we're back!  And we're hoping God is smiling on our dreams.  We would love you to help us make this dream a reality for these special girls.  We have $600 and are now asking for your help to raise another $1400.

Here's the break down:

* Platform 1.2 meters tall, and 1.6 x 1.2 meters wide

* Tobagan Slide
* 2 meter long hanging bridge, ending at a Fireman's sliding pole
* Wood and chain climbing 'ladder' leading to platform
* 2 bars for swinging/pull-ups
* Play steering wheel on platform
* wooden rung ladder up to platform
* Roof and hand railings for the platform

The area for the big toy is currently a slanted slope with a small patch of grass 5.8 meters by 4.7 meters. (in picture; directly behind the girls).  Maestro Hugo will even out the land  here, put up a retaining wall on the bottom side, along with a fence to protect the girls from the drop.  The final safety feature will be 9 inches of pea gravel to soften falls. 

Quite the improvement from our previous situation wouldn't you say?

Any questions, feel free to email us at janellecostanti@gmail.com

To make a donation mail a check to:
Janelle and Matthew Costanti
860 S Crestline
Othello, Wa 99344

Don't forget to write Big Toy in the for line.

Hard Decisions and Good-byes

We had a very hard decision to make just one and a half months ago.  A decision that would dictate how close we could be to our girls, where we were going to start our family, and basically the direction of the rest of our lives.  It was hard to un-plug and get perspective in Santiago, so Matt had a great idea to go skiing for our anniversary again.  This year was a working anniversary.  As we swooped down the slopes and admired the amazing view of the Andes, we worked through all the pros and cons of either decision. 

In the end, we realized that the restraunt we were looking at in Santiago was a bit too rich for our blood, and had a few too many risks with it.  In order to think about opening our own restraunt, we would have to return to the US for more experience.  Once we made our decision, a huge weight was taken off our shoulders, and we were happy to finally have a decision. 

But the funny part is, you can know a decision is the best decision for you and your family at this moment in time, but it doesn't mean that your heart will be convinced.  In the weeks to follow, we had to say some very very hard good-byes.  How do you tell Escarlette, who always asks if we're going to our country in a plane, that we are leaving for a very very long time?  Does she know that we still love her more than anything else in the world?  How do you tell Cinthia, who is 15, and see that knowing look in her eyes?  She knew this day would be coming sooner than later.  She still loves us, but it's no wonder it takes so long for them to grow close after so many people come in and out of their lives. 

I know that we're not just another non-descript volunteer that comes and goes.  I know that they will always be my Yenny, my Millaray, our Laura, our Cinthia.  I know that we will always write, that our international travels will be limited now to one country, and that the mission and the mentorship will never die, even if from far away.  I keep telling myself that God works in mysterious ways, and that we can do so much for the girls from the US, things we couldn't do as effectively from Chile.  But how do you convince a heart?  You may think you've fooled it for a bit, but it never lasts long.  I guess there are just some things that only time can touch.  Some things you just have to accept, like the fact that our hearts will always be held captive in Chile. 

Hasta pronto mi chiquilla.  Siempre te amaremos, y nuestro deseo y oracion para ti es que vives tu vida con sinceridad, dignidad, y amor.  Hay un bello futuro, esperandote. No lo dudes, lucha por ello.  Con la ayuda de Dios, y su Gracia, tu puedes alcanzar tus suenos.  No es adios, sino hasta pronto.  Te amamos para siempre. Tus Tios, Mateo y Janelle

Matty's Reflections on Mission

As a married couple we face interesting and different challenges to mission life.  However, the benefits are worth every last ounce of strife.  My wife and I can definitively say that our marriage has been strengthened by this experience.  God has gifted us with more patience for each other and an interdependence that is only achieved by much conversation, action together, and sacrifice.

During our experience, Chile was struck by the 6th largest earthquake in recorded history.  The effects were devastating we worked with those affected and provided support as a gift of solidarity that we offered through the foundation of Las Rosas.  We were able to touch people that other wise would not have received that kind of loving support.  This required much sacrifice on our end, and we were exhausted by the end of this service.  However, as a couple we faced those challenges together and we grew together.

Sacrificing your time, your energy, your comfort, and your professional life, gives one the ability to see what is truly important here on earth.  Which is of course fulfilling the mission of Christ, in serving others.  This is achieved by individual works of kindness and love.  It is not the responsibility of organizations and governments.  We firmly believe Jesus' message to love one another as he loved us.  It is a message to the individual, a call to action, saying love each other, be kind, be generous, be tolerant.  It is in mission that we have chosen to try and follow this path, it is not easy or for the faint of heart as any religious will tell you { Especially sisters and priest that are Salesian or Jesuit} But this path is the most rewarding path of all others.

Therefore, the tangible gifts that God has given us are new language skills and abilities, new cooking techniques, a greater appreciation for culture, a love of God's children.  The most intangible gift is greater love and service to others.

Mi Cara de mono!!

Matty finally gave in and we took Yenny and Escarlet Chica out.  The plan: go out for lunch at our picada in Maipu, then big toys, and maybe a movie...

When we took Diana and Escarlette out they surprised us by telling us they were both vegetarians.  With Yenny and Escarlet Chica this was not a problem at all.  When we asked them if they wanted meat we got a big Yeah!!!! Si, Si, Si!

I was a little bit worried about taking Escarlette to a restaurant, and if she would be able to stay in her chair for that long.  She surprised both Matt and I and her little bottom was stuck to that chair.  She had so much fun soaking in the new sights, ordering, and figuring out how to put dressing on the salad.  We got her the special, which was a full adult serving.  The poor girl is used to having to eat ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING on her plate.  She must have asked me 7 times, Tia, can I leave a little bit of the food on my plate? 

After a fantastic meal, we were talking with the girls about what they wanted to do.  Yenny shyly asked, Tia... do we have to go to the movies? ... couldn't we ride the go-carts instead?  When my family was here in December we took Yenny out and found the go-carts.  She had so much fun that we got a special request this weekend.  Go-carts Take 2!  What fun, and much more relaxing (and kinder to the pocket book) than a movie!

Such a simple day.
Lunch, go-carts and then
a park.  but so much special 

one on one time to spend 

with two very special girls.


More pictures along with pictures of Sofia´s Baptism (so beautiful!) here.

Más fotos y también fotos del bautismo de Sofia Ignacia aquí.

Sole and Ese take 2

Ok, so I finally busted out my camera again.  It´s not the same with just words!  Here are our two latest adventures with the girls;

Esmeralda and Soledad returned to normal 12 year old status and decided they´d like to go to the mall instead of visiting the nursing home again.  Here´s Esmeralda wishing she was 4 again.





After the mall we went to get a bite to eat.  The one criteria for the girls... somewhere where you can get a toy with your meal.  Burger King it is (pronounced Boogir Keeng).

The highlight of the day: The museum at La Moneda had an exhibit on the Terracotta Army from the tomb of the first Chinese Chin (Qin I guess is how you spell Chin... and to think I´ve been spelling it wrong all this time.)  Esmeralda was blown away when we figured out that they weren´t all just replicas.

and we´re beat.

Home time!

Sundays with the Girls

Here´s a little look at what we´ve been up to with the girls on our Sundays.  It´s been so good to make our Sundays an important part of our routine.  It helps keep us connected and you can´t help but laugh and feel content after such nice days. 

After Easter, the next girls we took out were Esmerelda and Soledad.  We went to Polo´s Pollo to try the best brosated chicken in all of Santiago.  They loved seeing Uncle Matt in action on the grill and Erick introduced them to some wonderful people whose daughter just happens to be a famous Chilean singer.  They were real down to earth people and talked to the girls about the importance of education and faith.  So often the girls idolize Hollywood stars with... shall we say, less than perfect track records.  It was so wonderful to show them a healthier face of fame.  After lunch we decieded to walkto a little park, but on the way we got distracted by a nursing home of all things.  The girls practically begged us to go visit the ´abuelitos.´  We went on in, introduced ourselkves and explained that we had volunteered at a sister branch in southern Chile after the earthquake.  The girls made friends really fast with a couple of lively old grandmas.  When it was time to go, the girls were still full of questions, ´Where do you sleep?, Do you share a bedroom?  Whats the food like?´ In so many ways their experiences of living at a home are similar, and the girls felt connected.  It was yet another beautiful encounter to top off a beautiful day. 

The next weekend we took Diana and Escarlette to go window shopping at the mall and wander around a bit.  Diana had a better plan however, and she took us to  the largest dollar store in the world.  It´s called Mae, and  it absolutely blew my mind how much you can buy there for 4 bucks.  It´s so good for the girls to get out, to get a change of scenery, and to forget about the stresses of living at the hogar.  They came back feeling refreshed.  And it´s not like it takes much.  The most important ingredient is time.

Week four was mother´s day and we had an inkling we´d like to help Laura and Cinthia do something to celebrate.  It turns out that it was Cinthia´s friend Diana´s birthday that day.  We decided to bake a cake for her.  A chocolate cake with more chocolate on top (my kind of girl!).  Cinthia was sooo excited picking out the whip cream and sprinkles.  Unfortunately, the cake had a bit of trouble... it´s quite the challenge trying to bake in a gas oven, with no temperature gauge, that doesn´t self regulate.  Instead it continues to get hotter and hotter...  Needless to say the bottom burnt and the middle was barely done.  We patched her up pretty good, but then the hour bouncing around on the bus back to the hogar did her in.   Reports back from the battlefield are that Diana loved the cake.  Mission accomplished! :)

A leap of faith

Wow, it´s been a busy last couple of months.  When both sets of parents ask you where you´ve been hiding out, and you have to catch them up on... well... everything, you know it´s been crazy.  But although stressful, even the stressful parts are wonderful, which is quite the new experience for me.

Matt and I have both really enjoyed working at the chicken restraunt in Ñuñoa.  Especially Matt.  It´s so nice to see him in his element, enjoying the little moments, deep in conversation with customers or running around during a lunch rush hooting yee-ha!  Erick gives him free reign to try new ideas, and implement things he´d only studied in business college. So far, he´s supersized the vegetarian sandwich from Avacado/Tomato, to falafel with the works, and he´s been tracking sales on pop and trying new strategies of loading the cooler to increase sales.  So basically, the hippies and the coke adicts all love him!  Not bad for the first 3 months of work!

I´ve started teaching private English classes and have really enjoyed it.  My yoga instructor sent out a mass email for me, and who woulda guessed it, yogis are really into expanding their horizons and continuing education.  Most Chileans have had English classes since kindergarten, so they often just want the opportunity to talk with someone who will help correct their mistakes and... well, just talk.  I haven´t had any trouble doing that one!

I also found a wonderful prayer group.  Did you know that there are 2 words for prayer in Spanish?  One is basic praying of any kind (rezar) and the other (orar) is intentionally searching for that deeper encounter with God and meeting him in prayer.  In our ´encounter with prayer´ we learn and practice new strategies in prayer to help strengthen that encounter.  I have also been so blessed in having Sister Rosita in my life.  She encourages Matt and I and supports us in such a complete way.  In our crazy schemes and dreams of continuing to work with the Girls and the Hogar, she´s our biggest chearleader.  She also hooked me up with her spiritual director, Father Mario.  What a blessed gift from God!  We meet once a week and he accompanies me on my spiritual journey.  It is the first time I have felt this supported spiritually.  Yes, through the years I have had a lot of support, but it has always been in little bursts.  Life happens each day.  We grow each day.  It´s a process. Spiritual life is no different, in order to be real, it must be real each day.

When Matt and I decided that our time here in Chile was not finished last February, we didn´t exactly know why.  It was more of a feeling, and we figured what the heck, we could both do with a little more intensive Spanish. We have been so blessed these last 4 months.  Being able to help and support in the aftermath of the earthquake, each special weekend we spend with the girls out on the town, Matt being able to dabble in his dream of running his own restraunt, and me taking a fresh step in my spiritual journey, and trying my hand at being an entrepreneur.  It´s amazing how God can help you along in so many aspects of your journey if you listen to his wispers and then take a leap of faith.

I wanted to close with a picture that Esmerelda took 2 Sundays ago when we got to pamper her and Soledad.  She was having so much fun with the camera, and my nervous Nellie side of me said, ok, maybe that´s enough... but I didn´t say a word, I just enjoyed watching her joy.  This was the last picture that she took.