Casa Adobe Community (Costa Rica)

In the book Acts of the Apostles, we read how the early followers of Jesus were united in heart and mind, sharing all that they had. There were no needy among them. They sold their possessions and distributed the proceeds according to the need of all in their fellowship. We read that the Lord added to their number daily as the gathered community of Jesus praised God and enjoyed the favor of the people (Acts 2: 42ff, 4: 32ff).

Christians living together in community is a concept as old as the writings of the New Testament. Monastic communities would later form and grow in the 4th and following centuries. St. Francis of Assisi and the “Friars Minor” and St. Clare of Assisi and the “Poor Clares” have been known for their intentional community, their love for one another, and their care for the poor as they lived among the poor. Kristi and I share a fascination with Christian intentional communities. Through reading works published by the Bruderhof community, reading about Keith Green and the intentional Christian community he formed as a result of his music ministry, and me (Bob) having stayed in the cell of a monastery and sharing in the daily rhythm of worship and prayer at the Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur (CA), we have sought to learn more about this form of discipleship and way of engaging our world.

On that note, what a joy it was to spend seven days with the Casa Adobe Community in Costa Rica. Casa Adobe is situated in the town of Santa Rosa de Santa Domingo, a working-class community on the outskirts of San José (the capital) where the trains begin loudly sounding their whistles by 5:30am to take workers from the exterior environs into the city centre. Casa Adobe seeks to be a blessing to this working-class community, namely through the tutoring of children in the neighborhood, but also through the cultivation and creation of an “urban park” which will strengthen the ecological resilience of the nearby river and the area itself. Casa Adobe also welcomes interns from the Americas (Central, South, North) who come and live with local families and engage with local organizations and service opportunities. The Casa Adobe Community is a diverse group of people, mostly from Latin America, with members living onsite and nearby. Casa Adobe describes their community as

A refuge of dreams and subversions, people and personalities, loves and failures, service and rest, laughter and brokenness, mission and meditation, mud and praise, processes and purposes, food and conversation, work and reflection, seeds and shoots of the new creation.

During our time with Casa Adobe, we learned that their community is a safe place for those who have felt “burned” by traditional and evangelical churches which can sometimes be prone towards legalism and judgmental attitudes. One young member of the community who returned to the community after feeling judged by her church in another country in Central America has these insightful words to share 

Sometimes a listening ear over a meal served in love can be more significant than preparing a liturgy.

Sharing meals together is part of the daily rhythm of life at Casa Adobe, as each evening all members eat together around a large table. Typically, we first gather in the kitchen to give thanks to God through song. It is a joyful time! Life in community at Casa Adobe begins each day at 7:30am as we gather to worship, read scripture, share insights from our readings, and pray. The songs we sing in Spanish are full of life and prophetic zeal, crafted by Latin Americans who have experienced oppression firsthand, but who maintain hope and who promote dignity for all persons and for all of creation. Local Costa Rican coffee follows along with fellowship and food for those who haven’t already headed off for various work duties. On Sunday afternoons, the local community is invited to join the Casa Adobe Community for animated worship and Bible study followed by a simple meal of soup and bread.

Kristi and I were welcomed with open arms by the Casa Adobe Community. We were invited to help with meal preparation, help with the weekly shopping, and spend time working with members in the  garden and visit some of their ministry sites, particularly sites related to ecological justice and concern. We enjoyed deep and rich conversations around the table, on the rooftop as we watched the setting sun, and in the kitchen as we prepared meals with members of the community. For seven days, it was like we had been grafted into a community of grace and love, experiencing community as they do on a daily basis.

Below are several pictures from our experience. If you want to learn more about the Casa Adobe Community, please visit their website (link here). Thank you for reading about our experience!

With members of Casa Adobe and other new friends! 

Worshipping together on Sunday afternoon 

Daily abundace of food/fellowhip in the kitchen! 

Mariví of Venezuela taught us how to make Arepas
(a Venezuelan favorite!) 

Enjoying the glory of creation at Casa Nuba (connected with Casa Adobe) 
in the nearby cloud forest

Shopping on Saturday morning at the local farmers market 
with members of Casa Adobe Community (Heidi, Tuti) 

We visited a reforestation project of Casa Adobe along the 

local river in Santa Rosa 

Yohan shows us the various indigenous plants they seek to
plant in the community as a means to strengthen local ecology

American culture in proverbs

Bob and I just finished listening to the book Crossing Cultures with the Gospel, by Darrell Whiteman. Even after more than 18 years of living outside of our home culture, we needed to hear the research, advice, and examples of this anthropologist about how to bridge cultures well. As we listened to the book we had many conversations about how to be intentional in learning and adapting as we prepare to transition to another new place.

 
In the final section of the book, Whiteman says that most of us are not conscious of our own cultural assumptions and values, which can cause discomfort and miscommunication when cultures clash. The first step in intercultural relationships is knowing ourselves and our own culture. He writes, “One way to discover worldview assumptions and help a person become aware of their cultural baggage is through proverbs.” Whiteman cites a book by Stan Nussbam that uses proverbs to characterize American cultures and values. Here are Nussbam’s “Ten Commandments” of American Culture (along with my own comments)

1. You can’t argue with success.
That is, achieving success is more important than how you achieve it.

2. Live and let live.
Americans value freedom and privacy, so we are reluctant to interfere or criticize the way someone lives.

3. Time flies when you’re having fun.
Having fun, pleasure, and leisure are important to us!

4. Shop till you drop.
This demonstrates the high place of consumerism in American culture, and that shopping is a form of entertainment.

5. Just do it.
We value action and decisiveness.

6. You are only young once.
Youth is idealized in American culture, along with seizing opportunities.

7. Enough is enough.
This phrase often represents the importance of justice or rights in America.

8. Rules are made to be broken.
Individualism and free choice is more important than following rules.

9. Time is money.
Think about phrases like “wasting time”, “spending time”, “saving time”—efficiency is a high value in American culture.

10. God helps those who help themselves.
I have heard people say that this phrase is in the Bible –is it really? This idea reflects our worldview of expecting people to always seek to improve their economic, social, or educational position. If someone is not working hard to improve themselves, why should anyone else help them—even God?

What do you think? How accurate do you think this characterization of American culture is? How many of these proverbs do you think you identify with? Are there times when you have experienced the discomfort of confronting a worldview very different from your own?

We leave you with an Oromo proverb from Ethiopia, as quoted by Darrell Whiteman:

“Because the baboon cannot see its bald bottom, it laughs at the defects of others.”
(That is, people can easily overlook their own glaring deficiencies and self-righteously criticize others.)