I remember my first time visiting the Carpio. My only knowledge of the place was the various news articles that encouraged me to never visit this place. After a party to celebrate Children's Day in 2009, this community was engraved in my heart. 15 years have passed since this event. It was on this very day that the question that titles this article arose:
Is Jesus in the Carpio?
A community located in La Uruca, San José. With only one access, the governments over the years managed to keep the community isolated, preventing anyone from crossing "by mistake", as it is located at the end of the road. There are no clear numbers for the community. In the latest censuses, the numbers are considered inaccurate, since many times, families reported a smaller number of people living in their homes, for fear of being searched by immigration services, so the census data is not always used by the NGOs that work in the area, which currently estimate a population of 42 thousand people, made up of 50% Costa Ricans, 49% Nicaraguan immigrants and 1% of other nationalities.
Although the citadel has the largest primary school in the metropolitan area, it does not meet the current need. It does not have a school, which makes it even more difficult for children to continue their studies, if they manage to finish primary school. Although it has an EBAIS, this same one provides service to the León XIII citadel, and other areas, making access to basic health services very difficult. Added to this, a large part of the population does not have a formal job, making the situation even more difficult.
Based on my own experience working with children and young people, they begin to experience situations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse from the age of 3. If access to basic health services is difficult, access to psychological health services is almost non-existent, in addition to a negative perception towards them. When a situation is discovered in the family, it is usually ignored.
There is no specific number of churches, since there are many house churches, not affiliated with any organization. After 15 years, on my own, I have identified about 50 churches in La Carpio. It is possible that there are more. In an area of just 23 square kilometers, and full of so many organizations, and despite the presence of various organizations, the change in the community is minimal, almost invisible many times.
Which brings us back to the first question: is Jesus in the Carpio?
A few weeks ago, I took 3 of my disciples to my church. For them, it was the first time visiting a church outside of the Carpio. We had a great day. On the way back home, I asked the boys how they felt, and one of them's answers completely caught my attention: “It's the first time I've visited a church, and they don't judge me for how I dress or how I speak, and they treated me well.”
I also remember the first boy in my youth project who decided to follow Jesus. For a whole year, his only questions were: Why do you come here? Do they pay you? But why do you come? I hate this place, why do you keep coming? My answers were always the same: “Because I want to, because I love them, because I want to be here.” After 5 years, he met Jesus. In his own words: “I was welcomed as I was, and I was also invited to a way of life, I was never forced, and I was always loved.”
Is Jesus in the Carpio? Of course he is!
The real question is: is the church bringing Jesus to the Carpio? Or is it bringing its own version of Jesus?
La Carpio is a town thirsty for Jesus. But not a Jesus made to measure for humans. But for the real Jesus, the One who was incarnated and lived among us. The One who ate with Pharisees and sinners. With the poor and the rich. The One who did not use outlandish language, but spoke stories that the people could understand.
The harvest is still plentiful. The Carpio needs workers to harvest.
“For the creation waits with eager anticipation for the revealing of the sons of God” Romans 8:19 NIV
