Child Sponosrship - Thank you!

A huge thank you to our child sponsors. Thanks to these generous sponsors we were able to provide over a hundred children everything they need to succeed in school.

Each sponsored child received two complete uniforms, two pair of shoes (school shoes and tennis shoes), backpack full of school supplies, and a Bible!

Please contact us if you would like to participate in the child sponsorship program.

Uniform Distribution 2009

*sigh* After working two weekends to get the uniforms out we are officially finished. (unofficially however, we have some website updating, loose ends and new sponsorships, to tie up...)

Here is a glimpse of what we accomplished: (I know there are a lot of pictures, I don't expect you to sit through them all, but it may give you an idea of the task :o)


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

A special thanks to Cathy and Shellie who made a special trip to help with the distribution!

Fight the Good Fight

I'm sitting in the Orlando Airport reflecting over the past few weeks. As I type this, I'm riding an emotional rollercoaster. I realize that I'm physically very tired, which is probably adding to the waves of heavy sadness that keep crashing over me. I'm fighting off the attacks through forcing myself to remember the exciting ministry God has waiting for us in Costa Rica. The pain diminishes as I'm motivated by God's calling, my strength and joy return, but I fear this is only temporary as I can feel waves building on the horizon.

Our trip to the Untied States was a whirlwind of preaching, meetings, visits, and events. God allowed our time to be very fruitful for His Kingdom. During our stay, Cross Creek Church committed to fund the Children's Feeding Center Ministry for another year. God allowed us to find sponsors for almost all of the children currently in the Child Sponsorship Ministry. We officially announced and celebrated the ministry expansion to Guatemala, and as if that wasn't enough...Celebration Church has committed to start a church plant in Alajuelita! What a great God we serve!

While it's extremely exciting to be used by God in this capacity, it can also be very challenging. The pressure and responsibility of leading can be very burdensome. Part of me would like to stay in Jacksonville, and never have to leave again. However, I know that is the desire of my flesh and not my heart.

This is an ongoing battle between my flesh and my heart. My flesh longs and seeks physical comfort. My flesh believes that my personal pursuit for happiness is the most important thing. I can hear the lie, "it's all about me, I deserve it!" My flesh would rather be first, and it desires the praise of men. My flesh believes the lies of the world that claim that joy is found in physical wealth and beauty. However, in direct contrast my heart knows that my life is not my own, and it's all about Him. I need to strive to put God and others first, and greatness is found though serving. In my heart I know that joy is found in following the call of Christ; even if He is calling you to leave your comfortable life, friends, and family. I know He is calling me to get on the plane and return to Costa Rica.

Isn't that the battle everyday? I don't know about your experience, but I suspect it's the same as mine. The Christian walk is a fight, and most of the time we are our own worst enemy. In the New Testament, Paul exhorts Timothy on a couple occasions to "fight the good fight". This is what I need to remember, I need to be challenged to fight the good fight. Paul realized that we are in a battle, and the fight can be incredibly difficult at times. Sadly, sometimes we forget we are in a battle and simply stop fighting. We give up and start living out the desires of the flesh. Often times it's nothing all that sinister, just subtle changes that change our heart and we become ineffective and discouraged.

I don't think I'll ever understand why God called me to lead His ministry, but I'm humbled and honored by the calling. I know that He likes to choose the weak, foolish, and lowly things, so I know I'm more than qualified. However, it's my prayer that though His grace and power in my life that some day I can claim, as Paul did, that I fought the good fight.

Thank you all for the faithful love and support you have shown to my family and God's ministry here. Please pray that He will continue to use us to bear much fruit and that He will give the strength and faith to keep on fighting.

Ramblings - A New Beginning

Almost a year ago we moved my family to Costa Rica seeking God's calling on our lives. We weren't exactly sure what He was calling us to do, but we knew He wanted us to do it in Costa Rica. During our time here we believe He has clearly revealed how He wants to use us here in Alajuelita. I'm excited to tell you that we have joined with a few friends to start a new ministry called 6:8 Ministries. The significance of 6:8 is a reference to our key verse, Micah 6:8, which sums up the core values of the ministry "To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God".

This new ministry will focus in a few key areas of ministry that we believe will expand and strengthen the kingdom of God. One of these areas is hosting affordable, life-changing mission experiences. God has provided us a facility capable of hosting up to twenty-four people safely and comfortably. This facility will be used as a tool that will strengthen and expand the kingdom of God.

Alajuelita is the poorest county in Costa Rica, and because of this many of the children suffer in ways that most of us can't imagine. We believe that God is calling us to minister to these impoverished children through a child sponsorship program. This will provide uniforms and books for those who could not otherwise afford to go to school.

Another area of focus is planting children's feeding centers. We believe that planting feeding centers are a great way to transform entire communities. We partner with local churches and provide the financial resources to plant and operate the feeding center, while the church provides the space and the volunteers. The effects of the feeding centers are far greater than simply feeding hungry children. The feeding centers increase the church's presence in the community, provides lay people in the church opportunities to serve and provides children with spiritual food through teaching lessons from the Bible before each feeding.

The final area we believe that God is calling us to minister through teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). This ministry has many benefits as it strengthens our presence in the community, provides opportunities to building new relationships, as well as provides individuals a great skill that will assist in finding employment. We use the Bible for teaching references and are currently working on a curriculum that will combine teaching English and the Bible at the same time.

As we start this new endeavor we need your continued prayers and support. For clarification I will not receive a salary for my work with 6:8 Ministries. We will continue to trust God to provide for our family through churches and individuals. We are missionaries working with 6:8 Ministries, but raising our own support.

In closing I hope this email has encouraged you to see how God in working in Costa Rica. He has used your prayers and support to bring much fruit. I'm confident He will continue to bless and multiply them. All I can think to say is..."Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" Eph 3:20

Ramblings - Vision

I had a cool experience last week I wanted to share with you. I was walking through Juan Pablo, a very poor barrio here in Alajuelita, when I was approached by a young lady named Maria. Maria is 25 years old, a single mother, and has two sons. She lives in Juan Pablo with her mother who is helping raise her boys. Maria does not have steady work, but finds odd jobs cleaning houses, mending clothes, and such. They are a very sweet family that I have come to love. (Actually, earlier this month God provided a sponsor to provide school uniforms and supplies for the boys.) Now she was asking if I could possibly help her get eyeglasses for her eight year old son named Ericson. The eyeglasses cost $50, which might as well been $50,000 to Maria. She is working hard to clothe and feed the family and there is no money for luxuries such as eyeglasses. So off we went to the local optometrist to get glasses. We found out that Ericson indeed needed eyeglasses! Actually, I think the correct medical term is "Blind as a bat". No wonder he was struggling in school and didn't like playing soccer. Which I've learned if a Costa Rican boy doesn't like playing soccer there is probably something wrong! Anyway, Ericson put on his new glass and opened his eyes to a whole new world. He was seeing clearly for the first time since he could remember. He couldn't stop smiling as his he took in the joy of seeing everything he had been missing. Actually, he looked strangely at me for a long time, as if he didn't know how strange I looked until now?

Watching Ericson got me thinking...I wonder if I need glasses. Not to correct my physical vision, but to enhance my spiritual vision. What if I had a pair of glasses that allowed me see the world as Jesus does? Eyeglasses that helped me to have more compassion for the lost and dying world. A compassion that welcomed a leper's touch or a prostitute's kiss. Or maybe they could help me see the true value of things so I could stop chasing riches, security, and comfort. Perhaps these glasses could help have the perfect joy and peace found in seeing God clearly. The truth is I don't need glasses, because I have Christ Himself inside of me. Not just His eyes, but His heart, and voice. The thing is, I tend to forget this and see the world though the eyes of self. However, since I've been here, I'm slowly learning to see with His eyes, feel with His heart, and listen to His voice. It's a growing process and a journey. Thanks to Ericson, I've been reminded how far I've come, and how much further I still need to go. In closing I just want to challenge you with this thought...what is your vision like?

Ramblings - Missioncation

Last week we had a really cool experience. We were blessed to have an incredible family here on a Costa Rica a missioncation. That word is not misspelled, it's a word I made up to describe the combination of a mission trip and a family vacation.

This particular family consisted of a wonderful couple, and their three children ages 11, 9, and 4. The first part of the trip was spent conducting various ministry projects here in Alajuelita. To watch this family serve in ministry together was an amazing experience. They served at the Children's Feeding Center, went on a ministry walk in Aurora and passed out personal hygiene products and prayed with poor families. They ministered to children in the Juan Pablo community center, they bought and passed out food to three poor families, and they taught English in one of the local school. All this was great but for me the coolest part to watch was when they were able to meet the children they sponsored for school uniforms. The whole family was able to love on the same children they had already blessed thought there generosity. To watch these two families interact and pray together was a real blessing.

The second part of the trip was spent on the southern Pacific coast. They visited waterfalls, went horseback riding, went to the beach, and other fun stuff.
I have included a link to a short video they made of the trip. I recommend you take the few minutes to watch it. ( http://www.masoncommunitychurch.net/sitemap.htm ) click on missioncation sample.

The lessons learned and memories made will last a life time. Most vacations are good, but I think they would agree this one was great. If you would like to plan a trip for your family simply email me and we will start putting it together.

Ramblings - Reflections

I was trying to decide what to update you about, and that caused me to start reflecting upon all that God has done here in the past six months. When I step out of the day to day and look at the big picture I'm amazed at what He is doing. So allow me to give a quick review of the past six months...

August brought the creation of the Children's Feeding Center in Aurora. This center is feeds roughly 125 children twice a week. I oversee the project, Rita more or less directs the day to day operation, and all of the coordination is done by two sweet Tico women, one recruits all the ladies to do the cooking and cleaning, and the other recruits people to teach Bible lessons before the meal. The operation almost completely run by local people, in a local church. However, the ministry is mostly funded by contributors at Cross Creek Church and a few other supporters in United States. This ministry has provided both physical food and spiritual food to many children. It has also strengthened the local church and has increased it's presence in the community.

August also brought the start of my language training and God has surprised me how much I've learned thus far. I know it's hard to believe...but I am capable of learning!

September brought our first short-term mission team...and we've had groups every month since. Watching God work through these groups has been very encouraging for me. In the past six months three families have received a new home or a complete remodeling. Many people have been prayed for and blessed with a loaf of bread and a Bible. One group worked on a school, and another worked on the Christian school my children will be attending.

September also brought out first child sponsor. Since then God has provided 20 different children with new school uniforms and school supplies. Some of these children are returning to school for the first time in three years. Here in Costa Rica every school requires children to wear uniforms, so many times if the family can't afford the uniforms the children simply don't go to school.

October brought the beginning of the ESL ministry. I continue to teach English in the town library twice a week. I currently have about 40 students...all learning English from me! Scary thought...

November brought a local tragedy as a family in the community had their house burn down. They lost everything in the fire. Outreach Ministries provided some immediate support and one family back home sent a love gift and we were able to provide some much needed food and clothing.

December and January were full of ministry opportunities as well but this email is already too long. I would love to tell you everything, but there simply isn't time. This has been a good exercise to reflect on the past, but now my focus is the present as we charge hard into the future. My prayer is that God will allow you to continue to be part of this ministry. I encourage you to "come take a walk" and taste and see for yourself.

In closing thank you for supporting the ministries here in Alajuelita through your prayers and giving. The past six months has been amazing, and we are looking forward to what God has on the horizon! Maybe starting a worship service in Juan Pablo? Maybe another feeding center, maybe an orphanage? Not sure yet...but one thing is for sure...God is at work here in Alajuelita and has much more to do!

Ramblings - Laura

I wanted to share something really cool that happened last week. I'll try to retell this story in such a way that you can share in my excitement and joy. First I need to set the stage with some important background information:
The picture above is of a young girl named Laura who I met over a year ago. She is 9 years old, and the oldest of three children. Sadly, her father passed away last year from terminal bone cancer, he was only 33 years old. Her mother, Maria, works in San Jose trying to make ends meet, so the children are cared for by grandma. Grandma is widowed herself, and living off her husbands pension. Their combined incomes are not enough to cover all of the expenses. They all live together in a very poor community called Juan Pablo. The living conditions are almost as sad as the story. Now with that said, it's important to know that I have not seen Laura in over nine months, partly because her grandmother told me that Maria had taken the children and moved in with the her mother after her husband died.

This is where the story starts to get neat. Last month a short-term mission team came to serve in Juan Pablo. While working in Juan Pablo they met Victor, a 13 year old boy that lives in Juan Pablo. He has not attended school for the past three years because his parents couldn't afford the uniforms, registration, books, and other materials. However, he is going to school this upcoming year because of some caring people donated money for Victor's schooling. I shared Victor's story the mission team and shortly after the mission team returned home, a team member emailed stating they were interested in sponsoring a child. They asked if I knew of any children that needed help. The challenge wasn't finding a child, the problem was trying to pick which child with so many in need. I explained that I would pray, and send some photos of different children.

Well, I bet you can guess where this story is going. Last week I was walking through Juan Pablo with Josh and Tim. I was heading to a house that is in serious need of repair, and has the potential for a future project. Well, guess who is living right across the ally way? Yep, you guessed it, Laura! Grandma recognizes me (the goatee helped), and remembered me praying for her dying son on several occasions. She welcomed, or actually insisted, that we come into her home. After offering coffee and show a picture of her dead son, I asked if we could pray for the family, and asked if she had any specific needs. She explained that money was tight, and she didn't know how she was going to buy her granddaughter the needed uniforms for school! I was giddy, Josh prayed for the family and we left.

To finish the story, the team member has agreed to send some money for school uniforms and materials. So now I get the privilege of returning to the house with the good news that God has provided! It's days like this I love my job.
I've been thinking about how all of this transpired. Some could say that this was a series of random events, or what I want to believe is that we have a caring Father in heaven who loves Laura more than I could ever imagine. Maybe I caught a small glimpse of a God, who is constantly working all things together for good and is doing more than I could ever ask or imagine. Be excited that God is working here in Alajuelita.