Disaster

Please read this update as we are in urgent need of your prayers and assistance.

Torrential rainfall over the past 72 hours has caused significant flooding and mudslides in and around our area. Last night tragedy struck as mudslides and swollen rivers claimed the lives of 20 people. There are a dozen people still missing and hundreds are left homeless. The rain continues, the ground is saturated, and some areas are being evacuated because the risk of further mudslides. Click here for News Articl

The 6:8 staff families are safe and relatively unaffected. We are without water, and I've been told that it may be a week before it's on again. However, lack of running water seems trivial in comparison to what some of the families have lost.

A few of the families of Celebration Church Costa Rica have been directly effected. Melba's mother lost her house in a mudslide and other families have experienced minor flooding. We are still trying to asses the extent of the damage and who was effected.

In the midst of all of this tragedy there is hope! We have been given an amazing opportunity to shine the light of Christ into the darkness created by catastrophe. Acts of love shine brightest in the midst of the darkness of despair.

6:8 Ministries and Celebration Church Costa Rica have already begun to take action. Today we helped the serve meals, carry and distribute water, and salvage items from the homes of effected families.

The plan is to focus on providing meals, clothing, and possibly shelter to meet the immediate needs. We also want to help rebuild and repair as many homes as possible.

There are three ways you can helps us help others:

* First - You can pray for the entire situation!

* Second - You can give! We need funding to purchase food, clothing, and building materials.

* Third - You can come help serve. Pray about bringing a mission team to help with the efforts.

Love in Christ,

Spencer Boulter

Ramblings - Building Bridges

Rain, rain, go away! While many of you are experiencing a drought, we've had an unbelievable amount of rainfall. So much so that it's causing flash-floods and mud-slides. These natural disasters have closed roads, destroyed homes, and taken lives.

It’s incredible that trickling streams grow to raging rivers in a matter of minutes. These rivers rush down the mountainside with an unstoppable rage and fury destroying everything in their path. One neighborhood, not too far from my house, experienced severe flooding. Many homes had three feet of standing water, while others were torn in half, or completely washed away!

In another area one of these swollen rivers destroyed a bridge. It was a small bridge and almost appeared insignificant, that is unless you live in Jasmine. Jasmine is a small community nestled on the side of the mountain. Most of the residents are squatters living in shanties; and it’s one of the most impoverished areas in all of Alajuelita. There is only one road leading in and out, so with the bridge out it’s inaccessible for emergency vehicles. Therefore, it’s not only inconvenient for the residents; it’s a potentially dangerous situation.

To make matters worse the local government claimed they didn't have the money to repair the bridge. I believe this was a half-truth…they may not have the money on hand, but I'm convinced it also had to do with the fact that the people of Jasmine are not a high priority. I'm sure that if some of the other bridges around town had been washed out, they would have come up with the money to make the repairs.

However, where man fails - God succeeds! The people of Jasmine may not be a high priority to the local government, but God loves these people and demonstrated it clearly through His divine provision. He used CCA Church, one of the largest local churches, to take on and coordinate the repair project. He used a team of professional Traveling Tradesmen from Boston to come and build the bridge. He used 6:8 Ministries to provide lodging and meals for the team free of charge. It’s amazing to witness God working all things together!

The project drew the attention of local media, and soon local news teams were on the site to cover the story. It’s a great human interest story, but it makes no sense unless you include the word love. Why else would this group sacrifice their time and money to build a bridge for a group of impoverished people that live over a thousand of miles away? Why would they work long days in a dirty river for people they didn't even know? The only possible answer to these questions is LOVE. For many years people have been using the “bridge illustration” to explain basic truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, now I have another bridge illustration. One that reveals the power and beauty of the gospel lived out. It’s important for us to understand Christ’s work of the cross so that we can be in a relationship with God. However, we also need to remember what we are called to do once we cross that bridge. Professing our faith in Christ is not the end of our spiritual journey; it’s really just the beginning. In many ways it's easier to believe in Christ, than it is to truly follow Him, especially when it requires personal sacrifice.
This past week I witnessed a team of men and women accept the challenge to follow Christ, and it led them to sacrificially loving some of the “least of these”. Watching this take place, I was reminded how the gospel empowers us to build bridges of love. The ability to love others regardless of race, gender, religions and denominations, economic status, and nationality. It’s easy to love those who love us, but when we build bridges, and love those who don't expect or “deserve” our love in return, we are truly living out the gospel.

In closing, I want to thank you for all your prayers and support. God is using them to expand and strengthen His kingdom. We are honored and humbled to be part of what He is doing in and through us here in Alajuelita.

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14

*photos by Nick Wisda