All in a Walk to Church

This was the way to the church we went to. It was about 30 minute walk from the road through the woods and up and down hills. What I couldn't get out of my mind was just how dedicated the members of the church were. The other thing God brought to my mind is how a building is just a building and the church is its members.

I just thought I would share this with yall. Thanks again for everything yall are doing.

God's goodness

How often do we pray and don't expect God to answer? We just spent two weeks with a team from Canada and God had answered a great number of prayers for them. We prayed for cloud cover while we worked on digging the footers for the church and it happened. We prayed for sun and it would shine. We asked for rain and it did, even enough for us guys to shower in. We prayed for strength and always had enough after lunch to play with the kids and do ministries with them and the different churches.

We worked in the mornings digging the footers, then in the afternoons we would work with kids, teach English, travel to different churches and give testimonies and perform dramas. We were able to complete all the footers for the church. They were so thankful and in tears when we left. The next group coming down is going to lay the block and pour conrete.

God gave us a lot of fun while we worked and played. He also gave us pipa breaks, which are coconuts, the loacals cut down and open for us. The one picture is us drinking the juice, very refreshing. The group, Patrick and I bonded really tight. We played jokes on one another, did our laundry in the river together and worked hard together. Thank you for all who were praying for it cause it was another prayer answered.

Prayers

Praises

-no one got sick

- we bonded

-God is just awesome

-I have had great quiet times

Requests

- we don't have a group this week so please pray for us to recooperate

-spiritualy, physically, and mentally

-we can prepare for the next group coming on the 5th

-We meet God while we take care of things here at home

-for my friends and family at home

I want to thank everyone that has helped me in anyway and I hope and pray that this gives you courage in your walk. May God be with yall and protect everyone

The Wall

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool returns to his folly

This was what God was saying to me as we worked in La Tabla. There were drug deals happening all around us as we worked on a retaining wall for the church. We watched as people threw their garbage into the river and other going and picking up some of the "valuables" to recycle to get money for their drugs. It is a very poor and low class of Costa Rico. The cops will not go in there unless there is an absolute reason to. But there is a couple that started a church and have seen growth there as they reach out to the community. They have about 80 people that come for serves through out the weekend. They have started giving out scholarships and teaching the youth how to use computers. They also set up a shop for women and children for care and to teach them crafts to make money. Bella Flor and Gerado are the husband and wife that are the pastors. The drug lords can't comprehend that Bella Flor and Gerado work so hard for so little. The drug lords and prostitutes say it is an easy way to make money and thats why they do what they do.

The pictures show the construction that is being done and the process. The team is a school from Ohio. We have worked on it for 2 days and have made a lot process. It is a retaining wall so the river won't eroad the sidewalk any more. It will also provide a big pad for them to have kids to play on as they minster to them.

Prayer Requests

- we have a group of 30 coming in tonight from Canada for 2 weeks

- The Ohio team is here for 5 more days

- People we are going to minister to

- My friends and family at home

- For my Spanish ( sharaids is working and I am learning a little)

- For us as staff and interns to stay connect with God and each other

I want to thank everyone who is reading and praying for us God is at work and I can feel the prayers. I am having a blast as I see God working in my life and in the lives of others.

When a dog snors

I was home for a couple hours friday night, enough to do laundry and try to grab 3 hours of sleep. For my dog, Harley, it was the greatest 6 hours because his daddy was home. As he was laying there snoring away in my arms and I am watching the clock click down to three o'clock, God spoke to me. He was telling me that He was my pup and He was me just enjoying every moment with me.

He was also saying just as excited as Harley, He was excited when we final come to Him and give our lives. My arm was going numb and starting to tingle but it didnt matter cause I knew that it would be a while till I seen my pup again so I didn't wake him. God again said I paid the price for you and it didn't matter cause He wanted our relationship and fellowship.

The last night of training

So there we were all gathered around the table for one final meal together. Wow what a week, I thought to myself at the table. It was amazing how we became friends in that short amount of time. I was also surprise at how willing they were to let a stranger into there class and room.

I was also thinking here is my last American meal before we all head for home and then off to our assignments. Wait do I remember enough to make it in Costa Rico? Do I remember how to do my budget? Do I have this or that? That week went by so fast and all the different topics and people that taught was all of a sudden gone.

Then the wounderful smell of the food hit my nose again. So we ate all together in our best clothes and aound a table set up as if we were at a wedding. But we talked and shared memories and laughed and ate. Just enjoying all the fellowship of the event.