How Often Do We Miss The Little Things

"I did this just for you," is a quote that Max Lucado used several times in his book "He Chose the Nails".
The subtitles of the chapters are each step of what Jesus had taken in order to prove how much He loved us, according to each little description given in the Bible. Each subtitle begins with God's promise...... the Soldiers Spit, the Crown of Thorns, in the Nails, through the Sign, through the Two Crosses, in the Path, in the Garment, through the Torn Flesh, the Wine Soaked Sponge, the Blood and the Water, in the Cross, the Burial Clothing, and the Empty Tomb. The last chapter is what will you leave at the Cross?
I have read this book and realised how often we just skip through the Bible and through our lives with selective vision. In the break down of everything that happens any where, God has placed a small and maybe an important message to you, in that experience.
As I am here in Costa Rica serving I get caught up in things and am always looking for God's big picture, and sometimes not looking at the small and important detail of this picture that He is painting called "My Life". We all get caught up in the here and now and the things to come, but how many things are we missing because of that. I remember when I was driving truck and how much all of those little moments with God had changed my day and my attitude. For example just to see a hawk just fly across my path or just the simplicity of a phone call from some to talk and pray with me. Just the little moments that just exploded into worship of the God who has our best in mind and just a reminder that God is always there.
He's been through it all as the book clearly showed me, there isn't a circumstance that He hasn't been through in order to show that He can relate with us and how we feel. He also never will leave nor forsake us as He shows up in those little moments that bring a smile to our face and to His.
"He did it just for you"

Prayers

Praises
we have gotten a lot accomplished as we look forward to the summer
God is opening up new doors for the ministry

Requests
for all the teams coming this summer and staff
we have a team in Nicaragua and one coming to night that will be here for a week
for myself as God is stretching and working in and through me
Chad and I are going to Nicaragua so we can renew our passports at the end of the week
Our electricity has been going off on a weekly basis and our phone lines are acting funny

Thank you for all the support and for being my prayer warriors. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my blogs and pray for us. May God continue to shine and be glorified through you.

Sunday Lunch

The small house filled with a smell of cabbage. The table pulled out into the middle of the room and all set, with nothing but the best of what they got. We were there the night before and had heard how they had got up early in the morning to start preparing this special meal.


The feast that was being prepared for us was from the pastor of the Los Lagos Church. Fabio and his family made Kimchi (which was a Korean dish), chicken with rice, tacos, salad and dessert. Everything was made from scratch and very delicious.


We sat and talked for a while after lunch sharing stories and telling each other about our families and what everyone does. They were also teaching me Spanish.


It's very hard to describe what all goes through your mind and all the emotions that this one simple act has on you. It's so hard for me cause I have come here to be a blessing but to get blessed like this just blows my mind.

In the picture is from left to right (the Fabio's daughter), the dog Spike, Fabio ( the pastors son), myself, Suyi ( Fabio's niece), Olga (his wife), Pastor Fabio, and the youth leader. Jason is not pictured but it is Suyi's brother is another one of my friends. Jason is in a band. Him and I hang out a lot.

I know that I have found my home church while I am here. The church is just outside La Cuenca. The members are all very friendly and open. It is also a Mennonite Church.

Prayers
Praises
Just for all that God is doing in my life ( I really cant explain or put into words what's going on but it is good)
For all the prep work that's getting done for the summer

Requests
strength and energy
my mouth
( Wednesday I get my stitches out of my mouth)
( Monday I get my right two wisdom teeth out)
We have two teams coming this weekend

I know my updates are some what short the past two weeks but it is very hard to put into words what all God is doing with the relationships being built and how they are happening. I just want to make sure that yall know that I appreciate your time and energy put aside to pray and read my updates and for all the support.

Hebrews 13:1-2 Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

I think the movie clips can explain themselves. The past 2 Saturdays we had helped out at a local church with their kids feeding program. there were about 70 to 80 kids that show up every Saturday morning. We start off singing and dancing then we would act out a Bible story. Then they would color as we handed out the food that was prepared at the church for them.
The church is just outside La Cuenca. God has really given me a heart for the kids and the people of La Cuenca. We were always greeted with a big hugs and smiles.

Prayers
Praises
I am really starting to build some relationships with the church and La Cuenca.
I am starting to go to a different church ( the one in the pic)
the youth group has really accepted me and the pastor
Requests
we have 2 weeks till our summer starts and we have a lot to do
for the staff coming down for the summer and the new interns
for the youth and families coming for mission adventures
my friends and family at home
Wednesday (tomorrow) i get my wisdom teeth pulled cause one was infected
Thank you again for all the prayers and the support. I know I say that at the end of all my blogs but if you don't ask you won't receive. That's from the Bible, so I know God is answering all your prayers and blessing you for the your time and energy.

Durring Quiet Time

Sitting under a tree that is used by drug dealers my not be a smart place for a quiet time, but I love it there. It over looks a small and trashed filled waterfall and it's also a place where most people walk by, so there is opportunity there to witness. I was just reading scripture when a guy had stopped and had asked what I was doing. I told him that I was reading part of the Bible and was working in the plaza with the group. I then asked him if he had a relationship with God and he said no. I said no problem and started some small talk. Keep in mind we both are speaking each other's language very broken but effective. I can usually understand more Spanish than I can speak which is good and bad but yeah well. Any way back to the story, so we talked about what he does for money and just different things. He went to leave and I asked him if I could pray for him and he said sure, not really expecting anything, but God showed up as I was praying. I heard God saying to give him some money to get some bread, so I did when he asked for it. At that moment his eyes lite up and he began to ask me questions about church and different things. He told me to wait a minute and he would be right back with the bread, so i did. When he returned with a piece of bread in his hand and a huge smile on his face I knew God had changed his life. Others had some awesome people turn their lives to God as we also went prayer walking from house to house. People being healed, giving up drugs and alcohol, and just people lighting up for someone who cares for them enough to pray for them.

The pictures are for the next story below this one.

When we all gather together

Ephesians 4:16 Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

When we all come together to work on different projects it's awesome how much you can see God work and how much more you can get done. We all represented three countries, Canada, Costa Rica, and The United States. Together we all worked to help out La Cuenca, by building bridges, teaching English and Spanish, building drainage ways, and clearing and leveling a future playing feild for the kids. Communication was tough but fun as we all were trying to understand each others broken languages and playing sharaids. It's hard to describe but I think when you try your hardest to communicate with each other you become more than friends because you put your all into getting to know one another. The other cool part about last week was to build a bridge that leads to the church with all the metal except for two peices come from the community.

We also interacted with the Los Lagos Church. We helped them with their kids ministry on two Saturdays, telling Bible Stories, teaching songs, dances, coloring and then feeding them lunch. Then Saturday nights we would worship and share with the youth group from the church. We challenged each other to a soccer game and the losers had to shave their heads. The winning team is pictured above. We built a lot of great and strong friendships this past week and I am looking forward to work with them alla lot more in my time here.

Prayers

Praises

- I remembered how to weild

- For all the work God has done in La Cuenca

- For all the relationships being built

- For safty and health

Requests

-rest for the staff as it has been a long week and a half so far and the team is here till Thursday

-for the leadership team as a whole spiritually

-for us to get the things needed to get done before summer which starts the first week of June

- the new interns coming and summer staff

-for the people that we meet

Thank you to all who have prayed and supported me through everything. My God continue to richly bless yall for everything yall have sacrificed for Him.