Much Needed Week

It was great to have Ephrata Mennonite Church here last week, because it is my home church. It was great to get to know them better and watch God work in them and through them. It was also needed because we all knew we could encourage each other at a much faster pace.

We went to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui for our outreach. We did a lot of open air ministry and servant evangelism, that included doing dramas and testimonies in the park, house to house prayer, cleaning up trash, handing out pop, and cleaning windows. We also did a VBS. That was a big hit as each day we had more and more kids come to the church. God answered so many prayers last week as each day He kept putting things in order for us. One of the prayers He answered was there were a lot of local youth that came out Sunday night for a cook out with the Ephrata group. It was great to see the two groups intermingle and build relationships with each other. The group also built relationships with the local community as they picked up trash and just were so involved with the community. God also answered another prayer as we were picking up trash. The couple ladies I was working with were feeling down on the last day and they were talking about it earlier but had never said anything to me about it. We had prayed before we hit the streets and just ask God for divine appointments, just help us glorify Him, and to have our act of kindness impact the community. As we were walking the street picking up trash a lady came out of a store and took a couple pictures of us. She then started talking to us and saying how thankful she was for us doing this and also for having the VBS. We all had shared together and then had prayed for them, they in turn had prayed for us and gave us each a souvenir. It had encouraged us all as we all needed a pick me up from God, after a long, hard week.

The two themes for the week were How faithful God is to answering prayers and encouraging each other as a church, no matter where the church is at as long we all are a body of believers, we are to help each other.

Prayers

Praises

for a great week

God's faithfulness

how the church responded to God and His calling

Requests

strength and endurance for us staff

God to keep showing up and working in every one's lives

guidance and direction for myself

Thank you to everyone who sent gifts and cards, it was much needed. I can't say in words what it means to me to have a church and support team behind me as I am here. Thank you for the prayers and support as I always need it. May God continue to lead, guide, and direct yall.

Jesus Feeds The 5000

We all have heard the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. On Tuesday we had the opportunity to work with a local church and Christ for the City in La Cuenca, with a kids feeding program. It was the first time for the two to work together. We as PVM help the both of them. The church made hamburgs and rice and salad for the kids at the church and we transported it down to the kids. I kept looking at the number of kids and

the amount of food, it wasn't looking like enough. We had a big 5 gallon jug of juice also and I kept praying and saying God it doesn't look like we are going to have enough. I kept praying also that God I don't want to have to turn anyone away, You have to do something. When Ugo said this is the last child that needs fed, it was a relief because it was our last dish and cup. I don't know how many kids or how many meals were made but we ended up with the right amount. The only thing I can say is God had it work out, I don't know if He reproduced the meals or not but we were not short.

We had the first week of youth groups come down and it was awesome to see what God had did through them and in them. It was great to hear their testimonies at the end of the week on what all God had did to stretch them, encourage them, and bring them together. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida are having youth groups coming back on fire and are planing on putting into practice what they have learned here.

Prayers

Praises

what all God had did last week in youth, communities and in the staff

our day of rest today as staff

friends and family God has given me

and most of all just for God showing up everyday and every moment

Requests

Wednesday we have 90+ youth coming from 5 different churches

staff unity to continue

guidance and direction and wisdom

and for God to have His will be done

I can't thank everyone enough for the prayers and support. I thank you for taking the time to read the updates I send home. I can feel the prayers being answered cause my only prayer every morning as I crawl out of bed is God you better show up cause I can't do this on my own.