The Webb Page Newsletter - March 2010 Update

The Webb Page

March 2010

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CALL Program Continues to Grow

Shelley began directing CALL (Christian Academy of Language and Learning) in October of 2009 to provide a Christian environment to study and live while learning the culture and language of Spanish. It has been a great adventure to start a school from scratch, but God has provided each step of the way. 

CALL is a Spanish language and culture program where students live on the safe and beautiful setting of the SENDAS campus while being surrounded by Latino Seminary students and professors.  It is a great place to learn the language and in addition, opportunities may be given to assist in local church planting and compassionate activities. The three-hour classes each day taught by Latin American teachers offer the opportunity to grow in knowledge of the language as well as the culture.  Want more info? Just email Shelley at swebb@nazmac.org.

Shelley has loved being a part of this brand new Language School.  It has been awesome to watch as God puts all the pieces in place and builds the program from the ground up, providing for each need as it arises.  

Christmas in Costa Rica

We had a very special Christmas, thanks to Shelley’s brother and family (Stacey, Kristy, Karly and Brandon) who visited us for a week.  It can get a little lonely here at Christmas as almost all the missionaries leave to visit family (most of them have family in Latin America!), but we did not notice any loneliness since we toured and enjoyed much of Costa Rica with our own family.  

We worked hard on Christmas Eve, holding two different Children’s Events in poor communities.  Even Uncle Stacey got into the act!

We enjoyed a few hours at the beach, zipped down the canopy tour, learned lots about butterflies at the Butterfly Farm and had a great view of the Poas Volcano.  What fun!

TEAMS of 2010

This year, David and Shelley will work with many teams from the USA and Canada.  The whirlwind has started with a great team from New Jersey.  They worked in Costa Rica Central in an area of the city called Tejarcillos.  They painted, repaired, layed concrete, ceramic tile etc…in an elderly housing community.  What a big difference they made in only 2 ½ days. 

Then they presented a VBS program with the help of the local church and showed the Jesus Film in the evening.  It was a great success with more than 90 people accepting Jesus as Savior.  We are excited to see what happens in that community as they local church follows up with all the new believers. 

OK, maybe we didn't work ALL the time!

Three Work and Witness teams participated in a construction project on the Cenizaro Building kitchen and bathrooms. The team from West Virginia worked hard on the demolition of the current structure and the other teams (from Ames, IA and another from TN) began the block laying of the outside walls.

The TN team (top) and the Ames team (below).

David is with another team today in Nicaragua South district.  The team is from Ohio and they will be doing a combination of construction and evangelism for the next week.

David continues working with the church planters, too.  We are really excited that a new program has been put into place for the church planters to receive regular Seminary classes and trainings. 

 

Family Update

The school year got going once again in January, and even though the break is much shorter than the Costa Rican break, we know the kids will be happy to be out of school in late May. (Costa Rican schools run from middle of February until late November!)  

Both Kayley and Joshua and doing well in school.  Kayley is in an elective craft class that she loves and Joshua enjoys basketball and playing drums.  Both are growing up too quickly.  Joshua has only 2 more years of high school after this year, and Kayley is nearing her 12^th birthday in May.  

Home Assignment/Deputation 2011

Yes, it is time to begin scheduling for services in summer of 2011.  We will be in the States from June through the middle of August.  Just email if you want to schedule a service.  We would be pleased to see you next summer.                                      swebb@nazmac.org

Thanks for your prayers and support. We appreciate you!

The Webb Family

David, Shelley, Joshua and Kayley

 

Two more Work and Witness Teams!

Hello to All,

After a crazy February, the pace remained busy in March with two Work and Witness teams combining to form one team of twelve:  6 from Tennessee, West Virginia and Georgia and 6 from Ames, Iowa. 

The TN crowd arrived on the 31st of February and began the construction work on Monday morning.  They worked hard laying block for the foundation and building the walls up to extend the kitchen in Cenizaro Dining Hall. This kitchen is 50 years old and needed some serious remodeling. 

The Iowa team arrived on Tuesday night and began their work on Wednesday.  The men assisted with the block laying as well as working on chipping away at concrete and tile that needed to go to make way for new. 

The ladies worked tirelessly washing by hand 800 (yes, I said 800) used bricks.  In addition, some of the team helped to paint the roofs of two buildings and others worked on the Christmas trees, cleaning around them to help them grow.

The teams enjoyed a ministry activity on Saturday in the pueblo of Pavas.  The area has lots of needs and the team helped to present a VBS, served a snack and handed out some school supplies to the children.  It was a wonderful afternoon of ministry and the team did a wonderful job of connecting with the kids.

On Sunday we attended the church in San Pedro de Poas in the North Costa Rica district.  It was a chance for the team to see the Work and Witness projects at the finca (farm, kinda like a campground) which include a gymnasium project and additional housing for groups.  We are praying for more teams with a desire to assist with these projects in the mountains near Poas Volcano.

 Joshua and Kayley at the finca at San Pedro de Poas. 

Tour day included the Poas Volcano and Cafe Doka coffee plantation.  Everyone learned lots about the coffee they love and managed to find a few dollars to take some home. 

We understand the team from Iowa had a difficult time arriving home and were routed through Chicago after the canceling of their flights.  They arrived home a day late, tired I am sure, but we are glad for their help both at the Seminary and in Pavas. 

On another note, Kayley's science project this year is about butterflies and their life cycle.  It is not everywhere in the world that you can buy butterfly cocoons from a butterfly farm, but just to the west of San Jose at the Butterfly farm they send cocoons all over the world, including places like Cypress Gardens and Reiman Gardens in Ames, IA! 

So, we bought two cocoons and waited, and waited, and waited.  Finally, the first butterfly (Owl butterfly) emerged, but a little too early to be fully developed.  Kayley tried to nurse it back to health, but without success. Thankfully, the second butterfly (blue Morpho) emerged safe and sound and after one day managed to escape out of the patio, leaving behind a bit of her blue wing for Kayley to remember her.  (Yes, it was a girl...you can tell by the less bright color of blue compared to the mal). 

It was an exciting week here at the Webb house between the teams and the butterflies!  We are hoping for a little less excitement next week. 

David just returned from a 3 day trip to Panama and leaves next week for a 9 day trip to Nicaragua.  We are getting ready for teams in April and May, both from TN (one from Center Point in Nashville and the other from Trevecca University).  We appreciate your prayers!  Thank you!

Until next time,
The Webb Family