The Church of the Green Roof

 The Center Point team on a Hammock Bridge close to the new church.

Hi to Friends and Family,

We have been excited to see all that God has done over the past month.  David is glad to be at home for awhile as well after a busy month.  After a three day trip to Nicaragua, David was with a US team from the Center Point Church of the Nazarene in Nashville, Tennessee.  They traveled to the very north part of Costa Rica to work in the community of Cartagos de San Jose de Upala.  

Photo:  Before we started working

This trip involved a very unique church plant.  The Costa Rica North district had recently acquired a church building and the land for only about $4,000.  This took place as a mission from a different denomination had abandoned this church building two years prior to our arrival.  The owners of the land approached the Church of the Nazarene to see if they would be interested in receiving this church building if they would pay the purchase price of the land.   Through the approval of alabaster funds, the Costa Rica North just completed this purchase in March.

Team leader Ciara multi-tasking                                                                           

The Center Point church combined forces with the Costa Rica North district to give the church building a lot of TLC that was badly needed.  In this project, we repainted the roof, painted the church, repaired windows, painted the metal window grates and worked on plumbing and electrical needs.   After three days, the community could see that there was a new church in the community (and the workers rejoiced that there were two working bathrooms!).  

                   Vacation Bible School

During this time, we also visited homes in the community (one of the local leaders started visiting at 6 am:) and ministered through a Vacation Bible school.  On Friday evening we had a concluding service and then showed the Jesus Film.  We were thrilled to have an attendance of over 70 people and to see 10 children and 5 adults accept Jesus as their Savior.  It was a great joy to see this abandoned structure being used as a church once again. 

                                                  Special Friday night service with District Supt Johnny Calvo

We jokingly talked about naming the church "The Church of the Green Roof" after applying green paint to the metal roof.  However, this has real meaning as green signifies Hope (here in Costa Rica).  We look forward to seeing how God will use this new group to bring His hope to this community of many needs.  Please pray for this new group.  We rejoice as the local leaders met with 10 people on Sunday April 18 in their first service.  The group is growing and on Sunday April 25, the local leaders reported that 30 people came for the second service.  Praise God for His faithfulness and His help in starting a new work in this community.

Thanks again Center Point Church of the Nazarene for your hard work, your love for the people here in Costa Rica and your friendship.   We believe that God is definitely beginning a very special work in Cartagos.