December Happenings

Hello to you all! 
We have had a wonderful month of December, filled with year-end projects and Christmas activities.  Here are a few hightlights...

Franklin (left) and Pastor Rolan (right).

We have enjoyed visiting many of the local churches and this month we visited the Coronado church, not far from where we live.  The Sunday we were there the Pastor used the preaching time to interview one of the Costa Rica Central district church planters named Franklin.  Franklin has been working hard in the area of Sarapiqui where he has started 16 new missions and cell groups.  Travel in that area is difficult and because of the rain, Franklin could not get back home the day he intended to, but finally the rain ended and he was able to take a bus back to his wife and child.  The local church raised a very generous offering for Franklin that will help him to complete the roof on his house.  Awesome!

Pastor Leyla receiving her license degree (a level above bachelor).

SENDAS graduation was held on December 10th with a group of 49 students graduating from around the world (4 continents).  It was a wonderful service, transmitted by Internet so that those who could not attend would be able to view the service.  Our friend, Pastor Johnny Calvo preached an inspiring message about our duty to serve others.  It was a good evening with lots of celebrating.


The kids have had some exciting events this month too.  Joshua's senior class held a "prom" event with a dinner and dance.  Many of the students in his class (all except for 6) are not returning in January since they have completed the requirements for Costa Rican graduation already, and for that reason this event was held now.  Joshua had a good time with his friends, but is really looking forward to graduation in June of 2012.  The good news for Joshua is that his requirements can be completed in only half days for the second semester, giving Joshua some extra time for ministry with his Dad and an opportunity to assist with the junior high basketball team.

Joshua is in the back, second person from the left.

Then the kids enjoyed their youth group Christmas dinner, which was a formal affair with a lasagna dinner.  The kids all looked so great, dressed up and ready for a fun Christmas celebration with their church friends.

Ready for the formal gala.

 

Kayley, who has naturally curly hair, was proud of her straight locks after the local hairdresser cut and did her hair.  Of course, once washed the curls return, which made most everyone very pleased.

Shelley enjoyed the Seminary Christmas party on Dec. 14th, just before the Seminary closed its doors until January.  It's a blessing to work with such a great group of people!

Then, just before Christmas, we hosted a Missionary Christmas Party for "those who remained."  It is always lots of fun to spend time with those who are around the Christmas and their families.   Above you can see Stephen Sickel holding Gordo, Ana and Andrea Salazar and to the right, Esdras Jimenez.  Awesome friends who are always there for us.

We enjoyed our local El Alto church's Christmas Eve service and then Poas Church's Christmas morning service, which was their first service under their new building.  Then we spent a wonderful time with the Tooley family for Christmas dinner (turkey and all the fixings!).  YUM!

Poas Church - the sign reads Merry Christmas, God has helped us to reach this point (that's not literal, but since the literal doesn't make much sense, this will do).

The new building with roof - this is only half of the building!

The Christmas morning view from the new church building.

We had a great time with Grandma Donna who visited us for a few days from her home in Seattle.  We enjoyed La Paz Waterfall gardens, Cafe Britt and a walking tour of downtown.

In downtown San Jose there are 70 of these doves, each one differently designed by a local artist.

Then we took a few days vacation in Panama at Playa Barqueta.  It was a long drive from San Jose (11 hours with the border crossing), but worth it to see our friends the Slingerlands.  Here are a few photos from our time together.

Now we are back to San Jose, getting ready for the New Year.  Not sure how we will celebrate on the 31st, but guaranteed it will have something to do with fireworks at midnight.  There is no use trying to get to bed before 1 am with all the noise throughout the city, but it is lots of fun.

We are looking forward to a busy, busy January with CALL students arriving starting January 5th and classes beginning on January 9th, a visit from David's niece next weekend and a visit from a Point Loma professor in preparation for the planned summer classes in 2012.  David has a trip to Panama scheduled for January 4th and with district assemblies in early February, it will be busy for him as well.  The kids don't return to school until January 17th, so they will be enjoying a few more days of freedom before life gets back to a regular routine. 

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that your New Year celebrations will be filled with thoughts of thankfulness for what the Lord has done in 2011 and anticipation of what He will do in 2012.  GOD BLESS YOU!

The Webbs

November Update - 2011

Hello Dear Friends and Family,

I apologize for being so long in posting a blog, but it has been a bit busy around here.  It seems like each weekend we are attending another ministry event or visiting a church we’ve not yet been to.  It is our hope to visit each and every Church of the Nazarene in the country of Costa Rica within the year, and we’ve got a good start.  I think we are up to at least 8 of the 35 churches.  Making good progress.

The terrain...look at that mud!

Let’s start with a run-down of David trip to an Indigenous area of Costa Rica.  Since you must cross a river to reach the particular area that the team was headed for, it became impossible to do so with the heavy rains and rising river.  So the team headed another direction to visit a different village where the local Pastor has a new church plant. There they led a training session and visited with the people.  They spent the evening sleeping on the concrete floor, but it was well worth the sacrifice. 

Pastora Leyla leading a training.  She brought along her own little whiteboard...good thinking, Leyla!

My favorite photo. Isn't that little guy the cutest!

A return trip is planned for the near future.  It will be easier to travel there when the rains completely stop in late December and January. 

At the Church in San Pedro de Poas, big things are happening.  This church has worshiped in an outside sanctuary for a long time now after outgrowing their church.  They have had dreams of a multipurpose center (a HUGE one) that could be their church home as well as a training center for the community.   

This month the trusses (serchas) were placed by crane on top of the side walls.  It took two days of the crane lifting, the men welding and others holding the ropes for it to be completed, but finally, that part is done!

No thank you!  That's way to high for me.

The Chicago Central District is partnering with this district (see previous blog about the team in Liberia) and soon they will begin to collaborate with this construction as well.  Maybe the congregation can begin worshiping under the BIG ROOF in late January or February.

We had a nice time as a family at the beach over Thanksgiving.  This has become our tradition.  It is a beautiful time to go since the Thanksgiving holiday is not celebrated here and the beach is nearly empty.  Awesome!!!

Everyone enjoys the water and the surf, but our water time was cut short by David being stung by a Sting Ray. The Costa Rican’s say manta ray, but those don’t have stingers so we’ll stick with sting ray.  It was quite painful and the only relief was found by putting the wound (his foot) in hot, hot water.  After a couple of hours the pain subsided, but the beach just didn’t have the same lure as before for David.  

Shelley has kept busy with her regular work routine as well as helping to teach the ESL class.  She is almost done with her masters in ESL - just one more course in January and February.  YEAH!

Shelley with a few of the ESL students in the night class.

We are enjoying the Christmas decorations in our home, trying to make it as festive as possible.  We bought an advent wreath this year and are enjoying lighting another candle each week, anticipating the arrival of Christmas and the Baby Jesus.  It is amazing to think that God would be willing to leave his throne and his rights as King to be born on earth, but He did just that for us.  Emmanuel – God with us. 

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  We will be here for Christmas but may sneak away for a few days to Panama before New Years. 

May God bless you richly during this CHRISTmas season. 

Shelley, David, Joshua and Kayley