Seeing God's faithfulness from Costa Rica to the Dominican Republic

David on a trip in the indigenous zone of Costa Rica

Working with Church planters in the Dominican Republic

 
Many blessings in the great name of Jesus Christ.  We are so thankful for all that the Lord has done in and through us this year and we thank you for your prayers and your friendship.  We know that we are a blessed people :-)

David with Kelvin, a youth in the Dominican Republic

God has allowed many special opportunities for ministry for David including a six day trip to the Dominican Republic in mid October.  He met with five other Evangelism Coordinators throughout the Mesoamerica Region. David's roommate was the evangelism coordinator for Haiti and he is thankful to have this new friendship in Christ. 

The evangelism team had meetings during the day and gave workshops to local churches in the evenings. On Saturday they worked with 20 church planters. The Church of the Nazarene has approximately 120 churches in the Dominican Republic and we look forward to see what God continues to do there.  David preached in a local church on Sunday and visited a new preaching point with a church planter in the afternoon.  After preaching Sunday morning and enjoying a time of fellowship with the pastor, one of the youth of the church went with him to see the ocean which is just 4 blocks from the church.  How beautiful!

A beautiful view in the indigenous area of Valle de la Estrella

After returning from the Dominican Republic, David left for a four day trip to the indigenous zone here in Costa Rica to visit a new preaching point and a church there.  We rejoice as God is opening new areas for us to enter and continuing to bless the works where we are.  Again, it is easy to praise the beauty of God's creation here.

Although the traveling is never easy or full of creature comforts, we are thankful for the works God is raising up and the leaders who serve here.  There are many needs, but the greatest need is for Jesus. 

David & Pastor Leyla with church planter Maximiliano and his family

The Church of the Nazarene organized the first church in the indigenous zone of Tayni approximately two years ago.  This year, David had the privilege of being a part of the local assembly of this new church and serving communion to the brothers and sisters there. Brother Maximiliano in the village of Alto Jabuy has a great passion for the gospel and is working in two communities now that we hope to return to in January to have a special baptism service and to perform weddings.

Serving communion at the annual church meeting

This picture is in the church of Cuchey.  Pastor Arselio serves in this church.  Pastor Arselio used to earn his living by carrying drugs from Panama through the indigenous area to enter Costa Rica.  Now he carries the gospel instead...how much we need to thank the Lord for how only He can change a broken heart.







One last thing and most important thing to be thankful for, new bridges......in September we had an earthquake in Costa Rica of 7.1.  One of things this effected was a church planter that David works with in an area in north Costa Rica called Sarapiqui.  The bridge fell over one of the rivers and for about 6 weeks, there was no good way to drive there.  Costa Rica set up a walking bridge.

On the day before his trip to the Dominican Republic, David drove to visit this church planter to help him buy materials to start a project where he could begin to raise chickens to help support his family.  David said it was comical to see him and two other brothers carrying 10 one hundred pound bags of cement over the walking bridge.  At the same time they gave thanks that the bridge was there so that they could cross over the river....there was no other way.  Jesus gives us the only way that we can enter heaven through His death on the cross, paying a debt we could never pay.  When we trust in Him for our salvation, we can enter in friendship and communion with God Himself, we have a Way to heaven.  Have you thanked Jesus recently for making a way for you? If you do not know Him, please do not wait.  He alone is the Way the Truth and the Life....God bless!