Greetings All!
Our desire is that you are growing in your knowledge of the love in Christ in all that you do. God is good! God is blessing in many ways with many open doors for ministry in Costa Rica and we thank Him for a great start to 2013. Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement. David has been making several trips within Costa Rica and rejoicing how God is working throughout the country. Here are some snapshots to share.
We start here at the seminary as three missional zone church planters came to take an intensive course. David met with them off and on during the week following working withe the Lynden, WA team in Palmeres. Two of the church planters are from the indigenous area of Costa Rica (Valle de la Estrella) and the other church planter is from Western Panama. In this photo they are meeting with Brother Franlym from our San José seminary SENDAS to discuss opening new educational extension centers. Praise God for the access to education our pastors and church planters have.
As the church planters prepared to head home, David travelled with the Costa Rica North evangelism coordinator to lead evangelism workshops in Liberia (northern Costa Rica). They were blessed with the participation of 24 people.
The day after evangelism workshops, David preached in the Barrio Mexico church which is where the District Superintendent Mario Vargas pastors. We had a great lunch with Mario and his wife Sharon afterwards.
The following week, David went on a three day trip to one of the indigenous areas here in Costa Rica. David traveled with two leaders from San José to visit two different missions, to distribute clothing collected by the Costa Rica Central district and to distribute school supplies which were purchased through funds donated by Vacation Bible school offerings from Los Angeles, Ca. Our school year here goes from February to December so a January trip worked perfectly
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| loading up the car! (please pray for it :-) |
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| worship service in the indigenous zone |
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| Donating school supplies |
One of God's greatest gifts is the ability to identify, to train and to encourage new leaders in the faith. In this trip, David was encouraged to meet with 9 different people that are being trained to lead cell groups in different villages.
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| Leaders of missions and preaching points |
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We then had the privilege of attending the annual NYI (Youth) convention for the Costa Rica Central District before heading up to another youth event in the Costa Rica North district. Jesus is moving in the youth in Costa Rica. Please pray that the Holy Spirit has his way as He calls, equips and works in our youth here.
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| Drama at the Costa Rica Central Youth Convention |
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| Youth in Costa Rica North that participated in a weekend of evangelism and compassion |
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The following week, David visited another church planter, Brother Franklin, in north central Costa Rica. Franklin lives in a poor area but is bringing the riches of Jesus Christ in three different communities. Here is a picture of Franklin's new chicken project that was funded by Nazarene compassionate ministries to help him raise revenue to support his family. David had a special blessing as Brother Helmer Juarez, Regional Coordinator for Nazarene Compassionate ministries was able to travel with him
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| Brother Helmer Juarez, Compassionate ministries coordinator and Brother Franklin, in case you are wondering, Franklin wrote on the door of the chicken coop, Christ loves you and is coming back, we need to get ready |
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| Franklin, his wife and son and a family from San Jose that traveled with David |
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We truly thank the Lord Jesus Christ who is moving, calling and equipping people for ministry here. Please continue to pray for revival in every part of Costa Rica and Panama. We are seeing new works grow and we know that true renewal only comes through God's grace. God is good, He loves you and He is coming back soon....as Franklin wrote, we need to get ready.
Much love in Christ, David, Shelley, and Kayley (and Josh by extension :-)
