Home Again

Hello to All,

Once again we are home in Costa Rica after being in the States for Home Assignment.  We enjoyed seeing all our friends and family across eight states and look forward to seeing you all again in two years (summer of 2015).   It is not as far away as it sounds.

Life has been hectic as we jump back in to a daily routine in San Jose.  Kayley is back to school in 10^th grade and Joshua will be starting his sophomore year of college at MVNU in a couple of weeks. 

We reconnected immediately upon our return to CR with our missionary friends and some other guests at Micah Sickel’s 1^st Birthday party.  Micah is a growing fast and walking is just a few days away.  He’s almost got it!

We really wanted to visit the Alajuela Church since they have had three Work and Witness teams to help them put a second story on their building in downtown Alajuela.  It is prime property, but small, so a second story was the only way to create more space.  Thanks to the Chicago Central District teams who helped to make this project a reality! 

Another exciting development is the continuation of the work at SENDAS.  There are two important projects going on now on campus.  One is for the water (sewer) system to be connected to the city water and the other is a new bathroom facility for the gymnasium/auditorium.  Thanks to the team from Pennsylvania who just finished up the water project (2^nd stage).  We really enjoyed having you on campus.

The new bathrooms for the auditorium.

The PA team digging and digging some more.

The PA Work and Witness team with representatives from SENDAS at the thanksgiving and prayer time.

At the Los Angeles church, preparing for the new driveway.

The PA team also spent one day helping at the Los Angeles church near SENDAS.  They have new property and needed some manpower to move dirt for a new driveway.  Looking good!

CALL Language School had students throughout the summer.  Two students recently completed their time with CALL:  Pastor Miles McPherson from San Diego and Ryan Krestel from Chicago. 

The LeGrands continue their studies with CALL but they have begun to lead Work and Witness teams as well.  Their three boys are also studying and all are advancing well with the language.

Patrick and Kim LeGrand, CALL students and Work and Witness volunteers.

This week, David, Shelley, Kim LeGrand and Dr. Helmer Juarez went to Los Chiles (a border crossing town into Nicaragua, about a 5 hour drive) to visit the church there.  It was great to see the new parsonage, completed a few months ago and to see how the church has plans to increase their ministry to children. They have had 20 children attending on Sundays and for special activities.  Pray with them for more workers for the harvest there in Los Chiles.  

Dr. Juarez, David and Pastor Henry.

Finally, we are so excited that the Gentrys will be arriving soon.  They are new volunteers who will serve with SENDAS in computer programming needs as well as the teaching of ESL for Nazarene Academy.   

The Webbs and Gentrys at the General Assembly in June.

They are a wonderful couple who are leaving their jobs in the USA behind to serve for the year.  They could use your financial support.  They need to raise nearly $20.000 for their year in Costa Rica (tickets, food, lodging, visas, etc…).  If you can help them, it would be a HUGE blessing to them and to SENDAS.  The link for more information is this:  www.lucasgentry.com

There you can read about their plans and help them financially to get to SENDAS to serve the Lord.  When you help them, you help us and SENDAS!  They hope to arrive in September. 

Here are a few prayer requests.  We sure appreciate your prayer support.

1.  Pray for David’s trip to the Indigenous area next week.  They are visiting a church and investigating the possibility of a bridge project so people can cross the river safely (without having to walk through the high waters).

2. Pray for Kayley as she gets adjusted to her classes in 10^th grade and Joshua as he begins his new RA position and classes for the fall very soon.

3.  Pray for CALL as Shelley searches for a new Spanish professor.  The program is growing and we need more teachers. 

4.  Pray for the Gentrys are they sort, pack, repack and raise funds for their year of missionary service in Costa Rica. 

Thanks again.  God's blessings to you all.

The Webb Family

On the Road Again...Again

Hello Everyone,

Our travels have taken us to 8 states putting 6500 miles on the car on this home assignment, and the last blog left us in West Virginia in late June.  From there we traveled back to Ohio to say a sad goodbye to Joshua who is spending the rest of his summer working in the IT department at MVNU. 

The Tennessee district was the next stop, with services in Waverly, Erin, Woodlawn (our home church) and then the TN District NMI Convention.  We really felt at home in TN and it made us lonesome for our years of life there from 1997-2003. 

These guys have all been to Costa Rica for W&W teams.  We had a fun reunion with them all.

David and Lee Allen, special friends who threw a great BBQ party at their home.

Each service was a blessing as we shared about mission work in the Mesoamerica Region, using the text of Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zacchaeus and Jesus’ mission to seek and save the lost.

We enjoyed staying with our friends the Greens, who have always opened their home to us whenever we have needed it.  Shelley learned about beekeeping and Kayley and David enjoyed a 4 wheeler ride on the farm.

Mr. Green giving Kayley a ride.

The Iowa NMI Convention in Oskaloosa.

From Tennessee, we headed northwest to Iowa to arrive in time for the Iowa NMI Convention.  Since we were born and raised in Iowa, it was fun for us to get to know the Nazarene churches in our home state, including Ames, Des Moines Eastside, Leon Trinity (Christian church),  Shenandoah, Tabor, Keokuk, Moravia, Knoxville and Monticello.

Being at the Iowa NMI Convention was a real treat.  The new District Superintendent there came from Clarksville, TN, so it was great to reconnect with Kim Smith.  The Iowa district is bringing a W&W team to San Jose in February, so we look forward to reconnecting with our friends again soon.

Enjoying lunch with some folks from Ames, IA.  GO CYCLONES!

 In the middle of it all, we spent one weekend in the Olathe, KS area, speaking to three Sunday School classes at College Church and to the Westside Olathe congregation on Sunday night.  These two churches have been great supporters of our ministry for years, and we really appreciate them. 

Of course, we spent every free moment with family.  Kayley particularly enjoyed her time with her cousins, some her age and some younger. 

Brandon's ball game in Des Moines...Kayley's first baseball game ever!

David's brother Charles and two of his grandkids.

Kayley and Karly

Playing cards is a family time tradition.

Sweet Lydia and Kinsley with Kayley

This is our last day in the USA and it is bittersweet.  It is sad to say goodbye to family and friends, but we are ready to be home in Costa Rica.   Back to our own beds, the rainy season and SENDAS campus.  

Classes begin for Kayley at ICS next week and Joshua begins his new RA job later in the month.  Pray for them both as they transition into the new school year.

 

Blessings to you all.  We love you and look forward to seeing you next time!

The Webb Family