Merry Christmas Update

Greetings to our dear family and many friends:

Mora (raspberry) sundaes at McDonalds...a Christmas time must have.

It is almost Christmas!  We are so blessed to be together as a family this year.  Joshua arrived this week from college in the USA, so we are pleased just to all be together once again.

So much has happened in the last month that it is hard to know where to start, but let’s begin with Thanksgiving.  David’s sister Tina visited from Iowa and enjoyed the warm weather and the beach with us. 

Tina and David enjoying pipa (coconut milk)

Punta Leona...simply gorgeous.

The two MNU student teachers, Jaymes and Misty, finished their CALL classes and teaching experience on December 12^th.  We had a fun time with these two, who both love soccer and kids. They are both great teachers and wonderful people.  

Jaymes (2nd in photo) and Misty (7th in photo) with the Los Angeles youth group.

A great night of Mexican take out and card games.

Did you know that there are nearly 5,000 Cuban immigrants in Costa Rica? They have made the trek from Cuba to Ecuador (the only country that would receive them without a visa, but that has now changed), through Columbia and Panama, then into Costa Rica.  Unfortunately, Nicaragua and now other countries have closed their borders to the Cubans as they try to reach the USA.  The USA’s policy is to receive the Cubans if they can arrive. So, now Costa Rica is “hosting” the Cubans who are trying to make their way to the USA to start a new life.  

One of Upala Church leaders speaks with one of the Cuban immigrants.

One of the refugee centers is in a gym in Upala where we have a local Nazarene Church. The congregation is visiting the 265 immigrants to see how they can help, and last Sunday seven Cubans came to the church service.  One man named Orlando has decided to follow Christ and is now receiving discipleship classes.  Pray for this situation to find a peaceful solution. 

SENDAS is so grateful to have so many great employees, but as with all organizations, people come and go.  This year, we said goodbye to four wonderful people:  Vicente (my assistant in Public Relations), Kay Lynn (my assistant for CALL) and Franlym and Mara. 

Vicente, a graphic designer and photographer, has a great career ahead of him.

Franlym and Mara, special friends that will do great work in Nicaragua.

Saying goodbye to Kay Lynn.

Thankfully, we will keep in touch with all these special people as they move forward in ministry.  Vicente is focusing on his photography business, Franlym and Mara are moving back to Nicaragua to work with the church there, and Kay Lynn is moving to Cactus, TX to work with the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Center there.   

Kay Lynn completed the entire CALL curriculum while volunteering with SENDAS.

It is always hard to say goodbye, but for our family, it was another blow to say goodbye to Kay Lynn.  Too many goodbyes around here, but it is part of missionary life.  

David took another trip to the Gavilan in Tayni Territory this month.  They held meetings with leaders, planning for 2016, as well as delivered the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes.  

When we lived in the USA, we participated with our kids in preparing the boxes to send out into the world, and now we are blessed to receive the boxes to distribute to needy children.  Thanks to every one of you who sent a box this year.  These children will not receive another gift for Christmas.

David performed the wedding of our good friends Pastor Felipe and Pastora Leyla.  He did a wonderful job (not just Shelley’s opinion, everyone said so!), and we were pleased to have a part in their big day.  It is not too often that we both dress up, so here is the photo of us ready to leave for the wedding. 

Another event that took place on the CR Central district was a one-day conference for those with a call to ministry.  It was a wonderful day of exploring what it means to have a call from God to serve in ministry and how that call can be fulfilled in one’s life.  There were 20+ people at the event, all wanting to learn more about the process of serving as pastors in the Church of the Nazarene.  Events like this one are a big encouragement to the leaders here in Costa Rica.

CALL had a Christmas party with the professors and students early in December.  We are so blessed to work with such great teachers who have become our friends.  

We have a few new students arriving in February and March, but there is room for more!  Come study Spanish with CALL in Costa Rica this spring, especially if where you live it will be cold.  You will enjoy the weather here.  No rain expected until May!

Kayley finished her semester by taking the ACT exam.  We are thankful to have a nearby international school where she can take the exam.  Kayley is looking forward to college life, but will miss her life and friends in Costa Rica.  She is considering a number of Nazarene colleges with MVNU (Mount Vernon, Ohio) and Olivet (Kankakee, IL) at the top of the list.  Pray for Kayley as she makes some big decisions in the spring.

Kayley with some of her classmates from ICS.

A big THANKS to our LINKS churches on the Florida district who have sent cards and letters.  We enjoy receiving your notes of encouragement. We look forward to February when we will visit the Clearwater Church for their Faith Promise Missions weekend.  See you then!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.
Immanuel: He is with us.

David, Shelley, Joshua and Kayley