SENDAS and Idaho Team Update

Hello and Bon Día (Good day in language of Papiamentu),

If you read our last post, you know that we are preparing for a move to Curacao. But before all that can happen, there are some final events and teams to take care of here in Costa Rica. 

When we returned from home assignment in late October, it was just in time for three big Seminary events in a row: the annual Assembly, the Llamados (Called) Conference and then Graduation.  We jumped into the schedule full force!  

The SENDAS Board, so many great leaders in this group.

Round table discussions during the Llamados Theological Conference

Llamados 2017 - a great event with 165 in attendance.

David and I were honored to have the SENDAS graduation service dedicated to our years of service in Costa Rica.  It was quite an honor!

The faculty and graduates - SENDAS 2017

A few days after all that, our final Work and Witness team for the year arrived. We are thankful for Bruce Wilson who was here to help and who has accepted the role of W&W Coordinator for 2018.  All the 2018 teams, and there are many of them, are in good hands! 

This team arrived from Meridian, Idaho.  The Valley Shepherd Church sent 14 people to work on the Children’s Ministry building in San Francisco de San Isidro de Heredia (yes, that is the longest name of a town in the world!).  Laying block and filling holes were the main jobs this week, along with serving children in the local elementary school for two mornings.  There was a talent show and send off on Saturday night and of course a fun day of tourism too.

Making our way to church on Sunday morning.

Working in the elementary school near the church. 

A team photo with the on site construction workers.

Jeremy and David with Luis one of the leaders of the construction crew.

We are so thankful for all the teams we have been a part of this year – fourteen in total! Each team was a blessing not only to the local church project, but to us personally as well.  THANK YOU!

Soon the Meridian team will return home to their homes and families, and our thoughts will be on our upcoming move. We will make a trip to Curacao next week, and we need to accomplish a number of things while there.  Most importantly is to get to know the Petrus family, Nazarenes living in Curacao now for a number of years.  They have already been a big help to us in this transition, and we look forward to working alongside them in ministry. 

Willemstad, Curacao

Also, we need to find a house to live in.  Honestly, it is not difficult to find a home, but we are seeking the home that God has in mind for us – the one where we will be most effective in ministry because of the location and the neighbors.  Will you pray with us?   

Another goal is to learn the ropes about immigrating to Curacao. We have already started some paperwork processes, but we are unsure if we are doing it all correctly.  We would like to receive residency as soon as possible so we can receive our shipment before too long.

For now, we are trying to put off saying goodbye as it will be January before we leave.  Before all that sadness occurs, we look forward to having our kids with us for a week in December for our last family vacation in Costa Rica (at least for awhile!). 

Thanks for your prayers and support.  As David always says, “The best is yet to come!”  We are clinging to that thought!