Christmas and New Year Happenings

Hello Everyone!

J and K enjoying downtown San Jose.

It has been a wonderful Christmas and New Year season here in Costa Rica.  We celebrated by having all 4 Webbs under one roof once again.  Joshua visited Costa Rica for two weeks and we enjoyed the family time.  We spent two nights at the coast, visited with friends, saw some movies at the new Lincoln Plaza Mall and spent one day in downtown San Jose.  

Lovin' the beach!

It was sad to say goodbye to Joshua, but we jumped back into work hosting a Work and Witness Evangelism team from the state of Washington.  We worked in Palmares and San Ramon, areas located northwest of the San Jose, doing compassion, evangelism, VBS and light construction.  Here are some highlights of our time together with the team of 12 persons.

David and Pastor Felipe on Day 1 of work in Palmares.

The Church of the Nazarene in Palmares - notice the roof is being replace, thanks to this team!

Preparing for VBS

The before photo...

The after photo

Kayley and friends paining the outside wall in a San Ramon School

The Lynden, WA Church team at Poas.

Now we are looking forward to a great rest of the month of January.  Monday we will be back to office work preparing for the upcoming Costa Rica Conventions and Assemblies.  The Seminary is hosting intensive classes for the next two weeks, so it will be great to have extra students on campus.

A new volunteer couple have arrived to the field and will begin their time by studying Spanish.  Gary and Naomi Faucett, who joined up with the WA team highlighted above, will be staying on campus until mid-March.  We are thrilled they will be here to study and work alongside us for these months.  Here is their blog so you can read all about them:  thefaucetts.weebly.com

School starts on Tuesday for Kayley.  She had a great fall semester, so we know the spring will be wonderful too!  Joshua returned to classes on January 3^rd, arriving late after a flight delay and overnight stay in Dallas. His J-term will end soon and the second semester will begin.  For now, his plan is to double major in Journalism and International Business, with a minor in Spanish.

 

May God bless you all as you begin the New Year.  We have had a great start and can't wait to see what the LORD will do in the 37 churches and 30 missions of Costa Rica this year!

David, Shelley, Joshua and Kayley

Hello and Merry Christmas to ALL! 
We have lots to share on this post, so let's keep things organized with a 10 point list!

1.  Christmas Party – Missionaries and More

Great time with around 25 people in our home for the annual Missionary and More Christmas party.  The majority of the folks are missionaries, but a few just have to put up with us.  We fellowshiped, ate, laughed, drank Anne’s apple cider, passed Baby Micah around, talked about the meaning of Advent and prayed together.  Great way to send off the missionaries headed “home” for deputation. 

Vanessa and Pablo are two who have to put up with all the missionaries!

Ana holding Micah, while a very attentive Gordo looks on.

2.  Finals Week for two

Joshua (far left, yes with the beard) and some guys from his hall at MVNU.

Both Joshua and Kayley completed their exams on Friday.  Both have worked so very hard this term and we are super proud of them for their very high grades.  Kayley is half way through 9^th grade and Joshua in his freshman year of college at MVNU.  Joshua will be home with us soon, and as he puts it, “dreaming of a green Christmas!”  The beach is awaiting us next week!

3.  David – January Team Preparation

David has been busy with travels with two recurring locations:  Palmares and San Ramon.  These are the two cities we will be working in with the team from Washington State that arrives on Jan 3^rd.  Pray with us for safety and good days of evangelism as we help to support the existing work in Palmares (a church that has grown from 25 to 70 in one year!) and start a new cell group in San Ramon, a nearby, even larger city.  We will be working in the city park, in an outlying community of Palmares and in a school in San Ramon.

Palmares Central Park:  The team will paint this kiosk in January!

  

4.  Los Chiles – Dedication of Parsonage

David and Stephen Sickel drove to Los Chiles (near the border with Nicaragua) for the dedication service for the new parsonage there.  Pastor Henry is working hard in Los Chiles and we are so pleased he now has an great place to live.

I love the decoration around the doorway.  It is made of braided leaves and is Pastor Henry's creation.

  

5.  MNU student teachers – highlights

The six MNU student teachers finished their teaching this week and have now returned to the Kansas City area.  We so enjoyed having this great group of young leaders in our home for morning devotions, sharing time with them in the evenings (Kayley loves the Dutch Blitz games) and watching them learn about Spanish and the culture of Costa Rica.  They enjoyed spending a weekend with a Tica family, traveling to the beach for a 3 night stay, and visiting La Paz Waterfall gardens.  You can view more photos of their adventures on the CALL facebook page: Christian Academy of Language and Learning.

 7.  Graduation SENDAS

Graduation was held on the 8^th and as always it was a great celebration.  There were a total of 23 graduates this year, but only 4 in attendance since most live in other countries and take classes online and by video conference.  The first graduates from the Master’s program in Peru were honored at the event:  a father, mother and daughter.  That's awesome!

8.  SENDAS Christmas gathering

We also had a Christmas party for the Seminary.  The staff enjoyed the pool for the morning, had a lunch together and then played some Christmas games.  It was a great way to relax together.  Here is a photo of some of the faculty and staff of SENDAS.

Shelley with the CALL professors, Zeidy and Gaby

9.  This is Pineapple Country!  

Did you know that Costa Rica is the largest exporter of pineapples in the world?  That is amazing when you think of the small size of Costa Rica.  Here is Stephen Sickel next to the pineapple truck.

10.  Sun is out again

 Lastly, it seems the “winter” is finally ending and our “summer” is beginning.  Although we expect to see a bit more rain in December, it is less rain and more sun each day.  Lovely! 

We sure miss being with family for Christmas, but we will be happy to be all 4 Webbs together once again.  

God bless you all.  Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

The Webb family

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!

Travel and More Travel

Hello Family and Friends,

It has been a time of travel for David with Evangelism Coordinator meetings in the Dominican Republic, one day in the office and then a 4 day trip to the Indigenous area churches and cell groups.  Shelley and Kayley are expecting David’s return someone tonight.  It will be good to have all 3 of us home once again.  David enjoyed his time in the DR and will share more later about that, but for now a few photos will suffice.

Shelley has been busy with translations of the School of Leadership books, translating from Spanish to English.  The first book, The DNA of the Nazarenes, has already been sent to the printers and this week a revision of the printed copy is due.  The next book, which is nearly complete, is called Worship as a Lifestyle.  

 The Genesis Project is getting started on the Region.  This is a plan to enter into those cities and countries on the Mesoamerica Region where our church presence is limited in comparison to the population.  One of the Caribbean islands were the Church of the Nazarene does not have a presence is Curacao.  This is a Dutch (Holland) island and our friend, Joel Tooley and his son, Nick, spent a few days there exploring, talking to the people and learning about the people there.  Here a photo from the worship service they attended on Sunday.  Anyone speak Dutch and want to plant a church there?  BEAUTIFUL island!

Shelley has also kept occupied planning for CALL.  Six MNU students will arrive in mid November for a 4.5 week stay with CALL, completing their student teaching at a local private school.  They are preparing for their trip by taking Spanish classes online before their arrival.  A new volunteer for Work and Witness is also expected sometime soon to the field.  It will be a great help to that ministry to have someone in charge while the Sickels head to the USA for deputation.

Professora Zeidy teaching one of the MNU students in his first lesson

Speaking of the Sickels, everyone enjoyed Micah’s dedication service last Sunday and the fun Mexican meal afterwards.  It is good to serve with such great people!

            The Reinharts will complete their one month stay with CALL this week. It has been great to have them with us and to witness how their Spanish is improving.  We enjoyed a visit to Zoo Ave, a bird rescue center, which also had a few other animals too like monkeys, turtles, crocodiles and iguanas.

            

 Joshua is doing very well at college, both academically and socially.  We are anticipating his visit “home” to Costa Rica in December which will make the Webbfamily4 complete once again.

Kayley continues her good work in school earning nothing less than a 90% this first quarter of 9^th grade.  Great job, Kayley!

Well, that's the update for now!  David will be sharing with you soon about his recent travels.

God bless,

The Webbs

Hello to Everyone!

Life has settled into a routine these days with school for Kayley, work at SENDAS for Shelley and trips and meetings for David with the leaders of Costa Rica.

A new couple just arrived for the CALL Spanish language program:  Dan and Janet Reinhart.  They are volunteer missionaries with the South America Region and live part of the year in Argentina.  They are spending one month with us to learn as much Spanish as they can.  Soon they will be on their way to Argentina to work with Communications and Finances for the Region there.  They are some of the easiest CALL students that Shelley has ever hosted since they already understand some Spanish and with their backgrounds they are completely adaptable to whatever living situtation.  They are a blessing!

David preached last weekend in San Pedro de Poas, the largest Church of the Nazarene in Costa Rica. He did a great job!  This Church has had dreams of building a LARGE sanctuary for many years and now that dream is partially completed.  One half of the new sanctuary is completed, but there is much left to do.  We are so proud of the congregation there who have sacrificed greatly, both financially and physically, to make this a reality.  They are a church that prays and trusts the Lord to supply their needs and He always does!

Kayley is now officially on Fall Break!  She has a week off (and the next Monday too!), so she is planning on enjoying it fully!  No homework!  This will be quite a change since she normally has to spend 2-3 hours per night on homework to keep up in her classes.  She enjoyed a birthday sleepover last night with her friend Allison Tooley.  Looks like they had a fun time!





David took a one day trip to an Indigenous area of Costa Rica where we have some new church missions.  One this special day, 4 people were baptized in the river.  Two were planned on, but the other two were a surprise.  

Safely crossing the river once again!  They are becoming pros at this!

Reading from the Word before the baptisms.

Armando's baptism

Elias (white shirt), Leyla, Armando and Anderson (church planter)

Erminia was at the baptism service and said she wanted to be baptized but that she wanted to do it with her husband who was not there, nor was he a Christian.  So, she decided to wait.  But after the baptisms, during the preaching, her husband showed up. After hearing the preaching, he wanted to rededicate his life to Jesus and both of them were baptized.  Yeah!

Erminia and Eloy with their daughter.

One interesting thing we have found about the indigenous people is that they rarely smile for the camera.  They are serious, hard working people.  So don't think they are not happy, it's just so hard to get them to smile for photos!  They are beautiful people.

We have an exciting week coming up!  Since Kayley is not in school, she will go with us on Monday on a scouting trip to visit an area of Costa Rica where we do not yet have churches.  It is near the beach, so we hope to at least put our feet in the sand for a few minutes!  Then off to Palmares, a city about 1.5 hrs from San Jose, to plan for an upcoming team from WA that will arrive in January. 

Then Shelley gets to be part of a video conference test of equipment on Tuesday with a new site in Trinidad!  Shelley has been working some with the leadership there to help translate when there are issues with reports, etc.  In Trinidad, the people speak English (more of a Britain English) and since our secretary speaks Spanish only, translation is necessary to get the year end reporting done correctly.  Those are always fun, but challenging conversations to translate!

No big news from Joshua at MVNU, expect that he and his roommate have started a sandwich shop in their room.  The cafeteria closes at 7pm so by 9pm some students are hungry once again.  They have a George Foreman grill that they use to make various types of sandwiches with meats, cheeses and Joshua's specialty, grilled PB&J. 

We pray your week will be blessed.  Enjoy the fall weather and especially the turning leaves.  We sure miss that!

The Webb Family