October 2015: CALL, Guatemala, Curacao and SENDAS

Hello once again. Here we are in October already. Where did the year go?  It is amazing how fast the time goes by.  We are missing (once again) the fall season with the changing of the leaves in the USA, but we are thankful we live in a temperate climate.  Some days, if there are clouds and rain, it can feel even a bit cool and reminds us of a fall football game day.

Shelley’s work with CALL never ends, and on the last day of September we had a small celebration for Carol’s completion of three months of full time Spanish study.  She is a new missionary with SENDAS and is now taking less hours of Spanish and working in the office more and more. She is already a great asset to SENDAS. 

Carol and Gaby

We finally sold the Toyota, David’s beloved truck that we have owned for nearly 9 years.  David decided to purchase the Sickel family’s pick up, which is much better for the trips to the Indigenous area, so we no longer needed the red Toyota.  She now belongs to a wonderful family in Guapiles, and they called to say how pleased they are to have such a good vehicle.  It was a win-win!

We had a wonderful time in Guatemala for a three day Nazarene Missions International celebration.  It was fun to see so many friends. We also got to meet face to face some our LINKS friends from Barbados who we have been in contact with by email for a couple year.

Here are a few photos from our time in Guatemala.

A view from the back of the event.  Love this photo with our friend Bub in his hat standing near the back.

David was asked to translate for Dr. Saenz for a couple minutes.  Always nerve-racking, but he did a great job!

Seeing these two is always fun!  The wedding for Erika and David will be in March.  Can't wait!

It's always a blessing to see our friends the Sickels who now serve in Mexico.

Receiving a missionary recognition certificate.  We didn't do anything special; we were just there.

Shelley, doing her best to translate for Dr. Ruben Fernandez.

The HILL.  It doesn't look like much in this photo, but it is a workout to trudge up it.

Happy to be missionaries with the Mesoamerica Region!

Holding this boy is a workout: Levi Sickel

Shelley loved holding the babies.  This is Elizabeth.

Getting to meet some of the missions leaders from Barbados was quite an honor. 

A highlight of the trip was getting to meet Jonathan and Lisette Petrus, who live in Curacao and who are working to plant the Church of the Nazarene there.  At the next general assembly in 2017, Curacao will be added to the number of world areas where the Church of the Nazarene is officially recognized, so it may be listed as number 160!  Pray for this couple and their two children as they work to build the church on the Dutch island nation.

Jonathan and his son carrying in the flag for Curacao.  

This is the month for local assemblies and David is keeping busy helping to lead the meetings. Saturday night (tonight) he is leading the assembly and preaching at Montes de Oca church and Sunday (tomorrow) he is preaching at La Finca in Poas.  This week he travels to the Dominican Republic for regional evangelism meetings. 

Kayley’s and Joshua’s senior years (high school and college, respectively) are going well.  Kayley is studying for the ACT exam in December, and Joshua is busy writing papers and finishing up another online master’s business course.  Both kids are doing well, and we praise the Lord that Joshua will come home for Christmas to Costa Rica and we will be the Webb Family 4 once again.  We are all looking forward to that.

These are busy days at SENDAS (the Seminary) with the Assembly meetings this week and graduation in two more weeks.  If we all survive until November 8^th, then life can slow back down to a normal pace. 

Love my team at SENDAS: Shelley, Vicente and Kay Lynn.

Just had to include this cute photo of Kayley (middle) with two missionaries, Carol and Kay Lynn.

Thanks to all our friends and family who keep us encouraged through prayer.  We are so thankful for each one of you.

Blessings,

The Webb family

September Update / Back in the Swing of Things

Hello to Everyone,

Well, life has settled back into a routine of traveling and working, working and traveling.  We have enjoyed being back with the churches here and have visited three since our return.  Our home church, El Alto, where we try to attend at least once per month, has a new pastoral couple, Manuel and Giselle.  They have been friends of ours for quite some time but have moved from associate pastors at the Desamparados Church to being senior pastors at El Alto.  They are doing a great job and it is fun to see the excitement that everyone has for this change.

Have you seen the movie War Room? Another one of the local churches, Los Angeles, has rented out a theater for Monday night’s showing so we are excited to see this movie, even if it is in Spanish.  (We always prefer to see movies in English if they were made in English.  Sometimes the funny lines just don’t come out the same in Spanish).  I am sure it will be fun to fill up the theatre with 275 of our closest friends!

Another recent highlight was the Youth Leader’s Retreat held at Poas where nearly 50 of our leaders attended.  About 30% said they feel a call to serve in ministry, so we are excited to guide these young leaders so they can fulfill whatever God has for them in the future. 

The Central District held a ladies retreat for the first year that I can remember.  It was a well-organized event with an all female band and great speakers.  Shelley’s missionary friend Rhonda was in town, so we got to attend together, which made it extra special.

Our daily work duties continue with David traveling to visit churches, hold workshops and plan for the future.  Shelley has been preparing end of year reports, translating documents and finishing up the bi-monthly newsletter in both English and Spanish for the Seminary.  (If you are not on the list and want to be, just email Shelley).  David’s travels have taken him to Upala (far north of Costa Rica), Valle de Estrella (far southeast) and even to Panama – all within the last two weeks. These photos are from the trip this week to Valle de Estrella.

 We are glad to have Kay Lynn back with us as a volunteer for three more months. She has become part of our family, so when she visited the USA for three weeks, we missed her being around.  So glad she is back with us for at least a while longer.  Carol also is taking classes, but is nearly finishing up her first three months serving as a missionary.  She is doing well with her Spanish and will surpass both David and Shelley sometime soon.

Kayley recently helped with the celebration of the Day of the Child.  She led student games all afternoon and came home soaked.  But she enjoyed the time with the kids.  She goes back and forth between teaching and nursing.  It will be interesting to see which career wins.

Kayley is in an Economics class and a recent project was to start a new business and share the plan with the class.  This was a formal event presented in front of other classes and with four judges. Kayley’s project was an Italian ice store called Tina’s.  Her Italian ice was a bit hit and she tied with another student for the Best Business Plan Award.  Great job, Kayley!

We are super proud of Joshua who completed a very difficult Master’s course online for his graduation requirements – Corporate Finance.  He finished the course with a grade of a B which is just awesome.  Way to go, Joshua! 

Joshua (right) enjoying a meal at the cafeteria with his friends.

Prayer requests:

1.  Health – we have all struggled with sinus issues, which is not abnormal with the wet climate we have here, but we would like to be done with sinus headaches.  They are not much fun.

2.  We are trying to sell our Toyota 4Runner, but no takers yet.  It is a great vehicle and David will be sad to part with it, but now that we have the truck, we do not need it.  Pray for the perfect buyer to come along.

3.  Kayley and Joshua and both busy with their senior years.  Pray for a strong finish to the semester. 

4. Pray for the plans for a future event to encourage those with calls to ministry.  We are really excited about the impact such an event could have on the future of the church here in Costa Rica.

5. We have an upcoming NMI retreat in Guatemala in October.  We are excited to see many friends and coworkers there.

Thanks for your prayers and love.  We appreciate each one of you.  

The Webb family

Back Home in Costa Rica

Hello to all our friends and family - 

We had a great home assignment and really enjoyed the last few weeks.  They were just a bit slower and we got to spend a little time with our family, which is always a blessing. 

Shelley's brother and parents in Iowa

Kayley with Grandma and Grandpa Preussner

Kayley and Shelley even took off an afternoon to kayak and paddleboard at Uncle Roger and Aunt Janet’s lake in Iowa. Beautiful, peaceful and fun!

We spent our last deputation Sunday as a family in Kansas City.  We always enjoy seeing our friends at College Church Sunday School classes.  Then we visited, for the first time, First Church in Kansas City, MO.  It was great to see a number of people we knew from years past, and to meet some new friends too.  David spoke solo the last Sunday at Monticello, IA since Shelley and Kayley returned to Costa Rica a few days early to get Kayley started in school – her senior year. 

We have been in Costa Rica now for a couple of weeks and it took that long to get readjusted and caught up on work.  Now we are thinking ahead, planning for the future. 

For Shelley, that means planning for the CALL Language School.  We are glad to have both Carol and Kay Lynn here this fall, and we are looking forward to other professional students for the Spring.  

Carol who learned to make Gallo Pinto during her CALL class.

Kay Lynn and Profesora Gaby

Also, MidAmerica Nazarene University is sending two student teachers this fall and a few more in the Spring.  Point Loma is in the planning phases for next year as well. 

Lots of planning is happening at SENDAS for upcoming meetings and graduation in November.  Lots to get ready for, but Shelley is glad to work with a great team of leaders.

Kayley enjoyed her summer of college visits. Now the long, hard decision making process begins.  It will be at least March before she makes a final decision.  She has decided to more seriously consider nursing, and we got to speak to some of the universities about their BSN programs. 

Joshua is super busy this fall as he tackles 18 hours (6 of them graduate hours), his RA position and his work at Fastenal.    And we wish him a very happy birthday TODAY!  He is now 21 and we can hardly believe it.  Yes, we are getting old.  In one year, we will empty nesters with all that entails (the positives and the negatives). 

Joshua (right) with a couple of college buddies.

We are so pleased that our local church, El Alto, has a new pastoral couple.  Manuel and Giselle have been friends of ours for a few years, and now they are serving as the pastors at the church we call home.  Yeah!

Installation service at El Alto

Fellowship time at El Alto

David has already taken a quick trip to the Indigenous area.  We are focusing there on theological education and church planting with future plans to help with compassionate ministries in the areas of community health and water projects.  

David and other leaders visiting a recently planted mission in Boca Cohen.

The hike to Boca Cohen

David is reconnecting with all the pastors and leaders from the two districts.  There will be lots of traveling in then next few weeks to catch up with everyone.  A trip to Panama is scheduled for next week to visit the church planters in the Changuinola area. Do you know where that is located?  It is the pink section on the top left of this map.

While we were gone, a Work and Witness team from California came to help with the Orchid building, a new meeting hall for groups.  I have heard only great comments about the team and their experiences in Costa Rica.

If you or your church have been considering a Work and Witness trip for 2016, we need some help here at SENDAS.  We have two or three projects that need completing soon.  See this link for more info.  http://www.seminarionazareno.net/sendas/work-and-witness

Well, this month marks the 10^th year anniversary for our service as missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene.  It has been a great 10 years and we hope for at least 10 more. 

Many blessings to you all. 
Until next time,

The Webb Family

Home Assignment, Part II

The Webb family home assignment continues with a stop in Tennessee, then NYC in Louisville,  a stop in Chicago and then Iowa, it has been a whirlwind.  In the meantime, life continues in Costa Rica with CALL students and other projects. 

It was wonderful to visit our home church in Tennessee, seeing old friends and meeting new ones.  A visit to Trevecca Nazarene University was our first stop, before Woodlawn and then Erin, TN.  

Kayley at Trevecca Nazarene University

For the 4^th of July weekend, Joshua and Lilly came to visit us in Woodlawn, TN.  It was a Webb family reunion with us all together once again.  Lilly (Josh’s girlfriend), put up with us all and we think even had a good time.  It was a hard parting, as always, but we have hopes of seeing Joshua again at Christmas.

Spending time with Joshua at the Clarksville Water walk

Kayley and Lilly

Josh and Kayley watched fireworks on Fort Campbell post with many friends

Nazarene Youth Conference was held In Louisville with 6500 teens in attendance.  It was an awesome event with great speakers, worship and concerts.  Shelley went along as a MK (Missionary Kid) District sponsor and that was a wonderful privilege.  What an incredible group of young people.  As a friend of mine said, “My hope for the future is restored being with this group of exceptional young people!” and I wholeheartedly agree.

The awesome MKs from around the world

6500+ people makes for a great worship experience

These young people will change the world!

We visited the Chicago area for just two days to see some family and visit Olivet Nazarene University.  David spoke at the Denville, IL Church before picking up the girls at the airport. 

Iowa is our home state, so we try to enjoy as much time there as possible.  This trip we visited Shelley’s Mom first, and then David’s Mom.  We spoke at Cedar Falls, Ames, Des Moines First Church, Knoxville and Des Moines Eastside Hispanic.  God is on the move in Iowa! 

In rural Iowa, you see more pickups than anything else!

David preaching at the Hispanic First Church of the Nazarene in East Des Moines, Iowa

Proud Cyclone fans

In Costa Rica, the CALL program continues to flourish with the help of Kay Lynn, our volunteer for the year.  She has been excellent to take care of the students this summer.  Carol and Paula arrive this month and have advanced quickly in their Spanish learning.  Kathy and Caitlyn finished strong their one-month intensive Spanish classes. 

The Jetters and their profs as they complete their CALL classes

Happy birthday to Profesora Gaby

Paula and Profesora Zeidy enjoying coffee at the Kaffa Coffee House

On July 28^th, David and Shelley enjoyed their 25^th wedding anniversary.  A movie and Mexican dinner were the highlights of the day.  It is hard to believe it has been 25 years.  Here’s to at least 25 more! 

The Knoxville Church surprised us with a anniversary celebration.

Celebrating by going to the movies (Mr. Holmes) and a Mexican dinner.

We have one more week before returning to Costa Rica.  In that time, we will travel to Kansas City to speak in churches, have meetings and a tour at Midamerica Nazarene University, and travel back north to the Cedar Rapids area.  From there, David speak in Pekin, IL, and then again in Iowa before heading back to Costa Rica.  

It has been a good summer, but we are ready to get back to our home and regular ministry duties.  Thanks for your prayers for us as we complete this home assignment and readjust to life in Central America once again.  Pray for Kayley as she begins her senior year of high school and Joshua as he is already beginning his semester of classes for his final year at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.  

Many blessings to all,

The Webbs