More Trees Down!

Hello Everyone!
We are currently in the Kansas City area for meetings and for interviews with General Board, but we have heard that progress is being made on the trees near our home in San Jose. Just before we left on Feb. 13th, I took a few photos to post. It is quite a slow process to cut down these very tall trees.

First each branch is cut with a machete and then, when the tree is just a very tall stump, the trunk is cut off from the top in small sections which fall to the ground with a bang!

We know that our "backyard" will look very different when we return to San Jose in a week.

We have a final service tonight (Monday) and then we will enjoy 3 days of vacation with the family in Iowa. It will be a good break before heading back to the field. We have enjoyed speaking in 3 different churches during our time here in KC. We were with two College Church (Olathe, KS) Sunday School classes last week and this week we visited two Methodist churches near Adrian, MO. We met the nicest people with open hearts to missions.

I hope to find time this week to post another blog to continue the post about the Coshocton Team to North Nicaragua. Only part of that story has been told so far.

God bless you all!

Hello!

This blog highlights the team from Coshocton, Ohio and the church planting ministry that happened in a town called Martinez Brothers (so named in memory of the Brothers Martinez who were killed in the war). This area has about 400 residents, an elementary school and a children’s dining hall facility, but not much else. We were privileged to work on the Children’s Dining hall building, build a fence to protect it and show the Jesus Film in the evenings.


The Coshocton Team members are no strangers to Work and Witness ministry. Their church has sponsored many trips, including the one last year to Costa Rica. It was fun to see the returning friends and to meet some new ones as well.

Our “home base” for the week was a small hotel in Somoto, Nicaragua.
(Go a bit further north and you are in Hondurus!). Our transportation consisted of two pick up trucks and for the most part, the team rode in the beds of the trucks which always got fuller as we moved along….there was always someone who needed a ride somewhere!



We spent 3 days working in this community alongside the local residents. They were wonderful people who took great pride in fixing up the little they have.
Pastor Mercedes (seen here painting) organized every detail of the work project and did an incredible job including the town members in the project. You can see Pastor Mercedes painting the outside of the building (3rd photo from the end).


We held VBS activities each afternoon with an average of 60 kids in attendance. It was great to see the children enjoying the Bible stories and the crafts. The story of Noah was completely new to them and their eyes got big as Pastor Mercedes told them about the ark. The kids loved the balloon animals made by the team and waited patiently in line to receive theirs.



In the next few days, we’ll try to post info and photos about the fence project – done the old fashion way with picks and shovels!










Above you can see the new yellow walls and the peach colored posts...Beautiful!

High Winds - Falling Trees

Hello Everyone!
So sorry for the delay in posting this blog. We were in Nicaragua North last week and then with a bit of sickness this week, we've not had time to post. But, finally things are getting into a routine again, but that doesn't mean life is "normal," especially for a those who have been affected by the high winds we have been experiencing here in San Jose.

On Thursday afternoon, after a full day of high winds, one of the trees behind our old office (now our Director's home) decided enough is enough.

They are red pine trees, the skinny, swaying type that with a huge bang fell into the roof and back patio of the Saenz' home. One person was in the home and in all honesty could have been killed, but thankfully the tree entered the home where she was not.

Everyone was very shaken by this incident. The home in not inhabitable at this moment, but men are working to fix the huge hole in the roof. Part of the tree entered through the roof like a sharp arrow and rested on the stairway inside.


We are still having high winds and rain. The fire department has closed off access to the two buildings nearest the trees until they can be cut down. So four families are without their homes and have had to move to other temporary lodging on campus.



We are thankful everyone is safe and are hoping the San Jose government will take quick action to cut the trees down. This would also be a miracle as nothing much happens quickly here. Pray with us for a speedy resolution to this problem.

On another note, we had a great time with the team from Coshocton, Ohio. Since we worked with about half the team last year, it was great to see old friends again and of course to make some new friends too. We will post a blog all about our adventures in North Nicaragua very soon!

God bless you all,
Shelley and David
Joshua and Kayley

Earthquake near Volcan Poas

Hello Family and Friends,
We had a real scare a little more than a week ago when an earthquake (6.2) struck here in Costa Rica. The epicenter was located just a little east of Volcano Poas, which is not more than 30 miles from here. I (Shelley) was in my new office and the first thing I thought about was if this new building had been well constructed and would stand the test of an earthquake. I yelled and ran out of the building, along with everyone else.



With so many new missionaries who had just arrived, this was quite a shock. They had all experienced earthquakes in Guatemala, but not this strong. We assured them it was not a "normal" quake. Joshua was on the soccer field and said that all the trees started moving and the ground shook and then things started falling from the trees. He was in the safest place of all out there. Everyone here at the seminary is just fine. We had some pictures fall off the shelves and such, but nothing major.

It is a different story closer to the epicenter.
I have not heard final reports, but early on the news said there were 15 deaths and 100 people missing.












Of course many people lost their homes, vehicles, etc... and the damage to the natural environment is massive. Many crops are lost and fisherman are out of work for now.



For those of you who have visited La Paz Waterfall, this picture sums it up. The water is completely brown and filled with debris.


We have had some aftershocks, but nothing like the 6.2 that struck that Thursday at 1pm. We'll not forget it for awhile around here. Of course, as a church we are trying to find the best ways to help those who lost so much. Supplies have already been send by local churches to the most affected areas.

In other news, the kids started to school this week and had a good first 3 days. It is fun for Kayley to have a buddy in her class (Abby Slingerland) and all the kids seem to be adjusting well to the school schedule once again. Here you can see a photo of some of the missionary kids playing on the playground.


Please pray for David as he is traveling all this week to Nicaragua. He will be training church planters and helping to prepare for many projects that will occur in April and May.

We have heard about the frigid temps in our home state of Iowa (40 degrees below zero!) and are thankful for temperate weather here. We will get our winter blast in February in Kansas, but seeing friends and family will make up for any freezing temps.

God bless you all,
The Webb Family

Hello Everyone,

It has been an interesting time here in San Jose as the Regional Office missionaries make the Big Move to Costa Rica. In all, 7 families are making the move. The week started with a special prayer time/meeting to begin the New Year in the New Building. The building structure is completed but there is more work to be done to complete all the “finishing touches.”

For now, David’s office is in the lower level and Shelley’s office is on the main level. After working side by side, sharing an office, it has been a bit of a change, but we are both adjusting well to our new spaces.

Kayley is especially pleased with the changes since it has brought her even more friends.
The Slingerlands have two girls, Hannah and Abby, and the Armstongs have two little ones, Elijah (5) and Sydney (3). There are two families from Guatemala who have 5 girls between them, so that even makes it more fun. Here are a few of the girls playing basketball. You can see the new Regional Office in the background - the yellowish building.

All the children have been playing together all week, enjoying the outdoors as well as video games and movies inside. Joshua continues to enjoy the church youth group and the band. He hopes to play the drums even more this year as his skills are improving with each practice.


Since none of the missionaries have cars yet, we have been honored to assist by either loaning our car or running people from here to there to get the things they need to make their house a home. Everyone is getting settled in and hoping that the shipment with their household goods will arrive sooner rather than later.

We said goodbye today to our good friends, the Ceballos. They are returning to Mexico and will pastor in the same church they left 2 years ago. Their family has served at the seminary and in the local church alongside us. They will be missed!


The kids begin school this week (Wednesday) and some are looking forward to that more than others. David will begin traveling again next week with a trip to Nicaragua and then both David and Shelley will host a team from Ohio to Nicaragua North at the end of the month.

February will be busy with a 2-week trip to Lenexa, KS for meetings. We are all looking forward to being in the USA for a small break and hope to see some family from Iowa during our visit.
Thanks for your prayers. You are appreciated. God bless you all,

The Family Webb