Tayní

Hello one and all,

This time it's David's turn to share about his most recent trips to the Indigenous area.  The area the church is working in is called Tayni. The Indians there are the Cabecar people. David's visited twice in February with the first trip being to three communities (Gavilan, Cuchey and Calveri) to meet with leaders about community health needs. 

Leaving the health clinic in Limón.

Two special guests from the USA came along for this trip, Dr. Becky Morsch (former missionary to Papua New Guinea), from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Kansas City and George Sisler, President of One Heart, Many Hands (Nazarene service projects in the USA and around the world).  With the help of these two experts and the doctors and leaders of the local communities, the ways in which the church can be of assistance are clearer (see photo at the end to see Becky and George).

Location of the proposed bridge project.

Rain boots are the norm as people walk in the mud or cross rivers

A part of the school in Gavilan.

After meeting with the locals, the team went to the port city of Limon to have meetings with some government officials.  All of this in an effort to make a difference in this small part of the Indigenous area of Costa Rica.  God is opening doors and there are big plans for a bridge project and other compassionate ministry projects.

Then a week later (Feb 18-20), David and two other leaders visited 3 different villages in Tayni.  They participated in an evening service in Tayni, and then visited Alto Coen and Alto Arrocero.  Since it is dry season, it was possible to drive using 4 wheel drive much of the way.  Then the team hiked 30 minutes to reach Alto Arrocero. The Jesus Film was shown there and more than 65 people came to view the movie.  Most people stood up to watch the move; they were so excited to see a film, even though it was in Spanish and not in their native tongue.  Ten people accepted Jesus that night.

Jesus Film showing in Alto Arrocero.

David's bed for the night - mosquito net included.

Nazarene Pastor Arcelio from Cuchey.

The Three Musketeers on their way to Cuchey.

Jesus Film training for the new minivista set - the smallest there is. It weighs about 10 pounds

The team ate tepesquitle for one meal, a highlight for all! Everyone agreed it tasted like pork (not chicken!).

Aren't they cute!?

Yum-Yum.

The week ended with a final meeting back at SENDAS to discuss future plans.  We hope to hold a special community health development training in the future so that more people can be educated on various topics such as clean water, family care and preventative medicine.  

Here's the ministry team (from left around the table): Dhariana, George, Becky, Shelley, Leyla, David, Mario and Stephen.

Pray for the various projects in process.  We already have one organized church in Cuchey and now there are 7 missions (cell groups) meeting regularly.  We can't wait to see what God will do in the days to come as we offer the hope of Jesus to the people there.  Will you pray with us for the Cabecar people in Tayni?  Also, pray for our vehicle.  Every time David runs the Toyota over those rough roads, there is more and more damage to the car.  Honestly, the roads are made only for tractors, but we are praying for God's protection for the vehicle so no more repairs are needed. 

Quick update on the kids:  Both Joshua and Kayley have spring break next week.  They both have lots of tests and projects this week, but then a chance to rest.  Kayley will be home with us, while Joshua leaves Mount Vernon to camp in Tennessee.  I am sure he will have quite the adventure. 

Finally, we are looking forward to having two Work and Witness teams on campus.  The Monticello, Iowa teams arrives tomorrow and on the 19th, the Pierpont Church from Morgantown, WV will be with us in Costa Rica.  We are not leading the teams (thankfully, just too much else to do), but we can't wait to see old friends and make some new ones.

Blessings to all,
The Webb Family

February News

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been difficult to find time to write this blog with all that has been going on since February began.  The two Costa Rican districts held their Assemblies, we enjoyed spending time with the Iowa District Work and Witness team, CALL continues to be a busy ministry with three classes continuing for the month, and David traveled twice to various locations in the indigenous area.   

Kayley and Josh are both having good semesters in school (Kayley – sophomore in high school, Joshua – sophomore at MVNU), but are both looking forward to spring break in a few weeks.

David directed the Costa Rica North Assembly at the new District Center in Muelle. It was held at the newly purchased property, which includes a gymnasium and lodging.

The new gymasium building at Muelle.

David helped to bring some new mattresses to the center…that’s one loaded down vehicle.

David did a great job as always and one highlight was the donation of part of the needed video conference equipment to four centers in the district for theological education.  The funds were donated from two districts:  the Tennessee district and the Iowa district.  We spoke at both NMI (Missions) conventions last summer and promoted this special need.  This donation will make theological education more accessible to all the leaders and pastors in these zones.

David with Superintendent Johnny Calvo, his wife Maureen and the Secretary Gustavo.

Two of the recipients of the video conference donation for theological education.

The Central district assembly happened the next day on the SENDAS campus.  The General Superintendent, Gustavo Crocker led the meetings.  In the evening, three leaders were ordained in a very special service.    

Six of the Central district pastors give their reports.

David with two of his pastor friends, Oscar and Manuel.

 

Raul, Sharon and Rolan being ordained by GS Gustavo Crocker.

We said goodbye to the CALL students from MNU as it was time for them to return to the USA to finish their student teaching hours there.  It was a joy to have Kara and Hannah with us for a month.  I have no doubt we will see them again.  I don’t think we have ever had two students who loved Costa Rica more than they did.  

The Iowa Work and Witness team helped the San Isidro Church in Heredia to complete the retaining wall and to redo the concrete floor of the sanctuary.  Here are some photos to prove how hard they worked.  Our friends and fellow missionaries, the LeGrands, led this team and commented after a day or two that this was the hardest working team ever and I (Shelley) answered, “Of course, they are from Iowa!”  Thanks, fellow Iowans, for doing anything that was needed and doing it with a great love.   

Moving materials from one place to another.

The bucket brigade.

David with Pastor Carlos and Pastor Marvin, two great friends.

The Iowa district team on the new flooring of the San Isidro Church.

Another neat experience this month was holding the first (well, as far as we know) English deputation service in Costa Rica.  Missionaries Trino and Anna Jara (Trino is Costa Rican and Anna is Aremenian) were in country and we caught them the night before they left to speak to the Iowa team and the CALL students on campus.  It was a great blessing to hear how God is using them in Armenia and beyond, under difficult circumstances.  We have joined in prayer with them that the Church of the Nazarene can be officially recognized this year by the government so more ministry can take place there.  We are pleased that an offering of $1300 was taken for that night.

Trino speaking in the bohio.

Trino and Anna Jara

David’s birthday is coming up soon (March 3^rd) and I am sure he would love to hear from you for this milestone day (50 years young!).  If you would like to email a note or send a message on facebook, that would be great.  Maybe you can remind him of a special memory you treasure of being with him.  His email is dwebb@mesoamericaregion.org and his facebook is David Webb.  

 

The next blog will be filled with photos from Tayni, the indigenous area of Costa Rica where David just spent a good portion of the last two weeks.  But for now, we’ll say goodbye, thankful for all your prayers and support that make being away from precious family and friends worth it all.

The New Year came too quickly for the Webbs.  We had a great time in the USA for Christmas and even though it was good and cold, we enjoyed seeing many of our relatives in Iowa.  It was our first Christmas to spend with family (other than the 4 of us) for seven years.  I hope it won’t be another 7 years before we can do it again.

David's family in Leon, Iowa

Shelley's family in Manchester, IA

 

Yep, it was cold and snowy.

It has been constant action since we returned at 1am on January 2^nd.  Work started the next morning, and we fought off the sleepiness to get back to it.  There is much to plan and prepare as the New Year begins.  

We have had many visitors this month.  First the Armstrong family who now live in the Dominican Republic were on campus for a long weekend.  The next week the Slingerland family arrived.  Kayley and Abby talked and giggled nonstop for 3 days.  

About that same time, the Global NYI Council was on campus for meetings and it was fun to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones as well. 

In the midst of all that, the CALL language school began its new term.  With the weather, we had some flight delays, but in the end everyone arrived within a day of two of their scheduled time.  The Gentrys are back in classes with a new CALL professor named Nuria.   

MNU sent two more student teachers this term:  Hannah and Kara.  They are sweet girls and great teachers.  

Then Ted and Lori Bruce arrived shortly after.  They are a newly retired couple from Missouri who want to serve as volunteers and know that Spanish will be a help with that. 

Finally, the Faucetts arrived and began classes last week. They are also a retired couple who are anxious to learn Spanish and begin serving the Lord wherever He may use them.  

CALL is off to a great start this year! If you want to learn more, check out the CALL website at www.callcostarica.com or the facebook page at CALL or Christian Academy of Language and Learning.  We would love to have you join us too.

The January CALL students at Volcan Poas.

David has been keeping busy as we prepare for the yearly Conventions and Assemblies.  He will be traveling some this week with a small team and then he has two trips to the indigenous area planned for February.  It will be non-stop travel beginning later this week, so pray he stays safe on the roads as he goes from here to there. 

Kayley and Joshua are both back to classes.  Kayley is in 10^th grade at ICS here in Costa Rica, and Joshua is in his January Term class at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio.  Kayley has remained in gymnastics even after her little accident in November, and proudly announced the other day that she had done the same flip once again that she was injured doing before.  That girl is brave!  She said she did it the best of anyone in the class.  

 

In a couple of weeks we will be speaking by SKYPE at the District Assembly (yearly event) in Barbados.  We have enjoyed getting to know some of the people there through the LINKS program (it connects districts with missionaries) and we met a few of our new friends face to face at the General Assembly in the USA last year. Now we will see them again through video conference.  

Most of you will think of Feb. 2nd this year as either Groundhog Day or SuperBowl day, but for Costa Ricans, it is election day.  It is a 3 way tie from what I hear, which will mean run off elections a month later.  It will be an interesting day, no doubt.

The Costa Rican District Assemblies will take place February 5^th and 6^th, so please pray with us as these important meetings take place.  Also, a team from the Iowa district will be working here in February. We look forward to seeing our friends on this team and working alongside them now and then as we can break away from the office and travels. 

If you look back at the beginning of this blog, you will see that we have been living in Central America for more than 8 years now and in Costa Rica for 7 years, 25 days.  Very soon we will be able to say we have lived in Costa Rica longer than we (David and Shelley, as adults) ever lived anywhere.  We were in Tennessee for 7 1/2 years, so in June we will match that time in Costa Rica.  Wow, how time flies!  

Once again we say THANKS for your kind words, prayers and support.  You are very much appreciated. 

Many blessings to you and yours,

Shelley, David, Joshua and Kayley

Ministry Update: November/December 2013

Hello Everyone!  

We are anticipating a wonderful Christmas season.  We have put up a few decorations and lights, but not too much since we will leave for the USA soon.  We are excited to be at home in Iowa for Christmas since it has been seven years since we’ve been able to do so.  Yeah!

We have a very nice Thanksgiving dinner at our home with 20 people in attendance including the LeGrands, Sickels, Brandon Blower (missionary in San Jose with MAF), the two MNU student teachers, and the Clem family who live in Atenas.  It was a fun night with lots of laughter and great food (Thanks Anne for the huge turkey!).  Here’s the bad part…no one took any photos!  Sorry!

It has been a super busy November and December with David taking many trips.  The bridge project in the Indigenous area continues to surprise us all as God begins to bring all the resources together including government agencies and donors to make the bridge a reality in 2014.  David and Stephen Sickel (W&W Coordinator) have traveled to Limon a number of times recently for planning meetings.  We hope to be a part of building a vehicle bridge into the Indigenous area, but it will depend on funding.  It may be a walking bridge as originally planned.  We also want to thank the EMi ministry (an engineering ministry – they help with architecture and plans) for their assistance and expertise. 

David also has traveled to many parts of Costa Rica recently.  He was in Upala (almost to Nicaragua) for a combined church service for the North CR District.  It was very well attended with approximately 700 there.  Many traveled long distance to arrive for the 9am service (including David who left at 5am).  

Combined Service for CR North in Upala.

David also traveled into the Indigenous area in November.  As always, it was an adventure as he hiked through the rivers to arrive at the small villages where the Church of the Nazarene has cell groups and churches.  In the next year, David and others will be working on training and developing these new missions.

 Just this week David went to Sarapique to pick up Pastor Franklin and his family. They have decided to return to Nicaragua to work there. There are many reasons for this, but his wife’s health and the difficulty to getting a visa are two of them.  We are so proud of Franklin for his hard work in planting two churches in the last few years.  Now local leaders will take over and David and the district will be working with them closely to help them disciple and develop the ministries of the church.

SENDAS held their graduation, which is always a great event and a highlight for the year. 

Some of the SENDAS graduates for 2013.

The graduates during the service.

Esdras and Scarlet (they live and work at SENDAS) enjoying a fun moment as Scarlet graduated with her master's degree.  We are excited to see the addition to their family (Sarita) in January!

Shelley taking photos at Graduation. The resident photographer.

Congrats to Helen (Shelley's office assistant in PR) for completing the course of study (30 courses).

Also, SENDAS held their yearly assembly with a new council in place to assist with future plans. 

The Executive Board of SENDAS with Dr. Ruben Fernandez (President) in front.

CALL continues to grow and we have loved having the Gentrys here (from Indiana).  They are a volunteer couple that will serve for one year until September of 2014.  They are both (Luke and Liz) teaching ESL and Luke has been helping with the video conference equipment.  They have done a great job of assimilating into Costa Rican life.

Enjoying the National Museum.

Working with David at the Maximum Mission project in Pavas.

Also, we have enjoyed having two MNU student teachers here with us.  Jaime and Angel have been a joy to have around.  They do their student teaching at Kayley’s school and two afternoons per week they take Spanish classes with CALL.  This weekend they are staying in the homes of local families, learning more about the culture and life of Costa Ricans.

First trip to the fruit market.

Jaime's classroom at ICS.

Gallo pinto for the first of many times!

We have one more week of busyness before we leave for the USA.  This is the first time we can think of that we have travelled completely for pleasure (no work involved) since we left for the mission field 8 years ago.  We are really looking forward to it!  And another great part is that Joshua will join up with us in Chicago.  Pray for him and Kayley as they enter their exam weeks on Monday. 

Thanks for your prayers and support,

The Webb Family

Update on Kayley: If you don’t know, Kayley had a gymnastics accident in November (see previous blog), but we glad to report that she is mending up nicely.  She is still under treatment (weekly shots – ouch!) but the wound seems to be healing nicely.