May 2014

Hello Everyone.  Here is a rundown of the most recent happenings from us.  

Easter Sunday was a special day with David preaching in a local church called CiRe.  He did a great job and the youth worked hard on an Easter drama/dance that told the story of Jesus’ resurrection. And we all enjoyed the typical breakfast of gallo pinto, eggs, natilla, tortilla and coffee.  Yummy!

Making the traditional breakfast.

Kayley’s 16^th birthday was on May 3^rd and she enjoyed two parties, one with friends from youth group and school and one with the families of SENDAS.  

Some of the missionary family of SENDAS celebrating with Kayley.

Kayley has a wonderful group of friends here in Costa Rica.

Kayley is glad to be 16 and hoping to practice driving more this summer.  School gets out soon, just two weeks of classes and then final exams.  You can do it, Kayley.

Joshua has now completed his sophomore year at MVNU and we are super excited for him to be with us this summer.  He will arrive tonight (May 18^th) to work with work and witness teams and other ministries until mid- August.  Welcome home, Josh!

Josh and a group of his good friends from MVNU.

Arriving at the Juan Santamaria Airport

CALL has new students from PLNU.  Professor Scott Bennett and program assistant Adilene have arrived with their six Spanish students.  The program lasts for nine weeks and this is the 3^rd summer for this partnership between CALL and PLNU.  Shelley is staying very busy with this group as they adjust to Costa Rica, travel each week for field trips and study at SENDAS each day. 

The next group will arrive on Sunday from Northwest Nazarene University. This group of eight from the Psychology department will participate in internships while in Costa Rica, as well as do some traveling and study Spanish.  Photos to come in the next update.

A recent development at SENDAS is a continuing education class for pastors and leaders for the Mesoamerica Region. This current class is focused on how to reach your community for Christ and each week there is a different speaker on the topic.  What is really special about this class is that we are all connected by video conference in 17 different sites throughout the Region with about 125 participants.  It is so fun to hear and see other students from various countries such as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, etc all learning together. 

The leaders at SENDAS participating in the Continuing Education Program

SENDAS is hosting once again the NTS (Nazarene Theological Seminary) Doctoral degree program.  It is always fun to have these great leaders on campus.  This is their last course and now it’s time to work on the final ministry projects.

The Doctoral students and profs with NTS President Carla Sunburg in middle.

Love this photo of the guys having a good time together.

David just returned from a week in Guatemala for Evangelism Meetings.  These are held twice a year and each Coordinator shares what has happened in the last six months as well as their vision for the future.  God is opening doors here in Costa Rica with new cell groups who want to become part of the Church of the Nazarene.  We are excited to see these new works develop into organized churches. 

Some of the Evangelism leaders from the Mesoamerica Region.

We had a very sad event this month with the passing of a good friend, Maruja.  She died after a couple of short stays in the hospital with platelet counts very low.  We have worked with her and her family (Pastor Felipe Flores and two children) many times with teams.  Pray with us for this family who have lost a wife/mother and great ministry partner.  

We appreciate your prayers, your thoughts, your support, your everything as well continue to live and minister in Costa Rica and beyond.  We are already looking toward summer 2015 when we will be in the USA for about two months for deputation services.  We are especially excited to have booked already a tour of the newly formed Florida district who we are LINKS with for the next two years.   

May God bless you and keep you,

The Webb family

Hello Dear Friends and Family,

 

It is Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the Webbs are thankful for a couple of days of rest and relaxation before we celebrate Easter Sunday with our friends at the CiRE Church of the Nazarene (CiRE = Ciudad de Refugio or in English = City of Refuge).  David will be preaching and has a special message planned about, yes, you guessed it, the Resurrection of Jesus.  Wish you could all be there to hear it.

For now, here’s a quick update on all that has been happening.

David and Shelley enjoyed traveling and leading workshops in two locations of the Panama West District:  David and Changuinola.  It was a fast trip of 3 days, but well worth the time and effort to visit the pastors and leaders of the district.  We led workshops on Church Development and Evaluation, helping the leaders to consider the different ministries of their church and how they might be improved.  We enjoyed the fellowship and the food.  Another great note is that Pastor Juan Flores will now be a church planter for the Changuinola area. We are excited to see the district support him as he works to plant new missions in the area.

David, Panama

Pastor and Church Planter Armando with David

David presenting in Changuinola, Panama

As we left Panama, we had a little problem with a border guard who wanted us to leave from the same border we entered (6-7 hour drive!).  Finally, he made it clear he would be happy to receive money, but in the end, he let us continue on toward the border after a brief explanation of the Holiness Cube (a cube, kinda like Rubic’s cube that tells about how to live a holy life).  He may have preferred money or food, but in the end God wanted him to have the Cube!  We can only hope he will put it to good use.

David took another trip to the Indigenous Area of Tayni, meeting with the church leaders from Cuchey.  Four district leaders went as well, representing various church ministries such as youth, missions and Sunday School.  Also, Pastora Leyla married five couples on Friday evening.  They decorated the best they could, using banana stalks (they hold water) as vases for for flowers which made a beautiful aisle to walk down.  

One of five couple who were married last Friday night.

A workshop on NMI by Ruth, the Costa Rica Central district president.

Pastor Arcelio (from Cuchey), Pastora Leyla and David unloading supplies.

Although it had rained for three straight days when they arrived, it was possible to cross the rivers by 4x4. David felt it best to leave the vehicle on the far side of the second river, in case the river rose too much during their time there, so in the end the group did have to walk back (30 minute hike) from Cuchey. But everyone survived the mud and wet and finally arrived safely to San Jose once again. 

Then, this last Monday, David and Shelley, along with two other district leaders, drove to San Carlos and a small village called El Molino to meet with a possible new mission group that is already meeting in the town.  Pastor Hubert and his wife Marcelly have been already working in the area and have been meeting with about 25 people.  This may be the location for a Maximum Mision project in July with a team from the USA, so we also checked out lodging and food options in the area.  It was a long, but successful day in San Carlos.  

This is where the cell group is currently meeting.

Pastor Hubert and Marcelly

Also, this past Sunday, we enjoyed attending the Dedication Service for the Alajuela Central’s new sanctuary that was built with the help of three work and witness teams.  It is beautiful and this church is in a prime location to make a difference in Alajuela, the second largest city of Costa Rica.

Beautiful sanctuary

Kayley is on break this week from classes and couldn’t be happier about that.  Joshua is making plans to spend the summer with us here in Costa Rica, arriving in mid-May after his finals at MVNU.  Hard to believe both our kids are finishing up their sophomore years. 

Shelley is about to get very busy again with CALL (Language School) as both PLNU and NNU will be arriving in May.  David has maximum mission projects in May and July and with all the new church plants and activities, he is staying very busy. 

Finally, Kayley’s birthday is coming up – Sweet Sixteen!  We’ll have a couple of parties for her, one with her teen friends and another with our mission family, to celebrate this momentous occasion on May 3^rd.

HAPPY EASTER to you all.  Many blessings from the Webbs.

Shelley, David, Joshua and Kayley

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.