Sometimes so much happens in one week, there really is no way to begin to explain it.
I truly feel like we’ve been in Costa Rica for WAY longer than a week.
We pretty much jumped head first into ministry after arriving in Belen and have been running ever since.
Basically, there is WAY too much to say about Costa Rica … and not enough time, so these pictures will have to suffice.
I will do my best to include descriptions and prayer requests for each.
After that, my teammates have other updates, so you can check out theirs as well.
This is the home of our friend Jose, whose video you might have seen above.
Last Monday we were able to hang out with Jose and hear his story.
We spent that same afternoon cleaning up his house and property.
It was a beautiful experience and some of the kids from the church even came out and helped.
Please pray that the community would continue to come alongside our work and catch the vision of outreach that we are trying to present.
We are praying that the people here would truly have a heart for each other and the town of Belen.
Once again – this is our sweet friend Jose.
We called the day at his house “Extreme Makeover: Jose Edition.”
Fun, huh?
I wish I had a newer picture of him though because he has undergone a
complete transformation … a new haircut, new reading glasses, new clothes and he even trimmed his mustache!
J
And he did that all himself!
That wasn’t even a part of the makeover!
I’m telling you, he’s a completely different man.
Anyway, please pray for continued growth in Jose’s relationship with the Lord.
For protection against the bad dreams that used to plague his sleep.
And for the Lord to provide friends and companionship (and possibly a wife!) for Jose!
Finally, please pray that the people here would continue to embrace Jose as a part of this church family.
This is the Women’s Group that we get to be a part of every Wednesday morning.
We are going through concepts from
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge.
There is a lot of gender tension here in Costa Rica and in this church (as in the rest of Latin America!!!
It’s an interesting dynamic – feel free to ask if you want to know more).
Through this time we are hoping to pour into the women of the church, who are essentially the leadership in the church as well.
Please pray for the development of this group, our relationships with these women, and that they would truly take hold of the concepts we are presenting.
Once again, another shot of the women’s group.
Most of these women are either moms with unbelieving husbands, moms with believing husbands who don’t come to church, or moms who have been abandoned by their husbands.
Literally.
I’m not even exaggerating here.
Please pray that the Lord would move in BIG ways in the hearts of the men here.
That they would see that there is more to life than hanging out in the park during the day and the cantinas at night!
This is a
whole cultural system that needs adjustment and I don’t even know where that needs to start.
Please just pray for salvation of men in this community and for male leadership to develop here in this church.
This is only a small glimpse of the huge party we threw for the girls last week.
We simply said, “Fiesta a las seis para las chicas” – “party at 6 for the girls.”
I don’t think we realized what we were getting ourselves into.
About 50 running, screaming, laughing little girls later, our party was into full swing!
J
Nail polish, cookies, punch, games, dancing, and a movie … we had it all.
It was good to be able to meet new girls and continue to develop other relationships as well.
The church has stated that they believe the children are the future of this church and this community.
In fact, the majority of the church is made up of little girls.
Please pray for these children and that the Lord would protect their hearts and make them His.
That they would truly see this church as a second home and that they would continue to grow in knowledge and faith in the Lord.
And finally, please pray that as the kids are drawn to the church that real leadership would develop here to be able to handle the numbers and actually disciple the children as well.
Ok … these are mainly fun pictures from our day off.
We headed to a beach called Playa Grande for a day and a half on Friday and Saturday.
It was a much needed rest period after a largely draining week.
The only prayer request here is that the Lord would bless our down time during the week when we have it and that He would use it to fill us up.
We have realized rather quickly that we are pretty much useless when we are not spending time in rest with the Lord first.
Anyway … I think that’s it.
Sorry it’s so choppy, but that’s all I’ve got for now.
I’ll only be able to get to the internet one more time before we leave Costa Rica so hopefully you’ll see me then!
Love you all dearly.
Really.
Love, Michelle
