Hi guys!! Well, we have been back in the States now for a week and it has been packed with activity!! :) Thanks to your prayers, our flights were the smoothest yet. Zorro (our dog) did fantastic on the plane, I think most passengers were shocked when we were deplaning and they realized we had a dog, because he did not make a peep! And the customs officials were great! They thought he was the cutest and were so sweet to him!! We rented a car and drove from Orlando to Charleston and arrived around 3am! It was very easy and it was nice to wake up at mom and dad’s house!! We were able to spend a couple of days in Charleston. Mom and dad and I walked the Stono bridge a couple of times (3 miles) in preparation for the Cooper River Bridge Walk. And we were able to spend my birthday with my parents!! It was a great day! Then we headed to Easley and got settled in at the Boles wonderful house! We got to worship with our family at Mount Moriah Baptist and that is always a treasure and treat, something that we do not take for granted – being able to worship with other believers in English!! :) This week will be a busy week! I am finishing creating our newest video. I will speak tonight with a women’s mission group and then we are speaking tomorrow night in Belton, then I speak at the IABC conference Saturday at 11:15am, and then we are speaking at a missions meeting at Mt. Airy Sunday night! Please be in prayer about all of these! Please pray that God would be glorified and others would draw closer to God through our sharing.
Tag Archives: fun
Mount Moriah Baptist Church Costa Rica Team 2011
If you would like to check out the photos we took during Mount Moriah Baptist’s trip to Costa Rica, check them out at this link…..
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111674&id=1241408466&l=548fd79615
We were so blessed by this team coming to serve with us in Costa Rica. Not only did they share their testimonies of our Lord’s glorious work in their lives, conduct Bible studies, lead singing and play with the children, but most importantly, they shared God’s love with the Ticos and our family! What a joy and privilege to have them!
Costa Rica Christmas 2010
Please watch our newest video!
Many of you know that we work with very special orphanage in Costa
Rica run by Victor and Melba Guzman. Well, this past September Scot
Farris and I discussed how we could bless the orphanage for Christmas!
And boy did many of you guys answer our call for them!! I have made
a video of our Christmas at the orphanage!! We were able to not only
buy each child their very own toy, but also purchase them new blankets
and pillows and treat them to KFC (a big treat because there are 38
people in the family, not to mention the volunteers!), and we got them
a new set of bunks for one of the boys room!! It was one of the
funnest things we have been a part of and you guys made it possible!!
Thank you to all of you that participated and for all of you that
support us so that we can be there and help facilitate ministries and
blessings like this!! God is so good!!
Here is a link to watch this video!! This is my first attempt at
putting videos on YouTube!!
Isaiah 9:6 (New International Version, ©2010)
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Our week with the World Racers!!
We had the privilege of working along side a team from the World Race this past week! These young people spend 11 months in 11 different countries serving the Lord!! It is a fantastic organization and this group represented their organization fabulously!! We have experienced unusual cold temperatures in Costa Rica this week, however, we were still able to get a lot accomplished!! The team shared their testimonies in the Bible studies in Cipreses and Santa Rosa! They also did some planting with Jorge and also help dig out new irrigation for the new plants. They also got to go the Victor and Melba’s house and visit and love on the children there!! They also made us the welcome sign that you see in this picture! This group just brought us so much joy and they expressed God’s love to everyone they came across with their joy!! When I think of them, I just think of the joy of the Lord shining!! 
You guys know how I love to cook and so I also cooked them a Christmas feast since they did not know for sure how they would be spending Christmas!! I look forward to keeping up with these guys and seeing how the Lord uses their journey over the next 9 months!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
What a wonderful time of year when we can gather together and express all of the reasons that we are thankful to our Lord for His provisions! He has not only provided for our physical needs and blessed us with wonderful families and friends, but He has supplied for all of our spiritual needs with the finished work of Christ on the cross to forgive our sins! The thing that we are most thankful for!!
Here in Costa Rica, they do not have the Thanksgiving holiday, but we are celebrating none the less. We are going to have a few tico friends over and I am going to attempt to cook an entire feast – including cooking turkey for the first time!! We not only want to share with them this United States tradition of a big day of food and perhaps play some football americano, but also share with them how God has blessed us and how we owe Him everything for all that He has given us.
God has truly blessed us with another year in Costa Rica of service for Him. At this point, Jacob leads 11 Bible studies each week!!! That is amazing and a huge answer to prayer! The kids enjoy going with him to some of these and they enjoy playing soccer each week with the kids in Cipreses!! The kids and I are enjoying homeschooling and I am thrilled with my health progress!! In the last couple of weeks, I have been able to chase the kids around like I used to and play ball with them! I am feeling better than I have in over a year!! God is so good!
We have been so blessed by great friends and family that love us from a distance and continue to pray and support us! Thank you so much!! God is using you mightily here in Costa Rica, even though you are in the US. We are praying for you as you pray for us!!
Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Here are some recent photos…
Farmer Jacob
So for the last 3 or 4 weeks, Jacob has been going out to the farm with Andre and Manuel. He has been going with them to help them harvest whatever is ready to be harvested. It has offered him the opportunity to spend time with the guys in their environment and they have not only become better friends, but Jacob says that they love to discuss spiritual matters while they work. It has been a time that all 3 seem to really enjoy and look forward to each week. Apparently, Andre and Manuel are the only people around that grow bokchoy. They have a big market for it in San Jose with some oriental restaurants. They gifted us some a couple of weeks ago and instructed me on how to prepare it. And I absolutely love it!! It is so yummy!! Well, at some point Jacob told Andre how much I loved it, so he has made sure that he sends some with Jacob each time they see each other!! I am not complaining!! I absolutely love it!! Another benefit is that Jacob comes home each time with a small portion of what they have reaped…. bokchoy, carrots, radishes, cilantro, etc….
Here is a photo of this week’s portion….
We have found that we have so much that some has started to go bad before we can use it. So another ministry has developed. We have started to look in the fridge each week to determine what we cannot eat or use and Jacob takes it with him as he goes and visits people. They seem to really appreciate it. We have found a way to not only clean out our fridge, but also to help those who have less. Win – win situation I would encourage you to consider how much food you throw away each week and even if it is a small amount, is there someone that you could give it too that could be blessed by your sharing? You too could keep a clean, organized refrigerator and also be blessing another family with your extras before they go bad.
Not only are Andre and Manuel benefiting spiritually by Jacob coming with them each week to help harvest their vegetables, but it is an extra worker basically on their farm. Jacob is making their job easier by assisting them in their harvest. It reminds me of Matthew 9:37-38 “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.’” We firmly believe that each Christian is called to spread the gospel where the Lord has placed them. He is harvesting all over the world. Are you one of His workers? Are you helping in The Harvest? Would you ask the Lord of the Harvest to send you to where He needs a worker or workers? Just some questions to ponder.
New Videos!!
We just made a new tab for videos of the work here!! There are 4 new ones!! Check them out and enjoy!!
Week with Glenwood!
Sorry for the delay in posting a new blog about our week with Glenwood! We have been really busy. However, that does not mean that we did not have a great week working with them and they did not bring tremendous glory to our Lord this past week! We were so excited about the teams arrival and they worked so hard here. They went door to door sharing the gospel in Ciprese and Santa Rosa. They conducted a men’s and women’s Bible study. They played with and encouraged the children at Don Victor and Dona Melba’s house! They played soccer in Santa Rosa and again the gringos won!! We may need to start loosing or they may get discouraged and we don’t want that!!! LOL!! They had a great time!! This group also ministered to our family! They were so sweet to our children and our family! They were such a pleasure to work with.
And for the chili jalapeno eating contest results…… I know you all are really anticipating this….. They had two contestants in their group and two different strategies (I will not tell strategy!! LOL!) It ended up being Kristen that triumphed for their group! Not only did she triumph for their group, but she also beat Victor from Mt. Airy’s record! On a side note, she is such a tough little lady that earlier in the week, she fell in the rain and hurt her wrist. Pastor Dale’s wife Marianne is a nurse and she encouraged her to get it checked out. I also let her know that we had a family doctor in San Jose and I would take her personally to him if she felt she needed it looked at. I talked to Pastor Dale today and he said that she went to the doctor back in SC and that her arm is broken!!! She is one tough cookie!!!
As far as my health goes, please keep me in your prayers. I have gotten back into some pain. I am putting off going up on my Prednisone. I am doing better today than I was yesterday and yesterday better than the day before, but I really do not want to have to take more Prednisone. I have started the new medication Methotrexate and my body seems to be handling it well. So thank you for your prayers for that. I have been so encouraged by you guys’ prayers and encouraging words. Thank you!
Please also just continue to pray for the work here on the Irazu volcano!
A new team is coming in on Saturday from Mt. Airy! 26 people strong! And mostly high school and college students!! Please pray for their time here!!
Another Fantastic Week in Costa Rica!!
What another fantastic week working for the Lord in Costa Rica!!! This week we were able to host our first team in our house!! The brave team to be the first was a wonderful team from Unity Baptist Church in Mississippi. They were such troopers! No complaining!! Even when two ladies did not understand for three days how to get the hot water to come out of the showers! They just patiently waited and finally asked, “Do any showers have hot water?” And Kelsey was able to show them! By the way, next week an electrician is coming to hopefully install “widow makers” in the back three bathrooms, so hot water in all five showers!! Yay! They also seemed very content with my cooking! I had purchased extra bread and peanut butter and jelly in case someone did not like or want what I had scheduled to eat. And you know what? No one used it!! The group was happy to pitch in and help out where ever/however we needed them to, in the kitchen or cleaning or whatever. They were awesome to have in our home.
They were also hard working in the towns of San Gerardo, Cot and Cipreses. They painted the inside of the library that Francisco has church in Cot. It looks wonderful with fresh new paint! They also went door to door spreading the gospel in San Gerardo and Cipreses. On Thursday they met a bunch of kids in San Gerardo and challenged them to a soccer match for Saturday. One great thing about planning it in advance was that we had time to recruit some ticos to be on our team We had Monica, a young lady that is our new neighbor and her boyfriend Manrique, Suling, and Egidio on our team! Amazingly, we won! 6 to 3, I believe that Egidio scored 4 goals and Jacob scored 2. We also had an amazing goalie in Casey which the kids said was too big because he was so tall and blocked amazingly! It appears that everyone had a great time. The kids on the San Gerardo team kept saying, “Let’s just play for 5 more minutes!” They were not used to loosing and we were not used to winning, so we were happy to quit when time was up! Not to mention the elevation difference! They are probably a good 1000 feet higher than our house and our house is already at around 6000 ft above sea level!
Another neat thing that has happened between the last two teams is that as we go out, we have been taking along with us local teenagers to help us with translating and spreading the gospel. It was such a blessing to have Monica (our neighbor) join us. We have also had another young lady named Maria join us. She is a member of the church in Boqueron. To me, there is nothing sweeter than to see the young people being involved in the work of spreading the gospel. Last night at dinner Maria shared her testimony with a few of us and it too is so wonderful to see God working here. It is always wonderful to hear the testimony of how someone comes to trust Christ as their Savior. God is so good.
The Unity Baptist team flies out on Tuesday and a team from Glenwood Baptist in Easley, SC is arriving on Tuesday!!
Oh and for those of you keeping up with the jalapeno eating contest on chili night, Casey gave a valiant effort, but he was not able to beat Victor from Mt. Airy. We are not telling the amount of jalapeno slices that need to be eaten to beat Victor, but he has set the bar high! So we will see who challenges Victor’s record from the Glenwood team and keep you informed!!
We also just found a place in Cipreses to hold a church!! Praise the Lord! We hope to have our first service either this Sunday or the next!!! Our long term goal is to have a Tico take over this church so that it can be long lasting here in Cipreses, so also please pray that God would raise up just the right man for the task!
As far as my health goes, the team from Glenwood is bringing my medicine for the next 9 months! I will be starting Methotrexate (the new medication) on Wednesday. Please pray that my body will easily handle this new medication so that I can continue to work my way off of Prednisone. Thanks!! :)
What a week!
Wow! We have had a wonderful week! Where to begin? Well, a group from Mt. Airy has been here for the past week! Jacob has been able to translate for them all week and they have been working in Cipreses! The team did many activities there including showing the Jesus Film for kids one night and for adults another night. They also came to our house and helped us build bunk beds for the future men’s bunk room and helped seal up the house! Oh, and I got to host my first event! We had a baby shower yesterday for a young lady in the church in Boqueron! There were 60 people at our house!! It was so exciting!! God really moved this week and we feel so blessed to be here and that God has called us to this wonderful country to serve Him!
Another really amazing thing that has happened this week is that…..well,…..ok, let me start back in November of 2009 when we returned…. Jacob started going to Cipreses to try to start some Bible studies there. Well, he had started 2 before he had to return to Charleston to be with me. When he returned he has been so busy with finding us a house, getting the house ready for us, and now working with teams that he has not had time to restart the Bible studies. However, he asked Francisco to take over for him back in February while he was in the States. And Francisco has continued (he is such a hard working, faithful servant of our King). Well, Francisco shared with us this week that 12 families from Cipreses have come to him asking for their own church! And not only that, but asking that “the curly haired North American” be their pastor! We were all very excited and emotional about this! This has been a prayer for many over the past year, that a church would be established in Cipreses, and here it appears that the Lord is working it out. To quote Francisco, “God does not always call the qualified. He calls those with the heart to serve Him.” Although Jacob is humbled by this request and does not necessarily feel qualified, he knows that the Lord will equip those He calls! We are praising the Lord for this!! Please join us in prayer over this, not only for our preparations, but that the Lord would open up just the right house to have church in there.
Also, our first team that we are going to host is coming tomorrow! I am so excited!! We have spent so much time in preparation for this and now they are getting ready to arrive!!! :) Please pray for us this week! We are so excited!! Please pray for the people in San Gerardo where they will be serving this week.
As far as my health goes, I had some tests done last week and went to the doctor today to discuss the results. I have been going really hard and I must say, I am a little sore, but I am feeling great considering my lack of sleep and excitement over work! It has been decided that I need to start a new medication, so that I can continue to work my way off of Prednisone. So I am hoping the Glenwood group can bring it when they come in another week. Please pray that we can work all of this out. And pray for my body as I transition to another medication. Gotta run….I will update with pics when I can!!
