That has been my prayer. One of my favorite songs says, “….break my heart for what breaks Yours….show me how to love like You have loved me……everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause….” I truly want to see the world as the Lord sees it and love others the way that He has and does love me. Since I have started praying for this, the Lord has put me in situations to see Him minister to others and show me how we can minister to others. Over the last two months I have gotten the privilege of people who are suffering under the trials of this world to share with me and I have seen how hard this life can be. We were in the middle of all of the tornadoes in Alabama that came through and we drove up on houses where a tornado had just ripped people’s houses and lives apart and they were just standing with their hands on their heads in shock. In trying to prevent a latino woman from having an abortion, I saw young women coming out of the abortion clinic crying because they had just had an abortion. It was a sight that I think I will never forget and it broke my heart.
Now the question is, what do I do…. how do I respond to Him breaking my heart for what breaks His? The first thought that comes to my mind is LOVE. God loved me when I was unlovable. He has given me hope in His love and His promises. I have faith in His character. He has granted me grace in my most difficult times to endure and even worship Him when the world thinks otherwise. Therefore, I am to extend His love to others. I am to share His hope and promises with others. I am to share and teach others about His character so that they too can run to Him in their time of need.
My challenge to you – Will you open your eyes to see as He sees and love as He loves? Will you allow Him to break your heart for what breaks His? Will you help others by sharing the ultimate gift of salvation through Christ and not keep it to yourself?
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ” 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Please listen to this song and be challenged to love people right where they are and love them with the love that you have been given!!
So a couple of days ago, we decided to go for a drive with the kids out of our area to just have some relaxing time as a family. In all our time here on Irazu, we have never taken a day to spend time with the kids and relax. We decided that we wanted to take the kids through the mountains that we can see on the other side of the valley. It is easily done and we were into the mountains within about 15 – 20 minutes. It was a beautiful drive, one that went up to over 10,000 feet in elevation. Then it went down the 10,000 feet to the other side of the mountains. We all were having a great time. We relaxed and played together as a family. Then, when it was time to head back, the car started having BIG problems! We knew we were not going to make it back over the mountains. We could hardly get out of first gear and the car had a ton of black smoke pouring out of the back and it sounded horrible. We tried just buying some coolant and more oil, hoping that would help. In God’s providence, the new bottle of oil spilled all over the floorboards and never got into the car and we were in desperate need of way more help. So we found a safe place for the kids and I to stay while Jacob went in search of a mechanic. We had known for a while now that we were going to have to replace the motor, but we had been putting it off. And sure enough the mechanic said that our crank shaft had broken and it was a HUGE fix, so we started praying about replacing the motor. We called my parents, thinking we did not have the funds to do so and thought that we could borrow the money from them until we had the funds and would repay them. We called Johnny and he said to just call Global Outreach and see if we had enough funds to replace it. So I called Marla at GO and I was so nervous. However, Marla was excited!! She said that I would not believe how people had responded to us letting them know about our financial situation!! She said that before our February paycheck, insurance and taxes had come out of our funding, we had received …… brace yourself ….. almost $11,000!! Guys you are amazing!! GOD is AMAZING!! God knew we needed a new motor, He knew we needed our paycheck, He knew, He Knew, HE KNEW!!! So needless to say, our account has already taken a hit, but to quote Johnny, “God never gives us extra. He gives us what we need. Sometimes He provides when we need it, sometimes after a need arrises, and sometimes before we have the need!”
We now have the car fixed!! When I drove it yesterday, it was amazing. We still have to tweak it a little in that it is a newer motor in an old car, but all in all, it is fabulous!!
As far as our financial situation goes, we are so amazed, humbled and blessed by your giving hearts! We are so encouraged and thankful. Our prayer is that the Lord would raise up more monthly supporters so that we will not get back into the situation we just found ourselves in. Please join us in that prayer. If you would like to become a monthly donor, please contact us or Global Outreach to let us know so that we can account for it in our planning. For all of you that have faithfully supported us, THANK YOU!! You guys have been there for us financially, spiritually, prayerfully…. we could not be here without you!!
Eph. 3: 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Here are some photos of our breakdown! These were taken at a temporary mechanic’s shop out in the countryside as we prayed for the Lord to get us back to the nearest big city where we knew we could get major help for the car!
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!
We have had a great week so far with the group from Mount Moriah Baptist Church! They have been sharing their testimonies and leading Bible studies!
We had a great Sunday! We had over some of the people attending Jacob’s Bible studies. We had a big chili lunch! Everyone gathered around our big picnic table and ate together like a family! We all chatted together and it was really neat to see everyone interacting! The kids then played and ran around the yard and all the adults sat around and talked and shared and got to know eachother better! Really a time of growing as a family!
Saturday we had the women’s tea! It went really well. I translated, which went better than I expected and everyone seemed to have a great time! Lizzie and Sophia had made a cake and brownies which the ladies seemed to really enjoy! None of them had ever had brownies before and they ate them all, which made Lizzie and Sophia really happy with their accomplishments!! I have been taking them around with me to buy groceries and showing them how to pick out the good veg and fruit and teaching them to bake and cook, so they really enjoyed others eating their food! Lynn and Shelia had baked with them the night before the cake and the brownies, so it was fun all around. The team seems to be having a great time and are really encouraging us!! We have really been blessed by them!
Oh, and we played with the kids in lower Cipreses Saturday morning. Everyone had a great time, however, Greg seems to have pulled his hamstring and is hurting pretty bad. I am sure that he would love your prayers for less pain and healing. Tomorrow Gus, Shelia, Greg and Lynn are going to Orosi and the rest of us are keeping on keeping on.
Such an exciting week behind us and ahead of us! I tried out my lesson on them for the conference. They seemed to think it went well. But I am continuing to work on it! OK, that was alot!!
Please keep us all in your prayers! Please also keep Jacob’s sister Lynn as she was hospitalized last week and the doctors are still trying to figure out what all is going on. She is back home now.
As far as our financial situation, we will not know anything until we get our financial reports from Global Outreach at the beginning of March. Thank you for all of your prayers and encoragement! We love you all!
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!!
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.
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.
We have just finished a fabulous week with a group from Enon Baptist in Easley, SC. They were a hard working group that worked in the town of Cot for the week! They were able to paint the outside of the library where Francisco holds church. They also held kids clubs with a great turn out of an average of 30 kids. And some of the kids that they shared with even showed back up for church on Sunday!! It was so exciting. Here is their picture!!
And for those of you keeping up with the jalapeno eating contest….. The last team to come through was the Enon team! So they had 4 contestants trying to beat the old record!!! Well, their pastor, Scott Willis is the official winner for the summer contest!!! He blew all other contestants out of the water!! His official count was 42 jalapeno slices with the closest other contestant eating 34!!! Way to go Scott!! You are the official winner and have bragging rights until next year!!! LOL!!!
Please keep the prayers coming for my health and the mission going on here on the Irazu volcano! The new Sunday morning Bible study going on in Cipreses has been so encouraging and all the new believers there are so eager to take in every word taught from the Bible!! God’s work has been amazing this summer and we are praising the Lord for all of the teams that have come to work on the volcano!!! God used each team member tremendously and He continues to bring fruit from your labors here!! I am sick for the first time with a cold here in Costa Rica. God has been good to have provided some Zyrtec here to help me with this. Please pray that this does not turn into an infection. Also, I have had a bit of a flair up, but each day I am improving – Praise the Lord!! He is so good! Living on the missionfield with dermatomyositis has been such a time for me to grow in His grace and love. It continues to draw me closer to Him. All praises to Him who created us all and who continues to work in each of our lives for His glory alone!!
This is a photo from today after church of myself and one of the newest members of our Christian family. He is a glorious testimony of how awesome our Lord and Savior is!! Andre and his family opened up their house for us to use as our place to have our Sunday morning Bible studies in Cipreses. We started having Bible studies there about 3 weeks ago. When we started, Andre was very interested in what we had to share. He looked very sickly and even one time needed to go get his inhaler to make it through the service. About a week and a half ago he prayed to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior!! Last Sunday he looked physically like a different person. His color was better and he just looked happier and healthier!! He hung on every word that was said in the Bible study. After the Bible study I shared a little with him from my counseling experience about how he should handle battling alcoholism. I gave him a daily battle plan consisting of reading his Bible and spending time in prayer. Especially in moments when he was facing decisions about drinking and spending time with his old friends. He seemed so encouraged by all of the prayers and the time spent with new friends in Lord. Well, today after Bible study I asked him how his week had gone. He is so honest and open. He said that each day is a struggle, but that he had not had a drop of alcohol in 1 week. This is who I had asked you all to pray for in my last blog and we so appreciate all of your prayers. Andre is a true testimony to God’s goodness and God’s strength. He is taking it day by day. I had encouraged him to memorize Scripture and Lizzie made him sticky notes with pictures on them to mark Scripture that he felt helped encourage him during times of hard decisions and desires to drink. I asked him had he done that. He quoted to me, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” He did not even hesitate. He also said that he has been reading Psalm 23 a lot. He again did not hesitate. I am so happy for Andre and for the work the Lord is doing in his life. I am humbled by the fact that God continues to use our family to bring others to Himself and encourage and help new Christians. I am also so encouraged by all of the teams that continue to work on Irazu. Right now we are working with a team from Enon Baptist in Easley, SC. They will be here until Thursday morning! The work the teams have done this summer has just been amazing. Each one has been a blessing not only to our family, but to the people who live on Irazu. God has used each team and their gifts and talents for His glory and to draw those like Andre to him. Thank you to all of you that have been praying and to all of you who have come to work. We are all working together for God’s glory alone!
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!!
Folk Family Mission: Grace 