God at work

This report comes from one of our missionary couples who lead volunteer groups on gospel distribution projects.

Through the volunteer team, this week, over 121 people prayed to receive Christ and become new creatures. One was a town warlock who cursed the houses in San Juan every night at midnight. He is now a child of the King. We are still in awe of the work of the Holy Spirit. Please continue to pray for these new Christians to be discipled and grow in the grace and knowledge of our wonderful Father. PTL!

Praying for leaders

When people come to know the Lord in places where there aren't established churches they face many new challenges, and one of the biggest is that there aren't other believers with whom to have fellowship. Usually, in the beginning only a family or maybe even only one or two members of a family are saved. They have no "church" to attend, where they could get some support and Christian fellowship. We, as missionaries, try to encourage and help them, but we cannot be there all the time.

Usually there are opposing forces...friends, even family...that tempt them to revert back to the old life. Sure, it's like that in the U. S. too, but at least there are churches to attend where a person can worship, study, and socialize with believers. But, what if there aren't any other believers?

Can you imagine what it is like to have no Christian friends...no church to attend...no one to give you encouragement? Your "friends" and family are constantly trying to get you to "come back" to them. (meaning, of course, do what they do.)

Because some of these new believers are the only believers in their village, they are asked to be leaders in reaching other people. They want to, but it is added burden. Sometimes, in the face of constant temptation, they stumble. It doesn't matter what...But when it happens the non-believers are glad, and Satan laughs. Most of them repent, recoup, and go on. But always the work suffers, and it takes a while to overcome the failure.

Often there are family members that shake their head and say they knew it wasn't real. This new "religion" doesn't work (any better than the old one did). An example is one of our leaders who confessed to us recently that he had had a couple of beers with some old cronies. He was deeply sorrowful that he had disappointed his family and us, but knew that the worst thing was that he had failed God. However...wisely, he also knows that it is done and he accepts the forgiveness of the Lord and must go on. Most of his family accepts his confession with forgiveness, but one daughter is having a hard time coming to that place of forgiveness. Here is a case of a family being the only believers around and having no one to give them encouragement or support.

Please pray for these leaders. Pray that they will be strong in the face of temptation and that they will be filled with God's Spirit and able to stand, even alone.

Footwashing ceremony at dedication of Jose 

Dedication to ministry

A few days ago we were honored to attend the double fiesta of the dedication ceremony of Jose to the ministry and the birthday of his oldest son, Joseito (Little Jose). What a blessing!

First, a little about Jose. Several years ago, after passing out drunk and waking up in a ditch with water running over him, he told the Lord that he needed help and didn't want to live like that anymore. A few days later a Christian pastor "happened" by and led him to the Lord, and his life turned around. He got his family back and began looking for ways to serve the Lord. A few months ago when a volunteer group was distributing the Gospel of John door to door, they met Jose. He told them he had been prayng someone would come by and help him start a church.

Since that time, with the help of Steve DuVall, one of our church planters, he has started several churches in different locations.

Now, Jose couldn't read, so he had to memorize the scripture and lessons by listening to Steve and to scripture tapes. (So much for excuses.He is now learning to read with the help of his son, Joseito, who is 20.)

The occasion we went to was to recognize God's call on his life and his dedication to that call. We arrived at Jose's house around 6:30 P.M. after a drive up the mountain from Atenas. He had cleared off a vacant lot next to his house and strung lights all around it. Bamboo poles were propped up to sit on and a pulpit that Jose himself made was set up under a plastic awning.

Typically Latin American, the people were in no hurry to finish the fiesta nor did they have any particular starting time for the more formal recognition ceremony. For over two hours we visited with the people, friends of Jose and members of the churches he has started, that gathered to celebrate...and ate. The food came in stages. First, there was a fruit drink, then empanadas, then arroz con leche (rice pudding), then ice cream, then birthday cake...all this while standing or sitting in the vacant lot.

Particularly noteworthy was a little lady, around 74, that had 16 children, 52 grandchildren, and either 14 or 40 great grandchildren. (Mitzi and I disagreed on what she said. 14 is catorce and 40 is cuarenta.) Either way, she was a neat lady.

Finally, about 9:00, we got around to the ceremony. Steve preached a short message. We presented Jose with a certificate, then there was a foot-washing ceremony done by some mission volunteers from the states, then I prayed. It was a great time.

Another interesting sidelight...well, maybe not really interesting...but significant, at least to me. As far as I know, there aren't any toilet facilities in Jose's house, but there is a banana field closeby...and it was very dark...Thankfully.

This was a time so simple...crude lights strung around a vacant lot on the top of a mountain...a homemade pulpit under an awning...a man who can't even read dedicating his life to the Lord...but so signficant. People are coming to know a great God that doesn't care about cushy pews, fancy chandeliers, or formal education. God give us a 100 like Jose.

Disaster Relief Efforts

Tsunami is the big news...but not necessarily to the people of the Limon and Puerto Viejo areas of Costa Rica. The pictures below depict a little of the involvement we had after the recent floods in those areas.

After floods in the same area for two successive weeks, many of the residents were about wiped out. They didn't have much to start with, but the flood waters ruined most of their household goods. That, along with the ruined crops from which most of the people derive their income, left many without food or a means to get any.

We didn't do much, but did buy and bag up two pickup loads of food and basic toiletries, enough for about 100 families. As you can imagine, the people were very grateful.

A local church handled the organization of the distribution. They made a list and issued a number to each family to insure that the goods were evenly distributed. The pictures below were taken in and outside the meeting place of the church. You will notice that it appears to be a corral. Well, that's exactly what it used to be. They put a roof (of sorts) on it and put up palm fronds around it for walls. Actually, a few months ago, Mitzi translated for a service there. The people are poor and live a simple, but hard life. It's hard for them to break away from old traditions and cultural religion, but Pastor Evelia faithfully ministers to the people and teaches them the truth of the Word.

The appreciation of the people made it a blessing for us to be able help in a small way, and they were able to identify the help as coming from a church that taught and demonstrated the love of Christ.

Distribution point for Food Bags 

Adam, Pastor Evelio, and Carroll 

Distributing food bags 

"God is with us."

A few days ago I was playing golf (OK, so missionaries aren't supposed to be playing golf...but from time to time I do.) and, as usual, I hooked up with some people I didn't know. That's my usual pattern since I don't have a regular group that I play with. That, by the way, is pretty interesting. I have played with people from Canada, Korea, England, various Latin American countries, Switzerland, and some others I don't remember.

Anyway...back to my story. Now guys don't usually chit-chat a lot on the golf course. Mitzi always asks about the people I play with..."Where are they from? What are they doing here? Are they married?" I used to just say, "I don't know. We played golf." However, lately, I've tried to be a little more inquisitive...partly so I have something to tell her, and partly just to be a little more cordial.

Ok...now I'm really going back to my story. This particular day I joined two nice Costa Rican guys. The conversation turned to "What do you do here?" I told them I was a missionary, and one, with an excited look on his face exclaimed, "Oh. God is with us!"
I really didn't know what to say. Was he being facetious? Was he making a joke? Or did he really believe that being in the presence of a missionary meant that in some unusual way, God was present?

I don't know the answer to that question, but one thing I do know is that God is no more present when a "clergy" type is around than He is otherwise. Often, when people (especially golfers) learn what I do, they begin to apologize for their language (often in advance). My usual reply is that it's not me they have to worry about, and God is around all the time.

If I play golf, it's usually on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Most of the people I have played with on Wednesday say they play every Wednesday...funny though. I was just relating to Mitzi that I never seem to see them a second time. Now, I'm not that bad a player...hmmm. Wonder if they just don't want to play with God around.