Fairly often I am asked, "How are things going there in Costa Rica?" Most of the time I give a pretty generic and general answer...something like "It's going pretty good." or "It's going ok." You never know if a person really wants the whole story or is just asking to be polite...Kind of like, "How are you?" "Fine." "Great."
Well, I don't want to overload with the whole story, but in brief, there are peaks and valleys...usually at the same time. During the same week we have had great things happening in one area and really disappointing news in another. We need your prayers for both.
The bad news first...One man who drank badly before his conversion, but hadn't for over a year, suddenly started drinking again. He is alcoholic, and for some reason, he just fell to temptation. I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet. We learned the news when we went to his house for our regular weekly Bible study. After about an hour of him not showing up, his wife told us. It is especially damaging to his witness in the community and before his children who have heard his testimony for a year but, in the case of the older girls, have been wavering between skepticism, catholocism, and full commitment to Christ. Please pray for victory over this addiction and for God to repair the damage in his family and town.
On the other hand...in another area, over the week-end several people came to know the Lord and several were baptized. God spoke effectively through a couple of Latin pastors who came from the U.S. A concert was held, the gospel was preached, and many people were witnessed to individually. People were baptized in a swimming pool, the ocean, and in a thermal pool at the foot of a volcano. Please pray for these new believers and the national leaders that will disciple them.
