A prayer request and a HUGE praise!

Thanks to all of you for your constant prayers and support--we definitely feel it and are so blessed by you!  We have a prayer request for Jacob and a huge praise for our family.  First the prayer request.  This past weekend we began moving our things to Jacó.  It was great to begin getting settled in our new home.  We are looking forward to being there permanently in the next 3 weeks.  Well, yesterday morning we were at the house and Jacob was playing with a Q-tip.  He ended up putting it in his ear, fell on it somehow and began screaming.  After crying for quite a while, we thought he was ok because it was not bleeding or anything.  Well, as we were leaving in the car his ear began to bleed so we went straight to the hospital in San Jose.  To make a long story short, he has a hole in his eardrum and is on antibiotics for the next week.  The doctor told us that the good news is 90% of the holes will close on their own.  The bad news is if it doesn't, he has to have surgery.  We have to go back in a few weeks to get it checked and at some point they will do a hearing test on him.  Anyway, please pray with us that everything will be ok and it will close on it's own.  We know that whatever happens, the Lord already knew that this was going to happen so we take comfort that He is faithful!!  

On the other hand, we received news today that we are officially RESIDENTS of Costa Rica!!!  We feel like this is more than an answer to prayer because to obtain residency this quickly is almost unheard of.  We have a friend who is still in process and has been for 6 years.  We have other friends that got residency after 4 years.  We feel so humbled that the Lord has chosen to give us this gift this quickly and we truly give Him all the praise for this.  This continues to confirm to us that we are exactly where He wants us to be at this point in our lives.  The last step we have is a meeting with Immigration on August 18th to get our IDs made and more paperwork completed.  Many of you have been praying specifically for this and we thank you so much!    

We love you and will continue to pray for you!!!!  Thanks for praying!!

Home again, home again in San Jose

Well, we got back to San Jose on Sunday afternoon and we have been trying to adjust to being back.  We were so tired because of the jam-packed week we had in The States but it was more than a blessing to be with family and friends for a short time.  We truly feel like last week was a gift from the Lord and we are so grateful for it!  While we were home, Thomas had an appointment with his eye surgeon as he does regularly and he was prescribed glasses.  He looks adorable in them and is doing really well adjusting to wearing them daily.  Here is a picture of Thomas sporting his new glasses!

Upon returning we were informed that the kid's spanish school (and every other school in Costa Rica) was closed by the government due to the swine flu.  Our school is still open so the kids are staying with Concepcion some days and other days we are taking turns keeping them.  

We can't believe how fast time has flown by!  In less than 4 weeks we will be moving to Jacó permanently!  We are finishing up our last few weeks of school and will be moving our first load of stuff this weekend.  We are so excited about what the Lord has for us there and the ways we will begin to serve.  Please pray for us as we adjust to a new place and to everything the Lord has for us there.  Please pray also that the kids will adjust to life in Jacó quickly.  

A few months ago Daniel had the privilege of helping to tear down/rebuild a home in "Los Guidos"--a slum neighborhood about 15 minutes from where we live.  Anyway, we posted pictures of the house and the horrible living conditions for this family.  Well, the house was completed 2 weeks ago and the new one is amazing!  God has done an amazing work here!  The entire house, including running water and electricity, only cost $7,000.  The family is so excited and amazed knowing that this has been a gift from the Lord.  Also, a few months ago the children were covered in sores and bites due to extremely unclean living conditions and no running water.  When we visited them 2 weeks ago, the kids were so clean and appeared so healthy--a true testament to the benefit of running water and better living conditions!  We are so blessed to have been a small part of sharing Christ's love with this family in need!  Below are before and after pictures of the house and kitchen!!!  

           

House before                                                              

House after

 

 Kitchen before                                                      

 

Kitchen after

Please pray for the following as we finish up our time here in San Jose:

**Our move to Jacó

**Adjustment for us and the boys to life in Jacó

**Our health (especially against swine flu)

**Our safety

**Our church in Jacó--Capilla Calvario Jacó

**That we would be sensitive and obedient to the Lord's leading in all situations

We love you and thank you all!!!

    

Home for a short visit

As many of you know, we will be heading home to the States for a week beginning this Friday, July 10th.  Daniel is officiating the wedding of 2 dear friends and we are more than excited to be a part of the amazing work the Lord is doing in the lives of our friends, Mary and Tony.  While in town, we will be sharing at Calvary Chapel Lexington on July 12 and all are invited---we would love to see everyone!!!  PLEASE pray for us as we travel in and out of the country.  We are "in process" of getting residency and have the "official" papers that state this, but there is still a chance that we will face resistance as we try and depart from or return to the country.  It all depends on who we get at the desk in the airport that day and what they decide to approve or deny.  It seems as if that is the way most government offices, banks, etc. work here.  So, PLEASE PRAY!  We know the Lord has His hands upon us and we are trusting Him in all of these sticky legal matters.  Thanks so much for praying and we can't wait to see everyone--even if it is for a very short time!!!!

Please pray!!

We have had a crazy week this week and would appreciate your fervent prayers!!  Because our language school is full of "gringos" studying Spanish it has always been a target for robberies and assaults.  When we arrived in January, we had about 3 weeks of "caution" as there was a series of armed robberies committed against different friends from our school including one in our front yard.  Well, in the past two days there have been 3 armed robberies near our school in our neighborhood, 2 during the middle of the morning and one in the evening.  Only one guy was shot because he tried to resist and fight off the robber, but his wounds are not life-threatening.  The other two were females and had their backpacks and id's stolen.  We are not living in fear because we know that the Lord did not give us a spirit of fear--but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).   We also have the promises of the Lord from Psalm 91 which says "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'  v9-11 If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the Lord, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways..."  What an awesome promise of God--as we dwell in the Lord--rest in Him--He will protect us and we have no need to fear.  

We are not living in fear, but each time these things happen our awareness is heightened to a new level and it is exhausting at times.  We would just ask that you pray for:

**those who have been robbed

**our safety and the safety of all of the residents in our neighborhood

**the robbers and their salvation 

**that we would be the light of Christ to all who are around us!!!  

We love you and thank you for serving alongside us for the Kingdom!