Stateside Visit

We had a wonderful time in The States for 3 weeks visiting family and friends from Virginia to North Carolina to South Carolina to Georgia.  It was a sweet time of refreshment and recharging, yet we are SO excited to be home.  Jaco has truly become our home and we love it and the people so much!  Thank you for praying for us as we traveled!! 

New Church Building and Celebration Dinner

We are finally in our new church building and we are excited!  We had a wonderful celebration dinner as a church where we talked about our mission and vision as a church body here in Jaco.  We are excited about what God is doing in and through our church and know the God's plans for the future are amazing!

Daniel turns the BIG 4-0!!!

We had a blast celebrating Daniel at his SURPRISE party for his 40th birthday!!  I don't know how we pulled it off but we did and it was so much fun!!  He is so loved in this town by so many people and it was evident as many came to show their love for him!!  My goal was that he would feel loved and encouraged and blessed in a major way---Mission Accomplished!!  Our intern, Emily, and her family were my behind the scenes team and they did an outstanding job!!  Here are a few pictures from the party...

Sorry!!

Hi Guys!  Sorry I haven't blogged in almost 2 weeks!  Some of you are aware that we have a few health issues in the family that we are trying to identify so we can treat them correctly.  For about a month now Thomas has been in major pain stomach and "heart" and back pain with what we thought initially was a parasite.  After treating him for a parasite the symptoms remained, so we have had him tested for different bacteria, parasites, etc.  We think as of today we have finally identified that he has tested positive for the H. Pylori bacteria and will start treatment of 2 antibiotics and a Proton Pump Inhibitor tomorrow to try and eradicate it.  This is common in developing countries, yet many have minor symptoms (from the water or food) but they never "act up" or need treatment.  It appears that his have so we are now on the road to recovery.  Please pray for him!!!  Also, Micah has a parasite that we are treating him for this week so please pray for him.  And, lastly, we have been in the local clinic with Manuel 3 times this week in the middle of the night because of major stomach pains and nothing seems to be working.  They took him by ambulance to the public hospital in Puntarenas (about 1 hour away) and he stayed the night there last night but they did no testing on him so we are still trying to figure it out.  We are taking him tomorrow to a friend of ours who diagnosed Thomas and who is a wonderful Australian doctor.  Please pray that we figure out what is going on with him as soon as possible!

We are really tired this week so forgive us for no updates.  As always, God is faithful and we are so blessed to be serving Him here in Jaco!!!!  We look forward to updating you more soon!  Thanks for your prayers!!!!  

My Sweet Boys!

As we passed this "wave" walking to the store last week, Micah insisted that they "sit on the wave for a picture, Mom".  How could I resist???  Love my boys!!

Jacob making friends with a Macaw!!

Serving with youth

I NEVER get tired of seeing our Youth step out and serve and yesterday was no exception!!  Yesterday after doing Kids Club in Jaco, we went to Esterillos (town 30 minutes south of us) to do a once a month Kids Club there.  This is a chance for the Youth to step up and serve.  I took 8 Youth with me and I was so blessed to sit back and watch as they led games;  included kids who were too shy to participate on their own;  helped the children as they made their crafts, served them cookies and juice;  clapped for them when they answered a question correctly;  encouraged them when they doubted their abilities;  etc, etc, etc....I was just so blessed to see how far they have come--shifting from wanting to be served to serving others.  I took a few pictures to capture the moment as I thought about where they were just a year ago.  I couldn't stop smiling as we sang songs at the top of our lungs all the way back to Jaco, joyful for having served the "least of these".  What an honor and a privilege it is to serve the Lord--and to teach the next generation this and to see them "get it" has been most rewarding...."the Son of God did not come to be served but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many..."

More Baptisms at Horizon Church!

What a blessing it was to baptize 4 more people today after church service!  We are super excited for all God is doing in and through the people here!!!  Here are a few pictures from today...