Yamileth's Baby Shower

We have a wonderful time at the INVU Women's Bible Study on Tuesday nights and this past Tuesday was no exception!  Yamileth, who is part of the group, is having a baby boy in July so we threw her a baby shower!  We had so much fun planning together and it was a really neat time of seeing the ladies come together as a group to bless one of our own!  Yamileth was overwhelmed and cried at the thought of us doing this for her.  This is her 3rd boy and she had never had a baby shower before!  We had a wonderful time playing games and celebrating the new life of this little one.  She has even asked us to help her name the baby so we are praying hard for a name!  Here are a few pictures of the festivities...

Happy Birthday Jacob!!

We can hardly believe our second born, Jacob, turned 6 yesterday!  WOW how time flies!  We started the morning with doughnuts at his classroom, and enjoyed a fun family dinner at one of his favorite restaurants.  We love you, Jacob and are so proud of you!

Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Today we had our first official "Human Trafficking Awareness Day" as a church and it was amazing!  We showed the documentary "Nefarious: Merchant of Souls" and we had an extended time of small group prayer.  Seeds of Hope (SeedsofHopeHome.com) shared about their ministry as a refuge home to young girls who have been prostituted or trafficked and we talked about our next steps in continuing to pray corporately and to fight against this growing epidemic here in Jaco.  We were also able to connect with 2 other local churches that are interested in fighting this as a team.  It was awesome!  Thanks to all of you who participated and for all of you who were specifically praying for this morning.  We felt the Holy Spirit's presence there and it went exactly as we had prayed!  Thanks be to God!!     

 

Jacob's Baptism

We are certainly celebrating with Jacob as Daniel had the privilege of baptizing him on Sunday!!  We had a church cookout and baptism on the beach and Jacob had been counting down the days all week until his baptism.  You see, we have talked about Jesus many times and he remembers very clearly when Thomas said "I believe!  I want to invite Jesus into my heart, Mom".  In fact, he often reminded us during our devotions in the morning, "Thomas is a Christian and I am not yet because I don't really understand."  We continued to encourage him that one day he would and that it was okay that he did not understand yet.  Well, on Easter our wonderful Children's Director, Dale Scaglione, shared the Gospel with the children and gave them an opportunity to invite Jesus into their hearts.  For the first time, the "blinders" were removed from Jacob's eyes and he understood who Jesus was and what He did for him.  He prayed and asked Jesus to live in his heart.  After church that day, he came to us and quietly shared with us his decision.  "Mom, I am now a Christian.  I believe.  I invited Jesus into my heart.  I finally understand."  Oh the overflow of joy to hear these precious words from my sweet Jacob who did truly understand for the first time!!  Since that day, he had determined that he wanted to be baptized in the ocean to "show others that he is a Christian now."  The faith of a child is so beautiful and so real.

So, on Sunday, during our cookout with the church, Jacob and another precious woman, Glenda, were baptized as everyone cheered and celebrated.  Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness and for showing yourself real to my boy!  We are so blessed!!!

Father/Son Camping Trip

A guy in our church has started a ministry for fathers and sons called "Contenders of the Faith", and we are super excited!!!  Their first "official" outing was camping and kayaking together last weekend and they had a blast!  They got rained on a little, but that did not stop them from having fun together!  My boys are still telling me stories from their adventures together.  I am so blessed that my boys are making such healthy memories with their Daddy and other Christian men with their sons.  This trip was the first of many....here are a few pictures of their adventures:

2013 Women's Conference

I had SO much fun with these precious women from our church as we attended a Women's Conference this past weekend!  I am in awe of the amazing things God is doing here in Jaco in and through these wonderful ladies and I love each of them dearly!!!

Love these Horizon Church Women!!!