Semana Santa

Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Costa Rica is the most celebrated week of the year.  Because of the strong Catholic influence, there are celebrations throughout the week of all of the "events" leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  They have what are called procesiones (processionals) throughout the streets of each city where they act out each "event" of the week. Hundreds of people process through the streets (all roads are closed off), many dressed like Roman soldiers, Mary Magdalene, different saints, etc and they carry a statue of Jesus representing whatever event they are celebrating.  Because we live in the city right next to a large Catholic church we were able to witness the procesiones of Jesus carrying His cross, the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.  We also visited Cartago where the Basilica is located.  The Basilica is the largest Catholic church in Costa Rica and is the "symbol" of Catholicism for the country.  People crawl on their knees for miles to the Basilica all the way to the alter where they confess their sins before the alter and the statue of Mary.  There is also a pool of "holy water" on the property and people were bringing milk jugs to fill up with this water to take home so that it will last them all year.  (Many Costa Ricans visit this church once a year during holy week.)  Many were pouring the "holy water" over their children or dogs, believing that they will be blessed if they touch this water. 

Experiencing this week gave us even more of an understanding of the people that we are ministering to.  Please pray for those who have yet to experience the freedom in Christ that He so freely gives!!!          (Here are a few pictures below of La Basilica and the procesiones)    

                           

Youth Service Project

Saturday I (Daniel) was invited to tag along with the local International Youth Group on a community service project.  It sounded like fun hanging out with teenagers and we were going to help clean up a family's home.  We traveled to the foot of the mountains, about 15 minutes away, and when we arrived at the family's home I could not believe my eyes.  It was some of the worst living conditions that I have ever seen or smelled. The house was made of rotted wood boards and tin siding.  It had 2 small beds, a chair, a dirt floor kitchen and a pit toilet that had filled and spilled over into the kitchen.  Roberto, his wife, his daughter and 2 grandchildren live in the house.  It was devastating.   We worked all morning cleaning and removing trash from inside and around the house because $5,000 was raised by a missionary family to build them a new block house.  The family was so blessed by all of the work that was done in the name of Jesus.  I was so honored to be able to serve them with the love of Christ.  The youngest grandson was about Thomas's age and the Lord put it on my heart to go back in the near future with some of Thomas's clothes for him.  I also want to take Sarah and the boys back to minister to them as well.  I will take some pictures of their new home to share with you while we are there.  The Lord has given us such a desire to just serve those in need--whoever it is that God puts in our path.  Please join me in praying for this family and for the thousands more like them who so desperately need their physical and spiritual needs met in a mighty way.  

Sick, Sick, Sick...

We have had a lot of sickness this past week so please pray for us!  Last week, I stayed out of school with Thomas for 2 days because he had another eye infection/fever and bad cough.  He is now on the mend but we had to take Jacob to the hospital today.  He was screaming for hours, pulling at his ears and wouldn't eat or sleep.  He now has an ear infection in both ears as well as a stomach bug (he threw up all inside the car and all over the hospital room.)  Please pray along with us for strength as we fight sickness in our home.  

We love you guys and thank you for everything!

Language School

Wow, time flies!  I can't believe it has been almost 2 weeks since our last post!  We are so busy every day and by the time we sit down to write a week has gone by.  We are also trying to get used to being 2 hours behind our family and friends on the East Coast because of the time change last week.  Costa Rica does not change times so in the Spring we are 2 hours behind and in the Fall we are only 1 hour behind.  We are slowly adjusting...

Anyway, for some time now Daniel and I have really been praying about language school and staying for another trimester (3 1/2 months).  We originally had planned to be here until the end of April and then we were going to move to Jacó at that time.  As we have been in school for these last 3 months we have learned alot but still have ALOT to learn!  Most people in school are staying closer to a year (3 trimesters) so we began praying about what we should do.   We want to be as prepared as the Lord wants us to be for the ministry has called us to here in Costa Rica.  This has been a really difficult thing for us to pray about because our hearts are already in Jacó and ready to begin ministry there.  As we have been praying, the Lord has shown us very clearly through His Word, through our mentors and through His provision that He wants us to stay here until mid-August.  He has clearly shown us how sometimes the preparation for His work is more extensive than the work itself and all we desire to do is what He wants us to do.  The Lord knew that He wanted us to stay until August even before we left....He had already provided the money for another semester of school in our "extra" outgoing support and we did not know at the time what it is was for.  He has been so faithful to us as we have sought to follow Him every step of the way.  His Word says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;  I will counsel you and watch over you." (Psalm 32:8)  Again, this has been so difficult to obey and stay another semester, but we know the Lord desires this for us.  So now we look forward to what the Lord has for us here in the next few months.  We pray for more and more opportunities to serve others in need and to love them with the love of Christ.  

We would really appreciate your prayers as we stay another trimester here at language school.  Please pray for patience--that we would not be anxious to go--but that we would take advantage of every opportunity while we are here.

Thanks to all for blessing us with your prayers, encouraging notes and emails...we love you!!!

Here are a few pictures....

Here are 2 pictures we took on the "autopista" (highway)--highway safety at it's finest...(yes, that is a baby car seat...)

Jacob decided to climb up the bars on the front window of our house...he is a wild one!!!

Everyday Life

Many things here in Costa Rica are very different and though at times we get frustrated with the way things are done, there are times when we just have to laugh.  For example, last week we decided to order a pizza and have it delivered to our house.  We found a little "hole in the wall" pizza place and they have a little man on a motorcycle who will deliver it to you so we decided to try it.  I called to place the order and they asked for my address as they would in the States.  The only (BIG) difference is that here the houses don't have numbers and the neighborhood streets don't have names so your actual address is specific directions to your house from a certain point.  We have been told by our landlord that our address is the following:

   "San Francisco de dos rios, en la Pacifica, de la farmacia San Francisco, seisientos metres este,         veinticinco norte; casa izquierda-color melón..."

(Which translates--city of San Francisco de dos rios, la Pacifica (the main road through town), from the San Francisco pharmacy, 600 meters east (each 100 meters is a block to them no matter how short or long the block is), 25 meters north, the house on the left, melon color)

As I was reading this to the guy he was understanding but then started asking me more and more questions about more specific directions.  Finally, I told him that we would be outside on the porch and when we saw a man coming by on a motorcycle carrying a pizza we would flag him down.  He was very appreciative and sure enough after 45 minutes we heard the loud motorcycle and we were able to get our pizza.  It was great pizza too---really gave Pizza Hut some big competition.  

Day after day we realize more and more---we are not in South Carolina anymore!   But we really like it here and we thank the Lord that He loves us and takes care of us daily!  We feel like the most blessed people on Earth!!!

Here are a few random pictures of the boys...

Our first visitor

We have been so busy studying for the 2 months that we have been here, yet it has been such a privilege to be able to study Spanish in preparation for the ministry the Lord has called us to in Jacó.  We do miss our family and friends so much and at times it is really hard to be away from them.  But, this past week we were really blessed to have our first visitor from the States.  Our friend, Glenda, came and visited us for 6 days, and we had a wonderful time showing her around San Jose and Jacó while she was here.  She brought all of Thomas's books that we left at my mom's house, and she blessed the boys with a few new treats as well.  

As I said before, we went to Jacó for the weekend to show Glenda where we would be serving when we are finished with school.  Mike and Revae (the couple we will be working alongside in Jacó) came to San Jose the Friday we were headed to Jacó because Revae is due any day with their third baby girl and they had to go ahead and come to town to be close to the hospital.  Mike's plan was to drive back down early Sunday morning to preach, but when he arrived in San Jose he realized that the clutch in his car went out.  Mike was able to call Daniel to fill in for him on Sunday so Daniel had the privilege of teaching for the first time in our new church here in Jacó.  He taught in English and it was translated into Spanish.  The Lord is so amazing--He always has everything perfectly under control and it was no coincidence that we were in Jacó for the weekend!!  We were so blessed to be there worshipping alongside those we will be serving there.   

All in all, the visit with Glenda was a blessing and though it made us miss home at times, she was such an encouragement to us and to the ministry here in Costa Rica!

Jacob being silly as usual!!                                 Thomas with his new cross necklace from Glenda            

Crusade in Jacó

This past weekend we went to Jacó for the first time since we have been in country.  It was an amazing visit and made us even more excited to get there in the next few months.  We went to be a part of a city-wide crusade that the church was a part of hosting.  The Conquerors, a Christian strength team from Michigan, came to do their strength demonstrations in 4 schools and then the big crusade on Friday night.  It was incredible!  The show was great and their testimonies were powerful as they told of their lives before Christ (drugs, stealing, prison, etc).  They could really relate to many of the locals in Jacó.  This is the first crusade of this kind in the city and there were about 1,000 people in attendance at the local park.  Hundreds prayed to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior...it was AMAZING!  There were prostitutes and homosexuals and those who are just living in the dark who declared that they wanted to turn from these sinful lifestyles and begin a relationship with Jesus.  After a time of corporate prayer, volunteers swarmed through the crowd of people who came forward to receive Christ and each person was prayed for individually and many were set free for the first time.  It was a beautiful time in the Lord.  "The Book of Hope" and salvation bracelets were handed out to each person at the end of the night.  God's presence was so strong during the night.  As soon as the strength show began, a rainbow appeared over the park....what a beautiful promise the Lord gave us as we began.  Then, as one of the team members began sharing the Gospel, a dove flew over the park!  It was so incredible!  God showed Himself in so many tangible ways Friday night and we were more than blessed!  What is so great about all of this is that now there is a church that can follow up with those who gave their lives to Christ and can begin discipling those who really are serious about growing in their faith.  When were here in 2004 on a short term missions trip, there was no church to plug people into so this is exciting!  We are excited about getting to be a part of helping with the follow up for many of the people who are beginning a new life in Christ!!!  

We attended church this morning at Calvary Christian Fellowship Jacó, the church we are going to be serving with after language school.  Mike, the Pastor there, introduced us and we were so blessed to be able to worship with those we will soon be serving!

Here are a few pictures from Friday night!!

Thanks for all of your continued prayers.  Please pray specifically for the following:

1.  Our language study--for clarity and that it would "stick" 

2. Our family's health--many have been sick and have been missing school

3. Our family's safety--many have been robbed at gunpoint so we are constantly on guard

4. For the people of Jacó and all those who gave their hearts to Jesus this past weekend