LET THE NEW YEAR BEGIN

December 28, 2011 marked our 2nd anniversary in Costa Rica. And as we look back we can’t help but be awestruck in the presences of our amazing, big God. His faithfulness has consistently confirmed His plan for our lives, and we continue to walk by faith, and not by sight….and when we do get caught up in the whole “sight” thing, He is quick to remind us Who is in charge!

2011 brought some growing experiences, and some new adventures. Just a quick review of some things you might already know through an earlier blog post, facebook, or other source, but we thought they were worth mentioning again.

Hosting two teams from Albuquerque, we were able to begin our youth group Ven y Ve (translated "Come and See"). We launched with the help of the Vertical high school team, and an outreach at a roller skating rink. We continue to minister to the high schoolers in the "colegio" located right behind the church, and now that the new school year has started, we plan to start visiting them again, and planning some outreaches especially with them in mind.

In October we hosted a team of folks who were also able to minister with some manual labor in the humble homes of two single ladies in the congregation, and a rehab center for woman…all within the span of four days. (More pictures available in a previous update).

We were so blessed by these visits, and extended the invitation to all of them to return ANY TIME!

2011 also brought some new collaborations in ministry. In November we had the opportunity to work alongside a team from Ride Nature and Calvary Chapel Melbourne Florida, for a skateboard outreach.

We were also blessed with a visit from brothers from Calvary Chapel Lynchburgh VA, and we will continue to stay in touch to see what the Lord has planned.

We took a step of faith and added a bible study in English on Sunday afternoons, covering the same verses as the morning services, which are at 9:00 in Spanish, and 11:00 in English for San Pedro Christian Fellowhship. Our prayer is that the Lord will grow this bible study into a service for the bilingual population who want to learn more English. We also began teaching the Foundations class in English on Wednesday afternoons. Wednesday evenings are set aside for a bilingual prayer time at 5:00, followed by our mid-week Spanish bible study where we are going through the bible verse-be-verse, from Genesis to Revelation. (Still in Genesis, so this might take a while!!)

With these ventures we are moving closer to our desire to have the church active every day…not just Sundays.

Our plan for 2012 involves growing and maturing the flock. Our current need is committed and responsible servants who, with sufficient discipleship, can assume leadership in many of these areas, and can extend the ministry beyond San Pedro. Our first and foremost objective is to reach out and spread the Word…we need to get out and evangelize, and we need the people to do so. We are beginning with Ven y Ve, by teaching the youth how to share the gospel, and the importance of evangelism.

We also want to encourage them to invite their friends. Two weeks ago we brought them together for a mini-retreat, where they had a chance to spend some time in the Word, along with swimming, playing soccer, and enjoying a cook-out.

We were so blessed to have 5 new young ones join us, who were invited by one of our Ven y Ve "regulars", Maria Jose, with an invitation to join us weekly on Saturdays.

We will also be encouraging them to get the word out to their friends about another skate outreach, since school resumes this month, where they can share with them the importance of Christ in their lives, and the need for everyone to know Him and His saving power. Prayers would be appreciated for these young ones…for boldness to communicate this to their friends, and take it beyond the walls of their school, and to live it in such a way that their friends will know that they are different, and become curious about why.

We have other plans for 2012 in line…but the Lord has shown us thus far that His timing is perfect, and if we faithfully work on the things that He has prioritized for us, the rest will fall into place. So 2012 brings nothing short of continuing to labor in such a way that pleases Him most. We look forward to what is in store, and to sharing with you the wonders of His mercy and grace upon this little church in Costa Rica. May His will be done in our lives and yours.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25 ...and Amen!