ARE WE THERE YET ????

Beloved of God and ours,

Well not yet… the word that comes to mind is “be still and know that I am God.”

While we are still, He works, and starts putting everything into place…for example:

We have had great things happening in the past week, and also some that we don't understand... First the Lord provided for a car in Costa Rica, a nice Toyota. It all started a couple of weeks ago when, by looking on Craigslist, we found a car that was being sold by an American diplomat who was preparing to return to the US. We bargained for over a week and a half. I sent my uncle to check the car, and he returned with a positive report, which allowed me to feel confident that the final price agreed upon was very reasonable. The ministry is now the proud steward of a ’96 Toyota, just waiting for us to arrive. The gentleman is a former missionary who now works with the US government in Costa Rica.

In the meantime we were also searching for a place to live, and came across two places. The first one in Heredia, 25 minutes northwest of central San José and the second one 25 minutes southwest of San José, in Escazú. Both have ties to God’s guidance. The first one we found on Craigslist, and is a cozy one bedroom cottage on a beautifully landscaped property. It just so happens that in God’s providence the man who is renting the house is from Albuquerque, and used to attend Calvary, and continues to attend when he returns for visits. His wife is Costa Rican (Tica), and they live on the same property. Sadly, they had someone interested.

The second potential apartment is in Escazú, and is owned by a couple who lives in Albuquerque. We heard about this apartment when we attended the Spanish service at Calvary and greeted a new attendee, the owner, who recognized us from our Global Adventures profile. She explained that she is from El Salvador, and her husband was in Escazú that very day. They were attempting to bring their rent within our budget, since things are very expensive in Escazú.

About two weeks have passed and we are still looking. In the back of our minds we thought about the quiet little cottage in the foothills of Heredia, and before we knew it we received an email from the owner, saying that it was still available, and asking if we were still interested. Once again, one of my uncle’s will be visiting them on Saturday to see the little house.





On a different note…we received a call yesterday about the house here in Albuquerque, where basically we were informed that we need to lower the price yet another time, from $149,900 to $141,977, because the market has dropped, which is no surprise for some of you who have gone through the same thing.

Any way, we are trusting in our God, and we are putting into practice the "be still and know that I AM God" verse..."still" takes other meanings at this time, but we ask to please pray, since a couple is interested, and actually praying about buying our house and we might know more after Monday.


The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake. (Ps 23:1-3)


Under His mercy and grace,
geiner and denise

Let’s Catch Up!

Luke 10: 17 “When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him,”

Dear beloved of God and ours,

The past two months have been a whirlwind of confirmations, and we would like to share some highlights with you, so that you have a better perspective.

On May 20th we were blessed to visit Costa Rica for a scouting trip through the generosity of one of our leadership team members, who also accompanied us to meet some people there. The fruit of this trip is as follows:

The first day that we were there some meetings were cancelled, by Divine appointment. But God had a much better plan…we used the time to visit some family members, and while we were there God had use for our time. Three young men wearing yellow shirts showed up at the door selling pencils and pens to finance the facility where they live. These young men are residents of a voluntary rehabilitation facility called “Hogares Crea”. The yellow shirts bear the guilt of their addictions and lifestyles, and the community is aware of this as soon as they see them. Yet they want to change. They submit themselves to authorities but not really to Christ. But His arm is not short to save. And this specific day the Lord reached down and they embraced Him in prayer.



Through this reconciliation with God, the Lord opened a door to go to this institution and visit, talk to other residents, and with the director. The ministry is designed by God, and accomplished by God through us. He brought us to this place to find 32 young men who need to trust Christ, and He says “how are you going to represent Me here?” (Really we do not have to do much…just be available.) Be available to listen, available to serve, available to deliver. They said “we need discipleship” so we would like to start with the Foundations class, that will lead into a bible study. We would like to serve by teaching them ESL and offering them a place to go for further growth in their walk. Which brings us to how we will deliver...

The Lord has provided a location for the start of Capilla Calvario Pura Vida! We love telling this part of the story! We were preparing to visit these young men a couple of days later, when we received a phone call from Geiner’s uncle Moises, who works in a hospital. He asked us to come to the hospital because there was a patient there that we should talk with. His name is “Apostle William”, which is how he refers to himself. He oversees seven churches in Costa Rica, and his health issues are causing him to lighten up on his duties. This man is offering us the first floor of a building, which he now rents to another congregation that is looking for a place to move. So here we are…negotiating terms and conditions for a building provided by God through His people. This building we believe seats about 75 people. It is located just blocks from the central San Jose area.
We will keep you posted as we find out more.

The additional meetings that we had placed us in touch with some very hospitable people who want to help in any way they could. We thank them for their willingness to take the time to receive us, and take such good care of us. We see these meetings as a blessing that God will use in the future.

By the fourth day of our trip our marriage finished writing another chapter. The 24th of May was our 17th wedding anniversary, and we traveled for lunch to a restaurant that oversees Escazú and San José. The picture at the top of the blog shows us on our way in (more pictures below).

Following this time in Costa Rica, we retuned to Albuquerque, only to prepare for our training in Mexico. We were blessed with the opportunity to attend the FIT (Field Intensive Training), organized by Shepherd’s Staff, and located at the Calvary Training Center in La Gloria Mexico (right outside Tijuana). This was an incredible and intense two weeks of being taught by various teachers who have served in the field from 12 – 16 years. The topics included Missionary God, Culture Matters, Culture Shock, Interpersonal Conflict, Spiritual Warfare, Language Acquisition, Church Relations, Family Relationships, Leadership, a study in Acts, Discipleship, and an immersion experience with a local family, and much more.

We thank Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque, and specifically Global Adventures, for working with Shepherd’s Staff to provide this investment in the ministry of Costa Rica.

While we were in Mexico our God-sent care team organized a fund raising dinner that absolutely broad into prospective the words dedication, sacrifice and love…for which we are so thankful with God. You know….the fellowship and love that we experienced in these past couple of months has been beyond measure. And I would dare to say that our fellowship has been as the one we find in Acts chapter two. Prayers being sent up, resources being shared, hands-on helps, OHHHHHHHH! How wonderful is our Lord who works these things, that He might be glorified. It is HUMBLING!!!!! Because it makes us think about His faithfulness, His goodness, His provision, His love, how could we ever repay??? Never…. and we search and we wonder, is there a better word than “thank you”? I don’t think so!! And you know why? Because God wasn’t going to allow putting into words what can only be expressed with actions….the only way to say thank you and mean it is by showing that we are thankful. And in our case we cannot separate being thankful from the debt that was paid for us from the cross. The only way to appreciate what Jesus of Nazareth did for us is to back-up our word “thank you” with obedience, and how can we thank you beloved of Christ… by being obedient to Him. I cannot think of any other way…We are humbled by God’s goodness through you.
May your willingness to give to the work of our God be return to you in blessings.

And we pray: Father, our hearts are full with joy. And we are being cared for by You. Thank you for your Love and how You share it. Thank you for Your love for us that compels us to give back to YOU. Thank You for every prayer and every gift. We love You Lord. May Your love, peace, and joy meet together in the heart of every believer that participates in this ministry or in another. Because they are Your blessing hand! In the Name of Christ Jesus. Amen.

Thankful to the Highest Power
Your humbled servants
geiner and denise

Welcome

Well, when Paul said that we can do all things through Christ, he wasn't kidding. We are now officially blogging. Who would have thought?!


Anyway, WELCOME beloved of God and ours. This journey now becomes even closer, and it should be...We are a team serving the Most High God in Costa Rica.

So far God has taken us from Albuquerque to Costa Rica to Mexico and back to Albuquerque. And now we are in an agonizing "Wait"... Most of you already know and are praying with us, yet it feels like forever. My (Geiner's) biggest test has been the selling of the house because so many people are praying for it and it seems like God doesn't want to sell the house quick enough...I know, I know...God has His timing and it is perfect...but my brain is dislocated from my heart!

Pray for us my dear friends,"without ceasing".

Anyway, this morning in my devotion God showed us something and we would like to share it with you all...This from " My utmost for His Highest". And it starts like this:

Do you have even the slightest reliance on anything or anyone other than God? Is there a remnant of reliance left on any natural quality within you, or on any particular set of circumstances?

My first answer to the first question was of course an unanimous NO. But the 2nd question made me think a little about this deal with the house and waiting, "Is there a remnant of reliance left on any natural quality within" me? We can try to be obedient on our own but can we serve God on our own??? The text used for this devo comes from Joshua 24:19 and it says:

"But Joshua said to the people, 'You cannot serve the Lord'...." The devotional continues with a third question: "Are you relying on yourself in any manner whatsoever regarding this new proposal or plan which God has placed before you? " I was painting doors and base boards trying to help God sell it!!! Then it says " 'You cannot serve the Lord...' -But you can place yourself in the proper position where God's almighty power will flow through you."

I have to admit that I worry and feel overwhelmed, and I become shalow like a tool that is not used for its original intent! and then I block the flow...

There is a difference between a tool and a conduit in the sense that a tool is used when needed but a conduit is always open for the flow of God. I cannot serve Him properly if I am doing what is right on my own strength and not letting God flow through me. There are a lot of good people in the world but is what they do righteous if Christ is not involved?

So I pray, Lord Jesus allow me to be a conduit of your Love and grace, that You may flow through me, and us, and my wife.

The moral of this story is: Relying in God is a lot more than just an expression. It is jumping beyond disbelief and worry to allow God to continue flowing through us while He is strengthening our faith. Is there anything in our lives that stands in the way of God's flow?

Blessings