La Carpio

Part of our team had the opportunity to work with children and lead a sport ministry clinic in a barrio outside of San Jose - La Carpio. While ministering in this barrio, the team saw the love of Christ each day in the faces of children. The team worked with Steve and Antonio - two guys who are in charge of the ministry in La Carpio. Steve has started a soccer team in the slum and they won a big championship game last year. Steve prays with the guys before each game. He also shares the eternal love of Christ with them on a daily basis. I asked Steve what his strategy was with the soccer team and he said, "My strategy is no strategy. I just let the guys play."

VBS and Feeding Center

Part of our group had the opportunity to tear down the roof of the feeding center at Pastor Angel's church and rebuild it! Through this opportunity, our guys met a wonderful man by the name of ERNESTO. ERNESTO was a "gentle giant." The men and boys learned how to weld and enjoyed some great food and watermelon!

Part of our group had the opportunity to prepare and serve the food at the feeding center at Pastor Angel's church. They were a blessing to the moms who brought their young children each day. After serving at the feeding center, this group led a VBS time each afternoon where many children and parents laughed, played and learned about God's love.

3 Water Installs and Health Education

Along with the leadership of EDGE OUTREACH, SMBC was able to install 3 water purification systems while in Costa Rica. Please continue to prayer for the San Felipe School, Pastor Oscar and Pastor Oldemar as they use the pure water to reach out to their communities with the Love of Christ. Also pray that the hand washing station at the San Felipe school will continue to teach students the importance of washing their hands to prevent disease transmission. Our students and leaders did a great job teaching health education in the schools! Some of our students also had the opportunity to teach English in the schools! Great job!

Blessed Are the Poort - Meet Senora Paula

As the Costa Rica Team formed, I began praying for a construction opportunity for part of our team. Through months of prayer, God lead us to help restore Senora Paula’s home in the slum of Los Pinos. On our first full day in Costa Rica, Pastor Angel took us on a prayerwalk to Senora Paula's house. The path to Senora’s home was a slippery mound of mud. Stray chickens and dogs walked about in the mud and sewage. Homes were pieced together with corrugated metal, sticks, rocks and tin. As we walked toward Senora Paula’s house, children would yell “Gringos” (Americans). Some children wanted a hug, others were happy to get a smile from us. Other children looked despondently from the edge of their homes. One girl, about 13, gave me a kiss and a package of crackers. Pastor Angel led us back to Senora Paula’s home, through winding, up and down alleys like an obstacle course, dodging sewage ditches and ducking under electrical wires. Senora Paula’s home was a tiny 2-3 room house with little lighting. As we entered the house, Senora Paula and her family gave us a big hug and offered us a bottle of orange coke. She had also baked a cake the day before for the men who were going to work on her house. In that small house, Senora Paula’s bright eyes shone with so much hope and so much gratitude that they electrified the dark place. And in that moment, I was struck. A voice whispered, THIS IS IT…This is who God calls blessed. The poor and the meek who thirst for justice…this is Senora Paula.

Senora Paula knew that she was God’s delight! You could see it in her eyes. She knew she was valued as a child of God. In that second, all my accomplishments (however many), my degree, my title, my knowledge, my possessions…were nothing, absolutely nothing in comparison with this woman. God’s love filled that room….

As I left my first visit with Senora Paula….I felt humbled and awkward….This woman would be nothing in the estimation of nearly all society. But God allowed me to glimpse that she is great in the Kingdom of Heaven. “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" James 2:5

My faith felt thin next to Senora Paula’s thick faith. As we left, a group of children gathered outside. They looked deep into our eyes…and in that moment once again God reminded me that I am not to live for my own advancement but for the good of others. When I become like the poor and like a child…God calls me blessed. I was so grateful that day for a peek into God’s Kingdom.

Reminders from Costa Rica

Sunsets...
Curvy Roads.....
The Smile of a Child....
Great Interpreters...
Great Bus Drivers...
Senora Paula...
Pastor Angel...
Pastor Oscar...
Pastor Oldemar...
Mold on pillows at Hotel Divisamar...
Great Food...
Lovely Cooks...
The Washing of Feet...
Singing...
Pure Water...
Hardware Store Visits...
Coffee...
The Miracle Coffee Shop beside Hotel Divisamar...
Jump Ropes...
Hugs...
Canopy Tour...
God's light shining in some very dark places...
Home Boy Nathan
Logan is Gordo y Guapo

Hello Everyone! The group flight arrives at 8:20 p.m. tonight!

Tomara will probably not arrive to Louisville until 11 p.m.

See ya!

Hello

We had a relaxing time in Manuel Antonio this weekend. Trust me...we have great stories to share about our hotel experience. It was one of a kind. We created lots of memories.

Last night, Pastor Les preached at the church where the feeding center roof was built. He spoke on the Lord´s Prayer. Our youth sang beautifully and Mike Marlow shared his testimony. We had a great time together and enjoyed the food. The churches have fed us very very well!

Today we will visit our sites and say goodbye to the friends we have made and to our wonderful interpreters. We will close out tonight with a great praise time to our Lord. I am so so proud of our youth and adults who have given of themselves fully this week.

Tomorrow we will visit a waterfall garden and pack up to leave.

Thank you for your prayers and we look forward to sharing our stories!