Thursday, March 5, 2009

After arriving Wednesday evening Lora Warkentin and Linda Penn worked with the Costa Rican staff on PowerPoint and hand note translations. Theresa Hoffman learned her worship songs in Spanish and worked all day on learning her chords in Spanish dialect for the weekend. The English to Spanish language carryover required much effort to effectively communicate to the pastor’s wives and missionaries.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Sixty women from all over Costa Rica—pastor’s wives & missionaries attended an overnight retreat. Linda and Lora taught three Bible messages and they shared leadership training on intentional shepherding. Linda taught on being on mission. Friday night during decision time many pastor’s wives and missionaries came forward in response to making decisions of forgiveness and to the Holy Spirit’s direction. They nailed pieces of paper with responses to the cross.

We enjoyed fellowship around buffet breakfasts and dinners. The resort we stayed at was high in the mountains, the view break taking, and the weather cool and windy. At one time it felt like the clouds were actually touching us on the mountain.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Theresa Hoffman and Evelyn—a Score missionary did a fabulous job of leading worship for the weekend. Theresa sang about the alabaster jar as people responded to the end of the second Biblical message.  

It was a beautiful time of servanthood and the women being together—two different countries but similar womanhood struggles and discoveries. One woman shared that since they’re always giving so much to others it was wonderful to be refreshed themselves. They were fed through the Word of God and personal stories that Lora and Linda shared of their struggles and hurts in ministry. Their God lessons helped them to grow even closer to the Lord in their brokenness and gave them the ability to minister with greater depth to women.   

The other twenty-two team members arrived mid-afternoon after an easy flight. Orientation and dinner along with a restful evening ensued as we settled into the area. There are many missions students studying Spanish staying at the Villa (GAP students) along with others coming in and out. Two we met, Ashley and Melissa are from Buffalo.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

The children’s program was inspiring and successful with Theresa Hoffman’s leadership. Ten of the women participated in ministering to the children through a puppet show regarding making correct choices, reenacting Jesus walking on the water with lots of audience participation, and a craft time. Charity Demko was called upon without warning for a lesson to adolescents. She encouraged them to write out stories on Biblical characters that learned to trust in Jesus. 

The evening was spent getting the supplies ready for tomorrow. Please pray for our first medical outreach in the morning. More to come…

Monday, March 9, 2009

We went to a poor community known as Los Guidos for our medical missions day.  Several of the GAP students went along as our translators.

While the majority of the team set-up the clinic, a group of us walked throughout the community inviting people to the clinic.  The room filled quickly with those needing attention.  But moreso than supplying medical need, people heard how their lives could be changed through Christ through the four testimonies given by our women and Dave Kennedy and the local pastor preaching.   

The day was hectic yet gratifying. Dr. Olina Dulak, a dentist, performed many examinations and extractions. Jennifer Colon (from Amherst Baptist Church) assisted Olina and lived her dream of playing a “doctor” for the day! The last dental patient of the day, a little boy, Carlos, almost didn’t make it into the clinic in time. As he stood outside the door waiting to see Dr. Dulak, he said to Dave Kennedy in plain English, “Thank you Mister. I love Jesus, I love God, too.” After leaving the clinic, we stopped at an impoverished area called “The Hole” where we distributed tracts along with toiletries.  One team member, after visiting this area, commented how even though they lived in such poverty the people were happy despite their circumstances due to their relationship with Christ.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Today was a free day for the team. We went souvenir and grocery shopping for treats and some of the yummy coffee that Costa Rica is known for.

Even on our free day, we were still ministry minded and handed out tracts. In one shop, the giving of a tract resulted in a conversation with Victor, who said that he’s not a Christian. So, please pray for Victor and all of the other people that we shared the gospel with to become Christ followers.

After shopping, we had a great lunch at a seafood restaurant where some ordered a whole fish, head and all. We then traveled to a botanical garden, the Jarkin Botanico Lankester. It had many large, unusual plants, beautiful flowers, and trees. This setting was so peaceful that it was a perfect opportunity to encounter God.

Costa Rica has a church in Cartago that many Roman Catholics visit to see the “black virgin.” We saw how people were so steeped in religious tradition that they fail to see how lost they truly are. Even here, though, we were able to hand out tracts and witness to people before and after entering the church.

We ended the day with Jeff Hackett, our leader, giving a message to us at the Villa on false teaching and prayer.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

After lunch back at the Villa, the team left for Los Guidos for ministry to young moms and their children.  Testimonies were given by Jennifer Colon (translator as well as our team member) and Mary Ilene Tarapacki to the women. A wonderful skit on giving our heart to the wrong things of the world showed how God can heal the broken hearted. The women did a craft and had some lunch along with receiving education on diabetes. Twelve women at this ministry event trusted in Christ.

The team ministered to forty-five children. They had puppet shows, crafts, lunch, music, and a Bible lesson. It was quite a challenge with so many children in such a small area but the team pulled together well.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Today was another medical day, this time in San Francisco, San Jose.  The team cared for over sixty adults and twenty children.  Different members of the team walked the streets at various times to invite people to the clinic and to evangelize, which resulted in at least one salvations.  Then, at least four people at the clinic trusted in Jesus.

We saw some unusual diagnoses with one woman having a minor surgery to remove several large moles.  The busiest stations were physical therapy and dentistry. It was a hot day in the sun for some of the team who worked outdoors with the children.  The clinic patients expressed their appreciation for our coming to help them with their medical needs.

All of us continue to pick up a little more of the Spanish language each day with some unusual results at times.  We look forward to tomorrow—visiting an orphanage and preparing for Saturday’s retreat of 300 women expected.  Please pray for these events, for salvations and commitments to surrender all to Christ and serve.

Friday, March 13, 2009

This morning we were all excited to travel to an orphanage (which was more of a foster care facility than an orphanage).  The children were all so precious, all wanting to give us hugs and play with us.  Many of the children had special needs.  One little boy, in a wheelchair, who was deaf and blind showed that he loved being with us.

We sang a few praise songs, performed a few skits, heard a Bible lesson, and prayed for the children.  This was a miracle for us since last year, at the same orphanage, they did not allow us to do anything spiritually based.  We were only allowed to play with the children.  So, we were so blessed to be able to make a spiritual impact this year in these children’s lives.  Before leaving them, we gave each of them a stuffed animal and a pair of sunglasses. 

For lunch we had barbeque (Argentinian style) which was absolutely delicious, to raise support for SCORE missionaries.  Then for the remainder of the day we prepared our supplies for the anticipated 300 women and 80 children expected at the retreat tomorrow.  These preparations included crafts for women and children, lesson plans, and boxed lunches.  Again, please pray for this retreat, that lives would be impacted for Christ.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

The women’s retreat took place today.  Around 255 women and over 50 children attended the event from many areas of Costa Rica.  At least five women trusted in Christ at the event.

Women on our team and Costa Rican ladies gave testimonies throughout the day.  The initial session in the main room was given by Dr. Lora and Linda speaking on the Samaritan woman. The women were then given a choice of four electives taught by our team including The Proverbs 31 Woman, The Legacy of a Christian Home, Making Godly Choices, and Ministerial Leadership. 

The children’s ministry ran very well due to effective planning from the team and space availability at the facility. We divided the children into four age groups and rotated them through four classrooms in the morning and four in the afternoon.  In the different classrooms they had music with a Bible lesson and skits, follow-up questions and snack, crafts centered around the Bible lesson, and time on the playground.

The day ended with commitments to surrender all areas of the women’s lives to God.  Similar to the story of the alabaster jar, oil was poured out to represent their submission.

Please pray for these women to follow through with their commitments and apply the spiritual principles they learned to grow in their walk with Jesus. Also please pray for our team traveling back to the U.S. tomorrow.