During our years here in Costa Rica, people regularly ask us, “Who cares for you?” We have a team of people who look out for us, between two of our sending churches, Fellowship & Arise, and undoubtedly the people who have cared for us most have been a couple by the name of Jon & Tammie.
Jon & Tammie came to Costa Rica in July of 2022 with the explicit mission of pastoring and caring for missionaries! It’s similar to if someone in the USA decided to be a pastor to pastors. We came shortly after them, in October of 2022, and for the past 3 years, they have invested in us, generously fed us yummy dinners every Tuesday night (boy does Tammie know how to cook!), let us live with them at times, stored our stuff in their house between transitions, and moved all the stuff in our house before we returned to Costa Rica with Eliana! They truly went above and beyond for our family. Funny enough, they did not want us to come to Costa Rica at first. If you recall, we came here 12 days after our wedding, and they thought, “Newly weds on the mission field - that’s a recipe for disaster!” We look back and cherish all the laughs and memories we have with them: from them providing wise counsel, in-country trips, chapel services, and our impromptu hangouts. They will be missed dearly by us and many other missionaries around the world. If you ever have the opportunity to support a missionary to missionaries, we 100% say to do it! Oftentimes we do not realize that missionaries need pastoral care, especially because of the unique circumstances that missionaries find themselves in on the field.
As we stated, Jon & Tammie’s mission was to care for missionaries in Costa Rica, specifically those enrolled as students at the Spanish Language Institute, which is how and where we met them. Jon was the Campus Pastor of the institute. However, as Jon prepared to return to the USA, there was a vacancy in the Campus Pastor role. I, Christopher, was asked to consider stepping into the role, and after serious consideration and prayer for quite some time, I accepted and have begun my new role as the Campus Pastor. My primary responsibility is to spiritually care for the missionaries and staff of the Spanish Language Institute. I continue to serve in La Carpio as the director of the youth & young adults along with this new role. Needless to say, it has been a time of exciting change and adjustments! You may be wondering what this looks like practically so here is an idea of what it can look like on a weekly basis: leading chapels every Tuesday and Thursday, leading devotionals for the staff, meeting with students, hosting dinners, preparing the chapel teachings, and more. The photo of this blog is when I led the devotionals last week for the incoming missionary students who have just begun language school.
As far as La Carpio goes, something new has begun on Friday nights! We have group discipleship time and dinner with a few of the male disciples that I (Christopher) have invested in for some time now, along with another young adult disciple of the ministry. We are excited to continue utilizing our home as a place of ministry, as it fosters more intimacy and allows Hannah to still be involved and participate to a degree.
Lastly, a new way of ministering within our home has been Monday and Tuesday evenings. On Monday nights, we have transformed our living room into a mixed “tico-gringo” bible study. And by “tico-gringo” we mean Costa Rican and United States residents. This time has given a safe space to support and push people out of their comfort zones in our home as we minister to and edify one another. For example, we have had several people teach, lead worship and share testimonies, some of which had never done so before. We are grateful that we are able to pour into others and see them better equipped to do ministry in a new light. As far as our Tuesday evenings are concerned, we have moved our regular Tuesday night missionary dinners to our home. We break bread with one another, have theologically diverse and lively conversations, and uplift one another as we are all united to share the love and light of Christ to the nations.
We leave you all with a question:
In the same way that Jon & Tammie invested and poured into us, who is investing and pouring into you? Teaching, counseling, challenging, sharpening and supporting you? Who is caring for your heart and well-being?
We hope to hear from you all via email, WhatsApp, or some other mode!
Praise Reports:
- Christopher’s new role as the Campus Pastor of ILE (The Spanish Language Institute or El Instituto de Lengua Española).
- My (Christopher’s) parents arrive tomorrow! We are hopeful for a restful time together and look forward to Eliana seeing her other grandparents.
Prayer Requests:
- Our health, especially Eliana. We took her to the ER earlier this week due to a fever. Thankfully she’s been recuperating. We ask you to pray that God continues to protect and bless us with strong health.
- That we would sell the van. Several people have inquired but none have decided to purchase it.
- For wisdom and strength as we continuously navigate the dynamics of marriage, being new parents, and ministry.