Well, it is official (as of Sunday, June 22nd): we have returned to Costa Rica! We want to thank you all again, our partners, for your prayers, support, and offerings to help extend us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Costa Rica. It is refreshing and encouraging to see you be the body of Christ, each one of us working together to minister to those in a country outside of our own.
We continue to appreciate all of your prayers as this has certainly been the most difficult time for us to return. Having had Eliana and being around for approximately 5 months, we are grateful for the help and time shared with family as well as getting to see some of you, and we certainly miss that. Nonetheless, we know that there is no distance in prayer nor love for us back in the USA with those who support as we continue pioneering God’s assignment.
I (Christopher) had the blessed opportunity to teach at the Ministry Center (one of our partner churches and the church Hannah grew up in) to the youth, namely middle to high schoolers. The teaching was on “Honoring God,” what that means and what it looks like practically for Christ followers. In addition to this opportunity, we also had a special time at the Ministry Center as we had a baby dedication for Eliana Grace on Father’s Day.
Pastor Lonnie, who led the dedication, shared about the story of Hannah and Samuel in such a way that it impacted us to our core. Hannah prayed for Samuel, and the Lord answered her. Samuel grew up to be such a mighty prophet as “none of his words fell to the ground.” (1 Samuel 3). Pastor Lonnie shared that Samuel was born for his time because of how far his people, the Israelites, were straying from God at all societal levels. In the same way, Eliana Grace, and other babies, are being born for a time such as this, as we see our nation and so many others continue to fall away further from God. Babies like Eliana Grace can grow up to be like Samuel, to be mighty people of God that help the masses walk with the Lord.
Our last few weeks before coming back to Costa Rica were quite special. One thing that we are deeply grateful for is a group of friends who moved our stuff into the new house before we came back, relieving us of that burden. They went above and beyond, serving us and loving us of their own accord. We now find ourselves unpacking, cleaning, tidying up the house and doing all the other necessary errands and tasks associated with becoming accustomed back to the Pura Vida, now with Eliana Grace.
Although we recently returned, we do have some exciting news to share….
Firstly, I (Christopher) have had some interesting and fruitful conversations with a few other young adult men. Our first year in Costa Rica, we were part of a local church called Iglesia El Lugar, and now we are living in the same neighborhood within walking distance to the church again. On Sunday, we congregated with them and I had a few different conversations concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit and pornography. One young man asked to meet with me so I can talk to him about my book, The Truth About Porn, with the hope of helping him overcome his struggle. Another young man asked to talk with me about the operation of the Holy Spirit and the gifts, as his theology has shifted over the years concerning that topic and he is open-minded to learning more about it. I am excited for these edifying opportunities, as they are fellow young men I have found to love Jesus and sharpen me.
Concerning my book, it has been translated into Bahasa Indonesian and is in the final stages of being edited! Once it is edited and published, it will be distributed through Teen Challenge Ministries first in prisons, then with the hope of eventually making it into schools! It has been humbling to see how God has opened the door for the book to impact people across the world that I had no idea nor intention of necessarily reaching with the message of the book. Praise God!
One testimony concerning the book really touched my heart. One of the local Indonesian mothers who work with Teen Challenge read the book with her 13 year old son. He was so moved and excited to be talking about the topic of pornography that he began talking about it at school with his friends and bringing them over so that they could also read it with his mom. I may never meet these people, but I am grateful to God that the book can be a tool to help a group of young Indonesian boys bring awareness to this topic, stay away and free from pornography, and to live a life pleasing to God.
Lastly, we had an activity in La Sabana park with the youth and young adults of La Carpio on Monday (as seen in the featured photo), along with a mission team from the USA. In total, 15 youth / young adults went, as many of them have still not started vacation. Nonetheless, it was a fruitful time, as I got to reconnect with them, have some 1-1 conversations with disciples of Jesus, and continue to invest in their relationship with the Lord. Yesterday was a great reminder as to why we came back to Costa Rica and why we are continuing to serve in La Carpio.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. We have some exciting news and other ways in which you can be involved in the mission in La Carpio that we will share in the upcoming weeks and months, so certainly be on the lookout for those emails!
Grace and peace be to you all from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer Requests
- Reconciliation among Christians in La Carpio and leaders in the ministry.
- Reconciliation with a few of the young adults.
- Wisdom as we evaluate how and what ministry looks like with the three of us going forward.
- Clarity as to what else God has for us, as Hannah and I sense that there is at least one more thing He has in store for our time in Costa Rica.
- Spiritual Emphasis Week. I (Christopher) will be teaching for 5 days to fellow missionaries who are studying at ILE (The Spanish Language Institute), where Hannah and I learned Spanish.
Praise Reports
- Our arrival was very smooth, as we were praying to God for that, and He answered.
- Eliana has handled the transition well, from the flight to living in a new environment.
- Opportunities to minister to others inside and outside La Carpio.
- God working through The Truth About Porn abroad.