Buenas! We hope you are all enjoying the sweet and hot summer months with family and friends. We have lots to share with you as we are back into the swing of things and settled into our home.
Spiritual Emphasis Week at ILE! Christopher was blessed with the opportunity to lead a week of edification and encouragement, teaching a group of missionaries at the language institute we attended our first year in Costa Rica. He specifically taught on God's love, prayer, fasting, and unity among diversity. This week was full of practical lessons and hands-on learning to speak life and breathe into the minds of upcoming missionaries. Learning a new language is very taxing at times and comes with many challenges but we are grateful we had the opportunity to serve our fellow families in the faith this way. If you would like to listen to his teachings, the YouTube link is attached at the end of this post!
Something new that we started is a mixed Monday night bible study of both gringos (United States origin) and ticos (Costa Ricans)! We call it the “youngish” adults bible study as we have a few couples that join who are older. These Monday nights have been extremely life-giving as people share their testimonies, tears being shed and the word of God being taught. We love how authentic this group has been in participating so actively and with such sincere passion. Seeing young adults hungry for God and the love they have for His word is so refreshing and encouraging.
Tuesday nights we have jumped right back into breaking bread with other missionaries around us. We laugh, we eat, we answer difficult questions and we love on one another as we continue to fulfill the callings God placed on each of our lives. These Tuesday nights are such a blessing and truly refill our tanks.
Throughout this month many of our kiddos in La Carpio have been on vacation so we have taken advantage of having small groups of youth (both disciples and future-disciples) at the house. As usual, there is always food involved and a bible study. Our home is such a vital role and resource for ministry as we open our doors, being hospitable, and sharing Christ with those who enter! Whether it is making disciples or evangelizing to those who do not yet know Jesus, our home has been a blessed ministry tool. It is amazing to see how much deeper and fruitful the conversations are within the walls of our home. Hosting others in our home has also given me (Hannah) a time to serve as I have been ministering to Eliana predominantly as a mother during this time.
With regards to the youth in La Carpio, many of our youth that we have known for the past almost 3 years are now young adults, and we have a new group of teenagers who have joined the youth ministry, almost 20 newcomers in total. We are looking forward to seeing how many of these teenagers come to know Jesus and how they grow in the coming years. In a sense, it feels like starting all over again because of the new relationships we get to build with this new group of youth!
Unfortunately, on July 31st, there was another shooting in La Carpio. The effect on the community was quite evident through the wails of the people and the mayhem that ensued. A few days following the shooting, Christopher had the opportunity to evangelize to and pray over one of the gunshot victims, a 15 year-old minor who was shot 3 times and is still alive. Christopher spoke of following Christ and God giving second chances. As tears streamed down the family’s faces, Christopher prayed over this teenager.
Thank you all for your prayers as we have transitioned back onto the field with our newest family member, Eliana Grace. Your prayers of protection and strength during this time are greatly appreciated and felt as we remember this truth: “there is no distance in prayer.” Don’t ever hesitate to reach out as we love hearing from each of you! WhatsApp and email are our preferred and easiest ways to chat!
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp:
Christopher- +1 813 695-5795
Hannah- +506 7181-6969
Prayer Requests:
- For the 15 year old and his family to repent, love, and follow Jesus.
- For the youth and young adult disciples to stay strong and grow in their faith.
- For those who do not yet know Jesus in the ministry to have a life-changing experience and encounter with Him.
Praise Reports:
- The new group of youth who are now a part of the ministry ask deep questions and are open to hearing godly responses.
- After a year, we finally got our van back! While it is still not fixed, we hope to find another solution.
- Eliana has begun rolling over on her own! 😃
- Other personal stories with youth and young adults from La Carpio, missionaries from ILE, and testimonies from Monday night Bible studies; if you would like to hear some of those, shoot us an email / text!
Click here to listen to Christopher's Teachings for Spiritual Emphasis Week 2025.