Day: February 12, 2013

Monday January 21

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Monday

January 21, 2013

This was our first day in of direct ministry; we went to a church know as the “Iglesia Verde” (the green church). There were three teams: Medical, Children, and Pastoral (myself). I get along very well with the bus driver named Milton. Since I had no translator appointed to help me, it was a bit intimidating to start talking to the people. Slowly I started by talking with the church people, a big difference is the youth. I made friend with a senior called Manuel, the level of communication was extremely basic. Thank God a few, especially among the young people were able to express in some English. So I hung around the seating area, prayed for the 3 evangelists; and gave a few Gospel tracts to children. Ruth was very busy with their first day of Children’s Ministry. It seems to have been a difficult day, because the whole team had to learn to work together; some dear ladies had enormous experience and the teenager had to learn to adapt very quickly. Not an easy period of time, but necessary. After God called each one of us to do “The Impossible”, so the Team had to learn a quick crash course on how to depend on God corporately. Now having the advantage of looking back, I have to admit that God did a super work in and through the Children’s Ministry team. I was able to give to the pastor a copy of the book  “The Stranger” written by John Cross translated into Spanish; he was obviously extremely happy. The medical team worked hard taking care of many patients. Without their work, I would have no people to minister to. It is a Team work, each one need one another.

Late that day we quit Cartago to got back to El Jardin Sagrado in Orosi Valley, about one hour bus ride. All of us were happy to have a meal waiting for us, after a long tiring day; but with so many blessings to share at Supper time. This first day of ministry in Costa Rica, I would not trade it for whatever in life!

Written from my Cozy calendar: Gave four Bibles, one book “The Stranger” to the Pastor, help three Evangelists how to use the Wordless Book. Kept a minimal level of conversation with some Christians. .

Trip to Costa Rica: Preparation

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Thursday
January 17, 2013
We left Cochrane to drive down to Ste. Catherine, ON where the Global Outreach Mission Office (GOM) is located. The weather was so bad, with wind factor it was -49C. I must add that my (23 year old car) heater rad was not functioning the best, it didn’t help. Only after two and half hours of driving did my windshield get cleared up completely. On my way, I became a bit discouraged with the difficult driving, almost to the point of turning back considering flying down instead. But the GOM office people needed our help to pack the medical stuff to be used down in Costa Rica. Finally when the sun showed up, the windshield defrosted quickly and completely, and the driving got way better.

Friday
January 18, 2013
After a good night’s sleep, we went to the GOM office to help pack all the supplies. There was a lot of work waiting for us! We packed in the morning, stopped for a pizza lunch, then continued packing for the rest of the afternoon. Many of the team members arrived near supper time and things really began to move! Finally we were all done and headed back to the dear couple’s home for a short night before the big day.

Saturday
January 19, 2013
Early we drove to Pearson Airport to catch our flight that would bring us to Costa Rica. What an exciting moment! We flew with TACA– Transportes Aéreos Centroamericanos (Central American Air Transport) now known as Avianca. It was a five and half hour flight with a stop to San Salvador, El Salvador. As the plane land down, God’s little voice seems to tell me that Gd cares deeply for those countries. El Savador, what a name for a country? That land was baptized by Spanish conquistadors as “Provincia De Nuestro Señor Jesucristo El Salvador Del Mundo” (“Province of Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Savior Of The World”), now abbreviated as “República de El Salvador”. After a brief stay we took our last flight that would bring us to our final destiny. There we packed all our belonging into a 28 seat minibus. Because the bagage were piled up on the roof, it reminded me so much of Africa. Unfortunately, Len lost one of his own bag with his personal belongings. On our way to the mission station, since it was getting very late, we stopped and invaded a small restaurant. The name of that establishment was “Pollo Del Monte”. A great little diner! There with the waiters I tried to express myself with the little Spanish I had; it was a fun experience. In some way Spanish is similar o French, but the pronunciation makes it so different. After a good meal with a lot of crazy times, we hit the raod again toward El Jardin Sagrado in the Orosi Valley. By night we didn’t see the beauty of that place; but in a few hours we would be out of breath. A beautiful valley surrounded by amazing mountains! Coffee plantations are all over the place.
I like how someone describes the place with its purpose: “Those who use the camp to enjoy the beautiful creation of God in this sanctuary of tropical flowers, fruit trees, mountains and rivers. Praise and worship with others or spend time alone with God in one of the ranches along the river. Located in the Valley of Orosi, the garden is a few miles from Cartago – and is a spiritual refuge from daily life in the city. The setting is perfect for retreats and Christian Camps!”

Sunday
January 20, 2013
My first Sunday in Costa Rica at El Jardin Sagrado. We did not go to a local church, but instead had a worship service on the campground. I had the privilege and joy of sharing the message and a devotion. A couple months earlier the Lord brought to my attention a couple messages that made a deep impact on my heart. I felt that it was the appropriate message to share with the Team. The main idea as that “God do not ask us to do Great things for Him, but IMPOSSIBLE things, so all the Glory would go back to Him alone.” Not long after a young translator came to ask me to teach him how to preach that way. This is so much the desire of my heart to reach young people who have a desire to serve God. There is also a brother from the Construction team who told me a few time how that teaching about “doing the impossible” stuck with him all along the time there in El Jarin Sagrado. To be used by God to bless other people is an amazing experience and privilege; yet at the same time I realized how unworthy I am. One of the leaders told me that I was sent by the Lord, because I was an encouragement to him.