CLFCR - West Valley Bible Church

Christian Light Foundation Costa Rica

Evangelism and Discipleship

Together in the joy of the Lord

Monday, April 12

A few highlights of the week ... not commented on before. La Finca Sunday night bonfire and smore making. Marshmallows sticks were cut by the youth leaders from trees around the area. They stationed themselves along side a long line of kids and grown-ups (a total of approximately 150) and also distributed the marshmallows and cookies half covered in chocolate ... keeping quiet order. The bonfire was huge so patience was required before they could get close enough to roast the marshmallows. Several leaders kept the gathering crowd around the fire from getting too close. The team served themselves after every one else was satisfied. What discipline!

Ariel, the young developing Bible teacher and church assistant leader to Pastor Rogelio, came to help at La Finca during the week on his bicycle ... an hour long ride on roads loaded with traffic and people. We never heard a complaint and he worked hard with a smile ... knowing he was serving God.

We were told that Fabiana (youth leader since she was 11) will graduate from High School this coming December. She will be the first to do so. This is worth recognition and we will look forward to see what will be planned. The Tutoring Center will be used for tutoring to help future Fabiana's get through school. We also will pray that children tutored will be used mightily by the Lord.

Side conversations ... early mornings, late evenings and during driving times to various locations are always special. Especially when Mark is in the mix. Learning experiences facing the reality of living as a follower of Christ without putting self first. Mark, Meg and Melinda are models of self sacrifice while focusing on loving others. Loving God and loving others. The wings on an eagle needed to soar. Mariana and Valeria have great guides as Mark and Meg now have parental guardianship for their lives.

Veronica has been with Mark since the start of the mission. She is extremely gifted and willing to take on any assignment she is given. We saw her leading her peers this week. Quietly and effectively ... and modestly, bowing her head when complemented. The 17 or 18 leaders at Los Guido all demonstrate fruit of the Spirit qualities ... they know the God they are serving.

This morning Larry, Mark and I made a trip to Los Guido to take care of some construction things that will take place this week in La Finca. We met Rogelio. Business only took a few minutes. Then we got into a discussion about Jesus and compared the sermons delivered at Tejarcillos and Los Guido yesterday. A great time in the Lord as similarities were seen. Even though they had not discussed the sermons before.

We mention a few of these people because so you can pray for them by name.

John 10:10

Sunday, April 11

Early breakfast. Devotion from the book of James by Greg. Off to La Carpio which is the area built on a garbage dump near the airport. This time we didn't follow garbage trucks since it was Sunday. But, instead, the first few blocks at the entrance are the community market place and the streets were jammed with people. Mark drove 8 leaders from Los Guido and went ahead of us very slowly through the crowds while our 3 teams followed in the bus assigned this week. The roads become worse to almost impossible to navigate. Finally, we park at Juan's home and he and Corey, the bus driver, stay to guard them.

We walk a distance into an area less traveled by the mission team and hand out candy and balloons to a growing group of children following us. At a little stand selling bananas, Hugo buys 40 for $2 and enjoys handing them to kids who instantly devour them. At this intersection Marks places the youth leader team into 3 groups and the kids gather as they sit in circles on the road. The gospel is presented using The Bridge which is passed out with pencils and the presentation is made as the kids fill in the blanks as the 12 verses are shared. The attention by those hearing can't be described for it is only God who could quiet them for this length of time. You can read these words and try to place yourself here, but even when you are here it is very hard to explain. The leaders gathered names of those who gave their lives to Jesus and those who wanted to learn more. While this was going on, Armando, caretaker for La Finca as well as La Carpio discipler, presented.Jesus to the owner of the banana stand. Hugo, who speaks fluent Spanish also becomes involved as he buys bananas. We took a circular route back to Juan's home by going down to the river. One careful step at a time to avoid all the sewage on steep uphill and downhill pathways. We walk along the river's edge until we reached a bridge that a few of the most daring of our team members walk across.

Then back to the Mission House for a quick lunch and off to La Finca. Time to greet old friends, make new friends and play ... soccer, disc toss, helicopter slinging, tennis ball toss and other local things like kick-ball. When it's time to gather for the church the youth leaders go into action ...they sing as a group, act as greeters (pass out song sheets), serve coffee during the greeting time, set up the sound system, act as ushers for late comers and this day maintain control as the crowd lines up for dinner which is served outside. They were easy to see since they wore their bright yellow shirts given to them the night before.

Mark delivered the sermon based on questions raised by the church members about the series he preached recently on heaven. Today, the heart of the sermon deals with can a person truly say he, or she, is saved if their life does not reflect change in the things they previously did as part of the world?. He asked, "Can you say you come here with the Spirit in you on Sunday and then on Monday and Tuesday leave the Spirit home as you go back into your old life?" Several passages made it clear that this is impossible and the person does not really know who Jesus is and the requirement of the believer as he lives out life in the Spirit.

This is not the end of the day and there are a few more things to be said about specific people. So we will write an addition that will include a few Monday moments as well.

Saturday, April 10

No rain since we came, even though we had several very cloudy afternoons. No Internet access yesterday. But, things are normal here. The roads are jammed with cars, trucks motorcycles, more bicycles than ever, and government subsidized buses everywhere. Nevertheless, we kept our travel schedule pretty much on time. If you have been here, I know you are smiling now.

The vision for the ministry at La Finca moved a small step forward to becoming a reality by the huge effort of the teams that have been here over the past 10 days. The pictures on the La Finca webpage are worth a couple pages of words on this blog, so look there, and also read the blogs of the other churches that are a part of our team this week.

Today we engaged with the youth at La Finca even though some work needed to be completed during the morning. It was wonderful to see, hug and be with the kids we have come to know from our many previous trips. Not being able to speak Spanish, however, is a handicap for true communication. All the group gatherings were translated and that was special. Especially the evening when Veronica put together the program which included singing, a mime production and three of the young girls gave their testimonies. Veronica and Valeria together delivered a well thought out devotional. Toward the end, Mark asked if we had questions and the question and answer time became quite heart rendering.

Oh, I can't leave out the slip and slide fun. One of the men from Compass and a little guy from Los Guido took a long run and slide way over the tarp. It was decided that a new world record for Los Guido slip and slide was established. A partner balloon toss left many wet clothes, including mine.

Thursday, April 8

Through Thursday we have not been served any rice or beans. Instead, we have had very special and delicious meals ... Costa Rican recipes, of course. The morning devotion, after another tasty breakfast, Doug from Compass Church led the devotion time by sharing his testimony. The Lord became real and he and his wife drew closer together after they could not have their own children. The Lord led them to seek adoption and after several years, much prayer, they did adopt a baby boy from China. Doug shared openly and with much emotion and the Lord touched us all through him.

We went to La Finca to continue our work at the places assigned the prior day ... except now we were short 23 young people who headed home ...their work was done,butt the memories of the mission will linger on. At about 3 p.m. a nearby lightning strike closed off the work portion of our day. More time for showers and resting our aching backs.

Then another tempting dinner. Pastor Rogelio from Tejarcillos shared his testimony with Mark translating. His wife Neris and 3 of his 4 children were also present. Afterward, Rogelio answered many questions about ministering in this dangerous and very difficult community. We all gathered around Rogelio and his family and many prayed for them. A great privilege for us. A wonderful day of knowing people better.

Wednesday, April 7

We arrives at the Mission House last night at 10 p.m. Right on schedule

Today we gathered for breakfast with four teams from Illinois, Georgia and Arizona. The largest was the Georgia team...a total of 23 almost all teenagers. So, it was only appropriate for both the morning and evening devotions to be centered on them. Steve, Pastor of Adults at Compass Church in Naperville, Illinois focused on the first chapter of Daniel with a challenge to a believer's life as strong as his, as a teenager, when taken captive to Babylon. Steve emphasized knowing and applying the Word of God to life. He said that Jewish children had memorized the Torah by the time they were 12 years old. A great thought for the need to know Scripture before living it out.

We spent our day at La Finca painting the home of the caretaker which is part of the huge construction project with the center being the gymnasium type building...a Community Center which will be used for tutoring, daily feeding of 500 and a safe haven for games, etc. Over 8,000 square feet. The youth had an exhausting day digging back a hill at one side of the building so they could trench it out for the foundation, hauling concrete and also helping an adult team making rebar for the foundation pouring. Other adults worked on electrical and roof modifications for the new washrooms.

After a wonderful evening meal, Mark led the devotion which challenged us to go among the wolves (unbelievers), by trusting God, believing He can still do the impossible and will be with us no matter how dangerous the wolves may be. He used recent experiences with where people feared to go to...the most dangerous area of Costa Rica.

West Valley Bible Church

Surprise, AZ April 6-13, 2010