He gave the best he had!

A young missionary dad who is a fellow student spoke in chapel recently. His family lives in a neighborhood that is frequented by people who come begging- individuals, families, often ladies with small children. Recently a lady with a small boy came to their gate asking for help. He and his three-year-old son went out to talk with them. As he and his wife gathered some rice, beans, a few diapers and other things for the family, the three-year-old went to his room and returned with his Spiderman, his favorite toy from Christmas to give to the young boy. Seeing this, his dad told him not to give his Spiderman but to go and select another toy. His son went to his room and returned with another toy. They gave the items to the lady, and his son gave the toy to the boy. He said the little boy's eyes sparkled like a child on Christmas morning when he received the toy. As Dad prayed with the lady, his son went back into the house. As he finished praying, he saw his son coming toward them with his Spiderman. It was too late to stop him. He approached the gate and passed his Spiderman through to the young boy on the other side. His dad told us, "My son gave the best that he had." What a testimony of a three-year-old to us all.
He gave the best he had!

It's a fact of life for a missionary...

Probably one of the most difficult things for any missionary to experience is the separation from family during special celebrations. We have experienced that fact during the past ten months we have been in Costa Rica.

In June, we sent greetings to a daughter and her husband on their first anniversary.
In July, we sent greetings to a daughter and her husband on their 5th anniversary.
In August, we sent greetings to our son on his 27th birthday.
In September, we sent greetings to a son-in-law on his 27th birthday.
In September, we also sent greetings to his wife, our daughter, on her 25th birthday.
In September, we celebrated David's birthday with visiting friends from the states.
In October, we celebrated my birthday with dinner at Friday's.
In November, we sent greetings to a son-in-law on his 22nd birthday.
In December, we sent greetings to a daughter and son-in-law on their 4th anniversary.

Now on February 25, we send greetings to our daughter on her 23rd birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Monday, we will send greetings to my mom on her 90th birthday.
In March, we will send greetings to a son-in-law on his 29th birthday.
In March, we will also send greetings to his wife, our daughter, on her 29th birthday.

And the cycle continues. How thankful we are for today's technology which allows us easy access to communicate with them and even "see" them!

Thanks for thinking of our family on their special days.

Friends...Forever Friends

Lilí, Charles and Salvador

New friends, Charles and Lilí, invited us to lunch at their home yesterday. They also invited, Salvador (the youth pastor at church) and his fiance Verónica, and Steve and Diane (from Maine and in language school with us, headed to Ecuador). We had a wonderful time together enjoying both a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship.

Charles' father was orginally from England and came to Costa Rica when he was 14. He was priviledged to work on the 1960 updated Versión Reina-Valera, similiar to the KJV Bible. He also completed the Spanish Concordance for the same version. We were able to hold copies of each.

The grandmother of Lilí searched for the truth. She purchased a copy of the Bible and began to read it. She told the priest, who ordered her to bring it to him and to do penance for reading it. This ocurred twice more before she was able to read enough and understand the Gospel and accept Christ as Savior. This time when the priest ordered her to give it to him, she told him that she had already given him three and he just needed to read one of them for himself. She and Lilí's family became leaders to help bring the Gospel, and ultimately a church, to their community. They married 9 years ago, following the death of their spouses.

What a priviledge to share fellowship with second generation believers who love the Lord and have served Him for many years...new forever friends.

David and Charles

Did she really mean that?

You remember David's telling the story of Jesus eating the 5,000? Well, today was Glynis' day. We were at our Nicaraguan Bible Study. They asked us about our work in Guatemala and the dangers there. Glynis told them that the greatest danger in Guatemala right now is --- she meant to say "pandillas" but instead she said "pañales." Our Nicaraguan friend looked at her with the strangest face. Glynis meant to say, "The greatest threat in Guatemala are the gangs" but instead she said, "The greatest threat in Guatemala are the diapers!!!" Yep, recalling some past diaper experiences when our kids were young, she just might be right!

One of our fellow students recently meant to say that the baby Jesus was "envuelto en paños" or wrapped in cloths. Instead, he said that Jesus was "envuelto en empanadas," meaning that Jesus was wrapped in a turnover-type pie, usually made with beans and/or meat. A little twist of the Biblical narrative, we would say!

Oh the challenges of language learning! This should give you cause to pray! We have just two more months to get it right.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This week I received a special gift in the mail. Every year we send our kids special valentine cards. Last year I included in Stephen's card and little "special" visual. Well this week in the mail I received a surprise from him...a very note with the same visual attached. I wore it proudly today letting everyone know that...I am loved.
Thanks Stephen, I smiled all day and thought of you. Happy valentine's to our other children...Miriam and Mike, Rebecca and David, and Deborah and Chris. We love each of you!



Tonight we pulled a little "gringo" memory maker and celebrated at Outback. Steak and a real baked potato...how delicious! You go make some special memories this weekend as well.

No, we haven't forgotten how to write

We really haven't forgotten how to write. We have just been working on our February prayer letter (which if you did not receive one and would like a copy, please post a comment with your address and we'll send it promptly). We have, of course, been doing our usual studying, studying, oh yeah, studying some more. Thanks so much for your prayers because sometimes I think, "I've got that." But please keep those prayers flying because that feeling doesn't come as often nor as strongly as I would like or need it to come.

Tomorrow is another big Friday. I remember those days from when I was teaching but I was on the other side back then. Tomorrow I have to present a Bible study in lenguaje and then we both have another grammar test which includes an oral section as well as the written section. I don't know what it is when that sweet young teacher calls my name...the fear factor grabs hold of my tongue and mind. Pray for victory tomorrow!

Next week is Spiritual Emphasis Week. Our special speaker is a missionary colleague from Guatemala. We are looking forward to receiving the Word from Jeff Thomas and to spending some time with him and his family. There will be no homework nor tests next week...but you know what that means the next week. But that week is a short week, only four days, and then there will be a special long weekend.

As you celebrate love with your special ones, remember the One who is the source of true love. There are so many who have never heard of the Ultimate Gift of Love from the Father which provides forgiveness for our sins. Pray they will hear and receive. Pray for those who share the message, those who water, and those who reap the harvest.

Happy celebration of love!