Jesus is our Sabbath, Jesus es nuestro reposo

 

Friday, Christmas Eve a.k.a. 

I'm faking it

“Noche Buena”, is the main day of Christmas celebration in Costa Rica.  The tradition is that around Christmas time you give tamales to those whom you sincerely care for.  We were blessed to have received tamales from our next door neighbors who we’ve been building relationships with.  In the spirit of this tradition we went on to pass out tamales in the town plaza to the less fortunate and homeless.  We came across a man that refused to talk to us and was covering himself with a cardboard box as he slept on the sidewalk next to the highway.  We gave him one anyway in hopes that when he came out of his drunken state he would see the tamale and somehow remember and the Lord would use it to speak to his heart. As we continued on in the town, how humbling it was to speak to a one-legged man that begs everyday on the streets and another man with a severe speech impediment, shriveled hand, and crippled leg ask us “¿porque me hizo Dios asi?”, “why did God make me this way?”  Lord willing we will be able to continue to minister to this gentleman as he makes his daily trip to the bus station.

Darwins Peruvian dinner

In honor of the countries tradition we had a big dinner with friends at our house.  Darwin prepared a typical Peruvian dish that was delicious.  It had pork rib, cassava, white rice, and “Russian salad” (potato salad with beets).  We topped of the night with our own small fireworks show, (also a tradition here for Christmas eve, I can’t imagine what new year’s eve will be like) an unplanned worship session right outside our front gate, and casual conversation with our neighbors.  Unlike in America it is very common for people to be in front of their houses hanging out and talking to their neighbors.  It is a very relaxed and social setting, very beautiful!  We had a truly blessed night.

At Williams house

We spent Christmas night at a missionary friends' house.  William  has a semi secluded house up in the mountains where again we were able to set off fireworks.  We had dinner with some other brothers and sisters from Williams church.   It was a good time of fellowship and meeting new people.  

Me writhing in and Darwin hard at work

They're almost done!

Monday was an interesting day.  We had the great opportunity to lay the gravel and sand for what will be the floor for Calvary Chapel San Isidro.  We had a few yards of gravel and sand to move from the front of the house to the back where the church building is.  We used short handled shovels and shallow wheelbarrows with solid rubber tires.  Unfortunately, about 30 minutes into the process I threw my back out while shoveling gravel into a wheelbarrow.  I had a kink in my back the night before and my inattentive shoveling put it over the top.  I went home early and simply laid in bed and prayed.  At first I was really frustrated with myself because I let this happen even though I learned in the past how to avoid back injuries while working construction, but then I remembered that this incident didn't escape the Lords eye. I don't know what the Lord is going to do with all this but like the disciples should have remembered while they were on that stormy sea with Jesus, I need to remember that the Lord is in absolute control.  

As a reward for the guys hard work we got to go to a river up in the mountains that was unlike anything I've ever been to.  It was a time that I desired to share with so many people like the kids from CCHS youth group and my parents, brothers, sisters, and friends.  The Lord has truly blessed us here in so many ways!  The coldness of the river helped my back loosen up and we got to enjoy swimming up and down the river as we got hit from above by a warm rainfall. What a blessing!

view from the bridge

Enjoying the river

Left to right; Darwin, Gabo, Sosi, Joel, Curtis

I've been thinking a lot about reaching out to people here and how intimidating it can be, when the Lord shared with me a simple truth in the book of Mark.  In Mark 4:26-29 Jesus tells the parable of the growing seed where a man plants a seed only to find it fully grown the next day.  Puzzled by how quickly it grew he goes on to harvest it.  The Lord showed me the simple truth that it is He who does the work in peoples hearts, who readies them for salvation and it is our job to step out and harvest the ripe crop.  We go and share His word and in turn check to see if they are ready to be harvested.  It is all in His timing and it is His work.  Thank you so much for your prayers, I will continue to pray for you all, that the Lord continue to bless you and your families! Grace and peace. 

View from the mountains