December Update- He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8

(Jn 13:35)By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
This verse has been so alive for us this last year in Costa Rica through each of you their at CCEA and many of you from other churches, family & friends.It is amazing to be a part of a body where the love of God is transmitted, through prayers, emails, cards for Christmas, and tamale sales!! We are ever so grateful to our Lord for all of you who show us God's love and maybe you do not know us personally but knowing God He has put in your heart a love for His children and it is a beautiful picture of what Jesus said about Love.
December, we were able to do a Christmas dinner before the break for the students with the funds that were made at the garage sale. It was a night of fellowship, prayer, bible question games, and getting to know the students and their families a little better. It was a testimony of God's love & provision. Many here in Costa Rica are used to churches or ministries taking their money for what ever reason they can. And because of the garage sale it was a night that they could receive from God a great dinner, dessert without having to worry about paying.
We started out the evening with a slide show of pictures of the classes throughout the year, then had testimonies of what God did in the students during the classes, a time of prayer, and a delicious dinner of chicken breast, salad and baked potato. But the night did not end their, after pastor Rudy, Ricardo, Jose, & Victor each gave a little message. We then played a bible question game and gave out gifts for the winners. One lady gave a testimony of how she had prayed for this school and how thankful she was for us and our home church that allowed us to come to Costa Rica and do God's work. Another young man spoke about how he had always wanted to study at a seminary but never could because of the expensive cost,God had answered his prayers and allowed him this opportunity to prepare himself in the word. And we all left edified; (Pr 27:17) Iron sharpeneth Iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
And God's love does not stop their His heart is always ready to pour out love to the brokenhearted, those in captivity to sin, and a world without knowing Christ. The doors were opened for us to be able to help in "Gurari" a very poor, and dark place, but what better place for Jesus light to shine. It was a Christmas event, with lots of gifts for over 5oo children between the ages of months to 20's. Working along side with pastor Orlando who has a ministry their for doing bible studies, and feeding them once a week. Many of the children it is the only meal they get for the week. God really broke our hearts to see the conditions that these people and their children are in yet it was wonderful to see that God is working their through Orlando & Raul (a young man ministering to the youth in drugs, and prostituion) Raul wants to go to the School of ministry to be more equipped in the word. We helped set up before and spend time with some of the children who so anxiously waited for the celebration of Christmas, Jesus!
Serving our King, Victor& Nichol
( 1 Cor. 13:13) And now abide faith, hope,love,these three; but the greatest of these is love.