God's Grace...His Glory!

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever, Amen."1 Peter 4:10-11

It is amazing to be used by our Lord! We do not write to boast of ourselves but in the great and mighty things that our Jesus is doing. Our call to Costa Rica is to disciple, but when we allow God to govern our hearts, we are transformed; and He does more beyond what we could imagine.

God has opened many doors in ministering to others through our home, car, gifts, and talents that He has so graciously bestowed upon us. Our home is located to the International Airport, downtown, and the top private hospitals. We have seen that God can take our home, and convert it into a refuge for some that need rest, encouragement, and a place to stay. We ourselves, have been refreshed, encouraged, and experienced the joy of serving others when in times we might be tired or busy. But, it is those times when God supplies the ability to minister to others.

This year we have had Paula from Calvary Chapel New Jersey and her mentor, Maggie, stay at our home as they visited the 5 other Calvary Chapels throughout Costa Rica. Paula has a heart for Costa Rica and our home was a base for them to stay between church visits. They stayed for two weeks and showered us with encouragement! Also, a couple weeks ago our friends Matt & Brooke needed to go to the hospital for Brooke's recovery of  treatments for a tumor. They serve in Calvary Chapel Tamarindo, about 5 hours away from us, so they came for the weekend to attend their appointment.

Through opening our home in such a way, we have met many missionaries passing through Costa Rica. Many times we meet them for the first time at the airport as we hold up a sign with their names. Each time, we are in awe of God and His plans and purposes that we do not know of, but we desire to walk in the works He has prepared in advance for us! Even our dear friends, Phil and Rebecca, stayed in our home with their three precious children for a week as they prepared for the birth of their new baby at the nearest hospital. They are church planting Calvary Chapel Tamarindo.



Paula to my left ,visit at Pastor Jose's house
wife, daughters, & friend Luis. Clavary Chapel Sela, Heredia

Eating breakfast in our home, Maggie

We do not have a huge house, but what we have we want to give it to the service of  Christ. We decided not to let time, gas, money, be an obstacle. We would miss seeing God's provision and blessings if we let such  obstacles stand in our way.



Vic and Phillip playing in the yard, Phillip pastor
of Clavary Chapel Tamarindo



At the hospital with newborn Baby
Ezra, brothers, Ezekiel, Elijah, & Eden
( Pastor Phil' & Rebecca's Children)



Calvary Chapel Downey's Youth

 Calvary Chapel Downey's youth was here during Easter break as they did evangelizing, community outreaches, work projects, and a youth day with the youth from Calvary Chapel , Sela ( Our home church here) Many people got saved from street evangelizing, and many others came back to the Lord. It was an opportunity for the groups to step out of comfort zones and let the spirit of God call many to the mission field.

With much excitement we await the arrival of Christina Lopez, Scott Cunningham's assistant at the CC Costa Mesa School of  Worship. A dear friend of ours. She will be here for two weeks at the end of May, and praying over different ministry opportunities. Also, Natalie Baugh from CCEA will be here for a couple month's serving at the School of Discipleship and our church here. A group from CCEA ( our home church) will be here in July & a group in August from Surprise Calvary Chapel, Arizona. Please pray for these times and people.

Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and for trusting in God's work here in Costa Rica. We could not do it without your important part of God's work here with us. Muchas Gracias, and as they say in Costa Rica... PURA VIDA we say IN JESUS!!!  blessings and grace.