In just a few short months we will be working in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispañola with Haiti, which most of you know just had a severe earthquake with tragic loss of lives some estimate to be in the hundreds of thousands. Our coworkers in the DR are responding since they are closest to the scene. We have been instructed to direct anyone who wants to help to either email at
haitiresponse@imb.org or go to the Haiti relief link on right hand side of page under "ministry links" for information or if you would like to give money to help. Every penny that goes to BGR and designated for Haiti can only be used for ministry there, and cannot be used for administrative purposes or lodging, meals, etc. for personnel- so I don't think there is a better place to give knowing your dollar will be used in the most effective manner possible. Kerri and I personally are giving through BGR as well. Please consider giving even if only a small amount and direct anyone else wanting to give to this site as well. In tragedies like this, there are usually more oportunities to share the Gospel of Christ and more response to the Gospel than any other time. Please pray for ministry opportunities there and that many may come to know Christ through this tragedy.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Beginning of the End
As we wrap up our time here in Costa Rica with our last trimester in language school, we are trying to see a few things here that we've been wanting to see. We realize we may never be back in Costa Rica again, and God has placed so much of His beauty here, that we want to be sure and see some of that before we leave. This past weekend, we rented a car for the day and went just a few miles outside of San Jose and saw a few things in Orosi Valley in the Cartago Province. Here are a few of the pics.
The ruins of an old church built in the 1500's.
The National (Catholic) Basilica in Cartago- about 30 minutes outside San Jose
You can see people in these pictures crawling on their knees to the front of the Church. There's a statue up front of the black Madonna, or "La Negrita" as they call her here. People believe that if they crawl on their knees to the front of the Basilica, the Madonna will show special favor on them. This shows a little of the kinds of barriers there are to cross when sharing the Gospel in other cultures. It was a heart-breaking scene, the feeling in the church was very cold. Our hearts desire is the teach the truth of God's Word... this is the way many Latin Cultures believe and worship.
Nothing you wouldn't see in Mississippi, except people were walking down the street as well and not a soul thinking twice about a bull sharing the road with them. Just looked funny at the time.
Some of God's beauty I was referring to earlier. This was the view from our table at a little cafe where we ate.
This was the playground outside the cafe- probably not the world's safest equipment, but the girls enjoyed it nonetheless.
As I said before, the equipment may not have been the safest, but this playground has got to have one of the best views in Costa Rica, if not the world!
We also discovered a little trout farm up a mountain road where we actually had to cross a creek to get there. It had a beautiful view, and you can catch your own fish and have them prepare it however you like. We didn't do it this time, but definitely plan on going back.
This is called "La casa del soñador" or "The Dreamer's house"- It was built by Macedonio Quesada, a world famous Tico wood carver who died in the mid 90's. It now houses a workshop run by his sons and displays their works of art. As you can see, the house itself is a work of art. Neat place to visit.
Please pray for us as we start our last trimester of school, that we will be able to understand and be understood well enough to be effective in sharing the gospel. We head to the Dominican Republic in April, only 3 months away.
The ruins of an old church built in the 1500's.
The National (Catholic) Basilica in Cartago- about 30 minutes outside San Jose
You can see people in these pictures crawling on their knees to the front of the Church. There's a statue up front of the black Madonna, or "La Negrita" as they call her here. People believe that if they crawl on their knees to the front of the Basilica, the Madonna will show special favor on them. This shows a little of the kinds of barriers there are to cross when sharing the Gospel in other cultures. It was a heart-breaking scene, the feeling in the church was very cold. Our hearts desire is the teach the truth of God's Word... this is the way many Latin Cultures believe and worship.
Nothing you wouldn't see in Mississippi, except people were walking down the street as well and not a soul thinking twice about a bull sharing the road with them. Just looked funny at the time.
Some of God's beauty I was referring to earlier. This was the view from our table at a little cafe where we ate.
This was the playground outside the cafe- probably not the world's safest equipment, but the girls enjoyed it nonetheless.
As I said before, the equipment may not have been the safest, but this playground has got to have one of the best views in Costa Rica, if not the world!
We also discovered a little trout farm up a mountain road where we actually had to cross a creek to get there. It had a beautiful view, and you can catch your own fish and have them prepare it however you like. We didn't do it this time, but definitely plan on going back.
This is called "La casa del soñador" or "The Dreamer's house"- It was built by Macedonio Quesada, a world famous Tico wood carver who died in the mid 90's. It now houses a workshop run by his sons and displays their works of art. As you can see, the house itself is a work of art. Neat place to visit.
Please pray for us as we start our last trimester of school, that we will be able to understand and be understood well enough to be effective in sharing the gospel. We head to the Dominican Republic in April, only 3 months away.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas Time!
New Christmas outfits that aunt Amy made
Taylor trying to put a bow in her hair...eh, on her head, anyway :)
Opening gifts with Maw-Maw and Dop
fireplace at Ram Luna, a restaurant overlooking San Jose
Girls in their new rocking chairs that ah-ma and ah-pa Holley bought for them
Mom's new haircut
Beautiful view from a restaurant overlooking San Jose
Our trip to Volcano Arenal with Maw-Maw and Dop (Dewett)
Friend we met on the road going around Lake Arenal (he's kin to a racoon)
Christmas Dresses (thanks uncle william and aunt darlene)
Kamryn Loving on Taylor after they got into the diapers
Watching fireworks in amazement
Merry CHRISTmas! We enjoyed spending time with Maw-Maw and Dop over the past week and a half: we went to visit volcano arenal, opened presents, ate at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the city and did lots of shopping. We miss you guys already!
We hope that you had a great Jesus-filled CHRISTmas! Although we didn't have family here to celebrate (on Christmas Day) with us, we were able to celebrate with other missionaries and had a great time. We want to thank you for your support of the Lottie Moon Christmas offering that allows us to be here... and allows people all over the world a chance to hear the gospel message. Please pray about giving (at any SBC church) if you haven't already done so.
Check back in a few days for some more pics.
Taylor trying to put a bow in her hair...eh, on her head, anyway :)
Opening gifts with Maw-Maw and Dop
fireplace at Ram Luna, a restaurant overlooking San Jose
Girls in their new rocking chairs that ah-ma and ah-pa Holley bought for them
Mom's new haircut
Beautiful view from a restaurant overlooking San Jose
Our trip to Volcano Arenal with Maw-Maw and Dop (Dewett)
Friend we met on the road going around Lake Arenal (he's kin to a racoon)
Christmas Dresses (thanks uncle william and aunt darlene)
Kamryn Loving on Taylor after they got into the diapers
Watching fireworks in amazement
Merry CHRISTmas! We enjoyed spending time with Maw-Maw and Dop over the past week and a half: we went to visit volcano arenal, opened presents, ate at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the city and did lots of shopping. We miss you guys already!
We hope that you had a great Jesus-filled CHRISTmas! Although we didn't have family here to celebrate (on Christmas Day) with us, we were able to celebrate with other missionaries and had a great time. We want to thank you for your support of the Lottie Moon Christmas offering that allows us to be here... and allows people all over the world a chance to hear the gospel message. Please pray about giving (at any SBC church) if you haven't already done so.
Check back in a few days for some more pics.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Kamryn giving thanks
Taylor says thank you as well, but we couldn't get her to do it on camera. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Giving Thanks!
As you celebrate Thanksgiving in the states, remember to take time to enjoy being with family and friends, but remember to first take time thanking God for all He's done this year. We have so much to be thankful for! Here in Costa Rica, of course, Thanksgiving is not celebrated since it is an American Holiday. We will be getting together with other missionaries to celebrate tomorrow evening, but during the day we'll be in school just like any other day.
We're thankful for the support you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, which has allowed us to come to the mission field. Of course we'll miss being with family and friends in the States during this special season, but we know that we are where God wants us.
Kerri remains involved in her weekly Bible study, and is rotating teaching with some other ladies. Please continue to pray for these ladies attending, sometimes these ladies don't have the money for food, clothes or housing... but most importantly these ladies have a need for a relationship with our Savior. Please pray that God would continually draw them to Himself through this study and that God will meet their physical needs as well.
I am involved in a Bible study as well, and was supposed to have taught for my first time last night, but it was canceled. So next week, remember me on Tuesday night in your prayers as I teach for the first time as well as the family we're working with, because you know it has to be frustrating listening to a Gringo butcher their language.
We're posting some more pics of the girls as well as some recent weekend adventures. My (Ted) parents will be arriving here on December the 12th, so please keep them in your prayers as they travel. We can't wait!
Three Saturdays ago, 4 other missionary friends and I went on a 4-wheeler tour about an hour outside of town- great getaway for a half day!
Last weekend, I went hiking in the mountains outside of town with some other missionaries to a cross which can be seen atop one of the surrounding mountains on a clear day.
The girls are getting bigger and cuter all the time
We're thankful for the support you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, which has allowed us to come to the mission field. Of course we'll miss being with family and friends in the States during this special season, but we know that we are where God wants us.
Kerri remains involved in her weekly Bible study, and is rotating teaching with some other ladies. Please continue to pray for these ladies attending, sometimes these ladies don't have the money for food, clothes or housing... but most importantly these ladies have a need for a relationship with our Savior. Please pray that God would continually draw them to Himself through this study and that God will meet their physical needs as well.
I am involved in a Bible study as well, and was supposed to have taught for my first time last night, but it was canceled. So next week, remember me on Tuesday night in your prayers as I teach for the first time as well as the family we're working with, because you know it has to be frustrating listening to a Gringo butcher their language.
We're posting some more pics of the girls as well as some recent weekend adventures. My (Ted) parents will be arriving here on December the 12th, so please keep them in your prayers as they travel. We can't wait!
Three Saturdays ago, 4 other missionary friends and I went on a 4-wheeler tour about an hour outside of town- great getaway for a half day!
Last weekend, I went hiking in the mountains outside of town with some other missionaries to a cross which can be seen atop one of the surrounding mountains on a clear day.
The girls are getting bigger and cuter all the time
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Long Time, No Post!
Well, so many times it seems like we don't have many new or different things going on, so it's harder to update more regularly. I would like to take the time to say how proud I am of my wife for leading her first bible study this past week, in Spanish! After having a couple of weeks of nobody showing up, they finally have started getting some girls coming back. Please continue to pray for these young ladies and the girls leading the study as well.
The guard I was working with ended up getting a job elsewhere, so we're trying to reconnect with him, or find others to start with. Also keep this in your prayers as well.
The girls are still doing great and getting bigger all the time. We praise our God for protecting them from sickness and harm. They are both little monkeys who try to climb on everything. They love playing and laughing together. Taylor is standing, but doesn't seem in a hurry to walk just yet. Kamryn has started standing on her own without holding on to anything, but doesn't want to take steps just yet, either. We're not pushing them, because from what we understand, it's good for them to crawl for a while, so we'll let them do it when they get ready. They are doing so many things and seem to learn new stuff all the time.
We thank everyone for all your prayers and we also ask that you would pray for our houses in the states to close soon as well.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
milestones
As you can see, they are getting into EVERYTHING! They decided to help mom rearrange their closet here.
The girls are of course getting bigger and doing more all the time. They are on the verge of walking, and Kamryn has even taken a step a couple of times. Taylor is now working on her 7th tooth and Kamryn barely has one that has come through. All the Costa Ricans comment on how much hair Kamryn has while Taylor has none, so we usually respond that Taylor has all the teeth and Kamryn all the hair. They get lots of attention, I guess because of a combination of things: they're babies, they're twins, and they have bright blue eyes. I know everyone loves babies, but it is amazing to see how much Ticos adore them. They will literally roll the car windows down sometimes and hang out the window as we're walking by at a redlight just to look at the babies. I even had a bus driver turn the bus at an angle in the road and stop traffic so I could cross with the girls in their stroller! It's almost comical how they just love babies.
All is well in the health department, except that Taylor has a slight ear infection, so pray that will go away. Other prayer matters include: 1)The sale of our homes in the States. They've both been lease-purchased, so now the purchases need to be completed, which is looking pretty dim on one house. 2)Also, Kerri will be teaching a Bible study in Spanish for the first time a week from Tuesday! That's exciting and scary for her, but I know she'll do a great job. Pray the girls will show up and be ready to receive the Word. 3)A friend and I have been trying to start a Bible study with one of the street guards here, but so far he's only shown up for one study. Pray for wisdom for us whether to pursue this or try to start somewhere else. I think Ticos sometimes would rather just say they're coming so they don't hurt your feelings. 4)Lastly, please pray for our understanding and communication of the Spanish language. Going in, I think we were naive about how difficult it would be. Thanks for keeping up with us and we treasure your prayers and support.
The girls are of course getting bigger and doing more all the time. They are on the verge of walking, and Kamryn has even taken a step a couple of times. Taylor is now working on her 7th tooth and Kamryn barely has one that has come through. All the Costa Ricans comment on how much hair Kamryn has while Taylor has none, so we usually respond that Taylor has all the teeth and Kamryn all the hair. They get lots of attention, I guess because of a combination of things: they're babies, they're twins, and they have bright blue eyes. I know everyone loves babies, but it is amazing to see how much Ticos adore them. They will literally roll the car windows down sometimes and hang out the window as we're walking by at a redlight just to look at the babies. I even had a bus driver turn the bus at an angle in the road and stop traffic so I could cross with the girls in their stroller! It's almost comical how they just love babies.
All is well in the health department, except that Taylor has a slight ear infection, so pray that will go away. Other prayer matters include: 1)The sale of our homes in the States. They've both been lease-purchased, so now the purchases need to be completed, which is looking pretty dim on one house. 2)Also, Kerri will be teaching a Bible study in Spanish for the first time a week from Tuesday! That's exciting and scary for her, but I know she'll do a great job. Pray the girls will show up and be ready to receive the Word. 3)A friend and I have been trying to start a Bible study with one of the street guards here, but so far he's only shown up for one study. Pray for wisdom for us whether to pursue this or try to start somewhere else. I think Ticos sometimes would rather just say they're coming so they don't hurt your feelings. 4)Lastly, please pray for our understanding and communication of the Spanish language. Going in, I think we were naive about how difficult it would be. Thanks for keeping up with us and we treasure your prayers and support.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)