May Newsletter

“At the command of the LORD they camped,
and at the command of the LORD they set out…”
  Numbers 9:23

Last month we finished our term at Campamento Roblealto. What started out as a 1 year assignment lasted a year and ½ with many amazing stories of changed lives in the volunteers and staff, and in us, many opportunities to grow and learn how to serve in this new culture. It also has helped to refine our calling to disciple Latinos. While camp is a wonderful setting for this, the Lord’s hand is moving us on to something different.

As you all know our heart for camping ministry is what has brought us to Costa Rica. All we learned from Camp Barakel and  Campamento Roblealto has blessed us with the tools and experience to know how to host groups, to do One on One discipleship, lead small group Bible study and to serve. Also Noah’s pastor’s heart has become very evident since serving as camp chaplain and we believe these will all be crucial to our next step.

During this transition period Noah is serving at our church’s Christian school as a 4th substitute until July. This will give us time to explore what God has next for us here in Costa Rica.

We believe that at the command of the LORD we camped, and at the command of the LORD we are setting out on a new adventure, with our continued heart for missions and our calling to disciple Latinos. We are looking forward what God will do next with us in Costa Rica.  Would you pray with us that we would clearly hear what God has next for us?  We are grateful for your continued support through the United World Mission.

This and That

• Forrest was walking out the door this morning with an empty backpack.  No homework, and worse, no lunch...and I hadn't packed his lunch yet!  Mom fail.

• 17 days until our Florida Trip.  Yeah, we're just a wee bit excited over here

• This last weekend we had a retreat with our mission.  It was the last of the LAM retreats and several people came from the United World Mission headquarters.  There was even a couple that came from Cape Town, South Africa to give us a taste of what God is doing there.  Very cool.  It was good to meet some of the new faces now that we are with UWM.  Forrest at one point during the weekend said this was the "M" retreat, because there is an "M" in LAM and UWM.  That kid.

• Did I mention we are going to Florida?  Oh, sorry.

• We just might be getting some new neighbors!  Our landlady is building a new house next to ours and a friend from a Bible study I am a part of is looking for a house.  They have a 9 year old boy and are originally from Chicago.  It would be amazing if this actually works out!

• I think I am going to adopt Quinn's form of language learning.   His vocabulary is exploding right now and it's in part because he repeats all the time!  And if he hears anything in connection with another word he just learned he will talk about it.  Like this.  He learned how to say Happy Birthday to you.  No really.  The whole thing.  He says Happy Birthday to to.  I was reading him a book that said something about a birthday cake.  To which he said "Happy Birthday to to."  What?!  He also learned about airplanes this weekend (there were lots of planes flying over the place the retreat was at) All weekend he would say "Plane.  It's flying!"  Now he talks about the birds, "Bird, it's flying"

• There is a pile of laundry calling my name.  Bye.

Fresh Face

So, there have been some changes around this little corner of cyberspace.  If you are reading in a reader, click here so you can check out the new look.  Really, there some fun new photos you can't see in your reader.  Do it.

Ok, you're now at the actual blog?  Let me give you a little tour.

First, loo up.  Isn't the new banner cool?  Yeah, I thought you'd like it.

And see our new prayer card?  Nice huh?  As always my amazing sister did the design work. 

Next, did you see we are now offically United World Mission?  Yep, that happend January 1st, when the merger between LAM and UWM happend.  You can click on their spiffy logo and check out more about them.

Also, there is new information on our Support page, so make sure to check that out.  And lastly, there are a few new recipes