YWAM San Jose, Costa Rica Base Video
|
|
Donate now MEI account =A9030
|
September & October 2011
Becoming One :
“...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” ~Mark 10: 8-9
This is the verse we used when we got married 10 months ago. When we put it on all of our wedding invitations, announcements and date cards we had no idea what it would take to become one flesh. As we walk daily with God, growing and learning how to keep Him number one in our lives, we are daily challenged.
We have discovered that when we got married, there are all kinds of new experiences and many things we needed to purge in our lives in order to become one. We have had to learn how to care for one another’s needs 24/7. We have had to drown selfishness and greed and share everything we have. We have had to learn how to swallow our pride in times when the other was right and take it as teachable moments. We have had to learn how to have thick skin and a soft, teachable heart when joined together with a person who will be brutally honest when needed, out of love. We have had to learn that one’s culture is not better than the other, they are just different. We needed to learn how to love like crazy and overlook the little things that may have bothered us before. We needed to learn how to intensely care for the other, when they are in need of comfort and together wrestle with God’s word, learning to hear His voice. There have been times of sorrow and times of inexpressi- ble joy, times of uncontrollable laughter and times where the tears just need to flow. Together God has joined us for a purpose to become one in Him firstly, and then to become one with each other as husband and wife in vari- ous ways.
We have to be honest in saying it has not always been easy but, it has been worth it. Through the love that we have for each other, God has showed us more of himself and a little more of what His unconditional love looks and feels like. We are still in this process of learning daily what it is like to be married, but it is a joyful journey filled with twists and turns of growing excitement in not knowing what comes next, but the one thing that remains is God’s love for us and our love for Him and each other. In God, we are complete:)
New Students, New Beginnings:
“Behold, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.” ~ Isaiah 42:9
July 23rd marked the beginning of our new quarter here at YWAM San Jose in which students from all over the world come to seek God more and draw closer to Him. We have three schools running this quarter, which include, the Discipleship Training School (DTS) with it’s 19 students, the Bible Core Course (BCC) with it’s 8 students and lastly, the Foundations of Community Development School (FCD) with it’s 9 students. All of us here at YWAM are popping with excitement at what God is doing and going to do, the old is indeed gone and the new has indeed come. Isaac has the wonderful opportunity of staffing the FCD school where the stu- dents have come to develop their worldview, becoming equipped in order to bring transformation on a personal level and then learning how to transform a community towards God's intentions. Isaac has been facilitating class time, mentoring students, grading assignments and lifting both students and staff up during this school, to see them grow and become empowered by God to bring major change in the worlds most troubled areas. Heidi has once again stepped up to mentor some of the girls in the DTS while they learn who God is and grow in intimacy with Him. Heidi has the wonderful opportunity of seeing lives changed as each student learns how to gain a bib- lical foundation for life that will guide them in making decisions and how to be real representatives of Christ in this troubled world. It is so wonderful to see lives transformed by the power of God and to be able to walk alongside each student in the process. Please keep us in your prayers as it is always an intense process, as they see more of who Jesus is while being freed from past events, healed and made new. It is such an honor to be able to see people surrender, pray for others and grow ourselves as we seek God more and listen to the Holy Spirits leading. God has indeed been faithful in bringing those who are hungry and thirty for more of HimThe Bible Core Course:
While we both continue having the pleasure of speaking into the lives around us and staffing different school, we have been challenged to pursue further Bible training, as it is the tool we use for life and ministry. As mentioned above, our base here in San Jose offers the Bible Core Course which will run for three months from April 6th to June 29th, 2012, with the following objectives:
* We will read through all 66 books of the Bible, and come to know the structure and main ideas of each of them.
* We will inductively and intensively study 14 individual books in depth from the Old and New Testament. * We will discover the history, culture and society of biblical times to understand the background behind the
books and see how God has revealed himself through scripture. * We will learn and apply effective, creative and diverse methods for reading, observing, interpreting and
applying the scriptures while being involved in topical seminars, dramatic recreations, extensive re
search and bible studies. * We will be trained to effectively incorporate God's Word into teaching, evangelism and prayer in a creative,
Bible-centered way, to gain ministry skills and biblical understanding for future ministry. We have both applied to this school and were happily just accepted and now need to start raising support for
it. We need to raise $3300 in order for both of us to attend the school. We know that it seems like a lot but San Jose actually offers the cheapest fees compared with some other locations and is the only YWAM Bible training school in Costa Rica. The price includes both room and board, as we would need to live on the base during this school, books, school supplies and school costs. We pray that you will see the value in this training and ask if you would like to help us financially and prayerfully on this journey. We are also putting off our visit to the US so that we can hopefully participate in this school in April. Please keep us in your prayers.Prayer points:
* For our marriage to remain strong and protected. * For the chance to learn more of God’s word through the BCC and the finances in order to attend. * For health and energy, as we battle mold due to the tropical, rainy weather this time of year. * For Isaac’s US visa to come through in December. Praises: * Praising God for all of the people in our lives who keep us accountable and challenged * Praising God for the opportunity to serve and learn here at YWAM San Jose. * Praising God for his faithfulness and provision monthly to stay on the mission field. * Praising God for the plans he has for us, because they are indeed good!
Becoming One :
“...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” ~Mark 10: 8-9
This is the verse we used when we got married 10 months ago. When we put it on all of our wedding invitations, announcements and date cards we had no idea what it would take to become one flesh. As we walk daily with God, growing and learning how to keep Him number one in our lives, we are daily challenged.
We have discovered that when we got married, there are all kinds of new experiences and many things we needed to purge in our lives in order to become one. We have had to learn how to care for one another’s needs 24/7. We have had to drown selfishness and greed and share everything we have. We have had to learn how to swallow our pride in times when the other was right and take it as teachable moments. We have had to learn how to have thick skin and a soft, teachable heart when joined together with a person who will be brutally honest when needed, out of love. We have had to learn that one’s culture is not better than the other, they are just different. We needed to learn how to love like crazy and overlook the little things that may have bothered us before. We needed to learn how to intensely care for the other, when they are in need of comfort and together wrestle with God’s word, learning to hear His voice. There have been times of sorrow and times of inexpressi- ble joy, times of uncontrollable laughter and times where the tears just need to flow. Together God has joined us for a purpose to become one in Him firstly, and then to become one with each other as husband and wife in vari- ous ways.
We have to be honest in saying it has not always been easy but, it has been worth it. Through the love that we have for each other, God has showed us more of himself and a little more of what His unconditional love looks and feels like. We are still in this process of learning daily what it is like to be married, but it is a joyful journey filled with twists and turns of growing excitement in not knowing what comes next, but the one thing that remains is God’s love for us and our love for Him and each other. In God, we are complete:)
New Students, New Beginnings:
“Behold, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.” ~ Isaiah 42:9
July 23rd marked the beginning of our new quarter here at YWAM San Jose in which students from all over the world come to seek God more and draw closer to Him. We have three schools running this quarter, which include, the Discipleship Training School (DTS) with it’s 19 students, the Bible Core Course (BCC) with it’s 8 students and lastly, the Foundations of Community Development School (FCD) with it’s 9 students. All of us here at YWAM are popping with excitement at what God is doing and going to do, the old is indeed gone and the new has indeed come. Isaac has the wonderful opportunity of staffing the FCD school where the stu- dents have come to develop their worldview, becoming equipped in order to bring transformation on a personal level and then learning how to transform a community towards God's intentions. Isaac has been facilitating class time, mentoring students, grading assignments and lifting both students and staff up during this school, to see them grow and become empowered by God to bring major change in the worlds most troubled areas. Heidi has once again stepped up to mentor some of the girls in the DTS while they learn who God is and grow in intimacy with Him. Heidi has the wonderful opportunity of seeing lives changed as each student learns how to gain a bib- lical foundation for life that will guide them in making decisions and how to be real representatives of Christ in this troubled world. It is so wonderful to see lives transformed by the power of God and to be able to walk alongside each student in the process. Please keep us in your prayers as it is always an intense process, as they see more of who Jesus is while being freed from past events, healed and made new. It is such an honor to be able to see people surrender, pray for others and grow ourselves as we seek God more and listen to the Holy Spirits leading. God has indeed been faithful in bringing those who are hungry and thirty for more of HimThe Bible Core Course:
While we both continue having the pleasure of speaking into the lives around us and staffing different school, we have been challenged to pursue further Bible training, as it is the tool we use for life and ministry. As mentioned above, our base here in San Jose offers the Bible Core Course which will run for three months from April 6th to June 29th, 2012, with the following objectives:
* We will read through all 66 books of the Bible, and come to know the structure and main ideas of each of them.
* We will inductively and intensively study 14 individual books in depth from the Old and New Testament. * We will discover the history, culture and society of biblical times to understand the background behind the
books and see how God has revealed himself through scripture. * We will learn and apply effective, creative and diverse methods for reading, observing, interpreting and
applying the scriptures while being involved in topical seminars, dramatic recreations, extensive re
search and bible studies. * We will be trained to effectively incorporate God's Word into teaching, evangelism and prayer in a creative,
Bible-centered way, to gain ministry skills and biblical understanding for future ministry. We have both applied to this school and were happily just accepted and now need to start raising support for
it. We need to raise $3300 in order for both of us to attend the school. We know that it seems like a lot but San Jose actually offers the cheapest fees compared with some other locations and is the only YWAM Bible training school in Costa Rica. The price includes both room and board, as we would need to live on the base during this school, books, school supplies and school costs. We pray that you will see the value in this training and ask if you would like to help us financially and prayerfully on this journey. We are also putting off our visit to the US so that we can hopefully participate in this school in April. Please keep us in your prayers.Prayer points:
* For our marriage to remain strong and protected. * For the chance to learn more of God’s word through the BCC and the finances in order to attend. * For health and energy, as we battle mold due to the tropical, rainy weather this time of year. * For Isaac’s US visa to come through in December. Praises: * Praising God for all of the people in our lives who keep us accountable and challenged * Praising God for the opportunity to serve and learn here at YWAM San Jose. * Praising God for his faithfulness and provision monthly to stay on the mission field. * Praising God for the plans he has for us, because they are indeed good!
July/August 2011
Heidi's Children At Risk School Update
Imagine with me, being on a crowded, hot, loud bus with an odor of sweat, animals and foul liquids in the air. Now imagine looking at all the vendors coming on and off of the bus as you wait to leave, shouting at you with their products in hand. Finally imagine with me, looking out the window to three little girls as they wait for their mother to board the bus to beg with her disabled child on her shoulder, weeping, because they are hungry, seeing their knotted orange colored hair from malnutrition, their tethered clothing, shoeless feet and missing teeth. This is a typical day and typical scene at the boarder of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. As I sat on that bus during my visa renewal I saw just how much I had grown, I far I had come. Admittedly before when seeing the three little girls standing there and the disabled boy on his mothers shoulder, drooling, I would have just turned my head or closed my eyes but everything has changed now. For the past 6 weeks I have been attending the Children At Risk School. So many changes have come to my heart and my head as I learn the issues that put children at risk. The school has helped me go in-depth into what the bible says about injustice and how the world thinks. It has helped me realize that I cannot turn my head anymore or close my eyes to the injustices that I face daily.
Isaac and I pass this everyday in the streets of San Jose, the homeless, the prostitutes, the glue sniffers looking to relieve the pain of hunger. For me, loving them is more than just a kind act now and then but it is a change of heart. God loves these people and wants so badly for them to turn to him, he does not hate them, turn on them or beat them because they are poor, like the society around them, instead he calls them to him. If I want to be more like Jesus it makes sense that I need to do the same. We have had so many wonderful teachers come and share their lives and experiences with us while being attentive to the Holy Spirit and the needs of our eight student class. The different subjects have included Human Trafficking, Project Planning, Child Development, Street Children, Children with Special needs, Behavioral Issues in Children and many topics about working with the poor and community development with biblical perspectives. I can't help but feel sweetly broken and truly, just now, know what that really means. I can't help but be changed a little more for the sake of Christ, thanking Jesus every step of the way.
*On another note we would like to ask for prayer for something that punches us right it the gut. Our new neighbor, a 60 year old man, of one week, has been involved in some pretty immoral stuff which we hear and see from our apartment. We know Satan is trying to get us down by putting a man who does pretty much everything of what we just learned about in CRS around our home. We are praying hard for him to straighten up or just leave and are asking God for wisdom and for his life to also be changed.
Imagine with me, being on a crowded, hot, loud bus with an odor of sweat, animals and foul liquids in the air. Now imagine looking at all the vendors coming on and off of the bus as you wait to leave, shouting at you with their products in hand. Finally imagine with me, looking out the window to three little girls as they wait for their mother to board the bus to beg with her disabled child on her shoulder, weeping, because they are hungry, seeing their knotted orange colored hair from malnutrition, their tethered clothing, shoeless feet and missing teeth. This is a typical day and typical scene at the boarder of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. As I sat on that bus during my visa renewal I saw just how much I had grown, I far I had come. Admittedly before when seeing the three little girls standing there and the disabled boy on his mothers shoulder, drooling, I would have just turned my head or closed my eyes but everything has changed now. For the past 6 weeks I have been attending the Children At Risk School. So many changes have come to my heart and my head as I learn the issues that put children at risk. The school has helped me go in-depth into what the bible says about injustice and how the world thinks. It has helped me realize that I cannot turn my head anymore or close my eyes to the injustices that I face daily.
Isaac and I pass this everyday in the streets of San Jose, the homeless, the prostitutes, the glue sniffers looking to relieve the pain of hunger. For me, loving them is more than just a kind act now and then but it is a change of heart. God loves these people and wants so badly for them to turn to him, he does not hate them, turn on them or beat them because they are poor, like the society around them, instead he calls them to him. If I want to be more like Jesus it makes sense that I need to do the same. We have had so many wonderful teachers come and share their lives and experiences with us while being attentive to the Holy Spirit and the needs of our eight student class. The different subjects have included Human Trafficking, Project Planning, Child Development, Street Children, Children with Special needs, Behavioral Issues in Children and many topics about working with the poor and community development with biblical perspectives. I can't help but feel sweetly broken and truly, just now, know what that really means. I can't help but be changed a little more for the sake of Christ, thanking Jesus every step of the way.
*On another note we would like to ask for prayer for something that punches us right it the gut. Our new neighbor, a 60 year old man, of one week, has been involved in some pretty immoral stuff which we hear and see from our apartment. We know Satan is trying to get us down by putting a man who does pretty much everything of what we just learned about in CRS around our home. We are praying hard for him to straighten up or just leave and are asking God for wisdom and for his life to also be changed.
Isaac's Mentoring and Studies
For the past few weeks Isaac has had the wonderful opportunity of being mentored by the pastor of our local church, Pastor Edgar. For a few hours a week Isaac sits down with Edgar and learns how to inductively go through the bible so that he can learn the style and format of preaching. Pastor Edgar and his wife Candy have been such a blessing to us both, being there for us in so many ways. We have especially enjoyed building relationships with many of the church members of Berea, sharing our lives, mission and vision with them. One of the things in the church that we are apart of is bringing missions there and showing those around us what the meaning of being a missionary is. Two fellow YWAM couples, all Costa Ricans, and friends of ours, have also started coming to Berea, and will soon be pioneering a mission committee to develop missions in the church to equip the members to serve Jesus in and around their community. Isaac has also just started reading through the Bible in English, to improve his understanding and studies there. He has been meeting with the instructor of our Bible Core Course in preparation for further biblical studies. Yet another area of learning in Isaac's life is in the area of finishing his high school degree, which will take about 2 years to complete. Please pray with us in all of these areas as this is indeed a time of learning and equipping us for what God has next.
Class in Jaco with Lesile.
There is nothing better than learning right where the kids are. For this week, we as a class went to the beach town of Jaco to learn about child development. While there we got a chance to participate in Scott and Leslie Freeman's ministry with the kids and youths of that town and to put hands on learning into practice. We are so blessed to be apart of so many different ministries and to help each other.
Baking .
Baking for my wife and I to have coffee.
The children at risk students
For the next 3 months we will be working with the Children At Risk School here with YWAM San Jose, Costa Rica.
We invite you to pray for us while on this journey to bring justice and healing to the nations.
Update of our lives: Leading a team of 19 Christians spreading the love of Jesus
We had a great time leading a team to Jaco, Costa Rica from Wisconsin USA for 8 days at the end of June. We ministered to the people in Jaco with the love of Jesus in hope that they will be able to see and know God, then through him, find value and freedom.
by Joel Duarte
| montero_missions_may_2011.pdf |
