End of GAP Year and Beginning of Summer Update

I’m going to have to say one of the best things about my job is seeing God work in the lives of the students. I get a front row seat in getting to know the GAP students as soon as they get off the plane landing from the United States till they walk across the stage at graduation 9 months later. A lot of the students come down with the idea of them knowing everything there is to know about the Bible only to have their world flipped upside down throughout the year.   It’s hard to believe I was in their shoes just over 5 years ago.

There have been numerous students over the years that have left the program completely different people. There’s something about having constant Bible classes and living in an unfamiliar environment that creates an atmosphere that God uses to make some big changes in you. I often think about where I would be if it weren’t for coming to this program. God has blessed me with awesome people to work with both with SCORE and in the town of Tirrases.

GAP Class of 2016

 The students in the GAP program graduated on April 29^th, but there is plenty to do between now and when the next group of students arrive.  I’ve had much more time to devote to the ministry in Tirrases, which has been great.  The church plant in this town I’ve come to love, is thriving.  We host various short term missions over the summer months here as well.  We had a group from Calvary Monument Bible Church come down the third week of May. I had a great time being their interpreter for the week! One of the many things we did with the group was a prayer walk in Tirrases. Basically what that looks like is we walked to the houses of 15 different families from our church in order to bless them with a visit and a weeks’ worth of food.  During our time together we would get to know the families, hear their stories and prayer requests as well. This walk is intended to bless the Costa Rican families, but always ends up blessing the short term teams more.  It was evident their time spent with these families left a huge impact on their hearts.

During the three summer months that the GAP program is not going on, our facilities down here are filled with short-term missions’ teams from all over the States, just like the one from Calvary Monument.  This is a blessing to help carry on the community outreach efforts of the former students and to give people a first-hand perspective as to what God is doing here. For the past 4 summers I would go home during this time, and now since being called into full-time ministry here, I get to be a part of these summer adventures.  My ever expanding role will include leading and translating for these teams, arranging outreach programs, helping with getting menus together, shopping for the food needed and arranging transportation when there could be as many as 4 teams arriving at one time. This is in addition to handling administrative and financial responsibilities, and serving in the church in the town of Tirasses and all the various ministries that have sprouted from that. 

Interpreting for the Calvary Monument team we had in Tirrases

 I will be home for 2 weeks, however, from June 22-July 8 so I’m looking forward to catching up with family and friends over that period.

A Huge thank you goes out to my monthly supporters! I can’t tell you how good it feels to know I have friends and family and even people I haven’t even met, back home supporting me and the ministry here. I would appreciate prayer for stamina and energy as I work with the various teams over the summer, and continued prayer for the Tico friends I have made that they would continue to grow in their walk with the Lord, that the church in Tirasses would continue to thrive and more and more people will be impacted because of their love and outreach to the community. If there is anyone that would like to join my support team, please click here to be a part of the life change in Costa Rica.  Thank you again!

A few of our Tirrases kids from our Kid's Club