Jasmine and Michelle

My friend Jasmine came and visited with her friend Michelle this past week. It was great to see her and catch up. I needed a bit of a break from the action and daily responsibilities. I was able to relax, read a lot more than usual, eat a lot more than usual, and I really just got to laugh a lot. The girls were funny and refreshing for me to be around. I find that I tend to take things in life a bit to seriosly at times. I can also be pretty hard on myself and I was able to just laugh a lot and not worry about anything. We ate out quite a bit and also went on a canopy safari where you go zip lining through the jungle. It was a lot of fun and something different to do than just go to the beach. We fed the homeless on Friday morning the day before Jasmine left. There were about 20 or so men and women that were fed. I think this was our greatest turnout we have had. It was neat to sit back and watch it all unfolding(the feeding). At times I get selfish and say to myself,"ah man I have to go buy the stuff, prepare it," blah, blah, blah.......basically a bunch of complaining. Then I go do it and get blessed by doing so.

New Apartment and fast

I moved into my new apartment yesterday. It is going to cost me a little bit more, but I am excited to be in it. The apartment is about 7 to 8 times bigger than what I was in before. I think it is worth it. I was growing a bit weary of having basically no room to move around in my other apartment. This apartment is right above where the program is. I think that I am going to feel a bit more connected than I have in the past. My next step is to get a television and cable. I went without it for the past 4 months and have done ok, but I am finding that it is nice to be able to sit down and unplugg from the days events by watching a couple shows or a movie.

Church Meeting

We had a church meeting yesterday at my friend Laura and Kim´s house. The reason for the meeting is that there is a group(church) that has come down a few times and wants to help us out financially as well as manpower. They basically wanted us to put a wishlist together first, then come up with some big projects that they could do when they come down. We decided to have them build a pole barn for the wood mizer when they come down in July. They are also willing to give us $1000 per month for a location we can use for meetings, feeding our guys, youth activities, ect.... I think they are even going to help us get a vehicle of some sorts. This is a pretty huge blessing. They are committed to helping us for the next three years. I am sure that there will be more on the way as well. They are pretty zealous to help and generous as well.

We currently have 6 men in the program and I feel like we have a good group of guys. One of our men named Alejandro is going to be completing his program within this month. I am excited for him to be completing it and moving on to what God has for him next. He is from Jaco, which is about an hour bus ride from here in Quepos. He has some connections in Jaco with another church and Kim is trying to hook him up with a job at a hotel.

The program is currently rent free and we are looking at purchasing the place we are at if God so wills it. There are multiple apartments in the complex and it would be a neat little community for us if we are able to come up with the $50,000 down payment! Kim is trying to see if I can rent one of the apartments for what I am paying now at my apartment in Quepos. I would like to live in one of the apartments. The area is quiet and it would be nice to be closer to the program.

Today we started cleaning the beach in Manuel Antonio. This is a new work project of ours that we will do weekly. I think we came up with about 7-8 bags of trash today. I think that it is good for the people to see us cleaning up the trash and I think that it makes the people think twice about throwing there trash on the ground. Maybe not, maybe they will think that since someone is cleaning it up they can still throw it on the ground??

A big part of what God has been leading me to is evangelizing at night in the Mali Con, which is the dyke where many of the addicted, prostitutes, and drug dealers are. Some say it is dangerous, but I haven't felt scared yet. I spoke with what I suspected to be the ring leader the other night. I gave him a track and talked to him for awhile about what I am doing here, weightlifting and some about his life. Most of the responses I get from people are thank-you. Often times some think I am a tourist looking for drugs and they will ask me if I want marijuana or cocaine. My response is no and it is a good opening for what I am doing here and sharing the gospel. I get nervous at times, but I think God is growing me and wants to use me in this right now. A couple times some of the guys don't understand no and are insistant on selling the dope. One guy pulled it out crack a couple weeks ago and was like, sure you don't want some. No is a powerful word and the name of Jesus is a strong tower. After I tell the guys what I am about they either get umbarrassed, ashamed, or say I am sorry. I let them know that I was no different then they were and that there is a different life available to them. I love doing this. I go just about every night and try to pass out a couple tracks and at least meet a couple people to let them know that I am harmless and want to help. I spoke with a couple policemen the other night as well. I told them what I was there for and gave them some information on Christ. Alot of people make fun of tracks back in the states, but go to another country where you want to share the gospel with people and you don't exactly know how to speak the language just yet....they are helpful and there are a lot of people who have came to the faith from reading the word of God. The men in the dyke have grown up knowing nothing different than selling drugs and using them from what I gather and it is a great opportunity to let them know that there is salvation available to them.

Today at the beach I also started doing Operation Timothy, which is a basic discipleship manuel with one of the surfers named David. He seemed to enjoy it. He has been coming to church every Sunday and he seems genuinly interested. I hope that we can keep this up because I find that I learn a lot as well when I try to teach someone else. I so want to see lives changed and I feel like God is giving me a lot of direction lately with how I can be a part of the process in others lives. Ohhh, one more thing. I met a girl a couple weeks ago that wants help in her life and I think she is going to go to church with me on Saturday night. She is so ready for change and I can see Gods pursuit of her as I listen to her share her struggles with me. I have been praying for her and getting to know her over the past couple of weeks. Please pray for her and for my friend David, that God would change their hearts and be merciful towards them both.

Home

I was scheduled to leave for Nicaragua on the 27th but I received an email from my mother asking me if I would like to come home and watch the Colt's play. I took her up on the offer and I came home. I am about to leave to head back to my current home in Costa Rica. I am ready to get back there into the warm weather and work along side my friends. I feel like I have been super busy since I have been home. I am pretty much tired of shopping right now. I had fun finding things for a couple of the kids down there. It is more fun buying things for others than for myself. God has really blessed me with awesome friends here and in CR. Currently we are hoping to find some transportation so we can get back and forth to the sawmill. If anyone is interested in helping there is a motorcycle for sale. $1000.00 US. It is an important ministry tool that we really need.

This week has gone by really fast. My friends Laura and Kim Stilwell are holding a children's bible school that lasts two weeks. I helped out the other day as my friend Jimmy taught on David and Goliath. I played Goliath and a young kid played David. My role was short, but fun. I charged at the kid with a fake sword, yelled something in spanish, and he pretended like he hit me with a stone. I had fun participating. The center is going very well. We currently have 5 men in the program. One of our men, named Alejandro has one more month left in the program. He has expressed the desire to stick around and serve. He does an awesome job cooking for the house. From time to time he teaches me how to cook Tico style dishes. I have been cooking quite a bit as well. The other night I made fried coconut chicken, plaintains, and tomato slices which are a staple in most dishes down here. The fruits and veggies are so good. I go through about 30 bananas a week, dozen apples, a couple mangoes, 2-3 papayas, and an occasional pinapple.

On another note, being a follower of Jesus has been challenging in my relationships lately. My neighbor asked me to borrow 4 bucks about 3 days ago and he told me he would pay me the next day. Well, he never did, then when I saw him last night he gave me the runaround and said that he had to go to the bank and he would give it to me later on. Well, he never did. This is not the first time this has happened. Maybe, shame on me for doing it again. It is only 4 bucks, but more of the problem is the shuck and jive that I recognize all too well. Another "friend" on the beach that comes to church has wanted my watch for awhile. He had a watch on a couple weeks ago and wanted to trade. I would have just given him my watch, but he wanted to trade so I did. I felt like it was a nice way to bless someone. Well, I found out after wearing the watch for a week that it was fake. Beyond the fake watch I am trying to make a friend and I feel pretty used up. Maybe God is trying to teach me something. The challenging part is not doing something about it physically, just to be perfectly honest. Pride, anger, wrath, and all different sorts of emotions come up when I am wronged and feel manipulated. I know I have done my share in the past, so maybe this is how it feels. I try to practice the teaching's of Jesus, as far as give and it will be given to you...if someone wants to borrow let them borrow not expecting anything in return. The generous man will be prosperous......hopefully prosperity will come in heaven when I get there.

Jaco

I went to Jaco, Costa Rica the other day by bus. I had to go there in order to buy a bus ticket to go to Granada, Nicaragua. I have to leave here every 90 days for 3 days, then I can come back for another 90. I am looking forward to this trip. I will first go to San Jose and stay with my friend Jimmy´s sister and boyfriend. I love being around them and they want me to come and stay with them. I stayed with them over the summer and had a good time. Please pray for this trip as I will be traveling alone. I hear that food and shopping is about half of what it costs here! yay.

I have taught the past 3 weeks at church and I am ready for a break. It is fun and good to prepare to teach, but I am just ready for a break. Last week at church a lady who came for her first time came to Christ. She heard God´s word and something made sense to her. This was super encouraging to all of us. We have a nice location on the beach and one of our main objectives there is to befriend, encourage, teach, and hopefully train up some of the local surfers. We have been having quite a few more come lately, which is awesome. I like having them around.