The sea is so wide, and my boat is so small.” (Irish fisherman’s prayer)

 We don’t have a lot of Irish fisherman here, but the quotation fits how we’ve seen God at work lately in Costa Rica.

 SAN JOSE-THURSDAY/JUEVES

“Hermano, yo preferiría unas palabras de cariño en vez de un millón de colones.” “Brother, I would rather receive kind words rather than thousands of dollars.”

 That’s what one of my seminary students, María Jesús, told me.  She comes to my Biblical Interpretation class faithfully and will graduate early next year.  Maria’s husband is in and out of the hospital, suffering from muscular cancer.  “It’s hard,” she says, “but I do have peace.”    This was a classic case of the student teaching the professor.   I think I’d be much more cynical and angry if a loved one of mine had cancer, and I probably wouldn’t be taking theology classes.   I can’t fix her situation, and she wasn’t asking me to; she wanted my prayers and friendship.   She blessed me when I was trying to be a blessing to her.

 LIMON,  SUNDAY MORNING

We took a trip to the Caribbean side of the country, to celebrate our 22nd anniversary and to see some ministry friends we hadn’t seen in over a year.  These sisters and brothers seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Limón and Cahuita.  Marlene Dell pastors an Afro-Caribbean English speaking congregation.  (I got to preach in English!) Because of their skin color and cultural differences these people often find themselves on the margins of society.   While they all speak Spanish, they want to maintain their English and their Jamaican cultural heritage.  Ironically, many of them were scolded for speaking English while growing up in Costa Rica, a country that now wants everyone to learn English in order to get a better job.  Limon can be a tough (and humid) place.  Drug crime and dropout rates are high.   But the folks of First Baptist Limon serve and let their lights shine.   We were glad that we could share ministry and a Caribbean chicken lunch with Marlene, as well as some of those “kind words” that Maria was talking about.   Please pray for Pastor Marlene and the people of Limón.

 CAHUITA-SUNDAY NIGHT

Manuel and Sandra serve in a funky little beach town.  You can see the ocean from the pulpit and eat rice and beans with coconut milk (but not in the pulpit).  You can also see young people selling their bodies, or buying and selling drugs.   The Baptist Church there was blessed by recent visits from youth groups from Hacienda Heights and Riverside, CA. The group helped rehab the church building and the pastor’s home. Over 100 children came out for Vacation Bible School!   These are great high points, but the ongoing challenge of discipleship and pastoral care can be tiring. 

 While sipping Mango smoothies on a typically warm night, we listened to Sandra and Manuel and again, tried to share some of those kind words that keep people moving forward in ministry.  We’re trying to get Manuel and Sandra some much needed rest.  Please pray that God opens doors and strengthens the church in Cahuita. 

LIMON-MONDAY

Another church in Limon, New Hope Baptist Church, is responding to its community’s needs with education.  They started a school ten years ago as a way of investing in the lives of vulnerable children.  They were recently blessed by a visit from their sister church in Santa Clara, CA.  The group helped build their library and donated some new books.  Pastor Miguel, whose wife Norris teaches at the school, told us that the kids are being taught how to read (and how to enjoy it!) and are being given an alternative vision of books over drugs, integrity over corruption, and love over all.  This time we shared our kind words and enjoyed a side order of coconut popsicle.  Please keep in mind that the food mentioned in this journal was eaten over the course of three days, not ten minutes.  Please pray for Pastor Miguel and the Centro Educativo Bautista in Limon.

 SATURDAY, LA GUACMIA (Back in the Central Valley)

We started off our board meeting for “Centro de Transformación Mariposa” by playing with a parachute.  The parachute is for the kids, but the adult board members had to try it out.  It was fun to see the colors flapping in the warm winds of Rincón Chiquito, and be reminded as board members of the gift of being childlike.  It also reminded us to work as a team to help the center move forward.  Nancy Juarez, the center’s director, reported the progress of many of the children and teachers who are developing new strengths as they learn and grow in Christ’s transforming love. Each board member shared how she or he would be involved during the year, and we prayed for the families touched by center and for its dedicated staff.  (Just so you know, we lunched on Nicaraguan vigorón, a dish of pork chicharon, yuca, and cabbage). 

 Being able to sit at table and share a kind word with the many “sailors on the wide sea of Costa Rican” ministry mentioned in this journal are made possible by your ongoing, generous gifts and your kind words. Your companionship in our boat makes all of the difference.

 Gracias,

 Gary