A pig truck knocked the power out.This of course raises the question, should pigs be driving?Actually, a guy driving a pig truck ran into a power pole.The driver was okay but it left us without power for about a day.It was all part of our "Welcome home to Costa Rica" week.We fussed with power lines, phone lines, and airlines.We also fussed with each other.I guess it's safer to say I (Gary) fussed at other members of my family.I don't like moving very much.After cleaning, painting, and packing in Port Angeles, WA we are now cleaning, unpacking and painting in Costa Rica.In trying to handle the stress of another transition I did the logical thing; I took out my frustrations on my family members.Of course, they were going through the same stressful transitions and didn't deserve my fussing, but that's beside the point.
In John's gospel Jesus says goodbye for a good four chapters (13-17).In these "Farewell Discourses" Jesus reminds them over and over to "Love one another" and even washes their smelly feet.Christ knows that his death will cause them great stress and grief and that their natural tendency will be to turn on one another, to fear, and to fuss.
We've been here for a week now and are more or less settled in .We're getting reoriented to crazy driving and potholes, but we have also received a warm welcome from our Costa Rican friends.From our study window we can see the lights of San Jose and the glory of a tropical lightning storm.I think we're also treating each other better.
We have a lot of goals for our second term here, some of which are as follows:
ØContinue to recruit and train leaders for the Baptist churches of Costa Rica.
ØHelp strengthen clergy marriages and families through marriage enrichment retreats and parent education.
ØPlan retreats that address the specific needs of men, women, and youth.
ØEncourage the churches in their efforts to minister Christ to their communities through feeding programs, educational programs, and sports outreaches.
All of these are valid goals, but if we do not keep love as our primary motive, we can too easily becoming controlling, condescending, or just plain fussy.Without love, ministry gets reduced to checklists or notches in our belt.It too easily becomes something that "we" do to "them."
Our ministry in Costa Rica is different than our ministry in the states, but there are so many connections.This week I get to check on the progress of a church building where some Baptists from Illinois laid some block.We celebrated the installation of our pastor, Ivette Corea in a church gym recently lit by a group of Puerto Rican Baptists.Kids from churches in Fairbury, Illinois and Great Falls, Montana collected Vacation Bible School offerings for feeding programs and camp scholarships.$413 and ???Mylinda leaves this week for Greenlake, WI where she will help staff the program for the World Mission Conference.Micah and a friend are a kicking a soccer ball around in the front yard while Jamie is away at church camp.They start school (Jamie 10th grade, Micah 6th) this week.Gary is catching up with students and professors from the training center.
Its good stuff, and in the midst of transitions and inconveniences we are reminding ourselves of Jesus' farewell words: Love one another."
Please pray for:
ØThe World Mission Conference
ØThe Baptists of Costa Rica
ØPastor George and Donna Boudet of FBC Port Angeles, WA
ØJamie and Micah as they return to school
Ø Opportunities to share the love of Christ
In Christ,
Gary and Mylinda Baits
Costa Rica