"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly and sisterly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Paul's advice to the Roman Christians and to us.

This week has us welcoming and working alongside some of our friends from Washington state and the Great Rivers Region as they work alongside their Costa Rican friends in Alajuelita. In November we were blessed and encouraged by a terrific group from the First Baptist Church in Fairbury, IL who worked diligently to put up drywall and wiring in the pastoral house so that the church can offer a nice place to a new pastor that they are hoping to have soon. It is always a joy to watch our North American and Costa Rican friends interact and build relationships of love while they are building with wood, block and wire.

We often remind our friends who come that the building projects are just excuses to allow God to do the more important work of Kingdom and relationship-building. The primary purpose of any mission experience is to be with God's people not to do something significant for God. God is already doing something significant in, within and in spite of us. Our job is to recognize what that is and be obedient and faithful to God's presence within and around us. There are a million opportunities for growth when we are open to God's movement in our world and we are so blessed to see God moving in and through our friends who come together from different contexts to serve the same Lord.

We have seen the advice of Paul to the Roman Christians lived out in the lives of the Costa Rican and North American Christians who work together to sincerely love.

• Please pray for the work God is doing in and through our friends this week.

Blessings y bendiciones,

Mylinda