"Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

I'm sitting at a ferry dock in western Washington. My friend Larry from one ABC church brought me here, the boat will take me across the water (colder than Costa Rican water) and through the fog (colder than Costa Rican fog), where my friend Denny from another ABC church will pick me up for the next stop.

Often when we think of the cloud of witnesses we think of those who have passed on to the next world and shout their encouragements from heaven. But for the last two and a half weeks I have been cheered on by earthly witnesses from more churches than I can count. I have been blessed by potlucks and pie, and Baptists and non-Baptists alike have welcomed me into their lives and homes.

I've been privileged to share about how we see God working in Costa Rica. I'm always encouraged by people's interest, and by their support of the World Mission Offering. I often talk about God sightings or Kingdom Moments that we have experienced in Costa Rica.

Now I want to share some sightings from the Pacific Northwest.

• Churches are impacting their communities, baptizing new believers, planting new churches, and getting ready to welcome new pastors.


• Jamie and I visited colleges that are doing their best to educate Christians to love God with their minds and to use their gifts to transform the world.


• I saw a pair of deer walking through a friend's yard, spotted a whale on my ferry ride, and got to watch the leaves changing. God does good work.


• People saw pictures of Pastor Xinia and other leaders, our extra son David, our short-term daughter Chelsea, and prayed for them.


• One college showed us their new $400,000 coffee bar. It was pretty, but I wished they hadn't told us the cost. I couldn't help but think of the ministries that kind of money could fund.


• On the in-flight magazine I saw cigars on sale for $20 each! The cost of one cigar is almost exactly the per person cost of our upcoming Call Retreat, which will encourage pastors and leaders and help raise up the next generation of church leaders and missionaries. Some generous North westerners handed me $20 bills for the retreat, convinced that it was a better kingdom investment than the stogy.


• Our West Coast Missionary Partnership Team recharged my spirit, found me a vehicle and a gas card, gave me books, sent gifts for the kids, helped with Jamie's college tour, and paid for my trip.


• I got to worship in my native tongue three weeks in a row.


• Some churches "directed" their World Mission Offering toward our support. This is a great honor for us.

The Red Eye Got Me Home!
I'm now writing from Costa Rica, thankful for the trip, but even more grateful to be home. I missed our ministry partners, the humidity, and hugs and kisses from the kids and Mylinda.

Hot Off The Presses/Varieties Of Ways To Give To Missions
We just received word that Calvary Baptist church in Salem, OR had a member offer to match other members' $250 gifts up to a total of $3000 from 12 individuals or families.

While on my trip I found that people had a lot of questions about giving options. What follows is an attempt to clarify the various ways churches and individuals give to our support and to the support of our IM colleagues.

• WMO/Targeted Giving: WMO and Targeted Giving are generally the same. You may choose to donate your WMO to International Ministries as a directed or undirected gift. Undirected would simply go toward the support of International Ministries and Directed would go toward the support of the named Missionary (ie: Support for Gary and Mylinda Baits). Targeted Giving go towards the support of the named missionary. The only difference is internal tracking.


• Specifics: Specifics are over and above budgeted items. Missionaries may receive specifics for projects related to their ministry: Bibles, Scholarships for students, building materials. 100% of these funds are sent to the missionary unless otherwise noted by the intended missionary.


• Personal: Some chose to give gifts to missionaries maybe for birthday, Christmas, etc. These gifts should stay under $250. 100% of these funds go directly to the named missionary.


• All giving maybe sent thru your region or directly to International Ministries. IM has an automatic giving system. You may debit a credit card or have your donation taken directly from your checking account, EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer). These transactions may be done on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis and any day of the month you choose.


• We also have online giving at www.InternationalMinistries.org

Finally, we want to thank you for all of your giving, and for your giving to your local church, your region, and ABCUSA. God provides enough to meet all ministry and mission needs, and we all get to be part of it!

Thanks for being our living "cloud of witnesses."

Gracias y Bendiciones,
(Thanks and Blessings),

Gary Baits
Costa Rica