Today is May 1.  In Costa Rica, it is the traditional “Labor Day” as in other parts of the world, so it was a holiday. 

Today also marks another special day -- the beginning of the 2013 Matching Gift Opportunity through International Ministries.  Starting today and through June 30^th, contributions from new individual donors and individuals who give a special gift “over and above” their regular contributions to International Ministries can have their gifts doubled. 

American Baptist missionaries depend on the generous support of churches and individuals in order to do ministry.  I´d like to share a brief testimony from the Pastoral Care for Women ministry in Costa Rica which your support makes possible.

This past Monday, at the next-to-the-last class for the Diploma program in Pastoral Care for Women, the students were sharing their gratitude for how God has used this ministry to bring about change in their lives and families during several years of classes.

Nidia (not her real name) is a woman who believed that she was married for over 30 years until she discovered that her husband was previously married, never divorced and had faked their marriage license with the help of a lawyer friend.  She says, “The courses in Pastoral Care for Women taught me a lot.  I was passive-aggressive, but I learned to be assertive without hurting others.  God has molded my character through this whole process.  And the support of my classmates and professor was invaluable as I dealt with my personal situation.” 

I believe that God opened the doors for me to move to Costa Rica and work with women like Nidia.  I also believe that God is calling many others to help meet their needs by a commitment to pray and provide financial support for this ministry -- these are partnership opportunities. 

The Matching Gift Opportunity is one way to meet the increased financial costs related to my work with Pastoral Care for Women.  And it is a way to double the effect of your gift!  Please prayerfully consider if God is leading you to provide a special gift to International Ministries to support my ministry or that of another missionary. 

Gifts may be made online at http://www.internationalministries.org/drives/10, or by mailing a check to:  International Ministries, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA  19482.  “Matching Gift” must be written on the memo line of checks for the gift to be doubled.

Together, we can share God´s love and hope with women like Nidia and their families in Costa Rica!