One month into living in a new country has taught us some very important lessons.  We were commissioned for missions in November and shortly after that we finished packing and got on a plane at 2 am in Niagara Falls NY to fly to San Jose, Costa Rica.  We spent a week in limbo waiting for our house we are renting to become available.  God has taught us some important lessons along the way.

First, God makes straight our paths.  I, Peter, often want to plan and know what is needed and what is going to happen before we leave.  I like being prepared and I do not like rushing last minute to get paperwork or other things in place.  However, even with my meticulous planning and effort, the visa process was still problematic and filled with last minute issues.  However, in all of the running, hand wringing, and frustration it became obvious that God was in control.  The weather was unusually pleasant and good for our travels before we left for Costa Rica, from our commissioning to the trip to New York City for our visas.  God had it all in control.

Second, when you leave the familiar one of the most comforting things for our family is that God never changes.  We are able to spend time with God daily individually and as a family.  It helps us love each other better.  It helps resolve our conflicts.  Also, we are continuing to try to teach our children to grow in the knowledge and love of God.  The simple process of reading some scripture, talking about it and sharing good things and one bad thing about the day keeps us thankful and focused on God and not our perceived and sometimes real problems.

Finally, God is our sustainer and provider.  We have had mail two times since moving here to Costa Rica.  Both times, they came at the right time to encourage us.  Our support levels continue to be steady at or just slightly above our monthly goals.  However, the emotional toll of living in a foreign country has surprised me.  The advent of electronic communication is helpful but I am wary of using it too much so that we do not make the homesickness or culture shock sustained or worse.  Receiving mail though has been a joy for us.  Even the simple Christmas card or church newsletter is encouraging to us.  We are able to spend a moment feeling cared for and remembered.  It sustains us when we feel down and we really appreciate it. 

None of these lessons we are learning are new from God.  However, it is a blessing to grow deeper in our understanding of God’s love and provision in our lives.  When you answer a call to help someone and they in turn drive you around helping you learn the lay of the land and where to shop you see God’s hand at work in a tangible way.  We rejoice in those moments.  God is active and at work in our hearts and lives as we are striving to learn Spanish and begin to live into this calling God has placed upon our family. 

Thank you for your prayers, emails, mail, and support.  You partnering with us in this awesome calling is really a major blessing for us.  Please remember to keep us in your prayers and pray for God’s continued provision for the rest of the startup expenses to come in before December.