An Update!

We have had a particularly busy couple of weeks here in Costa Rica. Last week was "Spiritual Emphasis Week" which is basically revival services which they have during every trimester. A group from Tennessee came and did Bible School for the children. In a crazy turn of events, my mother - ReDel Cawthon - was invited to come with the team. The group was from her town but a different church. They also had several other mission projects that they were involved in during the trip. The rest of the team left last Friday, but my mother was able to stay a few extra days. She is actually still here and will be leaving this Friday. She is staying to celebrate my 40th birthday with us!

The Movie Night

The movie night went great. I had 41 men show up for "Facing the Giants." I believe that God is working in a powerful way. Many had questions and others had comments about the movie. We are preparing for "rain." (If you have seen the movie you know what I am talking about. If you don't know, then you need to rent and watch "Facing the Giants.") I am working on a video that I will be posting in the next few days.

Please pray....!!!!!

I am very excited about tomorrow night because I am having a special event for the football team I coach - The Jaguares (pronounced "hog war es" in Spanish). During the event, I will be showing the Christian film "Facing the Giants" - in Spanish, of course. Please pray that this event will open doors for sharing the Gospel and possibly for beginning a small group Bible study. The event will begin at 6 pm Costa Rica time which is 7 pm Central Time/8 pm Eastern Time.

Our Team in Panama

A lot has changed since we arrived in Costa Rica. When we arrived, we were expecting to remain in Costa Rica after language school. Now we know that we will be going to Panama to live and work after language school. We will graduate (hopefully!!) from language school on April 23rd of next year and will leave for Panama City, Panama somewhere around May 1st. We have been getting to know our team members pretty well over the last few weeks. They are here with us in language school. They are Tim and Tina Louderback from Thomasville, GA. They are a neat, fun couple and have four children who are intertwined with the ages of our children. If you have a chance, check out their blog at lyricsofamom.blogspot.com. Another couple who will be on our team will be arriving in Costa Rica later this month. They already have a good bit of Spanish and will only spend one trimester in language school. We are looking forward to getting to know them, as well. All three families will leave at the same time to move to Panama! We are getting very excited about what God has ahead. In fact, please begin praying for the people we will minister to in Panama City.

5 months in Costa Rica

As of yesterday, we have now been in Costa Rica for five months! In some ways, it seems like much longer and in other ways it has flown by. We are now almost a month into the second trimester of language school and are having some unique ministry experiences. The Lord has humbled us greatly in our attempt to learn Spanish, but at the same time He gently reminds us that we are still usable in spite of - and possibly because of - our weaknesses. We are constantly being reminded of 2 Corinthians 12: 9 "My [Jesus'] grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."

Charlotte began leading the Spanish Bible study last Wednesday. It is hard but God is using her. I am still coaching the football team and praying that God will use me with these young men. On this team of approximately 50 men, there are only three Christians. We have also begun working on a church planting project in a nearby neighborhood. We are at the very beginning stages right now and praying that God will open doors to build relationships in this middle to upper class neighborhood. Please pray for all of these areas of ministry. We are very weak - but we serve a mighty God who is more than able!

Last week, I had the opportunity to go with another missionary to a church about two hours away! He preached that night in Spanish, and the best part was two teenage girls accepted Christ! It was great to hear the sinners prayer prayed in Spanish!

Beach 2009

This is our trip to one of the many Beaches in Costa Rica. The video was take the last week of August 2009

Update from Costa Rica

Well, we started our 2nd Trimester of language school this past week. It already seems that we are speaking so much more than in the first trimester. This trimester has the reputation of being the most difficult of the three, but also the one where your Spanish grows the most. Time will tell if that is an accurate assessment.

We have also had several ministry opportunities to arise. Yesterday, I had one of the best days that I have had in Costa Rica. I was invited to be an assistant coach of an adult American Football team. The team ranges from ages 18-40, and they all need Jesus. I am praying that God will use me to minster to this group of men! There are only 7 American Football teams in Costa Rica, so as you can imagine they have a lot to learn about the sport.

The next thing that God is allowing me to do is mentor a new pastor here in Costa Rica. He is the new pastor of San Pedro Community Fellowship and has never pastored before. God is allowing me to meet with him and teach him from a Biblical perspective what it means to be a pastor. I was also able to preach today at San Pedro Community Fellowship. This is an English speaking congregation.

Charlotte is also becoming involved in a ministry. At our school, there is a weekly Costa Rican Women's Bible Study that meets every Wednesday afternoon. Charlotte has been attending the Bible study for over a month, and the leaders are finishing language school and will be leaving Costa Rica. Charlotte and a fellow IMB missionary will be leading the group beginning in October. This Bible study is done completely in Spanish. Pray for her that God will give her the ability to co-lead this Bible study group.

Oh, and by the way "War Eagle"!! We were able to watch the Alabama game last night on our cable. It's neat to get to watch college football all the way down here in "Futball Country" (Futball is "Soccer" in Costa Rica!)