November Newsletter

November 2011 Newsletter
Ministry Update:
Well we have been in San Jose, Costa Rica for a few weeks now and we are getting to know the area pretty well. We have been using our feet mostly to learn the location of the school, the grocery stores and others. The conveniences of San Jose are much more than that of Haiti or Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The super market near us is small; yet sufficient and should the need arise there is a larger one a few miles away.

Other than locating our shopping options and finding the school, we have been learning our options of which to be involved in at the school. There are several ministries, fellowships, etc… The kids and I will be able to be involved in many events. We have already been attending the chapel services and are getting to know several students. Once January begins with a new trimester and Justin goes through orientation, etc… we hope to learn more about their evangelic ministries and how we can get involved!

In the meantime of waiting for school to start in January, Kevin has continued his homeschooling and we are continuing to practice Spanish with Rosetta Stone. With help from both the states and current students here, we have also gathered all of our information to apply for student visas (which will save us money in the long run of having to leave the country every 90 days for 72 hours). Right now we are waiting for our papers to return from Washington D.C. and then they will be mailed to us here in Costa Rica. We hope and pray that they make it very quickly so that we do not have to leave at the beginning of January when our visas expire.

The months of November and December have and will hold several fundraising options to help with not only student visas but hopefully outreach in the future! – see below and email us if you are interested in getting involved!

December Fundraisers:
· A YouTube video encouraging a $10 donation for the Lord’s work through Son Ministries in both Haiti and Costa Rica
· An opportunity to have someone’s yard Candy Caned and spread a little Christmas Cheer
· Gift Wrapping at LifeWay the first 2 Saturdays of December (longer if more volunteer)
· Visit Tonya Shockley Photography on Facebook or call Tonya Shockley at: 479-586-3775 for her Christmas Special on Dec. 3rd. 100% of the money supports missions

Family Corner:
Justin has been building relationships with current students and some faculty at the school since we have arrived. He is continuing to study Latin American Spanish on the computer, but is definitely ready to begin language school in January. Bible studies on Sundays have also given him an opportunity to dig in the word with other men of God and he has been enjoying that fellowship.
I (Bobbi Ann) have become more encouraged in learning Spanish (even though in Spanish I sound like my almost one year old daughter!) and am very excited to get involved with some ministries in the school that will allow us to get to know and minister to people here in Costa Rica while Justin is schooling.
Kevin has been struggling a little bit with missing friends and family from the states. An area we have been trying to work with him lately in is communication and explaining all forms of communication. So he was a little better after being able to send a letter home to his mom and some post cards to his pen pals in Texas. Listening is not a strong point for Kevin so with his new friendships developing here he has been trying to listen better to know what his friends like, learn their names, etc…
Annika is able to walk, but is too scared to let go and do it alone yet; although sometimes her evil parents trick her into going alone. So she is not officially walking. She says a few words and has made some friends herself! I cannot believe that in less than a month she will be a year old.

Below was Kevin’s response when asked:
“How has the Lord been working through you this month and what is new for you?”

“I have been making friends and being nice to them. They have been being nice to me and sharing stuff. I really hope I get to sleep over with them and that they get to come to my house and sleep here.”
“I have been going to Church on certain days.”
“We live really close to a store.”


Costa Rica Culture/Christmas:
Costa Rica has a large Catholic Population, making Christmas a HUGE holiday here. Family is also a large part of the culture so we are excited to see how the festivities of Christmas Eve and Christmas day are celebrated particularly within the building we live in. (In case we haven’t mentioned before we live in a building with 4 ½ apartments; all of which are occupied by an entire Tico family (the parents, the children and their spouses and the grandchildren)). We have already seen some displays of nativities and the stores are packed with decorations!
Thanks – Giving:
As always and with deep sincerity, we want to first thank each of you for your continued support and prayers for the Lord’s work through the ministry in Haiti and in Costa Rica. We also want to thank our family and friends that played or sang at the concert last month to raise money for our student visas and for those who attended fellowshipped and gave. Thank you also to others who are putting on Fundraisers this upcoming month: the Candy Canes in yards, the Photo Shoot, the Online Video and the Gift Wrapping. The love and encouragement we get from each of our brothers and sisters in Christ means the world to us and we thank you all for that, whether it is by prayer, words or action…thank you, thank you thank you. We pray everyone has a wonderful Christmas and has the opportunity to share it with family!


Prayer Requests:
· That the Lord be glorified in all that we do
· For each us to grow closer to the Lord each day (our faithfulness to read and apply the word!)
· Christmas to be on opportunity not only for us, but each of you to share the gospel.
· Protection for the temptations of Satan and the power to defeat sin
Physically:
· Our student visa information to be in progress at the Costa Rican embassy before Christmas