February 2012
Two months down and two in school…
This month brought upon us some new and challenging changes. Justin has continued in language school and is excelling as he has been. The opportunity also arose to put Kevin into the public school system here in Costa Rica. We spoke to some missionaries who previously attended the language institute and they had put their kids in the public school system here and said it helped the kids to get the language down within 6 months. Costs were extremely low in comparison to sending Kevin to the language institute (a little over $150 to buy him the school uniforms (3) and his books, backpack, etc… where as the institute is a couple thousand dollars). A few challenges arose on the second week of his schooling through frustration and just boy-ism; however, the issues are now resolved and Kevin is enjoying school and beginning to understand a little more and speak a little more!
Annika and I are still studying Spanish at home (of course it is easier for Annika since she is starting with no basis of a languageJ). Having Steve and Angel visit with us has helped me to practice mine a little more when I host them around the area. Next week (end of February/ beginning of March, we will attend spiritual emphasis week at the school. Basically the school has 2 chapel services a day each day to revive the exhausted students and remind them (us) that the mission field is being prepared and keep encouraged to do what we can while we are here. Justin has been busy almost every evening with homework lately as well as now we help Kevin with his homework, but we are getting the language quicker this way! We are still attending chapel services on Tuesdays and Thursdays, calling into the Piney Point Services on Wednesday nights and attending a Spanish service Sunday mornings and an English study Sunday afternoons. There hasn’t been a lot of time for witnessing this month, but again, we are having some opportunities with Taxi drivers when we need to shop, etc… Please continue to pray for those opportunities to arise and also for a gift of the Spanish tongue! J
March Happenings:
*You can talk to Pastor Chuck Sackman about a mission trip to Costa Rica this summer if you are interested.
*Mostly more school is all that is in our foreseen futures; we are also praying for clarity and
Family Corner:
The first part of February was spent finding out the benefits to enrolling Kevin into the public school system here and the desire for that changes daily in each of us, but we did decide to do it to help encourage him in the mission field and to help him learn the language quickly (it is said this route helps kids to pick it up in 6 months) and be able to make friends no matter where we end up! Kevin and I both have days we miss home-school and there are also days this option just seems best for where the Lord has us right now and we are both excited about it!
Justin is still trucking along at the Language Institute and acing all of his exams! We are attending the chapel services and Sunday services each week but it is more difficult between his homework and Kevin’s homework to find time to go out and witness, yet the Lord has still allowed some opportunities with Taxi drivers and others this month while we are out and about for our needs.
Mom and Annika are still studying at home and actually braving it slightly more to use our Spanish (what little we know – almost on the same level J). I (Bobbi Ann) had the privilege of hosting a “spa day” at our house for all the hard working missionary moms and wives and we had an excellent time; providing a much needed break for many. We have Steven and Angel (Justin’s parents) visiting with us right now and are having a great time in fellowship with them!
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” –Matt. 10:28
Our hearts from the beginning have been focused toward and desire to reach the unreached peoples of this world with the Gospel. We understand fully that this will not be an easy task and isn’t always the most desirable, but God’s word always has much wisdom and we (believers) delight in obedience – this verse teaches us we can go to unreached people with no fear of what their reaction might be to the Word!
Costa Rica (Public School):
Enrolling Kevin into and learning how the public school in Costa Rica operates has been quite an experience and one to certainly share! Once we filled out the paper work for Kevin to begin school (easy) we had to buy him blue pants, a white shirt and a gym outfit with the school logo… we also had to sew patches onto his shirts because all schools have the same uniform and are recognized separately only by their patches. There are no substitute teachers here so when you drop your child off each day you have to see if there are any hand written notes on the front gate of the school cancelling their class or dismissing school early that day. There are 3 breaks a day and barely a teacher in sight during that time. School begins at 7am and ends at 2pm (usually). You also can not easily go and pick up your child or just drop by the school to leave something for your child…you have to sign in and most of the time if they aren’t expecting you there is a chance you will not be able to get into the gate. They do allow for healthy snacks to be sent and have worked well with Kevin’s difficulty in understanding the assignments, etc… It is definitely different but I must say that when we prayed at the beginning of our parent/teacher day last week I was slightly shocked. (The public schools however are of the Catholic Church).
Praises:
*Kevin is now enrolled in school; making it total Spanish focus for Justin and Kevin!
*We were able to have fellowship with some mission wives here and Justin’s family this month!
Prayer Requests:
*Hearts to be opened to the gospel and opportunities to reach people
*A Spanish tongue for each of us
Clarity on where the Lord wants us to go after school
Thank you all for your support to this ministry. Whether it is financial, prayerful or encouraging words we are extremely grateful. Steve and Angel also delivered several goodies on their trip, many from our brothers and sisters in the states and we thank you all so much, not only for sending them, but that you love us so much to notice the things we enjoy and miss – next time we hope you all will be able to come though! - God bless!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Family Happenings
Hola!
This week it seems as though for months now i haven't been able to say "we have seen 1 (or more) people come to the Lord" "God started revival here in San Jose, Costa Rica this week"....these seem like things that an overseas missionary should be posting weekly... fortunately God reminded me of Jeremiah and many many more who didn't focus on these things!! When i reflect on our months overall i see so many wonderful attempts verbally to witness and minister, but not only that just opportunities we have had to love and be a walking witness for the Lord. This is a time when the Lord has us preparing and though it feels like we have been preparing for almost 2 years now it goes back to the scriptures of being faithful with what He gives you at the moment and it is important for us to learn another language, culture, etc... but that is also why we get involved with existing ministries while we are here and we seek opportnities for the Lord to use us as well as just being prepared to be used at any given moment!
Justin is still doing wonderful in school, yet he finds himself becoming more challenged by the material and sometimes takes a couple of days to understand the new information. He is still Acing his tests. He got to read scripture in the local Church on Sunday morning (in Spanish) and taught at Bible Study that afternoon (in english).
The Lord made provision for Kevin to enroll into public school and being in a Spanish culture the entire schooling is in Spanish (except English clas :)... Today was his second day and he loves everything about being there and is even picking up on some of the spanish already. We would not have been able to send him to the language institude as it is a few thousand dollars...to put him into public school we had to spend a little over $100 and that is mostly because they are required to wear a uniform and we had to buy 2 plus a gym outfit...it is a huge huge praise and it is an even bigger praise that he loves it and isn't stressed about understanding!!
Annika cut her 9th tooth through today and it wore her out so she fell asleep an hour early. She also had a fun day earlier this week by climbing up onto the bed and crawling to the dresser and smearing vasaline all over the bed and herself (note to self: there are no longer any safe zones as climbing, walking, running and drawer opening has began!)!
I am preparing for a spa fellowship at my house for the missionary wives/moms and still working on my spanish at home and trying to brave up to use it more out in public...i actually understand it a little better than before and don't quite want to run and cry every time someone talks to me :) I am extremely thankful to the Lord for allowing things to work with the schooling for both of the boys now and i am constantly benig corrected if i try to use any spanish (i remind them that they DID understand me though, so at least i am coming across in some form of the language :)
Justin's parents are going to visit a week from monday and the week after that we get to participate in Spiritual Emphasis week at the school (much like a revival - 2 sermons a day/speakers, etc...) . My parents are going to Haiti this next week (the 16th) and i would be lying if i didn't say i was a little jealous - we do love and miss our brothers and sisters there and the people and culture...the Lord has given us a love for the country, but also a love to be in His will and right now that is exactly what we are doing.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and contributions to the work here in Costa Rica and around the world....it is great to work with so many believers near and far!
God Bless,
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Annika White
This week it seems as though for months now i haven't been able to say "we have seen 1 (or more) people come to the Lord" "God started revival here in San Jose, Costa Rica this week"....these seem like things that an overseas missionary should be posting weekly... fortunately God reminded me of Jeremiah and many many more who didn't focus on these things!! When i reflect on our months overall i see so many wonderful attempts verbally to witness and minister, but not only that just opportunities we have had to love and be a walking witness for the Lord. This is a time when the Lord has us preparing and though it feels like we have been preparing for almost 2 years now it goes back to the scriptures of being faithful with what He gives you at the moment and it is important for us to learn another language, culture, etc... but that is also why we get involved with existing ministries while we are here and we seek opportnities for the Lord to use us as well as just being prepared to be used at any given moment!
Justin is still doing wonderful in school, yet he finds himself becoming more challenged by the material and sometimes takes a couple of days to understand the new information. He is still Acing his tests. He got to read scripture in the local Church on Sunday morning (in Spanish) and taught at Bible Study that afternoon (in english).
The Lord made provision for Kevin to enroll into public school and being in a Spanish culture the entire schooling is in Spanish (except English clas :)... Today was his second day and he loves everything about being there and is even picking up on some of the spanish already. We would not have been able to send him to the language institude as it is a few thousand dollars...to put him into public school we had to spend a little over $100 and that is mostly because they are required to wear a uniform and we had to buy 2 plus a gym outfit...it is a huge huge praise and it is an even bigger praise that he loves it and isn't stressed about understanding!!
Annika cut her 9th tooth through today and it wore her out so she fell asleep an hour early. She also had a fun day earlier this week by climbing up onto the bed and crawling to the dresser and smearing vasaline all over the bed and herself (note to self: there are no longer any safe zones as climbing, walking, running and drawer opening has began!)!
I am preparing for a spa fellowship at my house for the missionary wives/moms and still working on my spanish at home and trying to brave up to use it more out in public...i actually understand it a little better than before and don't quite want to run and cry every time someone talks to me :) I am extremely thankful to the Lord for allowing things to work with the schooling for both of the boys now and i am constantly benig corrected if i try to use any spanish (i remind them that they DID understand me though, so at least i am coming across in some form of the language :)
Justin's parents are going to visit a week from monday and the week after that we get to participate in Spiritual Emphasis week at the school (much like a revival - 2 sermons a day/speakers, etc...) . My parents are going to Haiti this next week (the 16th) and i would be lying if i didn't say i was a little jealous - we do love and miss our brothers and sisters there and the people and culture...the Lord has given us a love for the country, but also a love to be in His will and right now that is exactly what we are doing.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and contributions to the work here in Costa Rica and around the world....it is great to work with so many believers near and far!
God Bless,
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Annika White
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