March 2013 Newsletter

March 2013

The White Family in Costa Rica

Time Marches On…

            Greetings and good April to all you, our faithful supporters and prayer warriors, from Justin, Bobbi, Kevin and Annika here in San José, Costa Rica!  We are always ever so thankful for you and the ministry that we are in together.  As much as I want to tell you that the month of March brought revival and hundreds of “ticos” coming to Christ through our ministry of the gospel of Christ, that is just not the case.  Though we have been faithful to share the gospel each day with the help of some tracts that we have been graciously given, the month of March has been slow and steady moving.  I’ll try to “highlight” it, without boring you too badly J

            One of the blessings of this last month was getting a few repairs done on our Ford Explorer.  As it had (has) its share of problems, we took it in to a local mechanic, referred to us by our landlord, Jorge.  Among the problems, we took it in to repair the fuel gauge, hazard lights, power windows and locks.  A week and $100 later, all had been fixed except for the fuel gauge.  As it turns out, it needed a new float, and apparently it is difficult to find parts for Ford Explorers here in Costa Rica, new or used.  BUT we praise the Lord that we were able to fix the others for a very reasonable price.  We are still searching for the float (probably will have to have it brought down from the states) as well as a new set of motor mounts which we have recently discovered are also broken.  Still, it runs great and has been a HUGE blessing to us and we look forward to being able to gain the regular support to be able to use it for the ministry (as gas is $6 per gallon).

            As not much else, ministry wise, has occurred this last month, I thought that perhaps you would like a little tour of where we live.  We are renting a house here in the middle of San Francisco de Dos Rios, San José. It is a 2 story house and on the 2nd floor is the apartment that my parents (Steve and Angel Hoover) live in, complete with a bedroom, a bathroom, a dining room, a kitchen and a living room.  Which, as you can see, aren’t very spacious, but definitely a blessing.  It has a decent view of the park across the street as well, which you can see below:

            The ground floor is our place.  It has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (though we don’t have bathtubs, only showers) with a back patio that is surrounded by concrete and open to the sky above through the iron bars that block anyone from being able to enter from the roof.  It allows for a good breeze through the house, which is nice considering that we do not have air conditioning here.  We are very blessed that the kids are able to have their own space also, with Kevin being a 10 year old boy, he enjoys not having to share a room with a 2 year old girl. Annika has her little kitchen play set and Kevin has his desk where he plays with his legos, works on his puzzles and does his crafts.

            Aside from the park across the street, we are in the middle of a big city, with houses surrounding us on all sides.  There is no space between houses, rather each place shares a wall with the next and yards do not really exist.  This may be the case in any major city in the US, but it is definitely something that we, from northwest Arkansas, were not accustomed to.  Another unfamiliarity that we had to get used to were the bars EVERYWHERE!  Bars on the windows, bars over the patio, bars surrounding the car ports… bars and razor wire, let’s not forget the razor wire!  Ah well, home is home, God is God, and we are on a mission and will be content in ALL situations.  There are so many in this world that do not have near what we have, so how can we even begin to complain.  Thank you Lord for Your goodness and grace in our lives!

            Well, that is but a tiny glimpse into the place that we call home here in Costa Rica.  As always we thank you all for your faithfulness and just ask that you continue to help us in this ministry, regardless of how slow it may seem to go, God is working through us for His glory and He is using each one of you to make it possible.  Keep the faith and spread His word!  God bless!

-Justin, Bobbi, Kevin and Annika

SON Ministries

Blog:                    thewhitefamilyinhaiti.blogspot.com

Website:               http://www.sonministries.webs.com

email:                   whitefamilyhaiti@hotmail.com

Mission:               http://www.institutodegracia.com

February 2013 Newsletter

February 2013

The White Family in Costa Rica

A Driving force on the mission field

         Good March to all our family and friends, brothers and sisters in Christ!  The month of February has indeed been a good month of recuperation from the month long visit from the in-laws, Chuck and Jodi Sackman!  More than that, however, it has also been packed full of blessings and busy-ness.  I’ll give you the details of each event in chronological order… if I can remember them J

         Well, the beginning of this month was much like the end of the last.  Chuck and Jodi did not return to Arkansas until the 7^th, and that last week was bitter sweet for all of us as we wrapped up our time together.  During that time Chuck and I set out on the 3 cross hike, an uphill climb full of trails, creek beds, bluffs, jungle, views and beauty… a testament to the physical health of Chuck Sackman who, over the last year, has been living healthier and losing weight.  This is a journey that I (Justin) have taken on a few occasions before, and one that I enjoy leading others on to see God’s beautiful creation from such a great vantage point.

  

Also during that last week, the Lord gave us a great opportunity to further our ministry here in Costa Rica.  We received news that another missionary here was preparing to move onto another country and another task and was selling his vehicle for a great price.  With our pastor (also father-in-law) Chuck, we headed out to take a look at it, a 1991 Ford Explorer.  It had some years on it, and its share of  “issues”, but overall it ran great, and for a price that you rarely find around here.  Of course, regardless of the price, we just did not have the money.  So we prayed and asked the Lord for His provision, sent out a notice to our church family and supporters back home, and waited.  Within a week’s time, we had all that we needed to purchase the vehicle, praise God for His provision!  Now I was sure that a vehicle of that price would not last long, but when God provides, He also makes the way… we called and it was still available… WOOHOO!  We are now the stewards of a vehicle for the glory of the Lord here in Costa Rica!

Getting the vehicle was surely a blessing from the Lord, but we were not able to use it at the moment.  Along with the few “fixer uppers” that it needed, we also had to get our Costa Rican licenses to be able to drive it!  That, we were to find out, consisted of much paperwork and time.  Copies of passports and visas and licenses had to be made, a physical medical exam had to be done, payments to governmental services had to be paid and finally, time had to be spent waiting in lines and reviewing documentation and answering questions.  For Bobbi Ann, the process was to validate her US driver’s license to receive her Costa Rican one… for me, well, my license was expired!  I had to take a different route… one that every national has to take… the driver’s test… in SPANISH!  I studied and studied, memorizing vocabulary and the rules of the foreign road, having to register myself into the system, waiting in lines, paying fees and making appointments.  Then I took the written exam, and passed!  From there I had to make the appropriate copies of the documents, get the medical exam and wait in the lines… only I have just received a learners permit.  Which just means that I can only drive so long as I have someone with me who has a license.  This will serve me well until I can renew my US license and validate it for my C.R. one.    

Beyond the joys of car ownership and license acquisition, the kids have been growing and learning each day.  Kevin began the 4^th grade in the public school here in Costa Rica.  He would be in 5^th grade, but we held him back a year so that he could concentrate on Spanish as the school is, of course, completely in Spanish.  He is coming along just fine, understanding and participating and making friends.  Be in prayer for us however… though he is only 10, he’s acquiring the independent disposition of a teenager!  Pray that we have the patience and the spiritual wisdom to help him through this physical and emotional roller coaster that he is approaching!  As for Anni, she has quite the little attitude of her own.  As we say, her terrible twos have officially arrived!  To think that when we arrived here in Costa Rica, she could not even crawl, and now she is literally bouncing off the walls and chattering up a storm (in English and in Spanish).  No matter the challenges that they face and the struggles that we will all go through, we are so grateful to be able to raise our children on the mission field and living out the will and the word of God!

         Bobbi Ann and I are continuing to learn each day… learning the language, learning the people and learning about the ministry.  With still another trimester and a half of language school, we are already envisioning what the ministry will be in the long term.  A lot of travel, meeting new people and sharing the word of God with all those who will receive it, we have a lot of ground to cover and God’s word is never exhausted!  We appreciate all of your prayers and your financial support that makes EVERYTHING that we do here possible.  We pray for your continued involvement in this ministry that is touching and changing, not only our lives, but the lives of everyone that the Lord places in our path.  God bless you and keep you in His will and for His glory!  Amen!

-Justin, Bobbi, Kevin and Annika

SON Ministries

Blog:                   thewhitefamilyinhaiti.blogspot.com

Website:             http://www.sonministries.webs.com

email:                  whitefamilyhaiti@hotmail.com

Mission:              http://www.institutodegracia.com

January 2013 Newsletter

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE sACKMAN KIND

         Greetings to you all, our faithful supporters and prayer warriors!  This month has been a great month of family and friends and adventures.  Along with all the joy and the precious time that we had, I sense there will be a lot of recuperating to be had when it’s all said and done.  In this letter I will be sharing with you the top three events of this last month in our shared lifestyle… shared with the Latin-American community, as well as with family and friends.

         Let’s begin this month on January 7^th… this is the day that “they” arrived.  Yes… “they”… the in-laws; Chuck and Jodi Sackman.  Now, from how I just introduced them, you should have already recognized that the writer of this letter is, none other than, Justin White, the son-in-law.  So, therefore, let me also point out that Chuck Sackman is not just my “in-law”, but he is also the pastor of our sending church Piney Point Baptist Church (aka my pastor), as well as my personal mentor in the ministry.  Oh what a month of accountability THIS has been!  Though I jest, I must also clarify that, though seemingly daunting and perhaps intimidating, our time together has certainly been wonderful.  For my wife, as she has not had the opportunity to see her parents in several months; for the grandchildren, because they have been spoiled beyond compare; for my parents, as they are close in ministry as well as friendship; and of course for myself as well, as I have been able to use my Spanish “abilities” to guide them around the city with confidence and, may I say, a fair bit of ease. 

We began our time together with CHRISTMAS TIME!  This is where all the “spoiling” began, as we all sat around our living room here in San Jose, Costa Rica and opened our gifts together; laughing, playing and having a great time celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Oh the gifts that grandparents give their grandchildren… beautifully designed (parent) torture devices, designed to be fun and irritating all at the same time.  Can’t complain though, we were all pretty spoiled and grateful at the end of the day.

Next, I was able to officially begin my ministry as “Tech Guy” (or “el tecnico”) in the pastoral formation project through the local seminary here called “ESEPA”.  I was blessed to be able to have both Chuck and Hoover with me as we began a new group and evaluated another.  For those of you who don’t know, our goal is to bring sound theological education to under-resourced pastors and leaders all around the country… for FREE!  I am blessed to be a part of this ministry and grateful to begin it with my pastor and my father by my side.

Lastly, we were treated to a weekend excursion to one of the most beautiful beaches here in Costa Rica.  In fact, the name of the beach is Playa Hermosa (Beautiful Beach).  The sunsets, as you can see, were absolutely amazing.  As we watched such a gorgeous sunset, awestruck by the colors, soothed by the waves crashing on the beach, swayed by the wind sweeping through the palm trees… we are reminded that this world did not happen by chance, but was fashioned by an Artist!  Our Creator is a perfect artist, whose very word brought it all into existence; whose hand sustains it.  And though man is fallen and sinful, we are still created in His image.. the image of the Almighty.  We are the work of His hands… the same hands that fashioned this beautiful sunset.  What an encouragement!

As I said, we had a great time this last month, and we know that God has been in control of every second of it.  Language learning is still vital for us all, but the ministry is taking off.  Our need for financial support is on the rise, as well as our need for a vehicle.  Please be in prayer for generous givers and faithful followers to take up this responsibility, as well as for yourselves to continue in your support.  It is God who provides, but He uses each and every one of you to do so.  Help us to take His word… His gospel into the uttermost parts of Latin-America.  To evangelize the lost and to disciple the faithful.  If twelve men can turn the world upside down for the glory of the Lord, there is no reason why all of us cannot likewise impact the darkness of this world with the light of His word!  God bless you and keep you in His will.

-Justin, Bobbi, Kevin and Annika

SON Ministries

Blog:                   thewhitefamilyinhaiti.blogspot.com

Website:             http://www.sonministries.webs.com

email:                  whitefamilyhaiti@hotmail.com

December 2012 Newsletter

December 2012

The White Family in Costa Rica

FELIZ NAVIDAD, FELIZ NAVIDAD, FELIZ NAVIDAD, PROSPERO AÑO Y FELICIDAD!

         Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family in the U.S. from Costa Rica!  This month has been a great month for us all… for many reasons, but namely for the blessing of still being able to celebrate the birth of Christ with family even being so far away from “home”.  We hope that you all had a great Christmas and were blessed by the remembrance of the reason we celebrate, Amen!  Now… let us share with you a little about the happenings of this last month…

         Bobbi Ann and Steve have finished their first trimester of Spanish at the Spanish Language Institute.  Both of them came through with flying colors as they passed each one of their classes (Grammar, Language, and Phonetics) with all A’s.  They are very excited to see how far they have come in these few short months, as well as to be able to have a long break between trimesters!  Language learning is exhausting!  Their next trimester begins on January 9^th, and they are ready to get in and continue the process of cramming 2 languages into 1 brain J  Pray for them that they will continue to learn and grow and be able to minister in Spanish.

         As for ministry, I (Justin) am waiting for my next meeting with the team from ESEPA, the local seminary, to hash out some of the details about our pastoral training ministry.  For those of you who may not know, I am the tech guy for a mission that provides free, seminary approved, theological training to under resourced pastors in Costa Rica.  Also, Bobbi Ann and I were blessed to accompany a friend of ours at a local missions youth camp called “La Montaña”.  We were able to stay 2 days and 1 night and tour the campus as well as attend one of their chapel services and fellowship with many of the volunteers of the camp that will help guide some of the children’s events.  We had a great time and we are looking forward to helping out more there, as well as setting up future appointments for short term mission teams from the states.  A new ministry, birthed in the heart of Steve Hoover, is a church start directed towards the students of ILE.  So many, coming in to learn Spanish, miss out on the fellowship and biblical teaching in English that they used to receive each week back in the states, but aren’t able to receive here because of distance and limited transportation.  Steve will be the pastor of the church, and it would be officially ordained by Piney Point Baptist Church in Rogers, Ar. Our sending church.  Another ministry that we have just began working on is a radio ministry.  We will host a half hour talkshow each week about missionary life, go to the SON Ministries website for more info. (website address is at the bottom of the page). Along with all these works, there are many more opportunities opening up each week, and certainly many others to be seen.  So continue to pray as we step through open doors, that the Lord’s will would be abundantly clear and that we would faithfully follow it.

         As we look ahead to the new year, praying for a vision of what the new year will bring, planning our steps of what God has already lain on our hearts, be in prayer with us that no matter what happens, we give God glory in every aspect of our lives.  Pray for abundant provision to live and to minister, for faithful prayer warriors, for compassionate hearts, steadfast faith, and continued growth in the knowledge and relationship we have with our Father in Heaven.  God bless each one of you who support us, and remember to help spread the word of what God is doing here in Costa Rica and in the hearts of His children.  Until next month…

-Justin, Bobbi, Kevin and Annika

SN Ministries

Blog:                   thewhitefamilyinhaiti.blogspot.com

Website:             http://www.sonministries.webs.com

email:                  whitefamilyhaiti@hotmail.com