From Costa Rica

Thank you for those of you who prayed for us during our travels yesterday. We returned to Costa Rica arriving around 1:10 p.m. in the afternoon. It was a difficult departure as we left our daughter, Heather, behind to continue her studies in the community college. I can't say as I've ever seen two siblings cry as much as Kyle and Heather did at the airport. This missionary service over the last four years has always had Heather in the midst of it all. Of course, it was a teary day for all of us as well. It feels strange to walk past her room here in the house in Costa Rica and not have her here. We are sad because of it. Yesterday would have also been my nephew's 38th birthday!

Please continue to pray for our family, for Heather as she continues to adjust in the States and studies, for Kyle as he clearly misses Heather (they are very close and apart from the age difference one might think they were twins, always together down here), pray for this Mama who misses both "her girls" (Danielle & Heather) and please continue to pray for healing over Karl's untimely death.

But, we are here, and we are here because of His strength and His promises that we can count on during these days!

Revelation 21:3-4 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away".

AMEN!!!!

Back in N.C. and preparing for ministry, how you can pray!

We arrived home safely to North Carolina yesterday morning at 4 a.m. after spending two weeks in New York visiting our family and friends. This visit was especially enjoyable and it seemed as though God multiplied our time there as the two weeks felt more like four. We got to see everyone we wanted too and didn't feel rushed in our visitations. The last two times that we have been up to New York have been because of one of our parent's funerals. This time, there were more smiles, jokes and laughing. I had a wonderful time at a long anticipated family reunion getting to see my Aunt's and Uncle's, and cousins. When we moved to North Carolina in 1997 the family always happened to schedule the reunion in August when school was starting for our kids in N.C., and we were never able to make the trip up North. I saw family members that I hadn't seen in 14 years! We also had reunions on Ken's side of the family in that Aunt's and Uncle's came to meet us for meals on the road as we traveled through States; so much fun! ALL six of us kids got to be together in NY again as well. I did get to win one Parchessi game, but of course, with no mercy being shown, I lost more than I won! Perhaps, I will have a better round of games in October when we return!


We have been invited to minister to children over the next four weeks at Hickory Grove Church during their Wednesday night program. We will be discussing Missions and it's Message, teaching the kids a Worship Song in Spanish, doing crafts, discussing and showing pictures of our ministries in Costa Rica, and introducing them to Costa Rican foods and snacks! Your prayers are much appreciated and needed...Thank You!

So what is "furlough"?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines furlough as a "(noun), a leave of absence from duty granted especially to a soldier; a document authorizing such a leave of absence". Let me just say, that this might be the exact reason some see missionary furloughs as "a personal vacation escaping one's duties and responsibilities". Someone recently told us, "but I don't get an extended leave from my work"! And you, my friend, have not chosen to minister in two separate, yet very different cultures, and whether I am in Costa Rica or even now home during this furlough, I am actually doing double-duty because of those two cultures. 'Nuff said! Most missionary agencies today don't even use the word "furlough" because of it's misconceptions. Rather, they have resorted to "home assignment or service" and quite honestly, it has helped people to better understand what it is we do when we have time away from our cross-cultural ministry and are back in our first culture!

So, just so we are all on the same page, our family does have some objectives for this time of "home assignment".

In Acts 14:27, 28 "On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples".

This Biblical principle was put into motion by the first missionary journey! I like to call it the "Three R's" method...dorky, I know! They a) Reported back, b) Renewed relationships, c) Sought out revival.

Our family is supported sacrificially and generously by a group of churches, and individuals, and we feel obligated to keep our donors informed of what is going on in our ministry. We do send out quarterly letters with photo's and maintain this blog (somewhat, cough, okay, I'm outright choking here, so maybe we are behind more often than not on the posting?), but I think everyone would admit that there's something about that personal contact that a missionary has with their supporters, churches and individuals, that allows you to know more about who we are and what we are doing. I know that we, personally, struggle to keep long-distance relationships going while on the field (my older sister is reading this and saying, "You think"?). Scripturally, we've been called in Mark 10:29-30 to forsake even our family and friends for His cause (some it's easier than others...just kidding, hahahaha!). We are very excited to be on furlough because it gives us a concentrated amount of time to reconnect (whether they want to or not) with our loved ones, our home church and dear friends! We have already taken the opportunity to focus upon personal spiritual revival. Rest assured, WE KNOW WE NEED IT! We are worn out by the spiritual battles that come out of living cross-culturally. We are exhausted by the overwhelming needs that are brought to us on a near daily basis while living in Costa Rica. Sitting in our home church, under preaching in our first language, delving into the Word of God and praying, uninterrupted, has allowed the Lord to show us clearly the spiritual needs that we have in our own lives.

So, pray for us. Pray for us as we prepare to report back to supporters, as we renew relationships with family and friends, and as we continue to seek after Him, to be revived in Spirit and in Truth!

"Welcome Home, Mrs. Dundon"!

There really isn't much of anything that exciting about the actual event of "traveling" between the two countries. On one side you are painfully saying good-bye for six months to what has now become your surrogate family, and you try so very hard to hold back excitement in your voice and actions because you really are so excited to go home and see loved ones, you almost feel guilty. In flight, your thoughts race (at least mine do) about changes you might experience. How much bigger is my grandson? Is he walking? Does he say any words? What size clothes does he wear now? What's the yard look like; the trees we planted before we left, the shrubs? Since we don't have one in Costa Rica it's always exciting to see ours!

One thing that I never remember, but it gets me every time I get to come home, are the Immigration Officers who stamp my passport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We get the usual questions; "What were you doing out of the country"? And we get the same responses..."A missionary?!? Really? How do you like that"?

And then the moment happens.

The stamp is placed on the passports which are then passed back to us and we hear, "Welcome Home, Mrs. Dundon"! And my eyes produce crocodile tears! Why? It sounds so comforting to hear those words. It feels welcoming. You feel wanted. For a moment, you feel care-free and like you have a "place" to call home because quite honestly, it's true what most missionaries say, you never feel like you have a "home" anymore once you start serving in another country. Neither country feels quite "right".

And my mind shifts quickly to thoughts of our military. I wonder, who didn't hear those words this past year? I wonder if they feel the same way when they do hear them. And I say a prayer as I walk to baggage claim for those who are actively serving and their families.

The military fights in some ways the same battle the missionary fights. They fight physically with their bodies, but like us, they fight psychologically, spiritually and emotionally.

Please don't forget our military! And don't forget your missionaries! It's a battle out there! We need to keep fighting on!

Lo siento mucho OR sorry!

We've been really busy. More on all of that later!

The reason for this post is to ask you to remember the ministry at the campground this weekend with the homeless shelter in your prayers. We have just a couple of hours behind us and already the walls are being broken down and God is moving. Several street weapons have already been turned in (a picture later). God is moving!

Thank you so much for praying!

Women's Ministry Tonight - Praying?

I hope if you are a regular follower of this blog that you remembered a previous post about the Women's Ministry Outreach being held tonight at the camp. This ministry is now a regular Outreach into the community of women and is being held every three months under the name, "Noche de Chicas" or "Chick Night"! The Lord placed this ministry on my heart back in late winter and I formed a Steering Committee of two other very fine Tica Christian ladies to help me launch our first Women's Outreach back in June. At that time, missionary intern, Tamara Maycroft was here and she was the guest speaker. There is more of a "need" for this ministry than I even understood back in June, and as of the last couple of weeks, my two Tica friends on the Steering Committee have been virtually "hounded" about the next meeting, when it was going to be, etc. Today, I have been working on the last of the preparations and I will take more photos tonight, but here are the brownie bites on a stick. Then they are dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut, macadamia nuts or just fun confetti sprinkles. As a rule, my Tica friends informed me that "chocolate is necessary" at a Women's gathering, so I am prayerful that this will fit the bill! Tonight, Amy Givens, our new ministry partner here at the camp is sharing her testimony and what the Lord has taught her especially about Biblical "finances". Our next meeting is scheduled for December 4 and will be a Mother-Daughter Christmas Tea theme.

Please pray for our outreach tonight as Amy shares from the Word about this very specific topic, but a much needed one with regard to women here in the Valley! Also, at the same time that the women are having their meeting, we will be having a simultaneous children's ministry, so that no women has to be left out of attending tonight's activities!

Dad again and now Ken

What was supposed to be a work-in doctor's appointment, ended up being a five hour stay in the hospital emergency room as well today! Ken has flared again with his rheumatoid arthritis and he has been walking with the use of crutches for the past week. With Team PBA arriving on Monday, I suggested he call the doctor and have his knee and ankle looked at since it didn't appear that the new drug cocktail was really working too well, and working more on our bank account than his body! The doctor was gracious to fit him in today and drained six tubes of liquid off his knee, and injected it with an anti-inflammatory medication. We then proceeded to the ER for IV fluid to help with the swelling in his ankle.

Meanwhile, back in the States in N.C. since we have left the area, Ken's brother and two sisters have driven from Atlanta and New York State to check on his father who is again readmitted into the hospital this time for a very debilitating state of mental confusion and aggressive behavior. His MRI came back normal, but some other exams and blood work shows that his multiple myeloma is spreading. The physicians have discontinued any medications that may have caused this state of confusion, and it seems at this time that there is no real clear answer for his behavior.

I've wanted to post some pictures that I haven't been able to get up due to preparations for the team, that have been taken over the past two weeks. Maybe tomorrow. Today, was supposed to be grocery shopping day for the team, but we ran out of time with the morning spent in the hospital.

We have a group coming in to rent the camp tomorrow evening into Saturday evening, so tomorrow as early as possible we plan on getting out to do the grocery shopping and then return to the camp to finish preparing for the rental group. We've got one more cabin to clean after having the exterminator here on Monday, not because the camp was infested, its something we do routinely every six months! Maybe over the weekend I can get those pictures up! Please continue to pray for Ken's Dad and the family in any decisions they may need to make for him in N.C., and for Ken's recovery into remission from this round of rheumatoid arthritis!

Re: Dad

Carolyn, my mother-in-law called this morning to talk for a few minutes and we appreciate that. When loved ones are sick it is hard to be so far away! She said that my father-in-law, Richard, has been diagnosed with pneumonia. This was confirmed by x-rays as well as a scan. This is good news! He is recovering, still in the hospital. He is taking a bit of time to recover because of all the medicines he is on for pain management from neuropathy which are making the antibiotics a little weaker. But, overall he seems to be on the mend. Thank you to all those who prayed!

It's a busy day here finishing up "preparations" and working around the campground. I will try and post some pictures tonight.

The question was asked by a commentor whether the Maycroft Family would work here with us as missionaries if all things went well with their young boys on this trial run. I believe if they continued to feel called to be full-time missionaries, that they would sign on with Global Outreach Mission. At this time, I do not think that a country or a specific ministry has been discussed with them, as they are really seeking the Lord for direction during this internship period. I know that they will covet your prayers during this period of service! It is an extremely important time in their lives!

On another note, last year we had a member of last year's Global Outreach Mission January team stay an extra week rather unexpectedly and last minute to work more closely with us. This was Amy Beth Givens. Amy did return to the States after her three weeks here and felt called to full-time missionary service and in November she was appointed to Costa Rica as our newest team member. As many of you do know, she is currently in the fundraising process through the mission. God is moving in a lot of different ways; ways that one could never expect; but, we serve that kind of God! Her house sold quickly, but recently she was unexpectedly laid off from her job! Please pray for Amy that funds would come together for her to move her to the field. We certainly can use her help with the loss of our previous ministry partners, Katherine & David Huitz, who were called to serve in Guatamela and left Costa Rica on April 30th. In other words, the Dundon Family is here alone right now, but not really, because God continues to help us through this transition period! Amy is a licensed LPN and will be taking on the role of Medical Coordinator for our medical teams! I know Amy would appreciate your prayers as she works full-time to raise support and prepares to move here! She has 100% raised of her outgoing expenses, and is currently at a little over 50% of her monthly support...To God be the Glory!

Please pray for this vital ministry of the campground which serves as a "base" so to speak for those considering full-time missionary service. It is a place where interns can work on the field, be exposed to missionary life and experience this country's culture. It is an absolute joy, and a privilege, whenever we get to share our missionary lives with those "considering" full-time service! Global Outreach Mission has always allowed us the "option" of whether we want to host people here. We have been blessed in so many ways through this opportunity. Our prayer is that we too, have been a blessing! I personally enjoy having the opportunity to have company and use my gifts of cooking and hospitality.

Okay, I guess I need to get back to work!

Prayer Requests

We've been busy "preparing". Seems like we are just in that stage. We've been moving bunkbeds at the camp, stoves, refrigerators all in preparation. This weekend we welcome back the homeless shelter for a weekend long retreat and renewal at the camp. They confirmed yesterday that they expect to bring 70 people! That takes preparation on our part! On Monday, the Maycroft Family along with Sarah Ax arrive at the camp for a three-month long missionary internship. Thus, the moving and setting up of a stove and refrigerator! On May 24th Team PBA returns to the camp for a week of medical clinics. We've been working on this team's logistics for two months; talking to Pastor's, doctors, a dentist, a tourism company. We are very excited about their return! So, how might you pray for us?

1. Pray for this weekend, that the people coming from the homeless shelter would sense love and caring at the camp. That they would feel Jesus drawing near to them. Pray as they make commitments to change their lives from drug and alcohol abuse.
2. Pray for the Maycroft Family and Sarah Ax as they travel to Costa Rica, that they would be safe. Pray for all their luggage to arrive with them! Pray specifically for the Maycroft's who are considering full-time missionary service depending on how well their three young boys do over these next three months here in Costa Rica. Pray for a binding together of all of us here as team and a family while we work and play together!
3. Pray for Team PBA (Palm Beach Atlantic University) as the students are now taking final exams before their mission trip. Pray for their packing and safe travel to Costa Rica. Pray as they minister in medical clinics to the people of Costa Rica. Pray for a binding of their spirits as a team. Pray as they put into practice their education as pharmacy students on the mission field.
4. Please pray as I am currently working on a Women's Ministry project scheduled for June 19 at the camp. This will be the first time we have done something like this just for Women. Pray for the details to come together!
5. Pray that heart's will be open to hear the Word of God as we minister with the above people and groups and that souls might be saved.

Not because of Us, but because of what He has done!

Much needed prayer!

Tonight we found out that Ken's Dad, Richard, is in the hospital back in the States. He has been home from being in Costa Rica here with us just over a week now. What we know is that they have found a large mass on one of his lungs. (About six months ago he began treatment for bone marrow cancer). At this time, we do not know what the lung mass is. What we do know is that my father-in-law is in the Lord's hands, the Great Physician. We also know from the experience last year of my mother's illness, that the Lord truly does not give you more than you can handle and He is Faithful! Please join us in prayer for Dad!

This week, the next team and prayer requests

So, hope you've enjoyed the recent slew of updates!

Another team arrives in Costa Rica on this Saturday. This week's schedule includes last minute repairs to our van to be able to transport this smaller team around, the menu and schedule for the team is complete, but we still need to do grocery shopping and supply shopping for the team.

This team is special to us! We've been here two years next month and this is the first team from our home church, Hickory Grove Advent Christian Church, in Four Oaks, N.C....whoot-whoot! They travel to Myrtle Beach on Friday, so please pray for their safety on the road. They then depart Myrtle Beach on Saturday and arrive here in Costa Rica just after lunch. Please pray for safe air travel! They will only be able to stay for four days and we have a lot to do. While our church has seen "pictures" of the ministry here, this team is coming to "see" and understand better what we do, and our prayer is that in the future, more teams from home will be coming to Costa Rica! Pray as we serve in the homeless shelter and one team member shares with the people there, pray as they serve in the orphan home, pray as they work at the camp on a couple of different projects that they would be safe in their work, pray for our free-day and our time together here as we work side by side for Him. Needless to say, our family is very excited about them coming and being able to spend time with them!!!

For church family and friends, I will try my best to update the blog every day while the team is here!

Please pray, team arrival and last preparations

The team, 35 members strong, arrives this Saturday afternoon for two weeks of ministry. They are coming from the U.S. and Canada and their ministry will consist of Construction both at the camp and a remote, poor church; Medical Clinics; Children's Teacher Training; "The Pueblito" orphan home and Children's Ministry during the Medical Clinics. This morning I finished combining the Children's Teacher Training manuals (we are combining some CEF material with our previous manual), and now those are off to the copy center. Last year, we trained about 60 teachers with this training. This year we have had an even greater response and are planning on training 90 teachers. Last night we got the grocery shopping list back from Isa, our camp cook, after giving her the menu, and Ken is off doing the grocery shopping this morning. With the size of the team, plus our volunteers (doctors, interpreters, drivers) we will be housing 55 plus people at the camp; two or three people will actually have to stay in our home for everyone to have a bed. Today, I will be moving beds around in our house to make room. We will be traveling with this team to four different locations to minister. Mon. & Tues. half of the children's ministry team will be ministering at the orphan home. The entire construction team will be working at the camp on the Celebration Center building. The medical team will be at a poor church in Cartago along with the other half of the children's ministry team who will be ministering to the children during the clinic. On Wednesday, the 20th we will be traveling with the team to the Guapiles area and along the way having our "free day". On Thursday through Sunday we will be holding a medical clinic in this area along with simultaneous children's ministry. Thursday we will also be doing teacher's training. The construction team will be working on a building project serving a very poor and remote church. On Sunday afternoon we will begin our trip back to the camp. On Monday, the 25th will be another "free day" just to rest at the camp or walk over to Orosi. Tuesday, the 26th, we will be going to Tres Rios, right outside of San Jose. On Tuesday we will be doing teacher training again, the medical clinic will begin with simultaneous children's ministry, but the construction team will be back at the camp working on the Celebration Center building. We will continue ministering in Tres Rios through the 28th. On Friday, the 29th we will do a clinic and children's ministry for one day in Paraiso. On Saturday, the 30th we will be at the camp, cleaning up our mess, resorting ministry supplies and on Sunday, the 31st, the team returns to the U.S. and Canada.

How can you pray for us?
1. Pray for this team as they travel to Costa Rica on Saturday.
2. Pray for the clinics, that people might receive physical as well as spiritual healing.
3. Pray for the children who will be ministered to in children's ministry.
4. Pray for the teacher's training, that this would bless these remote, poor churches and that their teacher's would be encouraged and blessed!
5. Pray for the team members as they minister and our family as we minister (Ken as he heads up the construction projects back at the camp as well as in the remote church, Sherri as she teaches in the teacher's training and works in children's ministry, Heather as she translates in the Pharmacy, Kyle as he ministers in children's ministry and translates, Jordan as he helps in construction).
6. Pray for a harvest of souls, men, women and children.
7. Pray that all that we say and do would glorify God, not because He needs us, but because He allows us!

The phone call

We just got the phone call about a half hour ago that Floria's mother has just passed away in the home. Please pray for us today as we try and minister to this entire family. We will go to the house after our church service to give the family more time to gather. The body will be in the home for viewing which is the custom here. Family and close friends will be expected to visit all day and stay with the family all night. Typically, it is customary for the family to stay awake all night together as part of the grieving process. They sit in the home with the body and visit with those who come to mourn with them, drinking coffee. Usually the gifts that you do bring are coffee or food when you visit the family. The burial will be tomorrow and you follow the body through town, walking behind the family, to its final resting place. This hits just a little "too close" to home right now for our family with the passing of my Mom, so please pray for the strength that we need to minister today. We can only do this with Him and through Him. Lord, we NEED YOU!

Pray for Floria

When I returned home from my Mom's memorial service in August; on my first Sunday back, a woman at the church greeted me in tears. Her name is Floria and she told me that her mother was declining and was not expected to live long. With the help of Heather, she wanted to express to me her deep condolences on the passing of my mother. I expressed to her that my mother was not suffering any longer and that she was a Christian, and that her passing was better for her. With tears in her eyes she said, "when my mother passes, I want you to be with me".

Tonight, our Pastor called our home and told Kyle to tell us that Floria's mother was passing away and we were to go to the house up in Orosi. We quickly changed our clothes and picked up the Pastor and his wife along the way and went to Floria's home. Ken and I asked the Pastor and his wife to go into the bedroom before us and after a few minutes we were asked to join them there with Floria and her mother who was in bed. Her mother was very fraile and Floria looked exhausted. We prayed together with Floria and her mother, but it was hard for me to hold back tears as I held Floria's hand knowing that so many had just walked this road with me only two and a half months ago. Floria began to cry as I held her hand and I hugged her close.

We spent just a little bit more time in the house visiting and when we left Floria and I hugged each other tightly. I reminded her in Spanish that God is strong and that He would be her strength and comfort during this difficult time. She agreed as tears both streamed down our cheeks. I told her that I loved her and that fewer words were better than many!

Times like these are difficult in ministry with language barriers, but one thing that I do know is that Floria knows and understands that we love and care for her. That is the same in every language. May God use my mother's passing in a powerful way as we try and minister to this family through these difficult hours as Floria's mother's life comes to a close. To our God be the Glory!

Cops & Robbers, Fruit & Fun, and Prayer Requests

On Friday morning, David & Katherine with some help from Alianna, Ken & I picked fruit at the campground for a trip that we were taking today to do some logistical work. Pictured here are oranges, lemons, limes, guava and grapefruit loaded into the back of our van. We had a good time talking and laughing together! I wish I had my camera with me to snap a picture at the camp of Ken pushing Alianna around in the wheelbarrel full of fruit...so cute!

This morning we traveled about three hours away from the campground to the Caribbean, near Guapiles, to visit churches in more remote areas. This is the area that we will be bringing a short-term missions team to in January to minister through medical clinics, construction projects and children's ministry and training. In this picture is Pastor Jose, a Global Outreach missionary who introduced us to these churches and their Pastors; Ken and Katherine, who are discussing the logistics for this upcoming team.

Here's a picture of Ken & Katherine distributing the fruit that we had picked and brought with us on this trip to the Pastor's wives and families. We hope that this will bless them in some small way.

While it was much hotter and more humid than we are used too here on the Caribbean side of the country; it also seemed that everything grew bigger and prettier. I saw these hot pink flowers along the road and couldn't resist taking a picture. So vibrant and dainty.

On Friday evening, we had a rental group of ladies at the camp. After we finished picking fruit, we worked together to clean the kitchen, the bathrooms and cabins in preparation for this group. They arrived a bit later than we had expected them on Friday evening. Running behind schedule, they stored their baggage outside the Celebration Center and immediately began their evening service. Much to our frustration, three to four young men entered the campground and stole one of the ladies pieces of luggage. We are grateful for the quick response of the area police who were able to capture two of the men; one who was released (the laws are very lax here) and one who was taken into custody for possessing stolen items that were identified by one of the ladies as hers. Most of all, we are very grateful that no one was hurt!

How you can pray:

1. Pray for the upcoming teams coming to the campground to do ministry in December and January.

2. Continue to pray for our neighborhood which is experiencing more thefts and crime, and for the added police who have been called in to patrol our area.

Discouragement

This week in my personal devotions and prayer time I have been in II Cor. chapter 4. Right off the bat in vs. 1 the smack-down begins with this verse "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart"! Sheesh God, why not shout a little louder at me?

I rarely write about discouragement on this blog. Is it because I don't feel it? No! Mainly, it's because I want people to be encouraged, blessed, give people a window into missionary life in what I write. I don't want to have to change the name of the blog to something along the lines of "Doom and Gloom". And then God divinely began to place questions on my mind - So, you're writing about missionary lifestyle, yet you give people the false perception that you never get discouraged? You want to encourage and bless in your writing, but what if you asked for prayer during your discouragement, could not allowing someone to pray for you bless or encourage them when they see prayers answered?

So, here's a little window into my world as of late. I am discouraged. Um, maybe I should have written that in bold type because that would be more accurate! I mean, I am REALLY DISCOURAGED with language study! I've been taking lessons for a year and a half now, three days a week, an hour each day. Somewhere in my head, my brain, it doesn't seem to be clicking to me. English is such a formal language and Spanish is so informal. For example, we would say, "The blue car", here, they say, "the car blue". I plain have trouble with what feels like I am speaking backwards. Not to mention what seems like an unending list of conjugation rules!

Today, I wasn't even ten minutes into my Spanish lesson and started to cry. While my Spanish teacher was a comfort and encouragement to me I just wanted to share what it feels like on a very real, day to day basis not to be fluent in this language and be involved in ministry.

First, I feel like an 18-month-old in a 46-year-old's body; learning new words, having to repeat them or have them repeated to me so I say them correctly and can make the "connection" between object/meaning and word. Second, when an 18-month-old speaks to you, do you usually get what they are saying? I don't, so, I smile and look at the parent and ask for an interpretation. The only problem is, this 18-month-old has her 16-year-old or 14-year-old interpret for her! That's embarrassing and in some odd way feels like a sick role reversal. Therefore, I really don't have any independence to invite people or a friend over for coffee, or a dessert with conversation without my children nearby. This coming from a person who is very relational is difficult. I guess that is the most discouraging for me!

Well, anyways, I am putting this post up and I'm going to ask boldly, "would you please pray for me" regarding language study? I trust that since God has given us this ministry, certainly not because He needed us, but through Him, he is allowing us, that the light bulb is going to go on someday soon and I should just keep plugging along and not lose heart. Knowing that people are supporting me in prayer would be such an encouragement! Thank you so much!

"Okay God, I did it. Can I please go to bed now"? :)

Safe and Sound, but needing prayer

I arrived back in Costa Rica safe and sound yesterday afternoon. It was fun to come home and have "Kooky" the stray dog waiting at the door of the house for me! She was so happy to see me and I was just as happy to see her too! Today, I made a special trip into the grocery store in Orosi to load up on some dog food for her. This morning we were at the camp by 9 a.m. blowing up balloons and preparing for an outreach that we will be doing tomorrow evening at the camp. It will include dinner and is geared to minister to families. Right now we have received reservations for 50 people to attend. Please keep our team in your prayers tomorrow. On Sunday in church, our ministry partner, Katherine, will be speaking and myself, Heather and the missionary interns will be doing a mime routine during the service. Lynae, see previous posts, will be leaving on Sunday morning to return to the States after being here serving with us for two months. Please pray for her safe travels back to Canada and her family. Well, after being away from the blog for three weeks, I'm back, so check in and I will be posting new ministry pictures soon! God bless and thank you for your prayers!

The Orphans at the camp and a prayer request!!

After almost a year of working in a partnership with Pueblito de Costa Rica (the orphan home); some of the kids were allowed to come and use the camp for the day on Saturday. And, as usual, God had even better plans than ours! While we had the entire day planned with activities, one of the churches in our denominition here in Costa Rica had a group of Americans visiting and serving with them, yet their ministry plans for Saturday fell through and they were looking for another place in which to serve. We got a phone call, "could we help you? We have clowns, puppets, mime, etc." and so, the group of 18 Americans showed up in the afternoon for about two hours to help serve alongside us! This first picture is the group of 30 orphans who came to us on Saturday. Heather in the green T-shirt in the middle leading the "Octopus" game.

Katherine practicing her facepainting "skills" on Jordan first!

Just three of the clowns performing an act. They are part of the Christian Youth Group that volunteered to help us! They were awesome and their message was clear!

The Youth Group's puppet ministry in action!

This was when they first arrived and Heather began the festivities with an entire group game, though here Katherine is helping one little lady who is very shy and kind of lost about how to play, but that's okay!

**PLEASE PRAY**: With the extension of the kids vacation to include next week, the Director of the Orphan Home has asked if we would be willing to host another group of 30 children from the orphanage on Wednesday. The orphanage houses a total of about 123 children. We said that we would be more than happy too! Please pray as we have invited five youth from the Youth Group to join with us in this ministry on Wednesday. Our desire here is to lead by example, and in asking them to help us, we pray that it will develop servant hearts within them. We have another partnership which we have formed with "God Festival" and they will be sending us "Willy" their clown and a few of their professional face painter's for Wednesday as well. They also already sent down an industrial popcorn machine to use and their cotton candy machine. Please pray for their safety as they travel through San Jose on Wednesday morning to come to the camp! Pray for the children and for us as we attempt to bring them Jesus, in how we live and through what we teach!

**PRAISE**: A week and a half ago we had the Youth Group at the camp from Michigan (see previous posts and pictures) rental. We found out today that two Costa Rican kids were saved during their ministry at the camp! PTL!!!

Important: Prayer Request

This picture was taken in January when our house was placed on the market in N.C. (thus, no green grass, blooming trees, etc.) A couple of weeks ago we lowered the price of our home...again. I am still working my full-time N.C. job to pay for the mortgage on the home. It means that I have to cut back on my ministry plate (which is full) down here in order to do the work or sometimes "burn the candle at both ends" to help get what needs to be done here. At this time, we just want to bring this situation before you and ask you to join us in prayer over this matter. It is impacting our ability to minister in Costa Rica physically and financially.

Los Chilies

Ken, Katherine & David are at the airport this afternoon. They are picking up the short-term missions team, 38 members strong coming in today. Please continue to keep this team in your prayers over this next week. They will be leaving the camp on Thursday morning after breakfast for a 7 to 8 hour vehicle ride to Los Chilies. Los Chilies is located at the northern border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. There, they will be ministering through three days of medical clinics. They say it can be 110 degrees there and the conditions are deplorable as the people group is mostly Nicaraguan refugees. Ken and Heather will be making this trip together and they will return on Sunday evening. I will stay at home down the road from the camp with the boys since while this group is gone we will have a Costa Rican church renting the campground for the day on Saturday. We have had the campground rented out the last three weekends for Saturday rentals and when this team leaves next week, we will have a group of 70 renting the campground for the weekend! We have spent this past weekend also preparing for this large group by actually having to disassemble bunk beds and then set them up in other cabins, doing laundry (towels, washcloths, etc.) We are all kind of a bit tired, but we are really enjoying working together!

Please pray for safety for the team as they travel, for the boys and I as we stay home and manage the campground, and especially for the people that they will be ministering too. Pray now as the team prepares to bring medicine and the gospel to those who are hurting physically and spiritually.

To Hickory Grove: We miss you, more than words can express!