Amy's First-Aid kits

When Candace first arrived we took her on a tour of the Carpio Clinic where she is ministering each day this week, with the exception of Tuesday, when it is closed; and then we went shopping for first-aid containers. Candace and Amy put together 18 of these kits for each home with Heather & Javier's help, and while there is a nurse on staff at the orphan home, I know that it will go a long way in helping the mothers to clean scrapes and cuts in their homes, keeping germs at bay until the nurse can get around to check things out!

Visitors & Ministry

On Monday, Emil & Stacey arrived at the camp with their two daughters, Becca & Tate. They are prayerfully considering full-time missionary service with Global Outreach Mission and came from California to see the ministry in Costa Rica! Part of our ministry here is to share our lives with other potential missionaries by involving them in what we do on a day-to-day basis as well as having them joining us in ministry. This week has been awesome because it has felt like we have had a "mini" team here and we are always able to do so much more with a few people than just by ourselves! I really like their family and I wish that we could keep them here. Their girls are so special and Heather has enjoyed having "little sisters" around. It's hard for us to meet people for a short time, bond with them in some way and then have them leave. We don't know if Emil & Stacey will feel that God is calling them back to Costa Rica, but we know who does the calling! I do know that they would make great missionaries and so I ask that you add them to your prayer list for us; that God would give them very clear direction in the future. May God bless their family!

This picture is of Stacey at the orphan home introducing a craft with Heather translating for her.

As I mentioned before in a previous post, Candace is here from Arkansas for one week. She is an R.N. and has been ministering with Amy from a medical aspect in that her and Amy devised a plan to teach general hygiene while we were at the orphan home. Candace has been a hoot while she has been staying in our home. When I think about the scripture, "The joy of the Lord is my strength", I will always think of Candace in the future. She floods a room with "joy" in all circumstances and a love for the Lord that is contagious. She will be greatly missed when it is time for her to go as well.

Also as part of our ministry at the orphan home, we have always tried to minister to the mothers as well. I emailed Candace in advance of her coming and asked her if it would be possible for her to bring some small gifts for the mothers. When she arrived I was thrilled when she opened a suitcase of donations from her home church and friends of small bottles of lotion, candles, notepads, washcloths, etc. and when Ken was out one day he found these cute purse-like gift bags for us! Some were white with silver beaded handles and also red. At the end of the day of ministering on Tuesday to the orphan home kids, Stacy, Candace & Heather went to each home, prayed with each Mom and presented them with a special "ladies only" gift bag! Thank you so much, all of Candace's family and friends who made this possible for us to do. It was a tremendous blessing for the ladies to receive and I know that it encouraged each one of them!

In talking with Amy about what kind of thing we could do "new & different" in ministry at the orphan home, she came up with the brilliant idea one day as she was up to her arm pits in suitcases and sorting medical supplies, that with the extra that we had on hand, we could make miniature first aid kits for each orphan house. From that idea came another to have general hygiene kits for each child, and to set our "program" for the children around scriptural verses relating to God's temple (our bodies) and the care of our temple. Then, came the email to Emil & Stacey who were still preparing back in the States to let them know what we were doing and how they might be able to help us. Never did we expect that Emil & Stacey would take our ideas and prepare so much for us; what a blessing! When they arrived, they had two suitcases full of 60 prepared hygiene kits, each in an individual travel bag and complete with a washcloth, travel toothbrush, a regular toothbrush, soap, hair brush and shampoo.

On Tuesday, Stacey prepared a devotional that pulled everything that Amy & Candace had been teaching on hygiene together using one of the hygiene kits! The kids lined up to leave and go back to their homes after the ministry, and Becca & Tate, along with Stacey placed a kit in each child's hand. The kids were so excited! I saw one little boy, not even looking through his bag as most of the kids were, but clutching it close to his side as if to send the message that it "was his"!

How time flies...

when you are busy! Lynae got off last Sunday morning, early, to return home. On Monday morning at 3 a.m. we took the other four interns to the beach. We wanted to take Lynae also, but it just didn't work into the schedule before she left. On Thursday morning, the Delamonts returned to the States. Yesterday and today there have been people in and out of the camp as the Youth Group's annual soccer tournament fundraiser is tomorrow all day. Katherine is taking the two interns, Amy & Kelly with her very early tomorrow morning, 2 or 3 a.m. to serve with God Festival (see previous posts to understand this partnership) at Jaco Beach. David is actually gone from the neighborhood serving with another team here in Costa Rica from North Carolina as their interpreter with Pastor Jose & Pastor Tony. Ken & I will be at the camp all day tomorrow keeping an eye on things as various Youth Groups will be coming in to play during the tournament. Heather & Kyle will be working during the tournament with other youth group members cooking food, etc. Jordan signed up to play on this year's Youth Group team! On Monday morning our last two missionary interns leave to head back to the States. Things will certainly seem very quiet and strange around the camp with no guests. And if all of this weren't exciting in itself, someone in our little family has misplaced the camera AGAIN. So, I am off to see if I can find it! Hopefully, over the weekend I can post some pictures of the much anticipated Tournament de Futbol! Until then, thanks for reading, thanks for praying!

Family Outreach Tonight

It's already been a busy last couple of days here at the camp since returning from the U.S. On Friday, we began the preparations for the Family Outreach in the Celebration Center. Here the tables are set up, though not covered, balloons are being blown up and string tied to the ceiling to suspend the balloons from.

Tonight, I snapped this picture of Ken and Heather serving of "second" helpings of rice and chili, coleslaw and brownies that we had for dinner. In the background during dinner another missionary, but a dear friend, Pastor Cameron Woolford is delivering a message on the role of parents in the family unit!

Soon after people began to trickle in, I happened to see this woman sitting at the table reading the Book of Luke in Spanish. We handed these out when people came in and it was exciting to see someone reading.

This is the whole group who attended tonight, 81 people...Praise the Lord! We started off the evening with "family-type" games, bobbing for apples, musical chairs, etc. We then served dinner and had live worship music, a guest speaker, who addressed the importance of spending time together as a family too, and then finished the evening with pinatas, of course. We had a lot of families thank us for opening up the camp for this outreach! Please continue to pray that "seeds" were planted this evening.