As we prepare for our last team of this season, we are realizing that these are some of the most exciting days that we’ve had during the three years that we’ve been living here in Los Anonos, Costa Rica.
Watching what the Holy Spirit has been doing and being a part of it has been such a pleasure. We are seeing a church being raised up and a transformation taking place in this community. We are thankful for all of the supporters and for all of the teams that have been involved in being the hands and the feet of Jesus.
Changes are happening within the hearts and the minds of the people who we have been working with. Los Anonos looks the same, but when one goes to the meetings or meets people in the street, the difference is evident.
We are seeing the Holy Spirit move powerfully in ministry, with much weeping and repenting. One of our young leaders, Tito, just recently shared at our youth meeting about honoring your mother and father. He described his life with his father, Gilbert (King Kong), and how it was difficult for him to say “I love you, Dad.” His father is a crack addict, who searches through trash, the river and other areas for anything that can bring him money to support his addiction.
For those who have been here, you’ve seen Tito’s father in the streets, a man who has a face that is full of pain and anger. But beneath it, we know there is a man who Jesus wants to bring salvation to.
Tito shared that he has come to the place where he can now share his love with his dad. But his father typically will look down at the ground and not know how to respond. After sharing, Tito opened the meeting up for ministry. There were many young people who were able to relate and for at least a half an hour, there was weeping, as the Holy Spirit was releasing healing to the broken hearts.
This is one story of many that happened throughout the week. We have recently started a new Bible Study right in the heart of the Quebrada. This is the area of Anonos that houses the addicts, prostitutes and drug dealers and is considered the most dangerous area. We are averaging anywhere from 15-18 people in a room that is no bigger than 8’ X 11’. Here too, we are seeing the Holy Spirit move in a powerful way. We have several stories already from this particular Bible study, which we will share in our blog this week.
Recently we have had a young man named Jonathan Calvo join us. He has been a tremendous benefit as he has a real heart for working in the community. He is bi-lingual, which helps us to work more easily. And he is a local Costa Rican. He is well received by all. He will be working with us for at least the next three months. Jono, as he is called, will be helping us with our language skills as well.
Steve Limerick, a young man from our own church in Maine, will be joining us on September 3rd for a year. We look forward to his arrival!
With that, Taylor Crossman, who has been with us since June, has also decided to stay for a year. So God is providing committed workers for the harvest to Harvest Hands!!
And last, but not least, many of you know that the New Life team from Columbus, Ohio, came to build the first yellow house in Los Anonos! This was no small matter, as many of the local young people also became involved in this project! They set a precedent of how we want to do yellow houses in the future. I know that I sent a memo out about this before, but once again to get an in depth description of building a yellow house, go to: nlcostarica2009.blogspot.com We highly recommend that you check it out, if you haven’t already done so, because it gives such a wonderful description of the blessing that it was to all to build this home.
Please be praying for these things:
*Wisdom for those involved in being a part of this new church in Los Anonos. There is a kingdom clash and we are seeing that. The warfare is heavy, because we are in the enemies territory.
*Pray for us to be strong in this spiritual warfare.
*Pray that God would raise up local leaders here to take part in the Holy Spirit’s transformation of Los Anonos.
Here's a photo of some of the young people who we work with, with team members from the New Life Church of Columbus, Ohio!
