Home is Where the Heart is

For those of us who went to Costa Rica, part of us will remain there for some time. We've met incredible brothers and sisters in Christ who "fight the good fight" daily, who live lives of joy before the Father, who allow the Spirit to work through them, who "take up their cross(es)" daily, and who we may see again only in Heaven. Our perspective on the brotherhood of the Family of God grew by leaps and bounds.

In addition, our connections within our group of Americans found new strength because of the shared experience.  Somewhere in our hearts, now, there's a family of God that we know and people we know and places we know; we see them in our heads like the plume of smoke from a far-away volcano.

After services Friday night at the new building, I jokingly said to Jeff J., "This is like summer camp."  But then I started thinking; one of the frustrating things about camp was that you always had to return home--and home wasn't like camp.

Why not? Why can't we keep that 'camp' feeling all the time?  The brothers and sisters in Costa Rica seem to have kept that sensation--ok, let's call it what it is--the Holy Spirit--all the time.  It spills out of them like rivers of joy, showing in their lives by their works and their smiles.

So, this lazy, fat, know-it-all American went to Costa Rica and found the Spirit of God among new brothers and sisters and then found that Spirit shared among our own group and seen in our changed lives.

I'd call that a successful mission trip any way you slice it.

Shalom, y'all.

Our Beach Trip

Pacific Ocean

Go to updated link below to see pix of first day.

pix of costa rica

Aqui!

What's to Eat?

Bro. Tim has told us that the hotel will give us breakfast daily, and the Costa Rican Peaberry coffee is some of the world's best.  I know I plan to bring back as much as customs will allow me to!

I'm pretty sure he said the local church folks there would fix us lunch daily on the job site.  One quick note here:  These folks have much less than we do, and feeding us may be a bit of a stretch for some of them financially.  So, even if you don't like what they give us, the best policy might be to try what they give you, eat a little of it, and then wait until you can get something else to eat later in the day.

Bro. Tim also said (and this I'm sure of) that we'd be responsible for our own supper nightly.

That said, what's to eat in San Jose?

The answer is, "Pretty much everything that there is here to eat--and more!"

Besides some local cuisine, you can eat oriental food at Wongs (recommended), you can spend a ton of money eating great Italian food at Bacchus, or you can even eat Mediterranean food at Olio (a Greek sort of place).  For those less adventurous, there's even a Denny's and, of course, the obligatory McDonald's.

Oh, yeah; vegetarian, Chinese, Indian, and even all sorts of South and Central American food are found.

From Fodor's Travel Guide:  "Wherever you eat in San José, be it a small soda (informal eatery) or a sophisticated restaurant, dress is casual. Meals tend to be taken earlier than in other Latin American countries; few restaurants serve past 9 or 10 PM. Local cafés usually open for breakfast at 7 AM and remain open until 7 or 8 in the evening. Restaurants serving international cuisine are usually open from 11 AM to 9 PM. Some cafés that serve mainly San José office workers limit evening hours and close entirely on Sunday. Restaurants that do open on Sunday do a brisk business: it's the traditional family day out (and the maid's day off). Watch your things, no matter where you dine. Prowlers have been known to sneak into even the best restaurants, targeting purses slung over chair arms or placed under chairs."

Hotel Centro Colon

Our hotel is the Hotel Centro Colon.  According to Yahoo Travel, "This hotel is located in the Centro Colon Business Building, one block from the Metropolitan Park of La Sabana. Here you will find an attentive staff for both executive visits or tourist stays. This is a modern hotel, with a classic touch that will make you feel as if you are staying at home. The hotel also offers great views of the city and the mountains. Room sizes range from single rooms to presidential suites."

If you need to give information to relatives or contacts, you can tell them the phone number is: 011-506- 2257-25-80 (press 9 when the lady starts speaking Spanish!) and the fax is (506) 2257-25-82.

How 'Bout This Weather?

Here's the forecast for San Jose for the next few days:

Forecast Conditions

High °F
Low °F

Precip.
Chance

        High Temperatures  Low Temperatures  Precipitation  Wind Speed       

Tonight
Apr 6

Isolated T-Storms

N/A
62°

30%

High not valid after 2pm

Wed
Apr 7

Isolated T-Storms

82°
62°

30%

82°F

Check Flight Delays

Thu
Apr 8

Isolated T-Storms

83°
64°

30%

83°F

Fri
Apr 9

Isolated T-Storms

85°
64°

30%

85°F

Sat
Apr 10

Isolated T-Storms

85°
64°

30%

85°F

Check Flight Delays

Sun
Apr 11

Isolated T-Storms

84°
64°

30%

84°F

Mon
Apr 12

Scattered T-Storms

83°
63°

60%

83°F

Tue
Apr 13

Scattered T-Storms

87°
63°

60%

87°F

Check Flight Delays

Wed
Apr 14

Scattered T-Storms

86°
64°

60%

86°F

Thu
Apr 15

Scattered T-Storms

85°
64°

60%

85°F

A Sharing of the Load

The increasily anticipatory group met at Roberts Tabernacle last Sunday to pack those common items that we would be taking on the mission trip.

Present were not only the group but also a nice luncheon provided by the ladies of the congregation and a scale that weighed our luggage to insure we were not over the imposed limits on size/weight.

**UPDATE** Sister Cathleen broke her arm this past week but is, amazingly, still going on the trip!  Pray for her and her sister Bernice (since B will be C's 'right arm'--literally--next week).  What a great example (two of them) of Christian determination!

Paul reflects this sentiment when he wrote:  "And he (Jesus) said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness."  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:  for when I am weak, than am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-11)

Amen!

Three Weeks Away, So Pack NOW!

Here's an idea:
Go ahead and pack for the trip.  Make a practice run.  Yes, drag out the suitcases and valises, get the passport pouch, and the 'fanny pack', and pack.  Leave some room for those tools we'll be dividing next Sunday at the meeting, but go ahead and do it.

Why?

Because you shouldn't wait 'till the last minute before discovering you simply can't lug all your stuff around an airport.  Because you should know what you're taking as a carry-on and what you're checking.  Because the last minute is no time for surprises.

So.  Pack.  Carry or roll your luggage around the block if you can (or down the street a few hundred feet).  Sure, the neighbors will think you're crazy, but that may be the perfect time to share your testimony about why you're taking this trip, and then you can ask them to pray for this effort.

Besides, you'll be better prepared for the trip.

P.S. Don't forget:  Take those things that you absolutely cannot live without on the plane with you as carry on luggage!  Also, take at least some of the 'bare necessities' with you in your carry on luggage.

Missions 101

There are thousands of missions sites on the internet, but here are links to a few which might prove useful to the group as preparations for the Costa Rica trip continue:

• World Missions 101
• Virtual Missionary Handbook
• Defining Your World-View (opens a PDF file--begins on pg. 3)
• Preparing for Short-Term Missions Trip (blog--click on previous posts for more)
• Short-Term Missions (Informative Site--Many Links

And these are but a few.

Continue to pray, study, and prepare your minds for the task ahead.  Remember the words of Paul when he urged, "Be all things to all men."

Shalom!

The Apron Brigade (or is that Brigands?)

(L-R) Doris Rippy, Bernice Durham, Cathleen Douglas, Janie Shelton, Joann Donnafield, Judy Pedigo, Thena Graves and Milton Donnafield


The ladies (and one fine gent) from Roberts Tabernacle have been busily cutting and sewing aprons for the mission group to take with us on the trip next month.  The Latin American culture uses aprons much more than ours does--uses them as ours USED to do.  


Aprons keep clothes protected; they are a handy pot holder, dish towel, storage bin, and household necessity.  


It shows the level of commitment and attempt to understanding that culture that the RT group would think of this as an outreach to the good Christians in Costa Rica.

Introduction

Roberts Tabernacle Church of God of Prophecy in Westmoreland, Tennessee, is hosting a mission trip to San Jose, Costa Rica in April, 2010.

The purposes of the trip are many; primarily, the group making the trip will be helping the Christians there to build a church/multi-purpose building.  In a larger sense, however, the strengthening of the Holy Spirit among those going and among those who live in San Jose can be neither measured nor overlooked.  Those going will experience the joy of "loving others as I have loved you" and of the service of being the hands and feet of Jesus in that community.  Those who live in Costa Rica will experience the joy of welcoming fellow 'aliens and strangers in this world' to their homes, and they'll be strengthened in their daily walks in the Light.

The purpose of this blog is to keep those 'going' to Costa Rica as well as those 'sending' others there informed about the trip and provide useful and helpful information about the work of the Lord there.

May God shine His grace and glory on all those involved in this project. (Photo of San Jose)