Baby On Board

This evening we went to the local hospital and confirmed what we already knew. Karen is with child once again. YAHOO! We received an encouraging report with regard to the health and development of the baby. I'm hoping it's a girl as I've promised to leave Karen alone after this baby (smile).

The due date is January 4th. Karen will deliver when we are in Paraguay. Please keep Karen and the baby in your prayers.

Saint Louis Cardinal, Lou Brock once said,

"No one wants to hear about the labor pains,
they just want to see the baby."

So without futher ado, here she (or he) is.

You can click on the photo for an enlarged view.

Los Guido

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else" 2nd Corinthians 9:12-13.


Today I experienced one of many blessings that one of our supporters have enabled us to experience while here in Costa Rica. First let me set some background:

Prior to leaving the states we had opportuntity to connect with the church that we would call home during our furloughs. We spent approximately 2-3 months fellowshipping and ministering to and with the people at Hope Community Bible Church. Our last Sunday there (I think) a lady, who I did not know very well, told me she would be sending us $100 every month to "feed the children" in Costa Rica. In my mind I was thinking, "Huh?... OK... Thank You... God?... How?" So I began praying that the Lord would put me in contact with a ministry or a person that I would KNOW was the right contact to distribute the funds. The first few days of classes a fellow student introduced himself and told of the ministry he has been involved in for several years, ministering to the poorest children and their families in Costa Rica. I knew right away this was the man.

My new friend and I have had many opportunities to go school shopping for children that otherwise would not be equipped for school. We've been able to purchase things we americans would normally take for granted, like: pencils, pens, paper, rulers, notebooks, folders, and uniforms (including shirts, shoes, belts, pants, and socks). Guess how much the whole outfit generally costs? That's right, $100. God is good. (Thank you JoAnn!)

So, back to my story. The community which my missionary friend, Keith Britton, ministers in is called Los Guido. My wife and I have another good friend, Rommy, who lives in Los Guido. She was telling me a couple months ago how her son's school was in need of new acrylic white boards, because the chalk boards were no longer functional. Well, I asked around and spoke to my friend Keith and he had just heard about a chalk board that was being thrown away that we could have for this purpose. We installed the chalk board the following weekend. But, after visiting the school I understood why the black boards were not functional (including the one we installed). These boards are basically plywood with a coat of black paint on them. Imagine a dimly lit room with a "chalk board" that you never can get completely clean. It is so difficult for these students to see.

That afternoon, after installing the board, I happened to be IMing our friend in the states who has been feeding the children. I told her about my day and my findings at this school. She asked me how many acrylic boards were needed. So I guessed approximately ten. (Little interesting side note: That very day I came across a man carrying an acrylic board who told me they cost about $50 per board) Our friend in the states told me, "I'll put the money in your account and you go and get the ten boards."

So today I had the opportunity to sit in the director's office of the "Honduras Primary School" as he explained to me what a blessing and surprise it was to have the new boards. He explained that many times people have made promises but have never fulfilled them. The government has even made promises and never followed through with them. So he was surprised to see that we were actually there installing the brand new boards. One of many blessings for me today was when Rommy chimed in and said, "That's the difference between man's government and God's government, God's government follows through." Talk about blessings that overflow so that others will give praise to God when we share. Praise God!

I want to thank those of you who give towards our support and who give so that we might give to others.

One last thing. When I guessed how many boards were needed so that every classroom would have a white board, I guessed short. The school is missing 7 boards. If you would like to contribute to this ministry contact me and I will give you information that will enable you to bless these children.

We have a responsibility

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" -Luke 12:48

The other day I went with a friend and ministered in a community here in Costa Rica called "Los Guido." It's a community largely made up of Nicaraguan immigrants.

Since the late 1970’s, there has been a constant flow of Nicaraguan immigrants
into Costa Rica due largely to Nicaragua’s political instability. In 1978, refugees became a “prominent part of Costa Rican life with the arrival of Nicaraguans fleeing the war.” This occurred when the Sandinista opposition sought to overthrow the dictator Somoza (Hayden, 2003, p. 22). According to Hayden, the refugees numbered fifty thousand with most remaining in the border region (p. 22). By 1981, when the Sandinista opposition came into power, the number of Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica rose rapidly. This massive migration was the source of much discontent and hostility towards the Nicaraguan immigrants. Few Nicaraguans were given refugee status instead of asylum status, because according to Hayden, “asylums have always been relatively elite,” and
Nicaraguans were categorized as “common and ordinary people” (p. 27)
(http://www.geog.umd.edu/academic/undergrad/harper/Berrios.pdf)

Each time I enter this community I ponder the "fairness" of the world. I consider my "fortune" for having been born in the United States and I ask myself why these people had the misfortune of their station in life. The people of Los Guido are just as valuable as I am. They are just as intelligent. They are beautiful people. The only difference between myself and them is the borders in which we were born. There is no easy answer to why things are the way they are.

Each time I visit Los Guido, I'm struck by the knowledge that I have a great responsibility to these people and others like them. I'm obligated to personally minister the love of God to these people and I'm obligated to communicate to those back in the States that we have a great responsibility in the world.

People sometimes wonder why I'm overseas as a missionary when there is such a great need for ministers in our own country. If you could only visit Los Guido for five minutes you would understand why I'm doing what I'm doing.

The responsibility is not mine to bear alone. I need you to support our ministry. Please, pray that our ministry would be effective. Pray for the people in Los Guido. If you want to do more, you can contact me and I'll be glad to share with you ways that you can help.

If you would like to learn more about Los Guido,visit the following link. Los Guido.

"I have become all things to all men"

I've had a couple of friends write me with regard to the World Cup being held in Germany (one of said friends is in Germany... lucky dog). Fútbol (soccer to you gringos) is THE sport here in Costa Rica, THE sport throughout the Latin world, and by and large THE sport throughout the world outside of north america. The World Cup is the "World Series," "Super Bowl," or "Stanley Cup" of fútbol but it is only held once every four years.

My friend, Mark C. (the lucky dog), wrote and asked:

"I had a quick question for you, with USA, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, and Paraguay in the World Cup, who are you cheering for?"

Good question Mark. For those of you who don't know, I'm from the United States, my wife is from Trinidad and Tobago, we are currently living in Costa Rica and in August we will be moving to Paraguay as missionaries. You may not realize if you don't follow fútbol, it is a special thing that all the countries we are connected with are in the World Cup (the teams must qualify to compete).

To answer your question Mark, "I've become all things to all men." In other words, I'm rooting for whomever is playing. I won't have much of a conflict in the first round, as "my" countries fall in different brackets (that is, except for Trinidad and Paraguay). However, the other day I asked Karen (my wife) who she was rooting for to win the whole shebang (not the Ricky Martin song). She told me, "Brazil." So, I figure since Karen isn't too worried I'll root for Trinidad unless they play Paraguay, in which case I will support Paraguay. I'm a very rational creature. It's a good thing Jeffrey (my son) isn't old enough to weigh in with his opinion seeing that he is a Trinidadian citizen. It would disorganize my whole rational.

In all honesty, push come to shove, I'll be cheering for the U.S. of A.

Mi amigo in Florida (John) wrote the following:

"Just watching Costa Rica and Germany... Score 2-1 (Germany) just before 1/2 time... Was thinking of you...trust all is well!"

John, I was watching that game at the same time. As a matter of fact, all of Costa Rica was watching along with you. You know what they say "where two or three come together..." Okay, so I took that out of context. Personally I think that verse (Matthew 18:20) is the most taken out of context verse in the Bible. But, anyhow I digress (so now I'll regress). Our entire school opted to take a break from half the day of classes to "experience Costa Rican culture" (in other words, to watch the game). We had a great time with the costarican staff and faculty. Even though Costa Rica lost (4-2) it was a good time. We're hoping that Costa Rica wins their next game against Ecuador.


Here in Costa Rica they have professional fútbol as well as their national team. It's interesting when the national team or one of the professional teams are playing because you always know when someone scores whether you are watching the game or not. That's because when they do you can hear the cheers throughout your neighborhood. People live very close together here and the windows are usually open, so when the cheers go out, you hear it. As well, I know everything there is to know about my neighbors and viceversa (smile, just kidding).


As I wrote this entry, Paraguay lost to England 1-0. Gotta run, Trinidad is going to play to Sweden in 20 minutes.

* BTW, this blog entry was not meant for anyone's doctrinal substantiation.