Palabra Viva

   It absolutely incredible to see the Lord working in this little church, "Palabra Viva."  Remember those days when I wrote about a small group studying the Bible in the living room? I then went on to write of the house being too crowded and stuffy that we needed to use the back porch for better accommodations. Well, over two years later with a full back porch and much prayer we moved! We are now meetng in the conference room of a local hotel. This new location has been such a blessing! There is plenty of space for those who attend with extra space to grow. The attendance fluctuates a lot with the rainy season. However, it's great to see how many people do come! The Lord is providing for the sheep of His pasture. On Sundays we’re continuing through the book of Colossians. In addition to church there also is a Woman’s Bible Study, Men’s Bible Study, and Foundations of Faith class, Night of Prayer. Pray for each of these ministry branches. Many people do not see the need for the “extra church services” or they don’t see the value to make it their priority. Pray the Lord would minister to their hearts and lead them to join us for those Bible studies. Not for the sake of numbers, but for their spiritual growth and value of the things above. I’m so thankful that I get to serve and meet new ladies each week. It is my prayer that the Lord would use me to minister to their hearts.

   It was such a joy to take one Sunday this past month and devote it to the teaching of baptism and a baptism itself. We had a sweet time of potluck fellowship and a baptism ceremony. Three children between the ages of 10-13, one young lady from the States, and Anna (the new believer) were baptized. Many of them invited family and friends to witness this step of faith. A few of those who were invited are now attending the church. Pray for those who were baptized. May they follow the Lord’s leading and may He keep them from this world    

We’ve started the official program for the Spanish Bible College this past August. This is an answer to many of our prayers!  In November the local student will be finishing up  the book of Genesis taught by a fellow missionary from Peru, Darwin Torres. I’ve been blessed with the ability to attend each class. I can testify that this class is a blessing and many of the students are excited to learn from the in depth study of the book. Along with the classes the students are required to listen and complete the Chuck Smith “Thru the Bible”(translated) series within the two year program. Also they are required to complete a given amount of hours to service inside their church and in their community. Please pray for us as we are continuing to work on the technicalities of the program. May the Lord continue to give us His vision and heart for this Bible College.

   Once again I’m so thankful for the blessing you have been to me! This month I focused this letter mainly on the church because a lot is happening within it. These events are nothing short to the answers to our prayers! Thank you so much for praying for me and the ministry I’m involved in. I’m also incredibly grateful for your financial support as well. I truly appreciate your sacrifice! I’m so delighted to know that God is choosing to use some of you who have His heart for missions to support me and this work.  I pray that through this update I can express my gratitude to you and give an accurate testimony of His wonderful works! If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear from you! Please write me at my email address below. May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Answers to prayer

   Another month has passed and the Lord has been incredibly faithful to answer prayer. What a wonderful God we serve! He hears the cries of our heart and He is so willing to answer us! It’s been a blessed month!

   The Church, Calvary Chapel Palabra Viva, has doubled in size since last year. This growth has caused us to move towards a transition. With little extra space to hold a service on the back porch we are looking to rent a building. Through much prayer we are hoping to find a place with good location for our current congregation and with a facility which is comfortable with room to continue growing. Because we will be meeting in a building rather than a home we will also need to legalize the church. All this cost time and money. Please join us in prayer as we begin this new journey. We are looking forward to seeing exactly how the Lord guides us through this transition. On Sundays we are currently studying through the book of Colossians. It is a sweet time of worship, the Word, prayer and fellowship. Recently many new faces have joined us. More people from church have come to our weekly prayer night! It has been such a privilege to watch the Lord work in and grow this little church. May He continue to have His way in it!   

Service on the porch

Children's Ministry in the livingroom

 The woman’s Bible study has been changing and growing as well. More ladies from church are now attending the study. We are currently going through the book of Philippians with around fifteen women. The unity among them is increasing because of this study. Please pray for each lady that they might grow in the Word and fellowship together. May the Lord give us wisdom in leading this ministry.

   A couple of weeks ago we held an interdenominational Pastor’s Conference. Thank you so much for all your prayers regarding this event! The purpose, communicating the heart and vision of the Instituto Bíblico (Spanish speaker’s Bible College) to the Pastor’s in this valley, was accomplished. Forty plus pastors from about thirty different churches joined us. The much prayed for bond of unity and fellowship filled the room that day. We had three guest speaker join us: Fausto Pflucker, Dave Eason and Jonathan Domingo. There was a positive response to the Word and the conference as a whole. Many pastors have made contact showing interest in the Instituto Bíblico for themselves and/or their congregation. We were honored to host nine indigenous Pastor’s from the Guaymi tribe in southern Costa Rica. They we delighted to receive study materials and other books donated to them by Calvary Costa Mesa. Most indigenous pastors consider themselves fortunate if they have a concordance to help them study. The conference was a triumph! Praise Jesus! Thank you for joining us through your prayers!

Guest Speakers

   My heart is so grateful for you and your support! How great it is to know that the Lord has placed many of you to come along side His work in Costa Rica through prayer. He is indeed doing a work here. Will you please continue to partner with me in prayer for this place? We know the Lord moves by prayer. This entire update is a result of prayer! Here are a few more request:

   Church

•  direction regarding the building.

•  finances regarding the building.

•  spiritual growth in each person who attends.

•  a greater bond of unity & fellowship among them.

   Woman’s Bible Study

•  that each woman would find their identity and security in Christ.

   Instituto Bíblico

•  the launching of this spanish speaking Bible Collage in August and alll this entails.

   Personal Request

•  strength and joy for everyday.

•  rich devotional mornings with the Lord.

•  physical health.

•  vision of what the Lord desires for me.

   Thank you! I look forward to seeing how HE WILL ANSWER our prayers. May the Lord bless you abundantly! If you have any questions or comments please fill free to contact me!

Much love in Christ,

Vanessa

"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" Ephesians 6:18

A Privilege To Serve...

It’s no surprise to find that the Lord indeed remains faithful!  His mighty hands are never found idle. What a beautiful thing it is to be involved in this work that He is accomplishing here in Costa Rica. It’s nearly been two years since the day I first arrived. Two good years. Not to say that within these years there was never hardship. I’ve seen my fare share of that! However, the peace which comes with obedience to His will and this God-given love that I have for the people and this work far exceeds the obstacles! It’s been good. He has been so good! What a privilege it is to serve Him, let alone walk with Him! 

Well, one of the initial purposes of the team I’m serving with was to start a teaching site for the Bible College. Recently our 5th semester ended. We sent that sweet group of students home. The Lord has been working mightily through this teaching site. Not only amongst the students. Sure, He does work amongst them. However, He has used the student to effect the locals around us. As the students went out in the community they had been bold in practicing spanish, reaching out, and inviting people to be part of their lives. Lights in the darkness. “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” -2 Corinthians 4:6   Often, in being a light, they were merely being people whom have their identify in Christ. Just people who love the Lord and people. It can come in the form of inviting them to church, a meal, a movie, a day in town, etc. Doing the normal things having the love of Christ abounding in their hearts. The Lord has definitely used this ministry of the teaching site to touch the lives of many locals here. 

The intentions of the Lord far exceeded ours. Isn’t that always the case? His plans are so much greater. The Lord in His grand plan begun a church here in our own backyard.  What started out as a bible study in english has become a church entirely taught in spanish. At this point about 25-30 locals attend. It’s been such an honor to see the Lord’s handiwork in establishing this church! I’m so privileged that He has allowed me to be part of it! In service we are currently studying through the book of Colossians. We are planning another baptism because it’s been over a year since the last one and there has been expressed interest from a new believer. We are hoping to rent a mini bus and take the whole church up to the river for a study, baptism and fellowship. The church has begun a library which is available to those who attend. We’ve started a resource table with the books, Bible reading plans, prayer request box, tithes/offering box, and available audios of past studies. It’s been a blessing to see many people benefit from these resources. After a three part series on tithes and offerings we began a food/toiletries basket. We call it the “basket of Love”. This basket contains basic items which can fill need of someone for the week. There are many who cannot find jobs because of the economy. They are more then welcome to take from this basket what they will need for the week. It is the responsibility of those without financial needs to maintain the contents inside the basket. So far this basket has proven itself a blessing! All of this, the study and all pertaining to it, is the result of the Lord. He alone has begun the work and it’s our prayer that His hands alone will complete it! May we be ever surrendered and willing to be used by Him!

On June 15th we will have our first Pastor’s Conference! It’s exciting, yet a little daunting. This being the first conference we have ever organized will be a learning experience. Below I’ve attached a 3 min video of Ryan Slabach, Pastor/Director, giving the vision and goals of the conference. 

3 Minute Update (5-17-13) from Ryan Slabach on Vimeo.

Thank You for your support financially and in prayer. Without you things would be quite different. The Lord works according to your prayers. We serve a God who hears and acts! I pray through this update  you can be confident in the fact that the Lord is indeed doing a work here. Your prayers are a treasure to me! If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me.  May the Lord bless you richly. 

News from Costa Rica!

"O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved."

 -Psalm 16:5-8  

   A year and almost nine months later, I’m still here in Costa Rica. It amazes me that I’m still here! Not that I don’t want to be. It’s the fact that the LORD is still using me in this place. A commitment which was originally 3 months is now a choice to call this home indefinitely. Looking back, I’m so blessed! What a work the LORD is doing in this place! He is truly a God who only does marvelous things! Sure, I’ve faced difficulties. I’m no George Muller or Elizabeth Elliot, but I’ve had some rough days. :-) However, those difficulties are far worth the blessing of obedience. Oh what peace and joy to follow Jesus! He is so worthy of my all. I want to love and follow Him to the end! 

COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY   

  On Sunday evenings we have a community Bible study. A little over a year ago it was held in our living room.  It was a small circle of chairs which were not always filled. Simply just a few believers studying the Word of God. My goodness how things have changed! The house started to become crowded and in this tropical climate it was quite stuffy. So we made some changes. Now we meet out on the back porch. There is a bit more space for everyone to sit comfortably and the fresh air helps a ton! We have around 25-30 locals who join us each week. It’s such a blessing to share in a time of worship, prayer, the Word, and fellowship with these sweet people the LORD is bringing. There are a handful of believers who attend along with others who know about the LORD but have no understanding of relationship with Him. It’s been incredible to see the LORD work in each person whether He is molding us, believers, or revealing Himself to the unbeliever. 

    Just this past week a young lady gave her life to the LORD! Her name is Nicole. Please keep her in your prayers! May she grow strong so that she will not be moved by this world and it’s temptations. Earlier this month a young man, Anderson, also accepted the LORD into his heart. It’s been so cool to watch the Lord change him. He had been coming to the study off and on for a few months. One of our interns started to reach out to him. One day he was asked if he had a relationship with the LORD and received the gift of Salvation. He is not the most popular guy. Honestly most people think he is “different”. It touches my heart to see the love of Christ poured out upon him. His face visibly displays the joy of finally being loved. Pray for this boy. He has a long road ahead which in no way will be easy. Pray that he continues to seek the Lord till the end. These are just two testimonies of what the Lord is doing through the Bible study and the people who attend. The God of Salvation is saving, changing, and making us all more like Him!

                               

BIBLE COLLEGE

   This semester at the Bible College has been a blessing. There are 8 Students from the States, 1 from Belize, and 11 locals (plus more who are only auditing the class). This is the first semester that we’ve had more locals than Americans. It’s pretty exciting! Once a week the locals join the other students for a bilingual class through 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Many of the students have and continue to invite friends, so the class is growing! It is our hope and prayer that we will have an official Spanish program ready to begin in August. Please pray for Ryan, the director, as he builds the foundation and structure for this program. Pray for grace in the legality of it as well. 

EVENTS

   Next week we will be traveling south towards Panama. We will be crossing the border to renew our visas. Then going up the Costa Rican mountains to a tribe called Guaymi. There we will be reaching out to them in service and evangelism. This is our first time visiting this tribe. We are really excited and privileged to share with them. Please pray for us as we travel and serve March 6-9th. May the Lord use us the way He sees fit. As of now it looks like we will be helping in construction, women’s ministry, and children’s ministry. All our plans are subject to change. May His will be done!

   In June of this year we are planning an Interdenominational Pastor’s Conference. In this valley are many churches and many pastor’s attached to them. However, the knowledge and teaching of the scriptures are rare and denominations are extremely divided. It is our desire through this conference to introduce in depth Bible study and making ourselves know to these pastors. We would love to tell them from our own mouths what our vision is for the Bible Institute (spanish program at the Bible College). This will allow each pastor to join us or feel at ease when someone from their congregation comes to join us. It is our hope and prayer that through this conference the LORD will encourage and revive these pastors. May they be lead back to the basics of the Word of God and bring it to their congregations.  Please keep the development and funds of this event in your prayers! We believe the Lord is going to do mighty things through this! 

   Now that you’ve read and saw a glimpse of the Lord’s work I pray that He moves you to prayer! I’m so thankful for the support you’ve given. In both finances and prayer. I ask the Lord to bless you abundantly for your sacrifice! Isn’t it just the greatest privilege to walk with God?!! I often find myself in awe. Who am I? Yet by the blood of His precious Son He has made me worthy! He has made you worthy! Let us strive to walk worthy! Please keep this work in your prayers! I’ve seen your prayers at work in this place. Know that the Lord really does act as you lift up your petitions. Know that I’m incredibly thankful for you! May the Lord bless you!