Costa Rica …grace just when we need it!

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace-the throne of God’s mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need- appropriate help and well-timed help, just when we need it. (Amplified New Testament)

Anytime you take a missions trip to a foreign country you should always expect the unexpected and that is how it seems to be when I have gone to Costa Rica to work with Ana Moshenek at Palmas de Mamre´ (palmasdemamre.com). We stayed at her home in Puerto Viejo for a couple of days to take care of some “basics” before heading down the river to the farm. While there I was able to start training two teen girls and two men who were there working on other projects in the use of the wordless book and counseling a child for salvation. As five of us (Ana, Anita, Donika, Abby, and I) left for the farm on Thursday in her Land Rover with their suitcases on the roof rack and mine somewhat wrapped up in a tarp in a trailer, the typical happened- a heavy rain storm. We were able to get their suitcases crammed into the Rover along with bodies like sardines in a can until we could reach a small grocery store and buy plastic bags. By then we were soaked and much of the feed, my stuff, etc. was soaked. Gratefully most of my things were in plastic bags, but not all. A lesson learned- always put everything in water-tight bags! Nothing seriously was ruined.

Ana had learned before we left that a temporary farmhand that had been hired stole all the cheese for that week, along with a horse and saddle. After dropping the girls off at a town where they would go by boat the rest of the way to the farm, Ana and I took a half hour drive to the police station to retrieve the horse. They had recovered most of the cheese and the horse. The horse was so “beat” that I had to just about drag him down the road where he was left at a friend’s farm.

At the farm we were able to get the two girls trained and equipped to conduct “VBSs” that Ana was planning in various towns and schools. Plans changed Sunday when a 16 year old boy drowned in a boating accident. He recently had trusted Christ and was attending a discipleship class with the pastor. This incident shut down all activities along the river so all plans for VBSs were cancelled. They found the body two days later and the funeral was held Wednesday evening at 10:00 at night with up to 500 people attending. We were able to do one program in one school on Monday which gave the girls an opportunity while I was there to go through it once.

Through it all God’s grace was sufficient at just the right times. Pray for the girls as they reschedule and conduct these VBS programs; for the family, loved ones and the community who are grieving over the loss of this teen; for Ana- strength and health to keep going.