God's Plans for Us

Buenos Dias from Costa Rica!

Today we were the hands and feet of Jesus. Today our Costa Rican Christians were the hands and feet of Jesus to us!

Chip, chip, chip went the hammer chisels inside what will become a fellowship hall to feed the poor of Nicoya. Pastor Walter wants the surfaces of the support columns chiseled so that the coating with specific designs they have planned will adhere to the cement. We were the hands and feet of Christ to them!

Chop, chop, chop went the knives as Nicoya Christians prepared our three meals in an overheated, under-lit kitchen. We have to tell you the food has really, really been terrific! Our Nicoya sisters were the hands and feet of Christ to us!

Underneath all this, something Bigger is happening. Beneath the sore muscles and sweat, beneath the bumps and bruises, beneath the success of our work today, God is doing something more. God is shaping and reshaping us. He is the potter. We are the clay. Without our polish, without our paint, without the trappings  on which we so depend, God is slapping us down to reshape us more into his image. For is not that the road down which we travel willingly as Christians?

How is God re shaping you this day? How has he molded you this day? How has he grown you this day?

Our columns are now chipped. Nine piers now inhabit the ground. Much of the steel supports on the second floor are now azulejo instead of dojo. Our building has been reshaped.

We have been shaped and reshaped today. Thanks be to God! Our prayer today and perhaps your tomorrow , 'have Jesus continue to shape us. We want to be like you!'

See you tomorrow.
Vaya con Dios, Wildwood!

The real work begins

Today we begin the physical part of the work we are here to accomplish.  The church had a small building alongside it, visible here underneath the new structure. With their desire to reach out and support the less fortunate in their community came the need for more space. Space to feed the 150 children that gather here once a week for a good meal and the word of our Lord. Space to hold classes for these children and their families. Space to fulfill the calling to raise up their community in both physical and emotional support. 

We have learned that part of our job this week will be to be pouring concrete to create the foundation for a ramp to access the second story of this structure. We will also be hauling concrete up to the second story to pour the floor. There is also painting to be done, supports to be put in place and many other tasks we will be assigned as we go. 

Last night in devotional we read from Luke. The message was that Jesus sent out the apostles to spread the word and he told them that they should not take anything with them, for they themselves were the only tools they needed. This is true of us as well. Whether it is the use of our physical bodies to help bring this structure and desire for outreach to fruition, or our words, smiles and hugs to bring about a Godly connection with all we meet. We are the tools, truly the hands and feet of God.

Sunday Update - Photos

     'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly light...'
                                   
                                                                                                               James 1.17

Buenos Dias from Nicoya!!

God gives us gift after gift after gift!

This morning we worshiped with the Christians of Nicoya Methodist Church. Time almost stood still as we sang praise to our father in heaven. Though we did not understand the words, we understood God's presence amongst us!

A gift was given to us as we praised and prayed and praised again. With our brothers and sisters in Christ, we found a relationship shared. A relationship whose genesis came from our Father in heaven. A relationship punctuated with grace, with joy, and with peace.

later in the daywe experienced another gift of God. His name is Willy. Willy lives 20 miles away from Nicoya in a place called Guaitil. Willy is a potter. When we pulled into that quiet village all the other pottery stores were closed, there stood Willy at the entrance to his shop.

Willy, indeed, was God's gift to us! He invited us in and led us to the back of his shop. He then taught us as the potters going back seven generations in his family had taught him. What a talent Willy has! His generous spirit was God's gift to us!

The final gift God gave us appeared as we were eating lunch together. As we were watching the World Cup final, ESPN shared God's gift with us. The camera caught the sun going down. The image they gave us was the outstretched arms of Jesus seeming to hold the setting sun on his shoulders. A visual reminder, a gift from God, telling us Jesus has the whole world in his arms.

Jesus has Nicoya Methodist Church in his arms. Jesus has Willy the potter in his arms. Jesus has the Costa Rica team and all of Wildwood in his arms, the gift of all gifts.

Pray for us as we pray for you. The hard work starts tomorrow.

Vaya con Dios!

See you tomorrow......

We Made It!

  Costa Rica is beautiful with it's scenic mountains covered in low lying clouds, with it's valleys fertile and fallow supporting life of all kinds, with it's scenic ocean views.
  God is our constant companion, leading us through customs and immigration, making sure all of our luggage landed with us, and introducing us to some Costa Rican brothers who helped us load and travel to our temporary abode.
  It has been a blessed beginning, praise be to God. We are thankful God continues to be our companion. We have had a wonderful first day.
  Soon now we will be enjoying bread together, fellowship around the table and working together on our devotions.
  Continue praying for us Wildwood, as we pray for you. The good news is that not only is God our companion in Magnolia, God is our companion in Nicoya, Costa Rica as well.

  . 

  

Make It Count

  A sea of orange brightly colored the sanctuary that day. 'Make it count' sounded quietly across the worship space as 40 youth knelt at the consecration rail. 'Make it count' now reverberates in our souls.
  As I write, a sea of blue flashes below us as we journey towards our destination. Thirteen dreamers living out their dream empowered by the Holy Spirit. 'Make it count' announcing itself in our spirits as we work to be God's hands and feet to the people of Nicoya, to each other, and to Pastor Walter Pena and his wife.
  A sea of orange meet a single one with a handshake. With ' Make it count' on his shirt, consecrated as the young man was on the white, crystalline beaches of Florida, he passed his consecration on to me. Younger to older, student to teacher, Christian to Christian. With that handshake, ' Make it count' vibrates in our consecration, in our set-apartness, in Costa Rica.
  'Make it count!!' God shouts and God whispers from that young man to man, from our fabulous youth to all of us.
  Wildwood, as the sea of orange melts into the sea of blue which dissolves into the sea of green, God is whispering to us all. 'Make it count'. 'Make it count, Wildwood'.

  'Make it count' -- be the hands and feet of Christ to your family and friends.

  Make it count -- be the kind word, be the chore-doer, be the one who forgives first.

  Make it count Wildwood-- make each minute, each hour, each day count for Jesus.

  As the young man in orange consecrated me with a handshake, so now, God consecrates us all with his grace.

  Make it count Wildwood. Make it count!!!!

In just hours…..

  We leave in just hours for the mission trip to Costa Rica. The group bags were packed last night at the church. The supplies for the VBS are packed. The snacks are packed. The first aid kit is packed. We are ready, willing and able. The excitement among the group is palpable. All of us are revved up and ready to be the Hands of God. We do not know exactly what we will be doing or what we may encounter. Our mantra is "we are flexible" and we are ready for anything!
  What we know for sure is that we will;

1) be serving our Lord
2) be giving all of ourselves in his service, extending love and hospitality to all we meet
3) be receiving his grace in our efforts
4) be coming away with more blessings than we are able to give
5) be truly touched by the grace and mercy of our God and Jesus Christ

  I would like to ask each and every one who reads these blog posts to pray for us to do the best we all can to spread the word of the Lord and to enrich the lives of all we meet. Please pray that we stay healthy and whole to do the work the Lord has called us to. Please pray we have open eyes and open hearts to hear God's word and to do his will. Please pray that we can bring back the message God has for us all, and that through this trip we all feel closer and stronger in God's love.

May God touch us all in a most personal way through this trip.

God loves us all. Anyone is Worth Everything!

Countdown to Costa Rica

Reverend Rhett has been talking about dreams. He was talking today about dreaming up and living out God-sized dreams.

A God-sized dream has been dreamt and, in two short weeks, will be lived out. Thirteen Christians from Wildwood will be journeying to Costa Rica . We will be doing Vacation Bible School for the children of Nicoya and we will be helping put a second floor on the Fellowship Hall of the Peniel Methodist church in Nicoya, Costa Rica.

At our final preparation meeting today, the excitement was palpable. We are together, committed, and prepared to be God’s hands and feet to the men, women, and children of Nicoya. Wildwood has dreamt God-sized dreams and now the thirteen of us will be living that out. This could only happen as Wildwood has put its trust in God and had the faith go where God tells us. Thank you, Wildwood.

Wildwood, we invite you to journey with us via this blog as we journey to Costa Rica and serve the people of Nicoya. Everyday, one or more of us will post a blog and post pictures showing you through word and picture how God-sized dreams are lived out. Check in each day and see what God is doing through your sisters and brothers from Wildwood.

Our trip starts July 12 and will finish on July 20. We ask that you continue to support us with your prayers. Reverend Rhett will consecrate our team this Sunday at both services.

Continue dreaming big dreams, Wildwood. Dreams that only come to pass through the working of our mighty and gracious God.  When we dream those God-sized dreams, God will take us to places we never imagined in our lives and in our church, including a place called Nicoya, Costa Rica.