What Is Mission Work?

Missionaries and people who go on short term mission trips are sometimes criticized for leaving the country and working with others from around the world. I have had someone tell me before that I should take care of people from my own country first, and then go to another. Some have said that they don't understand why we feel the need to spend money to travel around the world.

I can see where this idea comes from, and I agree with a part of it. Jesus told us to go into all nations and make disciples (Matthew). That includes the United States! I believe there are some people called to mission work outside of their own country, as well as within the US. We are called to ALL the world.

Every Christian is a missionary, whether he or she realizes it or not. When you accept Christ and feel the fire inside to help others find His FREEDOM and LIFE, your mission in life changes. It is important to help those who are suffering and oppressed, because it is commanded to do so. But that also might be right in your own town. There is human and spiritual need everywhere, every single person has it. Every where there is life, there is a mission field.

San Gerardo and Coquital; Week 2

I just got back from San Gerardo again, the team from GA left this morning. They were a truly amazing group and the Pastor and his family were wonderful. This second group also got a lot of work done; they finished the floor of one church (cement) and the windows and walls and sidewalk of another church in Coquital.

















A family walked all the way from Nicaragua (5 hour walk) to speak with a Pastor there about starting a Methodist church in his community. While they were there, their children (ages 12, 14 and 16) played mariachi music that they had written. They stopped by the place we were living and did a mini-concert. Everyone really enjoyed it. Mary and Marion came up for the evening and were then able to speak with them about possibly helping with the new church in Nicaragua.

Next week a group of 40 United Methodist Women from different areas here are going up there to work also. They will be working on a house of a woman named Maria and her husband named Anolfo. He has been sick and has not been able to work, and Maria has gone blind. They are very poor and live in a rotting tiny house, but are active members in the church. She expressed to us how much support has come from the community and this church; helping her walk there and things like that. Therefore the ladies are going to be rebuilding and working on their house! God has been working in the lives of the people this community, and giving them strength through the church. Both pastors in both places are committed to the congregation; one of them wept with us as we visited different families. He said it is difficult to see people living like this for him as well as us. God said over and over in the bible that we NEED to be involved in the lives of people who live in poverty. And that’s not always in some country far away, that includes our own homes as well.

This morning we got a call from Juanita, the cook and also the coordinator of the work there near the border. The GA team had left air mattresses for the UMW to use. Unfortunately, last night, 16 of them were stolen from the room. We believe they came in through the window, possibly using a child. The sad part is also that it is very possible it was one of the people who was working with us, because they knew the rooms had these in them. The town is going to hold a meeting and try to figure out who it was.

Overall God is still at work here! It has been a great couple of weeks, another team came in last night from Kent Island MD! We will be getting started work this afternoon. Continue praying for the teams, and for the missionaries here. God bless you all!

San Gerardo and Coquital

Hello everyone!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written! I am here in Cuidad Quesada, Costa Rica and it is beautiful as always! Marion and Mary have been gracious enough to let me live in the guest house so that I'm here close to the teams when they come.

I have been up North near the Nicaraguan border in a place called San Gerardo. I went up as the translator and facilitating a team from Macon, Georgia. This team had many young people and they were absolutely wonderful to work with. It's been a great time getting to know them, and working with the ticos.

We camped in a place there since it is about 2 hours North from here. We were sleeping and eating in a building that is owned by a woman that rented it out to us. We used air mattresses and for the first night me and the cooks slept in the kitchen, and then Juanita (the cook) talked to the neighbor and got me a spare room to sleep in! We worked within the two towns, San Gerardo and Coquital, building up churches. We spent much time talking with the Pastors about their experiences and visiting families from the community. It is an extremely poor community, many of the people come down from Nicaragua and start their lives there. As always, the people are so kind and willing to help.

We will be going back tomorrow, the leaders of the team are staying with a second group from the same church that came in last night. I feel blessed to be able to be working here and spending time getting to know all kinds of people from all over. And as always, spending time with Costa Ricans (and Nicaraguans!) and building relationships with them. I will put up pictures when we return and share more about their experiences! God bless you all!