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Taking Advantage of Opportunities

August 25, 2008 in Day2Day, Ministry, Prayer by Dave | 4 comments

Here on the mission field, we’ve come to recognize that it is important to take advantage opportunities. Take the grocery store for example. Certain staples that we depended on in the US, like applesauce, make appearances for a limited time only. So, when we saw the display of “puré de manzana” at the local Wal-Mart, we bought 5 jars.

Of course, taking advantage of opportunities requires a certain amount of preparation. First, you have to be looking for them. If we had decided that we would never see applesauce again, it’s possible that we would have passed by the display without even noticing. Second, you have to be able to make the investment. A hand-to-mouth style of living doesn’t allow wiggle room for large purchases, so without the needed cash we would have had to pass up the sweet appley goodness.

Ministry can be the same way. Opportunities arise at time when we least expect it. Take this week: a casual dinner conversation turned to a daughter in need; a meeting the next day touched on the subject of a marriage in trouble; and a greeting after service brought with it a story of sickness and family strife. How would we view each situation? Would we see them as opportunities to apply the gospel we preach and teach or would they be taken as distractions in our otherwise busy day?

I’m happy to say that each situation that I mentioned we took the opportunity to minister. A daughter was counseled, a marriage encouraged, and a fellow believer prayed for. Still, I wonder, did we see all of the opportunities? Was God working in other ways that we weren’t prepared for? Or perhaps we simply weren’t willing to invest?

Paul asks the Ephesians for prayer in chapter 6 verses 18-20 that he might boldly speak the gospel. I believe that this petition not only has to do with attitude but also with availability. Paul wrote his letter in chains. He did not have the freedom to travel and to teach. It would have been easy to say that others now need to take up the work, that now was his time to rest. He could have closed himself off from the world, and yet he asked for prayer so that he would “open his mouth” to share.

We too ask for that prayer, that we who have been called as ambassadors of Christ will take advantage of every opportunity available to us. That we will be able to recognize how God is working in each situation and align ourselves to cooperate with Him as He carries out his mission here in Mexico and around the world.

Oh, and if you’ve got the scoop on where to find some Twizzlers here in Mérida we’re ready to buy.

Learning to Fly

July 10, 2008 in Devotional, Ministry, Prayer by Dave | 5 comments

Preaching Friday night, teaching Saturday morning, a week long class next week, the schedule keeps on piling up. The difference is, I’m not the one who’s dealing with it, it’s Kelly. Being invited to preach in a youth service, leading a Saturday Morning Kid’s Service, and teaching during our church’s Vacation Bible School has kept Kelly occupied, planning and preparing. So much so that I’ve decided to take some flying lessons. No, not that type of flying.

Actually, flying is a clever way of talking about housekeeping that Marla Cilley a.k.a “the FlyLaydy” invented to encourage those who would like to keep a clean house, but were never “born-organized” to achieve that dream. With my Kelly out of the picture for long stretches, I needed a little bit of motivation to help me pick up the slack around the house. So I turned to the site for tips and routines that would help me keep the house up, while enabling me to devote time my kids, who just got out of school last week. Fortunately, although FlyLady.net is definitely geared to the feminine audience, I found lots of time saving techniques that have helped me to let Kelly devote herself to her preparation, while keeping me from a nervous breakdown.

In fact, as I have been swishing toilets and scrubbing pans, I found myself thinking of the spirituality of it all. No, I’m not saying that doing the dishes is helping me get closer to God, but switching roles has helped me understand a bit more about ministering as a missionary couple. Ephesians 5:22-33 is the classic passage on the husband and wife relationship. Wives are to submit, while husbands are to love. What many of us miss, however, is that Paul, in verse 21, commands all to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Now, I am not saying that Kelly is now ordering me around or leaving honey-do lists on my pillow in the morning, but what I am saying is that there are times in ministry, and I could say in secular life as well, that the husband is up front, doing the public relations and making the decisions. There are also times when that shoe is on the other foot, and the wife takes the lead. Perhaps this is what Paul was saying when he recommended Phoebe to the Romans saying, “After all, she has proved to be a respected leader for many others, including me.” (Romans 16:2 CEV)

So this week, Kelly has become the face of our public ministry. She’s been the one up front, going to meetings and making the decisions, and that’s a good thing. I’ve submitted to what the Lord is doing through her during this time knowing that He’s called us both to serve Him here in Mexico.

Speaking of what the Lord is doing, I’d like to request that you say a prayer for Kelly this weekend, and if you can, remember her throughout next week. I’m sure she’d appreciate that, and while you’re at it you can pray for me as well–dishpan hands can be really annoying.

Preparations

March 7, 2008 in Ministry, Missions, Prayer by Dave | 1 comment

Evangelism Preparations

We are preparing for a busy week of ministry as we receive my brother, Mike, and his team of 9 students from the Chi Alpha Campus Ministry at American University. Instead of choosing a party spot, this group has decided to invest their Spring Break in ministry, trading a beach towel for a shovel and all night partying for evangelistic rallies.

The group arrives at the Mérida airport tomorrow at 9:00 PM, but that’s not where the story begins. This event has been in the planning stages since November of last year, and it’s scope is larger than anything we’ve attempted before.

Preparations began with two intensive evangelism training courses held in Muna and in Mérida. In these sessions, 4 churches had the opportunity to learn about personally communicating the gospel. We encouraged each student to focus on a list of five individuals that they could evangelize, praying, serving and sharing with each person in the months that preceded the arrival of the Chi Alpha team. The team in turn was preparing to share a gospel message, with the hope to be able to share this message with people who are ready to receive.

At this point, the excitement is brewing with several churches looking to capitalize on the special event that is the ministry of these college students. In Abalá, a village 1/2 hour away from Muna, there are plans to plant a church, in Opichén a town on the route to the Maya ruins of Uxmal, the town square is being reserved for the event. In Muna, the evangelism committee has painted 20 walls with the phrase: “Do you feel dry?” (Te sientes Seco?)The answer will be brought as the team distributes water and an invitation to the night’s service that says “Jesus is the water of life!” In Sacalúm the church has planned a 3 night campaign that the team will open on Wednesday.

Thinking about all of this, I can’t help but smile. Our desire when we arrived in Mexico was to serve as a catalyst within the state of Yucatán–an element that would enable the local church launch out in ministry. As this event begins to take shape, I have the feeling that we are accomplishing that goal though these efforts, providing opportunities for congregations to take their place as Christ’s ambassadors as they announce the kingdom of God in their communities.

Keep us in prayer this week, and keep posted for the good reports as Americans and Mexicans work side by side in ministry.

By the way, for those of you that voted on last week’s post we’ve declared Mike the winner! His prize? Well a trip to Mexico. of course!

Fear Invades Mérida

February 6, 2008 in Day2Day, Missions, Prayer by Dave | No comments

New Equipment to Combat Crime

“Mérida is a tranquil place.” It’s a place where “no pasa nada (nothing happens),” the residents enjoy saying, but this headline from today’s edition of the Diario de Yucatán, one of the major newspapers of the city, seems to suggest that things may be changing.

No, we are not under military alert, nor have we hired armed guards to follow us around the city. And yes, children still do play in the park down the street, and many enjoy evening strolls along the avenues. But what many once thought was impossible here is now becoming somewhat routine.

Let me give you a run-down of the events.

  • January 13th: Police officers and suspects trade fire in the Gran Plaza, a popular shopping center. Officers would later confiscate an AK-47 rifle from those charged in the shootout.
  • January 14th: A homicide, thought at first to be an assassination attempt, puts the city on edge. Later investigation makes the husband the principal suspect.
  • February 1st: A bomb explodes near the home of the the Secretary’s of Police home in Monte Albán (one neighborhood north of the site of our previous house).
  • February 2nd: Citizens of Mérida take to the streets to denounce the escalating crime in a “March for Peace.”
  • February 3rd: Meridians receive a report of the assassination of one officer and the wounding of three others in the west of Mérida.
  • February 3rd: Ivonne Ortega, governor of the state of Yucatán declares that the the assassination was the result of new measures to “step on the toes” of criminals in Mérida and was an unrelated incident in the new wave of violence.
  • February 4th: In what some are saying was a violent reaction to the words of the governor, a resident of Progresso, apparently involved in the drug trade, is found decapitated in a house in Garcia Ginerés (our dentist has his office in this neighborhood.)

Again, I’m not writing this post to alarm you, only to show you the current state of events here in Mérida and ask you to pray. Sure, we’d like to see Mérida return to the sleepy city that it once was, but we would also like to see this wake up call to the police become a wake up call to non-believers and Christians alike.

This world that we live in is broken, and increased security can’t fix it. Only the message of forgiveness of Jesus and a restored relationship with God can, and only a unified, mobilized church, reaching out to it’s community can bring this message.

Pray for peace, but pray for the lasting peace that only salvation can bring.

Photos are from www.yucatan.com.mx. You may also read the special section detailing these events in Spanish.

Dean the Day After

August 22, 2007 in Nature, Prayer by Dave | No comments

Dean from SpaceWhat can we say except, “Thank God for his protection!” as we assess the situation here in the Yucatán.
The facts are plain:

  • Dean was a category 5 hurricane, the highest on the scale of hurricane strength.
  • It made landfall with a sustained wind speed of 165 mph the first since Andrew to do so.
  • Dean is now among the top 10 strongest hurricanes on record at landfall.
  • Storms of the magnitude of Dean have the potential to be catastrophic. Andrew, for example, caused 65 fatalities and 38.1 billion dollars worth of damage in today’s economy.

Still the final results are nothing less than miraculous:

  • To date no fatalities have been directly blamed on Dean here in the Yucatán
  • Upon landfall, the storm rapidly lost strength and caused what President Calderon has said was “minor damage.”
  • The Diario de Yucatan (Spanish) called Dean a “dry hurricane.” Most populated areas received high winds but little to none of the rains that were expected to cause flooding across the peninsula. Our contact in Muna, Pastor Julian Puc, held service that same night, while Pastor Santos Reyes, who is in Ciudad del Carmen where the hurricane left the peninsula, has told me that everything is functioning “as normal” after only 24 hours without electricity.

Everything from the landfall over a less populated area, to the speed in which it passed over was beneficial for the inhabitants of the Yucatán.

Again, thank you for your prayers on our behalf and that of the people of Yucatán. Also, thank you to those who wished us well through e-mail, phone calls, comments on our site, and links highlighting the situation. We appreciate each one of you.

Dean’s Danger Now Passing into the Gulf

August 21, 2007 in Nature, Prayer by Dave | No comments

Dean RemainsAlthough we are still under a red alert here in Mérida, Dean is now a category 1 hurricane and is passing into the Gulf of Mexico. From our vantage point, the hurricane has proved to be little more than a big blow. We’ve been experiencing high winds since 5 o’clock this morning, but little to nothing in the way of rain. Damage has been relatively non-existent here in the city. In actuality, the Kazim’s who were out a bit this morning reported people on the streets as early as 10 o’clock.

The story is still far from conclusion in the southern part of the state and in Quintana Roo, where Dean made landfall at 3:00 this morning. Nevertheless, there have been no reported deaths and slight to moderate damage, a far cry from the potential catastrophe that we had on our hands yesterday.

We’ll keep you informed as more information comes to light. In the meantime, we’d encourage you to think about getting involved with Convoy of Hope to help those who have been affected by Dean and other catastrophes. Gary and Peggy Pyatt in Jamaica have reported significant damage to ministries and schools in that country, while COH has dispatched a team to begin relief work among the earthquake victims in Peru. Also, if damage proves to be more severe here in the Yucatan, their ministry is ready to respond.

Facing Reality in the Eye of the Storm

August 20, 2007 in Nature, Prayer by Dave | No comments

Dean RealityStorm models continue to push the landfall of Dean further south on the peninsula. This means Mérida remains at a state of alert, but hasn’t declared an emergency situation. However, in the south of the state of Yucatan and in Quintana Roo, where Dean is expected to be more of a problem, many are facing the reality of this man in the picture to the left. Several have houses made of little more than sticks or corrugated roofing. While the majority of those in this situation have been relocated into shelters, the chances are that many will have nothing to return to. Please keep these in mind as you remember the people of the Yucatán in your prayers.

The Latest on Dean

August 20, 2007 in Nature, Prayer by Dave | 6 comments

Dean CloserWe have received various e-mails about the situation that we are facing in regards to Hurricane Dean. To update those of you following the situation, the meteorologists are forecasting that the storm will take a southerly route across the Yucatan. That puts Mérida out of the range of the 150+ mph winds that will likely accompany its arrival. Still the entire state is under an orange alert which signifies the likely arrival of hurricane activity within the next 18 to 24 hours.

The city is relatively calm, but signs of preparation are everywhere. Shops with boarded or taped windows to prevent breakage. Stores are depleted of survival essentials such as batteries and are short on food, especially bread. The government has sprung into action and has plans to move about 16,000 people in the areas under the highest risk to shelters here in the city or in the surrounding municipalities.

We’ve taken necessary steps such as taking in all of the items that might possibly blow away as well as taping off windows and creating a safe area within our home where we plan to “ride out” the storm. We have food supplies for at least a week and water to drink as well as separate water for cooking and cleaning. We are preparing ourselves to be without power, water, telephone, and internet for at least a week so we ask for your patience as you look for updates or try to contact us.

Please do continue to pray. We are certainly concerned for our safety, but we now focused much more on the well-being of those who are to our south. In our minds are our friends from Muna with whom we ministered in March, and pastors in Ciudad del Carmen in Campeche with whom I studied in ISUM. Pray for their safety as well.

In the Gaze of Dean

August 18, 2007 in Devotional, Nature, Prayer by Dave | 3 comments

Hurricane DeanFor two Mid-Atlantic transplants living in the Midwest, hurricanes were at most a thing of curiosity. They were the stuff of late summer Weather channel reports. Devastating and cruel to be sure but never in our version of reality. They were events that happened to others. All of that is changing in the face of the now Category 4 Hurricane Dean.

As I am writing this update, Hurricane Dean is now bearing down on Jamaica, and all of the projections place its trajectory directly across the Yucatan Peninsula and the city of Mérida. The entire state of Yucatan is under yellow alert meaning that preparation on everyone’s mind as shoppers filled the supermarkets stocking up on canned food, water, and medicine.

Here in our new home as well we are preparing–determining areas of safety, and trying to make our plans, but even as we plan, we are faced with a mountain of uncertainty and where there is uncertainty, not far behind we find fear.

In all of this I am reminded of that tumultuous voyage of Jesus’ disciples across the Sea of Galilee in Mark chapter 4. There there were being tossed about, grown, sea-hardened fishermen uncertain if they would live or die. As they woke Jesus, who had been sleeping on a cushion, they wondered aloud if he even cared about them. In their fear, they’d failed to recognize that he was the one who had ordered them to set sail in the first place. The storm, more than the setting of a miracle, was their opportunity to recognize that, even though they went through the valley of the shadow of death, they had nothing to fear because with them was their shepherd.

Pray for us friends. Pray for our safety and for the safety of friends in harm’s way. Pray too though that we won’t fail to recognize the presence of our Good Shepherd as we wait here in the gaze of Hurricane Dean.

Update on The Prayer Wall

August 15, 2007 in Ministry, Prayer, Progress by Dave | No comments

Prayer PresentationFor those of you who prayed and have been waiting for my schedule to break in order to give you an update, I want to say thanks. The Prayer Wall presentation was overwhelmingly received here in the Yucatán. We had a full house in the church “Cordero de Dios” as well as our superintendent and assistant superintendent present.

Phil presented his vision for a continuous wall of prayer across Mexico as I interpreted. The photo to the left shows one of our more in sync moments. It was a stretching experience for me to be sure, but it was extremely rewarding as well as tens of volunteers signed up to be a part of a 230 strong group of prayer warriors interceding 24/7 for Mexico.

Again thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement as I stepped out in this ministry.

Taking Prayer a Step Further

July 18, 2007 in Ministry, Prayer by Dave | No comments

Phil BennettIn May, I received a phone call from Phil Bennett (pictured to the left), a minister from Concord First Assembly in North Carolina, concerning extending his “Watchman Prayer Ministry” to the Yucatán. The ministry consists of recruiting 168 people to pray one hour each week for the needs of the area. Here in Mexico, he’s been active in Mexico City, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz. Knowing that prayer is vital for our ministry and that our superintendent, Raul Sanchez, has been emphasizing prayer in the district, I asked him if he would be interested in having Phil come to share about this ministry. Three months later, this idea is being brought into reality. Phil and his team will be here in Mérida tomorrow at 7:00 PM. I’d appreciate your prayers concerning the reception of this program.

I’d also appreciate your prayers concerning the event itself. I will be serving as a translator for Phil as he shares with an exclusively Spanish-speaking group. The only other opportunity that I have had came during an impromptu gift-exchange during my brother Mike’s visit to Muna back in March. So as we take a step forward in prayer, I’ll be taking a step forward in my abilities as a missionary. Pray that I’ll be able to use my nervousness as a tool to listen and correctly convey the message he will bring.

Headed Out of Town

March 9, 2007 in Media, Ministry, Missions, Prayer by Dave | No comments

Typical home in Muna

If you’ve been looking at the Upcoming Events module, We’re nearly set to embark on our first missions team project. We’ll be headed south from Mérida to the small city of Muna. There, Kelly, the kids, and I, along with a group from America University’s Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship (led by my twin brother, Mike), will be building, painting, and evangelizing. We’ll be partnering with the Lilly of the Valley Church, pastored by Julian Puc Tum to raise a column to support the second floor of their building, painting in the newly constructed pastoral home, and holding evangelistic services for kids and youth.

We ask that you would join with us in prayer as we work with this group. We would ask for your prayers concerning our safety during the construction, our health, especially for those adjusting to the new environment and foods, and our outreach. Also, we would ask that you would pray for the team members. Many future missionaries are called during missions trips like this one. Pray that God would not only touch hearts in Muna, but also those of our group, that they might be open to His call to “Go!”

Needless to say, this one week trip will see me away from the computer for a while. So, although you are always free to drop a comment, it may be held in moderation before being published. While you are waiting for the comment to go, why don’t you head over to our photo album to view shots of Muna and the surrounding area.

Back from the City

January 23, 2007 in Mexico, Ministry, Prayer by Dave | No comments

Angel of Indep.--photo by daveI just wanted to send out a quick update to thank those who had prayed. As you might have read in our last post, the whole Godzwa family traveled to Mexico City in order to present ourselves to the Immigration Officials and receive our work visas. Well, from the photo to the left, you can see that we made it to Mexico City, but that is just the start of the great news that we have to share with you!

  • We now have our official FM-3 business visas. This means that we will not have to leave the country to renew our tourist visas. It also means that we now have significantly more freedom to live and work here in Mérida.
  • We are glad to report safe travel and absolutely no incidents with in the city with the police or otherwise.
  • We were treated like royalty by our hosts the Grecos, and those who stopped by to spend the day with us like the Amiots, Breits and Thomases. Thanks for your hospitality!
  • We can also say that, all things considered, our children behaved wonderfully, and our flights were actually a rather enjoyable experience. It seemed to me that even the airline corn chips tasted better.

    • Thank you for your prayers!

    Back to the City

    January 16, 2007 in Mexico, Ministry, Prayer by Dave | No comments

    Angel of Independence“The City” in the U.S. is of course, New York City. It is one of the most important centers of commerce and culture in the country, and, who can forget, it is also home to the best team in baseball, the New York Yankees. However, when you speak of “The City” in Mexico, you are speaking of Mexico City, the nation’s capital and home to about 32 million people.

    This Wednesday we will have the opportunity to travel back to “The City.” We were most recently there this past August, when we received our invitation to work in Mérida. This time we will be traveling in order to receive our official religious visas, which will give us more freedom to work in Mérida and throughout the country. We’re happy to finally be through with this process as it has meant mailing of lots of paperwork and dealing with lots of waiting. Still, God willing and the thumb prints don’t smudge, we’ll have those important documents in hand this Thursday.

    Also, we’re looking forward to getting together with other missionaries, including friends from language school, Peter and Delia Breit and Josh and April Amiot. Their children and ours we’re good friends in Costa Rica, and we’re glad to have another chance to allow them make memories as well as catch up with them on their lives and ministries.

    So this week please be in prayer as we head out to “The City.” Pray for safe travel, for the complication-free reception of our visas, for patient easygoing kids, and for protection in and around the metropolitan area.

    We’ve received our invitation

    August 9, 2006 in Mexico, Prayer, Progress by Dave | 1 comment

    We’d like to say thank you to all who had been praying for us as we travelled to Mexico for our meeting with the general presbytry there. Here are some things that did not happen:

    • We did not have trouble exiting Costa Rica or entering Mexico.
    • We did not find ourselves delayed or detained as a result of the protests that have gridlocked Mexico City following the July 2nd elections.
    • We did not have any problems on our return trip and arrived in Costa Rica, albeit tired, nearly on time yesterday.

    Here are some things that did happen:

    • We have received an invitation from the Mexican Presbytry to work with missionaries Paul and Sandy Kazim in M�rida Mexico. (The picture above is of the municipal palace there.)
    • We have secured housing in M�rida, which mean we’ll be able to move right in when we arrive at the end of August.
    • We were able to leave a number of personal items in Mexico during the time we were there, making our move from Costa Rica that much easier.
    • We have benefitted from the strength of your support and prayers. Thank you!

    We now are facing the task of packing up our apartment here in Costa Rica in order to prepare for our August 13th departure. Please continue to remember us as we go through this time of transition.

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    On our way to Mexico!

    August 3, 2006 in Mexico, Prayer, Progress by Dave | 1 comment

    As many of you read this post, we will be preparing for our first taste of Mexico this weekend as we prepare for our meeting with the national church leadership there in Mexico City. Please pray for the following:

    • The will of God to be accomplished as we ask permission from the Mexican A/G to work in Mexico.
    • Safety of the kids as they will be staying in Costa Rica as we travel.
    • Freedom from complication as we leave and re-enter Costa Rica, and as we spend time in Mexico. The tumultuous aftermath of the Mexican presidential elections has caused disruptions in transportation in the city and may extend to transportation methods into and out of the city.
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    Final Exam

    July 27, 2006 in Language, Prayer by Dave | No comments

    Keeping with our theme of lasts, we’d appreciate your prayers today (Friday) as we go through our “final exam” here at CINCEL. Kelly and I will each be sitting down with a professor for a “conversation” of sorts in order to plot our oral proficiency in Spanish. That’s the reason for the photo of Joseph’s mouth above. Please pray that we will be able to put into practice all that we have learned in the past year, and that the results of this exam will be an encouragement for the both of us to continue our learning even after we graduate from our program.

    Mexico Elections

    July 1, 2006 in Mexico, Prayer by Dave | No comments

    Tomorrow, July 2nd, is the date for the Mexican presidencial elections, and as it is in America, the political structure can change tremendously with the election of a new administration. This new administration will be the administration under which we enter the country, apply for residency, live, and work during the remainder of our first term. Please pray that:

    • God will guide the course of the elections, granting the people of Mexico the wisdom to choose the right candidate.
    • God will begin to work in the heart and mind of the president-elect, giving him the tools that he needs to govern fairly, and
    • That God will grant the evangelical church, including the Assemblies of God, favor in the eyes of this new government so that the work of God can continue unhindered.

    Taking time

    June 8, 2006 in Day2Day, Prayer by Dave | 1 comment

    When I wrote down my thoughts at the beginning of the year, I intended to form a base from which to work, a foundation on which I could build the rest of my missionary life. But, as many of realize, our intentions are not always what get carried out. My conversation teacher, Giselle Mata, says, “Hay algo entre el querer y el hacer.” As I have reviewed my concepts for living, I have found that in some areas, I have moved forward, but also that in several, I have lagged behind, or fallen flat. I guess that is precisely the reason why many don’t make resolutions, because they are afraid that they can never live up to them. On the contrary, I believe that without a clear goal we’ll never know when we have arrived, or possibly we’ll never arrive anywhere. With a goal it is easy to see when you have failed, but without one it is impossible to know when you have succeeded.

    Evaluating the past 5 months, the areas in which I have failed the most have been in the areas that have required taking time. Not that I haven’t been without excuses. This morning, for example, caused me to find a car that could borrow to take a lunch that my daughter forgot to her school and make it back to attend chapel at CINCEL by 7:45 AM all after running 3 miles and getting the boys showered and ready. I say this not to complain, but to show that time is something that has a tendency to slip through my fingers. Unless I mark out a place in time intentionally, I never get the time that I need to do the things that I believe are important, like pray with purpose, read the Bible allowing the words to affect my soul, and be an intentional spouse and father. I have been recommitting myself to these priorities.

    In recent days, Kelly and I have started reading a devotional “My Utmost for His Highest” together. It has served as a springboard for sharing our feelings and out prayer needs like never before. But it would never have been realized unless we had put aside the books for a few minutes in order to share this time together. This last weekend, Joseph and I went on to a Father/Son camp. The picture above is of Joseph and me along with a few of the friends that we made there. We spent time learning to build fires, (campfires), shoot BB rifles, and roll in the mud. Certainly none of these activities was necessary on its own, but the time that I spent with him was priceless, especially as I got to see him pass to the altar on Saturday night to accept Christ.

    We received a statistic from DeLonn Rance, a fellow missionary and AGTS professor that said that 90% of missionaries spend less than 10 minutes a day in prayer. Why: I believe for lack of time. I can understand this. I see my time taken up with homework, study, projects, preaching, and miscellaneous activities everyday, but I can’t allow them to be my excuses. I need to take time, time from the urgent in order to do the most important. How about you?

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    Sickness, missionary ingenuity and why tubs are scarce in Costa Rica

    June 1, 2006 in CostaRica, Culture, Day2Day, Prayer by Dave | 3 comments

    Well you can’t tell from the picture, but this week found Jonathan sick for the third time in 2 weeks. This time with a fever. We are now in the start of the rainy season here, and like what happens in the States during the onset of winter, it seems like people come down with sicknesses during this time of year in Costa Rica.

    With the kids in the Kinder program here at CINCEL it has been quite a ride. The ladies are doing there best to keep up, but sickness has taken hold of many as the children pass germs more readily because of the need to stay indoors. Today, the day Jonathan went back, three were sent home with fevers or symptoms of infection. So pray, please, for the kidos. When they’re down it really adds to the pressure of learning and adapting to the language/culture.

    Now of course with sickness comes the great variety of home remedies, and Costa Ricans have an abundance. (One that was prescribe for the stomach flu that hit last week was a rice/cinnamon drink.) Now one home remedy that most believe in is the use of a tepid bath to bring down a high temperature. The only problem is that, here, bathtubs are almost as scarce as dish washers!

    So what is one to do with a sick child, and no tub in which to give a bath. Well, if you are a missionary, you improvise! We hauled 11 action packers full of clothes and household stuff to Costa Rica. Their size and shape made them perfect for the taking on the plane with us, but the one-piece plastic construction also makes for a great substitute for a tub for a toddler with a temperature among other things. (Fellow missionary Kevin Stewart used one of his for a bassinet for his newborn.) So, the night before last, Jonathan got one of only a handful of baths in Costa Rica. Only this time his plastic tub also doubles as a suitcase.

    That brings me to the last part of the post. Why are bath tubs so scarce here in Costa Rica? Well, the first answer that I received to that question was that it was because they were so expensive. However, is it because they are scarce that they are expensive, or is it because they are expensive that they are scarce? (If that confused you email me and I’ll explain that subtlety.) So in probing deeper, Kelly found that the Costa Ricans believe in taking cold showers. They feel that the cold shower helps their skin to stay younger, and helps their breathing as well. (One teacher explained that deep breath that one takes in when entering the cold stream is good for the lungs.) In fact, missionary Jon Dalahger when hosting a building team had to have electric shower heads installed in homes where the construction workers would be housed because none of the homes in that area had hot water tanks. So, according to one theory, since tubs are usually for taking baths in hot water, the fact that Ticos shower in cold water made the tub unnecessary.

    So, if you are planning trip to Costa Rica, don’t assume your hotel will have a tub, or hot water for that matter, and if you are traveling with the kids, you may be surprised at how versatile your luggage can be.

    Update: 6/7/2006 Jim Cottril has included this post in his compilation of missionaries blogging about culture on Missionary Blog Watch Check out his comments and the other posts that he has included.

    Here Comes the Rain

    May 15, 2006 in CostaRica, Missions, Prayer by Dave | 5 comments

    As I had mentioned in a previous post, the country of Costa Rica has only two seasons, the wet and the dry seasons. We have enjoyed about 3 months now of dry sunny weather, but for the past week except for yesterday, it has rained every day. The picture above is a view of the storm clouds rolling in once again.

    It’s funny how the changes in the weather can bring about a thoughtful attitude, but activity in the blogsphere has helped push me into a pensive mood as well. A post written by Amy Maxwell has caused me to think a bit about our lives as Christians, and how we view our relationship with God. Her question was a question about how we pray. Amy, along with her husband Joel, is now in the process of a personal storm of trying to pay off the debt of a failed business, and she asked:

    Should we pray for sunny days? Praise God IN the storm? Praise God DESPITE the storm? Praise God FOR the storm?

    This isn?t just a word game. These are drastically different ways of looking at and dealing with life.

    It struck me as an interesting question, and many of us, out of our experiences or studies would be able to respond stating the method we feel that is correct or that more suits our personal style. However, I felt compelled to respond in a different way:

    My opinion is that, for questions like these, it is best to turn to the prayer book of the Bible, Psalms. In it we see all kinds of prayers that may not fit with our personal style. There are prayers of questioning, prayers of frustration, and prayers asking for God to bring judgment. Also, there are prayers of praise and prayers that ask for God?s blessing.

    What does this teach us? That there are some prayers that are better and some that are worse? I think no. (Perhaps there are some that come from a more mature understanding of God?s ways.) But I think that the important point that Psalms makes is that we should pray. Praise in the good and bad. Pray for God?s peace and blessing, and sometimes just pray in such a way that we spill out everything that is in us before Him.

    Sometimes what comes out won?t be pretty, but in all of our laughing and crying, praising and (perhaps) cursing, words of faith and frustration, I believe that God is working something out in us through His Spirit, and we are telling Him that He is more than a heavenly vending machine. He is our perfect, heavenly Father. And, who knows, when we are done, maybe He?ll have time to say something to us.

    You see, I feel that we as Christians spend so much time on how we should pray that we fail to actually take time to pray. This is evident even in some of the new, and might I say, well though out missionary blogs that have popped up on missionary-blogs.com. Both The M Blog in this post on Trinitarian Theology and RTBM in “Returning to Biblical Missions” question our methodologies and challenge us to take a new look at our dependence on the Spirit. How better to do this but to bend our knees in prayer?

    Who knows, maybe this post was something I needed to write simply to air out some thoughts, but perhaps this question of this mother of 2 in Springfield and the thoughts of two veteran missionaries will do what it did to me: reignite a desire to pray!

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    So close, and yet so far

    April 11, 2006 in Devotional, Missions, Prayer by Dave | 1 comment

    The missionaries of today are quite different from those of the past. Single-minded laborers for the Lord, they loaded their belongings in caskets, headed for far off regions that they were sure that they would never return from. Today, we are usually only a plane flight or two away from our home country, and the technology that we enjoy has us linked through the telephone and the internet in such a way that many of us can enjoy a connectedness with our families that few ever even imagined in the past. Some of us are even blessed to receive visits from family as we are enjoying now: Kelly’s parents David and Kim Yaple, along with her brother Micah have been here since last Thursday night, enjoying the Holy Week school break along with us.

    Still there are events that remind us of the miles. We had a few that have happened just this weekend. The first was the birth of our latest nephew Levi Christopher this weekend. He’s a 9lb 1oz cutie that is currently 2,050 miles away as the bird flies. The second was the death of my uncle David Regan. Suffering from cancer, my uncle succumbed the day before Levi was welcomed into the world. With the desire to be there strong, but the realities and expenses of travel being as they are, suddenly the world has gotten much bigger. And when we hear of loved ones being sick or churches struggling, we long to be near, to be able to comfort with a touch or simply our presence but we are unable.

    These are the times when the calling has to be sure. The times when we reflect on the reason that we have left the United States in order to work on the mission field, and the answer is not because there is a need, but because we are called. So we offer up our prayers for those who are far from us. Prayers of thanksgiving for those events in which the Lord has blessed, and prayers of peace and comfort for those who have suffered loss, and we take confidence that the Lord who has taken us away is big enough fill the space that we leave behind, be it in the celebrations or the sadness.

    Hands

    March 12, 2006 in CostaRica, Ministry, Prayer by Dave | 1 comment

    There is a song that says, “It is no secret, what God can do…,” but knowledge and expectations at times can be two totally different things. In the case of the Luis Palau Festival God blew away the expectations!

    The students of CINCEL got a chance to be a part of the festival, as I had mentioned in this previous post, presenting a 15 minute “mini-show” to the children on Friday night. The picture above is of what had a chance to witness during the call for those who wanted to ask Christ into their hearts following the show. Dozens of children came to the Lord that night. More than that, the workers were able to collect information from over 4000 children who made a committment to the Lord during the two day event. Like I said, “It is no secret,” but at times it can be surprising what God can do.

    Thanks to Renay West for the great photography. The photo album is posted here.

    Ministry starts here

    March 8, 2006 in CostaRica, Ministry, Prayer by Dave | 1 comment

    Now that we have about 6 months of Spanish under our belts, we feel fairly confident to travel in San José and to go about our daily activities. Still, expressing thoughts, wishes, and feelings can be a stretch for our minds and our mouths. So sharing about our relationship with Christ in Spanish has been a challenge to say the least. Still, we are aware that ministry is not just what is waiting for us in Mexico. Ministry starts here in language school as well.

    That is why when the students from CINCEL had been given the opportunity to participate in the Luis Palau festival we felt lead to join the team. This weekend’s festival which features Luis Palau, considered to be the Latin Billy Graham, is expected to draw upwards of 100,000. We have been working on a 15 minute “mini-show” to present during the children’s portion of the program. During this show we will be presenting a clear message of the gospel in Spanish to which the children watching the program will be given an opportunity to respond.

    Please pray for the following:

    • That all of the logistics of the campaign will move smoothly.
      That God will prepare the hearts of those who will attend the festival to hear the message of the cross of Jesus.
    • That God would work through our “mini-show” as well as the other events in order to motivate children and adults to have a relationship with Him.
    • That God would help Luis Palau to communicate clearly the message of reconciliation with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
    • That the cooperation among the evangelical churches that this festival has provoked will continue.

    Celebrating a Birthday in Costa Rica!

    November 5, 2005 in Day2Day, Prayer, Thanks by Dave | No comments

    How does Jonathan, our almost three year old, celebrate a birthday in Costa Rica? By having an operation of course! Tuesday, November 8th is Jonathan’s third birthday, and we spent the last week and a half preparing by spending a lot of time in the hospital.

    It started with some symptoms that we found earlier in October that necessitated minor surgery. However, the day after we scheduled the procedure, Jonathan fell and cut his face, requiring emergency surgery as the cut was very close to his eye.

    Now all of this is difficult enough to deal with in the states, but try navigating through the emergency room in a foreign language! We were helped by a terrific team, however, and we want to take a moment to thank our doctor, Dr. John Longworth, Jay and Nancy Dickerson, the directors of CINCEL for providing translation and taxi services, as well as the entire school for their support, prayers and concern. Thanks goes as well to those who continue to hold us up in prayer. Your prayers do make a difference.

    In this picture Jonathan is preparing for the final surgery, and, as you can see, the injuries haven’t dampened his spirits. Hey, he’s rough and tough right? The surgery went wonderfully well and the stitches in his face were removed at the same time. He’ll be able to celebrate his third birthday injury free!

    Life Goes on During Language School!

    October 24, 2005 in Day2Day, Language, Prayer by Dave | 1 comment

    If there is one thing that we have learned so far here at CINCEL it is that life goes on even when you have left the country.

    As we looked forward to language school, we expected the rigors of classes, the hours of homework, and the difficulties of navigating through a new culture, but you never quite grasp the effects of culture on everyday life until you attempt to live your everyday life in another culture.

    While we were in the United States itinerating, we were blessed with wonderful health. However since we have landed in Costa Rica, four out of five of us have seen the doctor! In fact, Kelly just returned today from an appointment for Rebekah. We are also facing the prospect of minor surgery for Jonathan, our almost 3 year-old, in the coming weeks.

    None of these situations are emergencies, and yet, when compounded with the rigors of language and culture acquisition, they serve as “extra stress”–that is Spanish, by the way, for extra stress–that can lead us into despondency.

    Still with all of the things being thrown at us now, we are thankful for what we have: a comfortable house, food to eat, an opportunity to fulfill God’s call on our lives, and supporters like you to continue to hold up our needs to the Lord. So we choose to be thankful. As Dan Betzer’s byline stated today: “I cried for the lack of shoes until I saw someone without any feet.”

    So we continue the struggle that is language school, realizing that life does not stop during this process, but eternally thankful for the strength that God gives us to accomplish all things…including scheduling a doctor’s appointment in Spanish!

    Friends, we ask that you would pray

    October 21, 2005 in Mexico, Prayer by Dave | No comments

    As I am typing this, Hurricane Wilma is tearing up the eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Friends and family, we ask that you would pray. Pray for those affected by this storm. Pray for their health, their welfare, and most of all, for their souls.

    We Made It! In the Midst of the Storm…

    September 2, 2005 in CostaRica, Language, Prayer by Dave | No comments


    We have made it to San Jose, Costa Rica! We have been in Costa Rica since Tuesday and are now getting settled into a routine before classes begin on Tuesday. We are relieved and excited to be here although a bit overwhelmed at the realization that we now have the equivalent communication skills of a two-year old!

    However, even though we have left the United States, we find that are thoughts are constantly brought back as we continue to hear reports on the damage and the situation on the Gulf Coast. We ask that you would continue to remember us, be we hope that you would find time to remember the victims of Hurricane Katrina in your thoughts and prayers. Also, if you feel so lead, I know of two excellent organizations that will facilitate your relief contributions: Convoy of Hope and Rural Compassion. Both are Assemblies of God ministries, and both are playing a large role in facilitating relief, spiritual as well as physical, to these distressed people.

    Cinco de Mayo

    May 5, 2005 in Culture, Mexico, Prayer by Dave | 2 comments

    Greetings from the road! We are on the road in De Soto, Missouri, where we celebrated a wonderful Wednesday night service.

    Today is the National Day of Prayer, and I hope that many people will be spending time praying for our country and the leaders that govern us. Also, today is Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican celebration that commemorates the temporary turning back of the French occupation at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, a celebration that signifies the Mexicans? determination to defend themselves. More recently, it has become celebration of Mexican culture, and a time each year that an increasing number of Americans can sample the Mexican fiesta.

    It is our hope that in the midst of the celebration, each one of you will take the time to pray for our neighbors to the south. As you pray, ask that the Holy Spirit would be able to break down the Mexican resistance to the gospel, to allow them to open their eyes to the opportunity to have a relationship with God and the blessings that come when they make Jesus their Lord.