Did you miss us? We hit the ground running this New Year. We spent two wonderful weeks in Costa Rica in January and what a trip. We were able to encourage and support the local Free Methodist pastors in the San Jose area, visit and encourage budding beach ministries in Guanacaste and Jaco, scout the Jaco area with Superintendent Steve Fitch and his wife Claudette for future ministry opportunities and of coarse spend time with family and friends. We have so much to share with you about how God is growing the PURA VIDA Church.
Let’s start with Costa….
Not even five minutes off the plane and we were able to personally hand the money over to the pastor in charge of the lunch program that you all generously supported by purchasing the PURA VIDA t-shirts this year. He was genuinely blessed and thanked God and you all for this financial support.
We picked up our young friend Anthony and hitched a ride with some friends to the northern coastal town of Nosara to encourage Carlos and the Peck family. Carlos is a long time friend who recently visited us here in the States and was motivated by the ministries God is using here and wanted to implement some grassroots form of them in Nosara. While we were there we were blessed to participate in a bible study at Carlos’ house. We had an opportunity to hear and assure the leaders of that group as they try to decide what to do with their fellowship as it grows and becomes a church. We also met with the Peck’s who are a Christian Surfers family from Florida. The Peck family has felt led to start a bilingual/surfer ministry in the Nosara area. It was beautiful to see a family with a heart for service and a willingness to be stretched as they followed God’s call on their lives. On our drive back to San Jose to pick up Steve and Claudette Dennis and I discussed all the amazing ways Jesus’ love is being spread through the beach communities of Costa Rica.
The main reason for our trip was to scout the Jaco area with Steve Fitch who not only has the mission experience from being a M.K. (missionary kid) in the Philippines, but as superintendent of the Free Methodist Southern California Conference he has plenty of experience planting churches both here and abroad. Dennis gave them the grand tour of the sad city of Jaco that has been toughened by tourism. Party hardy tourists bring in drugs and prostitution which heightens the crime rate and creates a “sin city” atmosphere. Jesus came to save the lost and the broken, the destitute and the rejected, the criminals and the prostitutes, you and me. In Jaco you do not have to look hard to see the needs of people. We must be willing to come in and get dirty, loving people in the name of Jesus. Steve was able to see this too. We also looked at the beaches of Hermosa and Esterillos as outpost sites for future house churches.
Of course no trip to Costa would be complete with out some recreation. As Steve says, his favorite place to be is in or on the water so we were able to enjoy all Costa Rica has to offer in those departments. While enjoying the country’s natural beauty we discussed, gleaned, questioned and prayed with him and Claudette about all our ideas for our Costa Rican ministries.
Costa Rica needs your prayers:
Please pray for Carlos and the leadership of the Nosara group as they define themselves and grow in Christ.
Pray for the Peck family as they transition to Costa and start this new ministry.
For the local pastors in San Jose the capitol city as they work to meet new building code requirements for churches.
For the Lord to lead and bless the efforts of the Pura Vida church as it begins to reach into the Jaco and other beach areas.
Back on the home front……
With the New Year always comes resolutions and Church life is no different. Pura Vida has continued to grow and as usual all went well as we were away. We thank God for our faithful group of leaders who are always ready to take over. Starting in March we will begin small home groups with 3-5 people per group. We hope to provide more opportunity for people to pray, study and fellowship in a more intimate and less intimidating atmosphere. The only concern about starting these groups was that we would not see as much of each other so we are making up for that with bi-monthly events (i.e. Fiesta!!!).
We are also preparing to join Pastor Doug and our youth for ten days in Costa Rica this summer on a mission trip. Pray for this team as we seek Gods guidance and prepare our hearts and plans for this exciting opportunity to serve Him in a country we love and cherish.
Pura Vida, Familia Leon
Let’s start with Costa….
Not even five minutes off the plane and we were able to personally hand the money over to the pastor in charge of the lunch program that you all generously supported by purchasing the PURA VIDA t-shirts this year. He was genuinely blessed and thanked God and you all for this financial support.
We picked up our young friend Anthony and hitched a ride with some friends to the northern coastal town of Nosara to encourage Carlos and the Peck family. Carlos is a long time friend who recently visited us here in the States and was motivated by the ministries God is using here and wanted to implement some grassroots form of them in Nosara. While we were there we were blessed to participate in a bible study at Carlos’ house. We had an opportunity to hear and assure the leaders of that group as they try to decide what to do with their fellowship as it grows and becomes a church. We also met with the Peck’s who are a Christian Surfers family from Florida. The Peck family has felt led to start a bilingual/surfer ministry in the Nosara area. It was beautiful to see a family with a heart for service and a willingness to be stretched as they followed God’s call on their lives. On our drive back to San Jose to pick up Steve and Claudette Dennis and I discussed all the amazing ways Jesus’ love is being spread through the beach communities of Costa Rica.
The main reason for our trip was to scout the Jaco area with Steve Fitch who not only has the mission experience from being a M.K. (missionary kid) in the Philippines, but as superintendent of the Free Methodist Southern California Conference he has plenty of experience planting churches both here and abroad. Dennis gave them the grand tour of the sad city of Jaco that has been toughened by tourism. Party hardy tourists bring in drugs and prostitution which heightens the crime rate and creates a “sin city” atmosphere. Jesus came to save the lost and the broken, the destitute and the rejected, the criminals and the prostitutes, you and me. In Jaco you do not have to look hard to see the needs of people. We must be willing to come in and get dirty, loving people in the name of Jesus. Steve was able to see this too. We also looked at the beaches of Hermosa and Esterillos as outpost sites for future house churches.
Of course no trip to Costa would be complete with out some recreation. As Steve says, his favorite place to be is in or on the water so we were able to enjoy all Costa Rica has to offer in those departments. While enjoying the country’s natural beauty we discussed, gleaned, questioned and prayed with him and Claudette about all our ideas for our Costa Rican ministries.
Costa Rica needs your prayers:
Please pray for Carlos and the leadership of the Nosara group as they define themselves and grow in Christ.
Pray for the Peck family as they transition to Costa and start this new ministry.
For the local pastors in San Jose the capitol city as they work to meet new building code requirements for churches.
For the Lord to lead and bless the efforts of the Pura Vida church as it begins to reach into the Jaco and other beach areas.
Back on the home front……
With the New Year always comes resolutions and Church life is no different. Pura Vida has continued to grow and as usual all went well as we were away. We thank God for our faithful group of leaders who are always ready to take over. Starting in March we will begin small home groups with 3-5 people per group. We hope to provide more opportunity for people to pray, study and fellowship in a more intimate and less intimidating atmosphere. The only concern about starting these groups was that we would not see as much of each other so we are making up for that with bi-monthly events (i.e. Fiesta!!!).
We are also preparing to join Pastor Doug and our youth for ten days in Costa Rica this summer on a mission trip. Pray for this team as we seek Gods guidance and prepare our hearts and plans for this exciting opportunity to serve Him in a country we love and cherish.
Pura Vida, Familia Leon
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