Monday, August 13, 2007
 
 We’re Back!
 

Well, this small adventure has come to an end and we are all home safe and sound.

We started the last morning with breakfast at Denny's (a real treat for Ticos) with Clara and Joe Pent. They have taught us all a great deal about dreaming big. They have had big visions that have brought about La Montana without asking God how He was going to accomplish such lofty goals; they just trusted that He would make it happen. I think that was a huge inspiration to many of us especially as we continue to seek God's vision for Oaks Bible. We just need to catch His vision and then allow Him to work out the impossible. I know I need to start dreaming bigger and trusting more.

Some of us went into San Jose and walked around the city and went to their Museo de Oro or Museum of Gold that tells the history of the gold artifacts of the indigenous people. I couldn't help but be a bit mindful that this was a group of people who had not heard the gospel and how they put their faith in these little objects of metal and in the Shaman who used them. It is people like Joe and Clara who are helping people see Who they can truly put their faith in. I was also mindful that although many of us know and believe the gospel, we sometimes put our faith in things such as our jobs, our status, and our money rather than in the One who will not fail us. I know I still have little gods in my life that I need to get rid of and trust more in my Heavenly Father to provide, heal, and give favor.

The plane flight was a bit more eventful this time around especially given that Diane had hurt her knee and now we had to get her in and out of airports and airplanes with a cast on. We got everything loaded and the screening process was again fast and easy. We were split pretty much all over the plane. I found myself praying for an opportunity, if it was God's will, to be a good witness to the people sitting next to me on the plane. I was a little disappointed when the gentleman who was in the window seat, immediately put on his earphones and turned his face toward the window and the aisle seat next to me continued to be unoccupied as passenger after passenger passed by. Then, toward the end of loading, this frazzled, unkempt young woman dumped a big backpack and a shopping bag in the seat next to me. There was no more room in the storage bins as she was one of the last people to board and it took a few minutes to get settled. I began to pray as this young woman then began to sniffle and sneeze and I realized that she smelled as if she hadn't had a shower. I prayed harder.

As people settled, I asked her if she had been backpacking and thus began a conversation that pretty much carried on the entire flight. Katie had been in Peru living on a farm, sleeping in her sleeping bag, while on an archeological dig with some students and professors from UCSD. She said she was interested in Bio-archeology because she is fascinated by "how we have evolved." Getting the picture? Anyway, the chit chat continued for a time but then we both kind of drifted off into our own world for a little bit. I had planned on trying to catch up on my devotional Bible reading and pulled out my Bible. As I adjusted and juggled my airplane snack, coffee and my Bible on the tray in front of me Katie noticed the Bible and made an inquiry as to what I was reading. I began to tell her the story of Hosea, how he had been commanded by God to marry Gomer the prostitute as a way of demonstrating His love to Israel. She told me that she had been raised Episcopalian and had attended a church called Cornerstone for awhile and had read some Bible but she didn't think she had ever read Hosea. I read her some passages about how God was going to draw them back to Him the way Hosea redeemed Gomer all the while thinking of Katie and her wandering search for significance. Her response was, "Wow, that's cool." She then shared that one of her favorite Bible passages was 1 Corinthians 13. I opened it up and let her read it for herself. She seemed to enjoy doing that. So, not only was I getting a chance to talk about God with a total stranger, I got the opportunity to share my Bible with her!

We both watched the inflight movie, which was insipid, and both of us fell asleep at one point. Both of us woke up with about an hour left in the flight. I began to pray and God was faithful and gave me the words. I was able to tell her how much of a difference God has made in my life and how she should give the "God thing" another shot. She said she believed that things happen for a reason and me sitting next to her was an indication that she should take another look. She said she was feeling as if she needed "community" in her life and that gave me an opportunity to talk about churches. Here's a really great thing. She has one more year to go in San Diego and I know enough churches for college students (because I went to school in San Diego) that I was able to direct her to a church that I thought she would really like. That's not a coincidence but a direct result of God's providence. I got to be a part of God's providence--how's that for amazing? I can't say that moment was just for Katie--it was for me as well. I had prayed about wanting to know my purpose for going to Costa Rica and was a bit disappointed that I wouldn't get to verbalize my faith to someone. But God is never a disappointment and He blessed my socks off through this opportunity. I probably won't know if anything really came of that conversation but I thank God for the chance and His faithfulness in providing all the tools to complete the task in front of me. What an Amazing God I serve.

The processes though LA was a little more eventful in that many of you know that LAX had been shut down the day before due to a computer glitch. We were told it could be an hour before we could even get in line at customs. It wasn't that bad and we only got in one game of hearts before they called us to the custom line, but it sure made the early morning hours seem a bit interminable.

With the exception of Marian and Jerry, who stayed behind to do some more sightseeing, we are all home safe and sound and not too worse for the wear. And many of us would say that God blessed us beyond what we imagined. Again, we need to see and appreciate the limitlessness of our God.

Thanks to Jesus who gives us love and makes it possible for us to love others and to all of you who have supported us and prayed for us. It is an experience I will never forget. I have the pictures and souvenirs to help me remember!

Much love in Christ,

Vicki

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Wednesday, August 8, 2007
 
 Wrapping It Up
 

Every time it rains the net goes down. Being in the rain forest, that is pretty much most of the time. So, this blog thing hasn't worked out exactly as I had hoped.

Anyway, we are wrapping up here. We have landscaped an area, helped put in a wireless internet system as well as a walkie talkie antenna so the staff can communicate across the grounds. We have moved some covered seating called a "ranchito" to another location (these are were Bible lessons are often taught. ) We have painted railings, cleaned inline skates, repaired and maintained hiking trails, scraped mud and debris off benches at what they call a Holy Site, as well as smiled and said Hola as many times as we could to the campers as they walked by from one activity to another.

They had 195 Bri Bri Indian kids at the camp. Of those 185 filled out cards of either a first time commitment, a re-dedication, or a promise to evangelize their villages. They have had chapel every afternoon and every evening and the theme of the camp was "A prueba de fuego" from Daniel. There are pastors who are going to be following up on these kids to make sure the seeds take root.

It's easy to think that you aren't having much to do with the outcome but our little tasks make things more efficient so the staff is freed up to concentrate on the kids. That's a blessing.

The kids have big smiles and it awesome to know that their spiritual lives are being challenged and stretched and they are being loved by the people of this wonderful camp.

Almost all of us have been through a small bought of the stomach flu and some injuries and allergic reactions to bug bites. However, nothing that has kept anyone down for the count.

We are studying the Mind of Christ as a group and it is very appropriate for our time here. When you get tired, or sick, or hurt, that is when you are more likely to work out of your own selfishness rather than for the glory of God and for the good of others. It has been a good reminder to study how much God loves us and what our appropriate response should be.

We have also been praying over the news of some of our friends who are sick, hospitalized, and nervous about the fire that is raging near Santa Barbara. It is difficult to be away when you know people are hurting but we are putting trust in our Heavenly Father to take care of all of you.

Pictures will have to come later for uploading photos is difficult with the time constraints.

Thanks to all of you who have kept checking in despite the lack of posting. I'll be talking to many of you in person soon.

We leave tomorrow for some sightseeing. God is good and it has been a great experience for me to be here.

By the way, we evicted 3 more large bugs from our cabin but not before one ran over my hand and we discovered they could fly.

In His Grace,

Vicki

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 From: Tom Doty
 Subject: Costa Rica Bri Bri Indian Camp at La Montana Christ
 Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2007 14:58:13 -0700
 

Hello From Costa Rica,

WOW... what a week we have had here at La Montana Christian Camps, Costa Rica. As I reported in my last email, we had 197 Bri Bri indigenous Indians from the board of Costa Rica and Panama. These kids took canoe or horseback rides from various villages to a pick up location. Then they traveled another eight hours by bus to our camp in the Cloud Forest. Once at camp they were greeted with lots of cheers by students and staff from Atascadero Bible Church, Atascadero, California.

Every day is filled with fun, team-building activities that give campers a sense of accomplishment and an overall good feeling about being at camp. However, the most important activity is the presentation of the gospel every evening at chapel. Each night Jesus is presented to the campers and they are given an opportunity to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. Here Joe prays with the campers and encourages them to make the most important decision they can make in their young lives.

During the 4 nights of camp 185 campers accepted Jesus as their Savior, or rededicated their lives after living apart from Him, or committed their lives to bringing the gospel to their neighbors and change their world. Here the staff pray and encourage those who have come forward.

One of the blessing of camp is watching the young staff be used by God to encourage and support the young people of the camp. Here a counselor comforts and celebrates with a camper.

It is evident that Joe Pent's heart is to see these young people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Prayer is a large part of His approach to caring and encouraging the young people of La Montana.

During this particular camp we met a woman who is the only one working to bring the good news of Jesus to her village. She brought 25 students from her village to participate in the camp ensuring that her prayers of the gospel being spread to her neighbors are closer to being answered. God is doing amazing things through the pastors who bring the kids, the staff and speakers, and through the people who made this camp happen in the first place.

Blessings,

Tom

 Tom Doty
 Director of Public Relations
 LAMA & La Montana Christian Camps
 

 
 From: MARC HUTCHESON
 Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 2:34 PM
 Subject: Hola from Costa Rica!
 
 

We are working hard, (I am dripping with sweat as I write). Our crew just got back from tearing down a Ranchita (a little shelter) which we need to relocate to a different place in the camp and rebuild. (We have two of these to do.) We have already torn down another house (approx 1000 sq ft) floor and all and sorted the good wood from the bad and have been removing nails and will plane the wood so it can be reused.

The gardening team has done a ton of work! They have done a lot of clean up in the jungle, planted an entire hillside etc and are out again today and I will get a report tonight on what they did when we all meet up for devotions before dinner.

We have cleaned a couple hundred pairs of inline skates and a team is down in the gym repairing and replacing parts as I write. Joe Pent, Jr. said today that the skate room has never smelled so fresh! :)

The technical team has been running wire all day long to different buildings in order to run phone lines to different parts of the camp which will allow them to call building to building, call SB as a local call, and call into town - all of which they can not do currently. The radio repeater is installed and working which allows for improved radio communication (walkie talkies) between camp staff, internet cable has been run, and the most significant thing is that the antennae is up and working (installed on the roof) which is for the radio communication.

We have accomplished a lot so far and have seemingly exceeded their expectations of what we could accomplish during our time here. We are having a great time getting to know each other better and getting to know the local staff here and some of the students who are here from Atascadero Bible Church this week integrated into the cabins with the campers to be a witness. Scott Dupar will be arriving with a team of his students from Calvary Chapel next week as well.

We have lots of great photos so far and many strange new bugs and critters to see crawling around. Including a large spider on my leg in the shower to monkeys on the trail! :)

Please pray for health and good rest for our team. We have had many members not feeling so well the last couple of days as food has not processed well through their system.

The rain storms in the afternoon are absolutely amazing as is the beauty of the surrounding jungle.

God did good work here! We miss you all and will write more later.

Hasta luego Page last modified: Jun 8, 2008 2:32:25 PM PDT