Overcoming Barriers in Central America

    The invitation by Wycliffe Bible Translators to send a MAF-Learning Technologies team to help three indigenous communities with discipleship training was a blessing from above.

Not long after fellow MAFer, Regina Manley and I arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica, we made our way south  using the Pan-American Highway with our colleague and driver, Mauricio Sanchez. The four hour drive to the mountainous area of Buenos Aires Puntareneas meant that we would be only two hours away from the Panamanian border. It is in this region where the original or native inhabitants of Costa Rica live to this day.

The Bribris, Cabecars, and Ngobes are three indigenous communities that received the New Testament within the last few years. It was just in 2011, that the Bribris received their own NT translated for the first time in their own heart language.

As Regina and I heard the pastors, evangelists, and missionaries tell us what they did to take part in this  workshop, we were astounded. Many who attended reported walking an average of 5 hours by foot to a bus station for a 4 hour bus ride to get to Camp Bethel, our campground and workshop location.

The anticipation of learning more about God's Word was reason enough for these devoted followers to make the long journey. Our purpose for being with the forty participants was to teach them how to memorize Bible stories, make spiritual observations, as well as to look for personal spiritual applications.

One Ngobe man after hearing the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke Chapter 10, began to repent in the presence of his small group friends and asked God for forgiveness for lacking compassion toward his neighbor.

At the conclusion of our time together, a love for the Bible and a commitment to read and share the Word of God was the overwhelming sentiment expressed from the leaders who participated.

Although the sounds of monkeys, bats, and geckos were ever present during our stay, the privilege to teach Bible stories like the Parable of the Mustard Seed & the Parable of the Lost Coin taught me that these stories transcend cultures no matter where you live.

As an eyewitness to this blessed event, I long for the day when I, along with many others, will see the words of the Apostle John, in Revelations 7:9 occur before my very eyes, "After this I looked, and there before me was great multitude no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." 

-Laura

Group leaders about to kick off the event

Cabecar participants ready to learn

Martin, Ngobe leader, is greatly respected among his people

Yolanda, was the only female representative from her people group

Santos, a pastor in his village, loved sharing his testimony

Ngobe, Bribri, and Cabecar men enjoying a coffee break

The New Testament for Ngobe Speakers

Newly published New Testaments for Bribri Christians

Local & Global Opportunities

             One day in the middle of summer, Tony and I decided that it was time to begin the process of finding a house of worship during our season in Idaho while training with our MAF-Learning Technologies team. As we attended a church that was recommended by a friend, our family began to take first steps to meet and greet new faces and introduce ourselves to the various members of the congregation. 

             It was by accident that on one Sunday, we read in the church bulletin the words: International Ministries/Intercultural Worship meets today at 11:00 a.m. We made the long walk down the hall of the church only to hear the sweetest hymns in a foreign language. As we entered the humble room with a simple wooden cross behind the pulpit, I felt joy in my heart as I saw a sea of cultures sitting near our chairs smiling and welcoming us in their native tongues.

            After the initial visit, we made a point to return on Sundays and worship alongside our new friends from Intercultural Ministries at College Church in Nampa. It was during a Sunday afternoon potluck that Pastor Edwin asked Tony and I to consider teaching a Bible study to young adults from the different college campuses in the Treasure Valley that come and attend church every Sunday. The opportunity to teach international students who for many are hearing about Jesus for the first time, was a chance we could not pass up. As a result, we asked our good friends and fellow MAF couple, Ralph and Val Dawson to join us as the four of us would teach this generation of young people Bibical truths relevant to their daily lives.

            The Lord saw it fit that we would not only proclaim His name to the ends of the earth as we travel to indigenous communities while serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship but that we would also make use of our time here in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8) in order that we may share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those He has brought to our doorsteps.

New Beginnings

Coming to live in Nampa, Idaho has been a gradual acceptance of new and familiar things.  Although it would have been nearly impossible to have welcomed the sights and sounds of horses, cows, and barns a year ago, the Lord saw it fit that we would make country living our new humble abode. We are thankful to the Lord for allowing us to move into a home that He provided while we train with our MAF-Learning Technologies team for our field assignment of San Jose, Costa Rica.

I must confess that Tony was the first to take the DMV's written driver's test. He passed the test with flying colors but I hesitated in doing so because I wanted to retain my California driver's license for as long as I could. The thought that I had to relinquish my CA license and pursue another identification other than my cherished Southern California one, was not something I was prepared to do.

It was early in the morning when the Lord spoke to me through the book of John. In John chapter 12 verses 25 through 27,  Jesus tells his disciples that the man/woman who loves his life will lose it. In addition, Jesus mentions in verse 26, "..whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be also." In an instant, I felt the Holy Spirit softly correct me. The realization that I was clinging to an identity that was marked by state and zip code and not on the one who saved me from sin was enough for me to ask Jesus to forgive me and help me surrender to what He wants to accomplish in my heart minus the futility of my residence status.

Thank goodness for new beginnings. Not long after I prayed and asked God to give me a set of godly lenses that I began to appreciate and accept where He had me......not Orange County, not California but a different garden from where I would grow and bloom as a servant of the Living God.
-Laura

Enjoying a summer day with some horsies.

Snow cone shacks are prominent throughout town.

Our bike trail includes pretty vistas

Nearby pond is calling our name

A street sign that warms the heart

An old tractor sits at the end of our greenbelt

Sensational Send Off

This past Saturday, we had an opportunity to gather with many dear friends before departing for Nampa, Idaho. The special get-together was hosted by Tim and Suzanna Bond who welcomed everyone with open arms as we bid farewell to our friends and supporters who made the past eleven months of ministry partnership possible.

Tony and I could not have been more thankful. The words of encouragement that we received throughout the four hours blessed us immeasurably. "Whenever I think I'm part of a team that is helping spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, I get very excited," said an exuberant long time friend. Others also stopped by to tell us that we were their first missionary family that they have partnered with. There was one comment that was shared by almost everyone in the room and that was that they would pray for our family and for the ministry.
The grace that has been extended to us by churches and individuals has been a direct result of the prayers that have been made on our behalf. We are humbled and grateful for the prayers that are made in order that we may soon serve dedicated pastors and remote church leaders in the developing world.

As the afternoon drew to a close, we thanked the Bond family for hosting such a lovely event. Although it would have been nearly impossible to have met with everyone who makes up our ministry support team, this casual yet special gathering allowed us to express our love and sincere thanks for making our entrance into missionary service possible.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10

Mi casa...tu casa

Our visit to Florida is the first trip out of state we´ve taken in our season of raising ministry support. We came to share our work as MAF missionaries with churches, individuals, and also to say good bye to my grandparents who also live in this state. We have been very blessed these many months in that most of our ministry support has come out of Southern California. Although we attempted to come to Florida earlier this year, the doors of opportunity had not yet opened and life went on as usual. Recently, we contacted churches in one final attempt and this time the doors flew wide open. I attributed this occurrence to the Lord´s perfect timing as Tony and I prayed that the Lord would show us His will and not ours.

One of the most humbling aspects in this trip has been staying in people´s homes. In the past, we would make airline, hotel, and car reservations and rely on our efforts to travel outside of California. This season of life requires that we travel more frugal than before even though much planning goes into every city we plan to visit. The folks we´ve been able to stay with were once strangers. All of them were once contacts we had been given by friends who knew we needed a place to stay. Now, these strangers have become our friends and their hospitality has been a blessing to us. ´´Here, take what you want from the refrigerator. Mi casa... tu casa.´´ It´s humbling to say the least to have people who didn´t even know you a week ago, open their homes and treat you like you like you are already a part of the family. It´s a great lesson for me in the area of generosity and hospitality. As Jesus traveled from town to town by staying in people´s homes, I realize there is more to be gained by humbling myself and taking notes from those who are willing to make themselves available so that others may be blessed.
Laura

Forty weeks and counting

We have just concluded over forty weeks of Ministry Partnership. This simply means that Tony and I have been raising a team of prayer partners and financial supporters for the last ten months. The number forty has often been associated in the Bible as a time of testing and transformation. For example, Jesus was tempted by Satan for forty days in the wilderness (Mark 1:13.) In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were led by God to the desert for forty years in order to test their hearts in light of his commands (Deuteronomy 8:2.) Although we have not been led to the desert or been subjected to relentless temptation by the Devil, we have learned many lessons in these past forty-two weeks.  Tony and I have undoubtedly felt tested and at times even transformed as a result of learning how to walk by faith since embarking on this new season of life.

Here are few lessons I’ve learned in the process:

1) Trust in the One who called you into missions.

Even though some have told us this is not the right financial climate to enter missionary service, we have learned that the Lord has been faithful in putting together a team of prayer and financial supporters in an amazing amount of time. If I lean on Jesus and don't rely on my wits and good intentions, I sense His peace and joy in my heart.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

2) When you have a bad day and doubt the call, count the many times the Lord has kept His promises.

There have been plenty of times where I have lacked confidence in stepping into a new role.  The task of leaving everything behind and setting foot in to the unknown can be a bit disconcerting.  It is in these times where I will go for a walk at a nearby park and think back to the many instances where the Lord has been there to sustain me in my times of weakness. Therefore, I press on because He alone provides me the strength.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

3) Give thanks to the Lord for the way the day turned out.

I have never felt so out of control and yet so at peace at the same time. This new reality has become a new way of life for me. There have been plenty of rejections, cancellations, postponements that would have sent me packing twenty years ago. It has been my experience that many of these negative experiences have turned out for the better. For instance, a canceled appointment opened a time slot that was filled by a pastor who wanted to hear our work. The pastor encouraged by our work with MAF, decided to have us meet the church’s missions board so we may be included in next year’s budget. This is not an every day occurrence but one that reminds me to give thanks to the Lord for He is clearly at work.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:29

4)Seek balance and don't forget to smell the daisies.

Ministry life can be all consuming at times. Tony and I have often looked at each other and without a hesitation said across the room, “It’s time for a walk….” And so with that invitation, we’ll leave the pile of work and abandon the emails and go for a long walk around a city park. After strolling in the park and sharing with each other, we’ll then return to the work that was left unattended and realize the Lord was at work even when we are enjoying His creation and resting in His sovereign hand.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

These are only a few of the lessons I have learned along the way. Some of these lessons I had read about in missionary biographies but now they are personal accounts.  There are more lessons yet to be learned in this journey of faith.  Although the road can get weary at times, we are sustained by the prayers of God’s people. Tony and I are encouraged that we are not alone as we step out in faith.

As scripture often reminds us,  And I  pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18

-Laura

**As of this past weekend, we have met our ministry support goal set by MAF. We are thankful to the Lord for His promises. Tony and I are blessed to have such faithful partners. Praise His holy name !

Down memory lane (and pictures too)

The early years

     Thirty-seven years ago this spring, I arrived in LAX from Madrid, Spain. Anxiously waiting for our family were my abuelo and abuela who had emigrated from Cuba to the United States many years before our arrival to California. We were very fortunate to have grandparents waiting for us as we made the transition to learn a new language and call America our new home. The dreams of a better tomorrow were in everyone’s hearts as we envisioned a country full of opportunities as long as we'd worked hard and played by the rules.

     It should not have come to my surprise that while Tony and I began to prepare  for full-time missionary service in the early part of last year, my mother expressed her disappointment in our pursuit. It was over a phone call late in the evening where she reminded me why we came to the ‘land of milk and honey.”  Shortly after our phone conversation, I prayed and asked God to work in the heart of my mother. Our relationship was strained afterward. We stayed away from the topic of missions and any talks of MAF. My mom had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in this country like I did many years prior but asking her to give up the American Dream for her own daughter was something too difficult to imagine.

California Dreamin'

 
        When summer came and it was time to travel to Idaho and be accepted as a career missionary in Latin America, I continued to pray. “Lord, if this is truly your call, I ask that you may grant her your peace about our entrance into missions.”  There were no miraculous signs after we returned home and shared the news that we had given up our jobs as public school teachers to serve cross-culturally in missions. However, the Sunday before Labor Day, my mother addressed the “elephant in the room” and accepted our decision to serve in ministry after nearly twenty years spent in the field of education.

Even though my mom had decided she had no choice in the matter, I sensed I had to lean on the Lord for the months that would be filled with questions and discussions. And so I prayed….and prayed that would orchestrate His will in all our lives.

...but the greatest of these is love

As the days on the calendar always reminds us; time never stands still. Last weekend, we celebrated Easter with my parents and we reminisced over lunch many wonderful memories. I was thankful to God for the gift of a simple meal shared with loved ones around the table. But what was more special was the voice mail message my mother left on the answering machine when I got home. “Laura, I want to tell you how much I admire your courage and love for the Lord. I don’t want to be a burden as you leave and prepare for something the Lord has called you to do. I love you and you have my blessings.” My heart swelled up with gladness in awe of what God had accomplished in over 12 months. I don’t seek self-adulation in anything that has transpired; I can only stand back and watch the wonders that God performs as He asks us to, “…walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthinas 5:7

-Laura