2013 has been and continues to be a year of change.  Perhaps the 2 biggest changes are:

1. Empty nest syndrome – our interns Jessie and Shannon returned home and our assistant Lindsay goes home in December (which is coming up fast!) and we sent Tito off to Vida 220 (a great training program run by DeLynn Hoover).

2. We’ve decided to delay the launch of the VAYA program until January 2015. This is after numerous conversations and meetings with pastors here, much prayer and the realization that we need to make some changes.

So we’re running hard after God and His plans. We know that faith is spelled R-I-S-K and right now it feels very risky!

Summary of What We’ve Done

• Designed, written and printed print materials in Spanish (flyer, application, pastoral recomendations, welcome letter to pastors, typical daily schedule, course scope & sequence)
• Lowered the educational requirements for the program to make it more accessible to Latin America – but with a strong recommendation that they finish colegio (High School) first
• Formed an official Vineyard Association, as requested by Carolo Chacón, director of the Federation of Vineyard churches in Central America. This was a long and difficult process in another language, working with a lawyer who graciously volunteered her time. Just last week we “published” the name in the newspapter. We have a working board, which requires more Ticos than Gringos (we actually have 4 Gringos).
• Recognized the need to lower the cost for the students, again to make VAYA within their reach (wise words from our fried and pastor, Arthur –
  

  «You can’t bend the culture and the economy to fit your program. You need to bend the program to fit the culture and economy.»

What We Yet Have To Do

• Build relationships with North American churches working in Latin America – cast the vision and bring them along with us on this journey, finding ways to include them.
• Build relationships with Vineyard pastors and Friends of the Vineyard pastors in Costa Rica – again, cast the vision – help them see why they want to send someone to this program.
• Raise more funds – this is the only way we can lower the program cost and make it within reach of students
• Write, design “marketing materials” for the North American churches and the Central American pastors – Jon (our son) has done some AMAZING work on this and we’re well on our way!
• Travel in 2014 to raise awareness and support – both in the states and in Central America,or at least Costa Rica this year
• Find a ministry assistant for 2015 who speaks at least some Spanish and can share the vision and work load for the program
• Present VAYA at the Costa Rican / Central American Vineyard conference in March 2014 … in Spanish of Course
• Continue to become more and more fluent in our 2nd language
• Purchase a van before 2015, to transport students
• Putting together an English and a Spanish 1 to  1-1/2 minute video clip (could REALLY use help on this one!)

All of the above takes huge amounts of time and emotional energy, followed by more time. It also requires money. Those of you who have known us for a long time, know that we’ve never had a lot of money – but what we have is His. Right now, we have a short-fall of finances every month and are looking at every possible way to address this. This adds a significant amount of stress to our lives. In the last several weeks, 1 of our furnaces back in NH broke, a hot water heater broke as well … 1 tenant is always behind on the rent and the other tenant gave notice. So we are really fixing our eyes on God for His provision and asking Him to open up new opportunities for additional support and build new relationships. We continue to be SO thankful for each of you who already supports the ministry. It is the only way we can do what we’re doing.

And while we’re working and preparing for all of the above, we continue to be leaders in Viña Anonos, supporting the work that goes on there. I am still very involved in ladies ministry, Les is mentoring 4 young men from the community and 1 other (several of them refer to him as their father), we have 2 young men from the community who join us each morning for devotions and prayer for the community and we are involved in the church leadership team and are part of a worship team (of course!). And Les has been giving guitar lessons as well. We are also part of the team from Los Anonos and friends of Los Anonos going on the annual mission trip to Tipitapa Nicaragua in December, just before we come home for the holidays.

So – Missio Dei Costa Rica by turn  is excited, exhausted, discouraged, animated, engaged and involved, full of hope and expectation and overall … chasing hard after God.  Here’s a recent song expressing our heart. It’s called Chasing You.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCGJUcor30M[/youtube]