At the beginning of 2010, we felt like God was saying that this would be a year of expansion for the work in and around Paso Marcos. As we've had the opportunity to reflect on this last year, we see how true this has been.
Team Expansion:
As many of you know, for a few years the work team at Centro Emanuel consisted in the two of us. God has blessed us by expanding this team as He is expanding the ministry.
This past May, the Friedly family joined us full-time in Paso Marcos. As can be expected, the learning curve has been steep, but they continue to move foward in the work God has for them as they are building their home, establishing relationships within the community, teaching English, leading a Bible study with our neighbors, and helping with logisitics.
Just before they left for furlough, we were blessed to have Mark and Marge Long and their family join the team. They are missionaries with CFCI (Christ for the City International) who were leading the English-speaking International Youth Group, as well as ministering to the Nicaraguan immigrants in one of the slum areas in San Jose: Mark doing adventure discipleship ministry with teenage boys and Marge (a nurse) working in the mission clinic.
When Mark and Marge return from the U.S. in May, they plan to build their house and launch two new ministries in our area. Mark plans to minister to the boys and young men in our area by developing an adventure discipleship program using his expertise in rock climbing, ropes, and rapelling. Marge will start a parenting program along with elements of prenatal care based on the "Earn While You Learn" program commonly found in Crisis Pregnancy Centers in the U.S.
Geographical Expansion:
Last year, our geographical focus for indigenous ministry expanded from Tsimari to new areas of the reservation, especially Bajo Chirripo and Nimari. These are places we had never really been before, that have now become an important part of our lives.
Ministry Expansion:
In the year 2010, God allowed us to finish and inaugurate the Tsimari school, build the Nimari bridge, build medical dormitory in Tsimirinak, have an active voice in governmental interinstitutional commission for indigenous affairs in Turrialba, continue to host regular dental clinics in Paso Marcos and Tsipiri, start a focused dental program for the Tsipiri and Santubal schools, propose a new indigenous healthcare model, launch a microfinancing program through the Agribusiness Partnership Program, start the Art Mentorship Program for teenage Cabecar girls, host a wedding for our dear friends and neighbors (Giovanni and Iris), witness the baptism of Iris and her daughter Johanna, start the studies and planning for an aqueduct in Sarkli, among many others.
Why do we share all this with you? Not for personal accolades or glory, but because, as we look back, we are amazed at God's unfailing love, faithfulness, and goodness.
May we all remember what God has done for us as we look forward to this next year. To God be the glory.
