| Panama |
| Overholt Newsletter |
| November 2009 in Costa Rica |
Pictured above are Juanita Joe and Johanna giving out Canada
bears to their new found friends in La Isleta.
bears to their new found friends in La Isleta.
| missionary journey in Costa Rica |
In Costa Rica I have learned that God is the pilot and I am happy
to welcome the people on board, show them how to use the
seat belt and hand out a few snacks. If I was the pilot I would
have settled for starting one church but instead He has taken
me beyond my flying ability where now we have 5 new works on
the way with several more on the radar.
to welcome the people on board, show them how to use the
seat belt and hand out a few snacks. If I was the pilot I would
have settled for starting one church but instead He has taken
me beyond my flying ability where now we have 5 new works on
the way with several more on the radar.
I never went to marriage training school before I got married
but I have learned a lot about marriage along the way. I never
but I have learned a lot about marriage along the way. I never
having children has taught me things that I never would have
received child rearing training before having children but
learned being childless. In the same way, most of my missionary
training has come from lessons learned along the journey:
knocking on doors, stumbling through cultural differences,
visiting on the front porch of someones home, trying to preach
to adults with my vocabulary of a 6 year old etc.
but I have learned a lot about marriage along the way. I never
but I have learned a lot about marriage along the way. I never
having children has taught me things that I never would have
received child rearing training before having children but
learned being childless. In the same way, most of my missionary
training has come from lessons learned along the journey:
knocking on doors, stumbling through cultural differences,
visiting on the front porch of someones home, trying to preach
to adults with my vocabulary of a 6 year old etc.
Number 5 on the list of things I
have learned in Costa Rica is
that God is not my co-pilot.
Years ago I remember a catchy
bumper sticker that said, "God
is my co-pilot." At the time I
thought that was a good order. I
will pilot my life and God can be
at my side when I need him.
have learned in Costa Rica is
that God is not my co-pilot.
Years ago I remember a catchy
bumper sticker that said, "God
is my co-pilot." At the time I
thought that was a good order. I
will pilot my life and God can be
at my side when I need him.
The number one thing that I have learned on the missionary
road of Costa Rica is that God is the source of mission. It’s not
our mission it is His mission. I am learning to do missions from
God's perspective. He invites us to join Him in missions and
gives us the needed authority and power to carry out His
purpose. We can’t do missions on our own. That’s why we need
the baptism of the Holy Spirit and be endued with power from on
high, so we can go into our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and
onwards. God also sends us helpers in the way of short term
mission teams. It is always refreshing to receive fresh recruits
that come to partner with us on the field. Our latest team was a
powerful duo from Turtle Lake, Saskatchewan.
road of Costa Rica is that God is the source of mission. It’s not
our mission it is His mission. I am learning to do missions from
God's perspective. He invites us to join Him in missions and
gives us the needed authority and power to carry out His
purpose. We can’t do missions on our own. That’s why we need
the baptism of the Holy Spirit and be endued with power from on
high, so we can go into our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and
onwards. God also sends us helpers in the way of short term
mission teams. It is always refreshing to receive fresh recruits
that come to partner with us on the field. Our latest team was a
powerful duo from Turtle Lake, Saskatchewan.
Number 4 on the learning list is that God works really well
through my weaknesses. Even though my language skills are
improving, I'm still communicating at a primary school level
which has forced me to involve others to help out in the
preaching department. God keeps bring leaders into my path to
help me out. Imagine that! Pictured below are my two assistants,
Juan Carlos and Juan Zepeda. Together we are the 3 Juans.
through my weaknesses. Even though my language skills are
improving, I'm still communicating at a primary school level
which has forced me to involve others to help out in the
preaching department. God keeps bring leaders into my path to
help me out. Imagine that! Pictured below are my two assistants,
Juan Carlos and Juan Zepeda. Together we are the 3 Juans.
Mission Teams Videos
2009
Number 3 on the things I have learned is that God is not
having an economic recession. Over the past year I have sat
back in amazement at how He has provided roofs for church
buildings, quality chairs, overheads, cement slabs and
entrance ways, children's church supplies, clothing and food
to distribute, pinatas, candies and toys for children, school
uniforms and school supplies, sound systems, and the list
goes on.
having an economic recession. Over the past year I have sat
back in amazement at how He has provided roofs for church
buildings, quality chairs, overheads, cement slabs and
entrance ways, children's church supplies, clothing and food
to distribute, pinatas, candies and toys for children, school
uniforms and school supplies, sound systems, and the list
goes on.
Number 2 on my learning list is that I am not called to meet
needs. Here in Costa Rica, we are surrounded by a multitude of
needs. The problem with the need is that the need is a very
harsh taskmaster, because
the need is never finished.
If we are not careful the
need will finish you before
you finish with its demands.
I need to be careful to not
allow the need to begin to
set my agenda. There are
many voices out there
calling for my time that are
trying to rise above the
voice of my Master. With God, we are called to join Him in
relationship instead of merely labouring to perform duty. God
works with us in a personal and relational way so that there is
intimacy and dignity in the mission task. God is not out to use
us, instead He invites us to become more closely related to Him
as we join Him in the mission venture. Since mission is always
accomplished in personal relationship with God, mission is far
more than volunteerism. True mission is ultimately from God,
through God and to Him again. While Christian mission
invariably responds to human need, ultimately it is the reality of
God’s initiative and purpose that needs to be the basis of what
we do.
needs. Here in Costa Rica, we are surrounded by a multitude of
needs. The problem with the need is that the need is a very
harsh taskmaster, because
the need is never finished.
If we are not careful the
need will finish you before
you finish with its demands.
I need to be careful to not
allow the need to begin to
set my agenda. There are
many voices out there
calling for my time that are
trying to rise above the
voice of my Master. With God, we are called to join Him in
relationship instead of merely labouring to perform duty. God
works with us in a personal and relational way so that there is
intimacy and dignity in the mission task. God is not out to use
us, instead He invites us to become more closely related to Him
as we join Him in the mission venture. Since mission is always
accomplished in personal relationship with God, mission is far
more than volunteerism. True mission is ultimately from God,
through God and to Him again. While Christian mission
invariably responds to human need, ultimately it is the reality of
God’s initiative and purpose that needs to be the basis of what
we do.
One of our desires for when teams come is for them to partner
with our local Costa Rican foursquare church members. Joining
with Juanita and Johanna is Carla from the Jicaral Foursquare
church. They became an awesome threesome.
with our local Costa Rican foursquare church members. Joining
with Juanita and Johanna is Carla from the Jicaral Foursquare
church. They became an awesome threesome.
church? Our new church
in La Guinea has property,
on the right, that has
church? Our new church
Foursquare church so all
we need now is a building.
we need now is a building.
Right now we are
Right now we are meeting
on the front meeting on
the front porch of
someones home as shown
below.
in La Guinea has property,
on the right, that has
church? Our new church
Foursquare church so all
we need now is a building.
we need now is a building.
Right now we are
Right now we are meeting
on the front meeting on
the front porch of
someones home as shown
below.
One of the highlights for this month was our baptism service. We had 8 people baptized in
our pool in Playas del Coco: 5 from La Isleta, 2 from Martina Bustos and 1 from a new work that
is starting up in Precario, a small community close to Coco. Although we had 8 people
baptized, over 50 came by bus to the service. Needless to say, after the baptism, our pool was
overflowing with the laughter of children enjoying the water.
our pool in Playas del Coco: 5 from La Isleta, 2 from Martina Bustos and 1 from a new work that
is starting up in Precario, a small community close to Coco. Although we had 8 people
baptized, over 50 came by bus to the service. Needless to say, after the baptism, our pool was
overflowing with the laughter of children enjoying the water.
For the next few months Debbie and I will be continuing our journey in Canada. After a couple
of years of being away, we look very much forward to connecting with family and friends. It is
also reassuring for us to know that we have a good leadership base trained up here in Costa
Rica to keep the ministry going while we are away. Looking forward to seeing many of you
over the next few weeks.
of years of being away, we look very much forward to connecting with family and friends. It is
also reassuring for us to know that we have a good leadership base trained up here in Costa
Rica to keep the ministry going while we are away. Looking forward to seeing many of you
over the next few weeks.
| Our new foursquare church in Martina Bustos. |
Click here