| Overholt Newsletter June 2011 |
| Check out my mission videos |
Greetings to all our family and friends,
We hope you are having a great summer and that you are
able to enjoy picnics, barbeques, swiming, camping and
lots of sunshine. We are now in what is called the wet
season down here - May to November - but it is still hot and
humid mixed in with tropical storms, more clouds and still
some sunny days.
We had a great time with the team from Bible Fellowship
Foursquare Church in Surrey led by Craig and Shanda Millar.
Because they were here for a month they were able to build
some relationships with people and leaders in the churches
and also to connect with the children and youth. One day we
divided up the team and we went out to two different areas -
2 homes where we made some empanadas - chicken and
bean and cheese. One team made over 130 while the other
team made up 120. It was a lot of work, in the heat and over
the open air wood fire but it was a great experience for
everyone: very cultural and good bonding time with the
families we worked with. Because it was mostly girls on the
team they enjoyed seeing and learning how to cook Tico
style and to observe how the women do things here.
Afterwards, one group went and gave out their empanadas
in the village - going door to door - the other group gave
their empanadas out at an evening service. It was a great
time of making memories, new friends and learning how to
communicate with hands and actions when you wanted to be
understood.
Also this month we were able to attend a leaders
conference in San Jose where John and Sonja Dekker came
to speak on Doing What Jesus Did!!! This conference was in
English/Spanish so it was a little easier on the brain. There
was a good turn out of Pastors and leaders from around the
country. Our team from Canada was able to attend the
conference, as well, and it was a time to receive ministry
after all the giving out they had been doing. One evening,
at the general session, they were able to share a dance with
flags "Mighty to Save." This was a very powerful time of
ministry that was well appreciated by everyone.
We are continuing to pray for Pastor Juan Zepeda who
pastors the Martina Bustos church. He has been in
Nicaragua since May and was operated on in early June -
brain surgery - to do with the paralysis that had come upon
him in March. He is recuperating slowly and has to sit or lay
still all day, wear a neck brace and go back and forth to the
hospital and doctors to be monitored on his progress. He
has to take taxis for this so it has been a stretch for them.
He also has medication and has had to get some injections
for pain as well. But God is supplying for them and we are
hoping that he will recover 100% and be able to return to
Costa Rica perhaps by the end of July. So the pastoral team
here has been taking turns going to his church and being
there on Sundays and other special services to help with
the ministry there. His wife Sandra is with him and is helping
to care for him so we are missing the two of them here. The
Sunday we went there we had 3 people give their lives to
the Lord and 4 baby dedications- so God is continuing to
pour out his Spirit in that area.
We appreciate your prayers for us here and ask that you
continue to pray for wisdom for us, strength, protection and
good health. We also are feeling its time to sell our
personal car which is 11 years old and had many visits to the
mechanic. It would be good to get something a little newer
and smaller - and hopefully reliable.
Please pray for our pastors and leaders here that God will fill
them with more of his Holy Spirit and give them lots of
vision, encouragement and provision.
We are thankful for the opportunity to serve the Canadian
Foursquare church here in Costa Rica and we appreciate
the support and love we have received over the years. On
June 15th it was 4 years and 7 months that we have been in
this beautiful country. People ask how long will you be
here?? - we do not know, but while we are here we want to
be fruitful, to love on people, to help with the work of the
ministry and to see God's kingdom be manifested in the
churches and in the people.
Please keep in touch - we love to hear from you and know
that you received this newsletter. If you wish to be taken off
the email list please just let us know.
Dios le Bendiga y Bendiciones por usted y su familia
We hope you are having a great summer and that you are
able to enjoy picnics, barbeques, swiming, camping and
lots of sunshine. We are now in what is called the wet
season down here - May to November - but it is still hot and
humid mixed in with tropical storms, more clouds and still
some sunny days.
We had a great time with the team from Bible Fellowship
Foursquare Church in Surrey led by Craig and Shanda Millar.
Because they were here for a month they were able to build
some relationships with people and leaders in the churches
and also to connect with the children and youth. One day we
divided up the team and we went out to two different areas -
2 homes where we made some empanadas - chicken and
bean and cheese. One team made over 130 while the other
team made up 120. It was a lot of work, in the heat and over
the open air wood fire but it was a great experience for
everyone: very cultural and good bonding time with the
families we worked with. Because it was mostly girls on the
team they enjoyed seeing and learning how to cook Tico
style and to observe how the women do things here.
Afterwards, one group went and gave out their empanadas
in the village - going door to door - the other group gave
their empanadas out at an evening service. It was a great
time of making memories, new friends and learning how to
communicate with hands and actions when you wanted to be
understood.
Also this month we were able to attend a leaders
conference in San Jose where John and Sonja Dekker came
to speak on Doing What Jesus Did!!! This conference was in
English/Spanish so it was a little easier on the brain. There
was a good turn out of Pastors and leaders from around the
country. Our team from Canada was able to attend the
conference, as well, and it was a time to receive ministry
after all the giving out they had been doing. One evening,
at the general session, they were able to share a dance with
flags "Mighty to Save." This was a very powerful time of
ministry that was well appreciated by everyone.
We are continuing to pray for Pastor Juan Zepeda who
pastors the Martina Bustos church. He has been in
Nicaragua since May and was operated on in early June -
brain surgery - to do with the paralysis that had come upon
him in March. He is recuperating slowly and has to sit or lay
still all day, wear a neck brace and go back and forth to the
hospital and doctors to be monitored on his progress. He
has to take taxis for this so it has been a stretch for them.
He also has medication and has had to get some injections
for pain as well. But God is supplying for them and we are
hoping that he will recover 100% and be able to return to
Costa Rica perhaps by the end of July. So the pastoral team
here has been taking turns going to his church and being
there on Sundays and other special services to help with
the ministry there. His wife Sandra is with him and is helping
to care for him so we are missing the two of them here. The
Sunday we went there we had 3 people give their lives to
the Lord and 4 baby dedications- so God is continuing to
pour out his Spirit in that area.
We appreciate your prayers for us here and ask that you
continue to pray for wisdom for us, strength, protection and
good health. We also are feeling its time to sell our
personal car which is 11 years old and had many visits to the
mechanic. It would be good to get something a little newer
and smaller - and hopefully reliable.
Please pray for our pastors and leaders here that God will fill
them with more of his Holy Spirit and give them lots of
vision, encouragement and provision.
We are thankful for the opportunity to serve the Canadian
Foursquare church here in Costa Rica and we appreciate
the support and love we have received over the years. On
June 15th it was 4 years and 7 months that we have been in
this beautiful country. People ask how long will you be
here?? - we do not know, but while we are here we want to
be fruitful, to love on people, to help with the work of the
ministry and to see God's kingdom be manifested in the
churches and in the people.
Please keep in touch - we love to hear from you and know
that you received this newsletter. If you wish to be taken off
the email list please just let us know.
Dios le Bendiga y Bendiciones por usted y su familia
Debbie and I were blessed to be able to travel back to Canada for a month in April to attend
our Canadian National Foursquare convention in Calgary, as well as, spend quality time with
family and friends. I even had the treat of preaching "in english" at some of our foursquare
churches.
The encouraging part of going away was the assurance that the churches that we had
established were well looked after by the team of leaders that the Lord has brought to us.
our Canadian National Foursquare convention in Calgary, as well as, spend quality time with
family and friends. I even had the treat of preaching "in english" at some of our foursquare
churches.
The encouraging part of going away was the assurance that the churches that we had
established were well looked after by the team of leaders that the Lord has brought to us.
| Debbie's Corner |
I will always remeber the encouraging words of pastor Ross Fox from Courtenay, BC. "John,
don't forget to enjoy the journey." I was reminded of this several times as Debbie and I
hosted a team from the west coast of Canada for the past month. The journey was full but
also filled with lots of enjoyment.
don't forget to enjoy the journey." I was reminded of this several times as Debbie and I
hosted a team from the west coast of Canada for the past month. The journey was full but
also filled with lots of enjoyment.
| The team also helped out with a ministry out of "Hope Fellowship" called Seeds of Hope. The english church that we are involved with makes up very generous food baskets that we distribute to needy communities in our area. For May we went to 50 homes in a barrio called Martina Bustos to sow seeds of hope to the families around our church there. Most people in this area do not have running water to their homes and many are without electricity and so are very appreciative of our help. |
| This group had a great mix of serving in practical ways, as well as, preaching the good news, sharing prophetic words of encouragement, ministering to children, music, drama, dance, praying for the sick, setting the captives free...simply doing what Jesus did. To see the whole story click on the Canada Team video below. |
February Newsletter
Click here
Click here
| Team work |
| Foursquare convention in Calgary |
| Preaching at a Mission seminar |
| Grandma time at Amantes |
| Still enjoying the journey |
More and more we realize that our role is to
help establish churches and then release the
local leaders to pastor them. In May, our first
church plant in La Isleta, Filadelfia was oficially
recognized as a Foursquare church under the
leadership of pastor Juan Carlos and his wife
Alejandra.
Pastor Juan Carlos has a vision for moving the
church to a more central location in Filadelfia
where they can be more actively involved in
reaching out to the community, especially
people struggling with addictions.
help establish churches and then release the
local leaders to pastor them. In May, our first
church plant in La Isleta, Filadelfia was oficially
recognized as a Foursquare church under the
leadership of pastor Juan Carlos and his wife
Alejandra.
Pastor Juan Carlos has a vision for moving the
church to a more central location in Filadelfia
where they can be more actively involved in
reaching out to the community, especially
people struggling with addictions.
| Our first church plant in La Isleta, now called the "Bread of Life" Foursquare church. |
Missions ... Over the wall
Canada Team - June 2011
| Pastor Juan Zepeda |
| Thanks Turtle Lake for the van. |
| If we didn't have a cat I would take you home |
| He is Mighty to save. |
| Cooking with wood heat |
| Cooking Costa Rica style. |
| Making empanadas |
April Newsletter
Click here
Click here