Tide Chart Project

        Like every live to surf surfer around the world, the surfers in Costa Rica rely most on a tide chart. With that they are able to determine when they should plan their surfing that day. In Dominical especially, it seems that life revolves around these charts. Surprisingly enough though, there are only 2 publishers of tide chart in the town. One publication is in a New Age magazine and the other is in some random hippy one. Seeing this opportunity Pastor Mike decided to put a tri-fold 3 month tide chart/Gospel track together to give free to the community. Since God put me in a Multi-Media class that was centered completely on Photoshop last semester, I was able to put this together with the vision he had for it. After many Google image searches, and many mistakes this was the final result. It isn’t perfect, but it was definitely a blessing to see how God is using the things He has skilled me in before now for His ministry. He is continuing to stretch and teach me more, as the Lord leads I’d love to see what project He will have me work on next.

Joyce and Marty

    Being in Dominical this last week, Sunday through Monday, I was able to go down and fellowship with some great brothers and sister I met last time. One of the couples we got to hang out with was Joyce and Marty. They are a married couple from New Jersey with Joyce having one of the most thickest New Jersey accents I’ve ever heard. That doesn’t say much because I have never been to New Jersey, but it was still interesting. They moved down here about half a year ago in plans to build a resort and use it for ministry according to how God has told them. They have a beautiful property with an incredible beach view and are continuing forward with the building of The Creation, that’s the name and theme for the resort they feel God has given them vision for. They are an amazing couple gifted with the gift of hospitality, and as the Lord continues to miraculously provide, its going to be a blessing to see what He is going to do. They have currently hit a bump in the road and are waiting to see what God is going to do next, but are eagerly awaiting to see. Keep them in your prayers as they have taken this step of faith, God is definitely stretching them but has used them already to encourage many. Phil,.1:6, its always an easy thing to say but harder to trust in. Continue in faith Joyce and Marty, God bless you guys.

Bible Study in Dominicalitos

      Monday nights in Dominicalitos (small little suburb of Dominical)  Calvary Chapel Dominical does a youth bible study there for the kids of the neighborhood. It’s an all Spanish bible study for the kids in town and is led by their Spanish ministry leader Edgar. It was a great time of just seeing hard working less fortunate kids coming together to study the word of God and enjoy Him. We took the guitars and cajon over to the house and the kids had a blast. After the study, which lasted about 25 minute(couldn’t believe how interested and attentive the kids were during the study), we let the kids jump on the instruments and they went at it. We had a blessed time just serving the kids, jamming out, eating hot dogs, and spending time with them just hanging out. This week Thursday-Saturday we will going back down to help the kids and church with their surf camp in Dominical. The kids of the study have been praying for provision and open doors to be able to have a surf camp, and its exciting to see their prayers being answered. The kids in order to go had to clean up the beach for a couple hours and are now excited to be able to attend. Gabo and I will be teaching 2 studies for the camp, so keep us in prayer. It’s such a privilege to serve the Lord and to serve His little ones. We are definitely excited to see what the Lord is going to do, so please pray for a easy flowing camp with no injuries and just enjoyment in His Son. Thank you guys, God bless.

!Chelly’s Birthday!

   Monday Night when we got back from San Jose, we jumped off the bus and went straight to Curtis’ house for Chelly’s Birthday get together. I was taught not to ask a woman her age, so Ill assume it would be just as rude to post it on the internet. Chelly turned ___ and we were able to come over and enjoy the blessings of fiestas with eating cake and pizza. Chelly made cake, and we bought the grub. We enjoyed the night with sending the kids off to bed and then playing some fun group games. Chelly is one of the hardest working young mother I’ve ever seen with; 4 kids under 8 years old, a starting church work, and a Curtis to take care of. The Schockeys have been a blessing to us, and it was a good time in hoping to bless them back. Happy birthday Chelly!

Dave and Hollie

      Pastor Dave (the director of CCBC Murrieta), his son Andrew(didn’t get a picture of him but he kind of looks like Dave with brown hair), and Hollie were able to come down on a 10 day trip and visit us. We had such a good time in fellowship and being encouraged by one another with the work God is doing. Dave and his son were able to spend some good time together around the country and Hollie was able to see first hand more of what the missionary life in San Isidro is like. When it was time to go to the airport, Gabo and I were able to take Hollie up a day early and spend the night with my family in San Jose. We had a blast hanging out, and just soaking up the Costa Rican life. After all was said and done…after all my own stress about trying to make sure everything worked out…it was so good to see God’s hand on everything. We got Hollie safely and on time to the airport and then later even got to have lunch with Dave and take him to his flight too. God is so good, and even when are plans aren’t looking to sure, we can always trust His plans are good and true.

The REFUGE

     For about 4 days last week, as I have been speaking about in the last couple blog articles, I was able to go and serve under Pastor Mike at The Refuge. Pastor Mike’s wife and two girls are in the states for a couple of weeks, so the 4 of us guys have been taking turns rotating down there to keep Mike company. The Refuge is the location of Calvary Chapel Dominical Wednesdays, and Sundays, and also the location of the best hamburgers in Dominical Monday-Saturday. The ministry there is a constant evangelical time. With every customer that comes into the hamburger shop comes the opportunity to show them Christ with not only at times with our words, but more so through our actions. It was definitely a harder type of ground in regards of ministry, but God is still working in and through there nonetheless. I was so blessed being able to share His love through just even a smile with people who think they already know what love is. God even used me to be able to share His truths with so many people one on one it was amazing. He is definitely by His Holy Spirit touching lives, and it is so amazing that He allows us to see and be apart of it. Please keep The Refuge and Pastor Mike in prayer, the ministry comes against some strong hearts, but our God is stronger.

Devo Time

 

Well these are some piks from the balcony of pastor Mike’s house. I had such a blessed time just seeking the Lord and hearing from Him there in the morning. Now in my devos, I don’t always get spoken to about relationships, but the first morning I was there God definitely showed me some beautiful things. Reading through Jesus Christ’ genealogy in Matthew Chapter 1:5, it was interesting to note that Boaz was the son of Rahab the harlot. When that clicked in my head, I was reminded of Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31 is the advice that was given to king Lemuel from his mother. Tradition, theologians, and logic tell us that Lemuel was Solomon’s pet name given by his mother. Proverbs 31 is the ultimate goal for every women, in the sense of good characteristics. When we put two and two together we see that the advice given to Solomon for the proverbs 31 woman was given to him by Bathsheba his mother who laid with David while married to Uzziah. With both these beautiful redemption thoughts in mind, it was so cool to remember that God has all the beauties for our lives already planned out. It doesn’t matter what backgrounds we come from, or what mess ups we have done. Our God is great and rich in mercy, we don’t need to to try to make our own  “perfect” plans. As we follow Him, we can trust that His thoughts and desires for us are good and perfect. He is so good, and has the best for us. As His followers we can’t allow doubt and guilt to rob us of the blessings He has, whether with relationships or anything else He has for us. God has the best, He has called to the best, and as His followers in Him we are the best for those plans He has made. We just must choose to walk in them confidently by His grace for His glory.

John Wayne status

   Being in Japan with Pastor Tommy Ruiz for two years taught me a lot of how to be flexible and make use to do what God is calling you to do with what He gives you. There were many time when problems/issues would come up that had to be fixed. We didn’t always have the best materials to do everything “up to par”, but we did what we could. When we would use things that were…lets say not ideal to use to solve that certain problem, Pastor Tommy would title it “John Wayneing something” lol! Pastor Mike Chavez down in Dominical had title to this method yet, but definitely has been doing the same. Thursday afternoon, after seeing the more constant recent problem of dust coming into the Refuge (ministry of CC Dominical), Mike took the left over vegetable oil he had from the deep fryers at The Refuge and poured it all over the dusty newly redone street. The problem did get solved and I was able to give Mike the name to his method. It’s so cool to remember that problems aren’t really problems. In all reality we can trust that no matter what comes us, as God leads, He will provide us with whatever we need to complete His tasks. Just sometimes we need to be flexible open our eyes and see what He has even already provided to get what He wants to do done.

Wed. Night Refuge Study

  Last Wednesday, the 12th of January, I was able to go down and serve under Pastor Mike Chaves (pronounced Chayvze) in Dominical. Dominical is a little surf town on the Southwest coast of Costa Rica. It was so cool to go down and see the work the Lord is doing there at the church and ministry Mike is leading. The majority of Calvary Chapel Dominical is made up of older North Americans who have moved to Costa Rica. I’ve been to many churches all around the world with many North Americans, and that night it was sweet to see something I had never seen before. On Wednesday nights Mike is having a kind of home group book study through Francis Chan’s Crazy Love. During the study it was so cool to see the congregation sharing there hearts and seeing the growth the Holy Spirit is doing in them. I have never seen a 60 year old crying because of the new work God is doing in him, being saved for only the past 8 months. It was so refreshing to see how God is working in lives all around; of every color, nationality, and age. He is so good, Joel 2:28…He is pouring fourth let us come to Him and be filled!

One God given amazing Day!

 

    Saturday was a very blessed and exhaustive day! As a Costa Rican Missionary family (Shockley's, Torres's, and 4 horseman) we decided to all go down to the river together and have a cook out. Curtis’ car has been in the shop all week, so we took a 45 minute bus ride and a 2 mile hike(with kids and all luggage) down to river. It was a very hard journey but was definitely all worth it. After lunch all the guys got together and decided to go for another 3 mile deep mud hike up to the waterfalls. Neither Curtis nor any of us had ever explored the waterfalls, so it was an unknown trek for all of us. It was long and hard, but as you can see from the pictures, it was definitely worth it. God is so great and mighty, creation sings His praises. Taking the time to listen to the rocks cry out, was a definite challenge to worship Him louder and greater through my own life even more. He is so worthy, and our obedience to worship is the only reasonable thing to do, Romans 12:1-2.

Follow up in 2011

   The new year is now here and   God is continuing to do just as  before. He is so faithful and true, no one compares to Him. We started off the new years with fireworks at twelve a.m. and church work in the morning. The church is continuing to come together with now only finishing touches necessary to do. We we weren’t expecting to do church work when we came to visit Curtis for the new year, but were definitely willing and happy to do. Because of the humidity here, we painted all the welds and metal bars to protect them from the rust. It was definitely a reminder while painting, of how our treasures are to be laid up in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy…Mat.6:19-20. It has especially been a real reminder God has been showing, as I have found moth bites on one of my towels…lol. He is so good, and worthy to be lived for. Reading in Revelation7:16-17 today, its so awesome to realize God is worth everything. He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, He shows us in Revelation that He will become everything we didn’t have on earth. He is our comfort, our satisfaction, our God.  We must just continue striving unto Him in faith for His glory, for He is worthy.

Ps 1:1 ¶ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 ¶ The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.-This time in being down here, God has just been giving us the opportunity to learn this first hand. It has definitely been a time of waiting, as far as getting super busy in ministry goes, but it has been such a blessing. It has seemed that in this time of waiting, we have been giving the perfect class setting of just being able to meditate on His word day and night. Seeing God’s faithfulness through His word has built in us the faith to trust in His faithfulness to bring fourth His fruit in His timing of season. He is so amazing! By taking this opportunity to meditate in these times of waiting, God just continues to encourage even more, and in the same way I want to encourage you. In the times of His call for us to be still and know He is God, obey and watch for God is here with us and is continuing to desire to use us for His good pleasure:).Praise the Lord!