3-18-2008

This week, we had a huge answer to prayer. We had been praying about how we were going to purchase another property for the center so that we could have a place that is set apart from the cemetery where many of the men in our program come from. We also needed room for a wood-mizer (a portable sawmill) that Wood-Mizer has donated for our program.

The first week that I was down here, I we had dinner with a group of men from Florida. One of the men had said that he would like to build us a building down here for us if we ever got somewhere to put it. This building would be a much improved program center. We currently have a house of now 13 men that is no bigger than less than double the average size of an American living room (sorry for the complicated way of saying that the house is very small). This house is separated from the cemetery by a makeshift, tin fence. From here, you can smell the crack cocaine, marijuana, etc. So, we have been praying for another location to start this next phase in the program’s development. We would continue to use the current location as an intake center that men are evaluated in during their first week of sobriety.

We had someone donate us a prime piece of property to us just a couple days ago. This was completely unexpected, and it came at a very good time. There is a representative from Wood-Mizer coming down here at the end of this month. God is amazing; He has not stopped showing signs of His hand in this ministry since I have been here. It is very refreshing and encouraging.

Tuesdays are my day off, so I was planning to learn to surf today from an American that lives down here. He has had a surf school down here, and he has been surfing for 30 years. He called in sick today so I was a little bummed, but I used the day to go check out this non-profit organization called Kids Saving the Rainforest. I only stayed there for a half hour, got some fliers, then left for the local national park that I have not been to yet. Because of semana santa, or Easter week, there was a two-hour wait just to get into the park. I then ran into a friend of Kim and Laura who told me about an American that has started a church and ministry in Dominical (a surfing community south of here). This man is coming to Quepos tonight. He has a desire to unite the churches and missionaries in the area for worship and fellowship. So naturally, I see that the Lord is up to something, and I am planning to meet this American tonight.

I am counting days to when Eileen, my wife, arrives down here. I have shown the men in the program many pictures, and they say that I am counting the hours; truth is… just the days. I am very much looking forward to her coming. I have never waited for anyone to come like this before; I now see a little clearer what our looking forward to Christ’s next coming is supposed to be. I love how the Lord teaches me.

Thank you for all your prayers; they are making a difference.