03-18-2008

so, i´m going into my last week here in quépos until i return to the states. i started it off with a bang. kim asked me yesterday afternoon if i would give the message in church today; i agreed. and today i spoke on ephesians 4:16. mainly comparing our relationship to the body of christ and christ himself sort of like john 15 did with the vine and the branches. that if we are seperated from the head of the body, christ, we are useless, and maybe worse. and that a connection with christ, conects us with each other.

i gave it twice, the second time with an interpreter. the guy, oscar, who i have really been spending a lot of time with discipling. after beginning to understand the discipleship process on this end of it, i am seeing that it is addition by multiplication and not addition by addition. that if i was to disiple every person in the center, i would be overwhelmed and burn out. but by focusing on oscar and a few others, they in turn have been able to help and disciple others as well. oscar will actually be taking a group of guys through the operation timothy discipleship process that i have taken him through.

this was very encouraging when i saw one guy in particular who has come a very long way teaching a new guy about how God has been working in his life. the overall tone in the center has changed drastically lately. jimy, the director has wanted change for a while, but has been overworked and very busy as he just had his fourth kid last week. with the extra help here, we have been able to begin to turn the center from a flophouse into a discipleship program where guys also learn useful skills, whether that be english, fishing, painting...etc.

so, in looking back over the past 90 days, i am thankful that i am rewarded with being able to see many changes that the Lord has allowed me to be a part of. thanks again for all your support and prayers that have made all this possible.