Our time in Costa Rica was good for a couple things. First of all we needed to leave the country to have our visa renewed. That was an event like none that we had experienced before. We took a coach bus of sorts across the border into Costa Rica to spend a couple days in the capitol city of San Jose. At the border we handed over our passports and money, got off the bus and then waited an hour or so until we could board the bus again to only be let off at the customs area a short distance later. Again, there for over an hour, we stood in a line wrapped around the building outside in the blazing sun, and then about 45 minutes waiting for our baggage to be searched. It felt like something out of a movie.
The second reason that trip was good for was to get away from everything that is familiar to us to think and pray and talk. We needed to make a decision about our future. Do we stay here for another 3 years to serve God in a country we have grown to love or do we head back home to Burlington and serve Him in the country we grew up in? We sensed that both doors were open – much different than the decision to move to Nicaragua. We know that in “Whatever [we] do, [we need to] work at it with all [our] heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since [we] know that [we] will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ [we] are serving.” (Colossians 3: 23-24) So, even though we feel connected to life in Nicaragua and have loved our time here we have decided to return back to Burlington.
We still have 3 months here and are looking forward to soaking up every possible moment, living each day to the fullest. There is a church team here from Denver, Colorado that has a sort of “partnership” with a couple CRC churches in Nicaragua. They have been coming for the past 10 years so I am excited to spend time with them and with the CRC churches in Nagarote and El Tamarindo. Kevin is working on writing up a grant proposal with Mark and doing something with the grading of the parking lot. Before we know it Semana Santa (Holy Week) will be here and we will be attending the Latin America CRC retreat with all the CRWM and CRWRC missionaries working in Latin America.
We know that many of you have prayed along with us in this decision making time and we want to thank you for bringing this before our Lord with us. Thank you for your encouragement and support!
The second reason that trip was good for was to get away from everything that is familiar to us to think and pray and talk. We needed to make a decision about our future. Do we stay here for another 3 years to serve God in a country we have grown to love or do we head back home to Burlington and serve Him in the country we grew up in? We sensed that both doors were open – much different than the decision to move to Nicaragua. We know that in “Whatever [we] do, [we need to] work at it with all [our] heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since [we] know that [we] will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ [we] are serving.” (Colossians 3: 23-24) So, even though we feel connected to life in Nicaragua and have loved our time here we have decided to return back to Burlington.
We still have 3 months here and are looking forward to soaking up every possible moment, living each day to the fullest. There is a church team here from Denver, Colorado that has a sort of “partnership” with a couple CRC churches in Nicaragua. They have been coming for the past 10 years so I am excited to spend time with them and with the CRC churches in Nagarote and El Tamarindo. Kevin is working on writing up a grant proposal with Mark and doing something with the grading of the parking lot. Before we know it Semana Santa (Holy Week) will be here and we will be attending the Latin America CRC retreat with all the CRWM and CRWRC missionaries working in Latin America.
We know that many of you have prayed along with us in this decision making time and we want to thank you for bringing this before our Lord with us. Thank you for your encouragement and support!
3 comments:
we're missing you at yps!
look forward to seeing you guys again
derek d
Kevin and April,
We know this decision hasn't come easily or lightly, and will be praying that you feel a growing sense of peace about it as you drink in all the experiences of the next few months and prepare to re-enter life here. On a purely selfish note, we are THRILLED to look forward to welcoming you back!!! GREAT job with the slideshow of pictures from the Faith team. We're just back today from a week away, and haven't yet seen anyone since their return. We look forward to all their stories to flesh out the beautiful images you've posted. Hugs to you both...
-Jacquie and Kevin
Your a brave pair! To say the least. You entered a life changing expierence knowing that it would bring many tough decisions to make along the way.
You handled this matter with much care and prayer. The lord knows how tough it was for you both. To work through this. The experience will have taught you many new lessons about God and each other.
You are going to return to Burlington changed people. We wait with baited breath to see what the next challenge God will entrust to you.
We love you,
Roy & Janet
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