Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Romans 8:1 & English Day!

A mini-panorama of Club de Ninos

Bracelets, Necklaces and Salvation without Condemnation
were the topics at this week's Club.

THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. Romans 8:1 Amplified Bible

Marillyn, Linda and Gily lead the kids in a craft of braiding necklaces and bracelets. Each unique combination of colors was finished off with a wooden cross.

It was a challenge without Brooke, but praise God for our helpers Linda and Gily.

Pray for unity among the adults and ability to communicate the gospel clearly to the kids.




cousins Indira & Natalia; sisters Erica Naomi & Dayana


Wanda, Dilyn, Katerin and Luis Alonso

Towel Volleyball

Erica Naomi and Naomi Shalom


ENGLISH DAY CELEBRATION

Colegio Bilingue's Amphitheater
- can you find Naomi?

During last week's high school "English Day",
I assembled a mixture of 7th and 9th grade students
to perform Act I Scene I of Shakespeare's "Taming the Shrew."
The script and dress were both modernized.



From Left to Right - Marisol as Tranio, Eduard as Lucentio
Andrea as Katherine, Fiorella as Bianca, Esteban as Babtista
Mauricio as Gremio and Nayat as Mauricio



Jose Mario as the page, Juan Jose as Sly, Izack as first servant
Jon and Naomi following along with the script.

My sixth grade students wrote a song
with a verse to "honor" me:
Next there's teacher Jon, He always has a smile when he asks for your agenda; He always has a smile when he writes you a boleta; Could be the water, could be the rain, but we think its the sun that fried his brain: Go Gringo, Gringo, Gringo, Gringo


PRAYER REQUESTS:
  • Surrender and understanding of the Lord's direction for us in Costa Rica

  • The salvation & discipleship of the youth at Club de Ninos

  • The continued strengthening of our devotional walk and marriage

  • God's timing for land for RO4Y

  • Jon's witness at his school and the endurance to finish the last two months.

Paulina & Naomi

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Off with His Beard! It's Independence Day!


Jon's 7th Grade English Class

From Left to Right - seated:Maria Jose, Daniela, Andrea; standing: Nazaret, Esteban, Fiorella, Eduard, Marisol, Andres, Paula, Johan, Andres R, Susana, Sofia, Tatiana.

Looking to give his class a little extra motivation to pass their exams, Jon promised that he would shave his beard off if the entire class passed their exam. Well, I think the pictures describe the end result. (Seemingly unexplainable, Jon has also decided to return to school next year to teach German).



Club de Ninos:
Egg Relays and 3-Legged Races


The gang had a great time during Club de Ninos.



After playing games we covered Romans 10:9-10:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Jon enlarged a wordless tract from Living Waters Publications to help illustrate the gospel message. Front page pictured on the left.





We followed Club with a B-B-Q!
We hope to reach out to both the kids and their families by doing a monthly B-B-Q.





from feft to right: standing - Natalie, sitting - Maria Jose, Dilyn, unknown, unknown, Rebecca



from left to right: standing - Gily, Mare, Naomi, Brooke, Linda; sitting - Victor, Kaybell, Josh, Jason, Anderson

15 de Setiembre - Dia de Independencia



Carried all the way from Guatemala,
"El Fuego de Libertad" arrives in San Ramon,
Tuesday, September 14th.
Jon prepares to run the torch with a handful of his students.

September 15th: the main drag in San Ramon
prepares for the upcoming parade! Viva Costa Rica!



Marillyn and her deaf Tica friend, Alejandra,
prepare for the parade.
Naomi sits with Ale's kids Wanda and Aaron.




Los Desfiles de bandas; Dayana
(a young woman who comes to club de ninos)
attends the parades in traditional Costa Rican dress
with her father and sister, Erica Naomi.

Please continue to pray for:
  • Rancho Oasis for Youth / Club de Ninos
  • Jon's classes at Colegio Bilingue San Ramon and desire to start private lessons
  • Land for RO4Y
  • Jon and Mare's Marriage and family time
  • Finances for Missions conference in January
  • pray for all the kids mentioned by name in this post!
Naomi swinging in the front yard.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Revelry, Revelation and Rivers

Birthday Celebrations!!!


1-year-old Tabi enjoyed her first year of life
with an avocado appetizer!
3-year-old Naomi dives into her chocolate-banana
upside down cake. Wish you were here!



Thankfully, Jon's parents (pictured above) were able to come
and love on their grand-babies!



“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful in handling this small amount,
so now I will give you many more responsibilities.
Let’s celebrate together!’
Matthew 25:23



Sometimes the obvious is so obvious we don't see it hanging on the tip of our nose!

Rancho Oasis for Youth has begun, on a very small scale: 14 hands to be exact (that's horse height). Remolino (translation: tornado) has been our "neighbor" for the last 8 months, dwelling in the stable behind our house in San Ramon. He's a good horse, but simply neglected. Even though we don't own him, God impressed on Marillyn's heart to be active in caring for Remo as if he were hers. We are prayerful that after we show faithfulness in the little areas that God will build RO4Y!



The kids at Club de Ninos loved the new game "River Crossing" (pictured above). The object is to get your team from one point to the other using the "rafts" and not touching the dangerous, cement waves.



Luis Diego, stand-off during steal the bacon, Krisbell

The kids learned about God's love for us as found in Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

In an effort to help memorize the names of the kids at club de ninos, Jon took some "mug" shots of the kids! Jean Pol (pictured above) was asked why he was at kid's club and not soccer class. He responded, "Club is more fun!" Praise the Lord. Pray for the salvation of kids like Jean Pol!


Continue to pray for Jon's involvement with sharing devotionals with the local 12-and-under soccer school. Pray for the boy's coach/teacher Douglas.


Our home town of San Ramon recently celebrated its own Saint. Below is a shot of misa (mass) in honor of Mr. Ramon. Pray for favor in the community, the interest of people's hearts to know God and not mere religion, and the ability to communicate the gospel clearly.


Marillyn was recently able to bless friends and family with a non-traditional Tico meal. Pray that we open our house more to invite Tico friends and that God will bless our relationships and give us windows of opportunity to share the gospel.



Sunday morning home church, an English study through Hebrews.
Pray for our fellowship as a family and our relationship with other English speaking believers in the community.



Naomi passing time in San Ramon's central park.


THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ AND PRAY
ABOUT WHAT GOD IS DOING IN
SAN RAMON, COSTA RICA!

WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH!!!