Red Rocks Church

We are excited to serve along with you and can't wait to see what the Lord does in and through you this week!

We all arrived safely and are getting settled into our new home for the week. 

Tonight we joined in the youth group service. We watched a beautiful dance showing how God is always calling us and drawing us to Himself. 

Both Lauren and Jennelle were able to share their testimonies of God's grace in their lives. We love how the grace of Jesus sets us free and how God can use our stories to help set others free!

What a privilege it is to worship with our partner church in Costa Rica, Iglesia Biblica Emanuel.  There is so much joy in the Lord's house today!

This morning we were able to share communion with the local church.   The same Jesus shed His blood for us all! 

Isaac and Sara ended the morning service by sharing their powerful testimonies. Both were very vulnerable, sharing how Jesus filled the emptiness in their lives and healed them from their brokenness.  Their stories deeply impacted the congregation and touched many lives!

This afternoon we spent time walking around Sardinal inviting people to come play basketball and soccer over the next 3 days. We also took time to pray for specific needs as we invited. 

We got an early start to sports ministry today!  We are praising God that the rain stopped so we could be outside.

This evening we were able to spend time listening to Pastora Cledy. Having just lost her husband a few months ago, she told us her testimony, how she met her husband, their call  to missions, their call to leading the church, her hurts and pains, and her plans for the future. So many tears were shed tonight, but we feel a deeper to connection to Pastor Jose and Pastora Cledy than ever before. 

What is a birthday without cake?  Feliz cumpleaños Travis!

This morning we split into 2 groups to do projects.  One group is pouring a concrete floor in a home where a family was living with a dirt floor. This is hot and sweaty work, but we are having fun blessing this family. 

Our second project is at the home of Rocio. She is obeying her God-given call to impact her community by feeding the children. We are working to help make an outdoor kitchen, bathroom, and possible housing for other missionaries. 

The work is all worth it!

It's rainy season here in Costa Rica, but that won't stop us from reaching out to these precious kids. 

Everyone loves a Polaroid photo of themselves!

Even in the rain, the kids sat to listen to Travis' testimony. 

Before serving dinner to all of the children at Rocio's Feeding Program, Debra led a great Bible lesson about the parable of the lost sheep.  She shared the Gospel very clearly to these precious kids!

We are serving up "arroz con pollo" (rice with chicken) tonight for the kids. 

About 75 children and mothers gathered to get a free delicious meal tonight!  

This morning we are back at work mixing concrete by hand and laying a foundation for the feeding program. 

Now that we have all the concrete covering the dirt floor we are putting a smooth coat on top.  It's almost done!

The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Before we took off for lunch we were able to listen to Rocio's vision and how God captured her heart at an early age.  We love her heart not only to feed the children food, but also to teach the children the Word of God.  What a powerful and humble  woman of God she is!

We are back at the basketball court having so much fun!

...get set...GO!

After playing with all of the kids this afternoon Chelsea shared her testimony of how she met Jesus Christ.  She connected with the kids so well sharing the Gospel!

These kids have stolen our hearts!

This evening we went over to our Trip Leader's house for smoothies. The Normans have lived in Costa Rica for 2 years connecting churches in the US to Costa Rican churches. Tonight we worshiped together and shared what God is doing in our hearts this week. 

This morning we are back at Iglesia Biblica Emanuel bringing new life to their multipurpose room!

The community that we have grown to love is flooded today due to an overflow of the river from the Tropical Depression that is hovering over Costa Rica!  Pastor Jose Jimenez called this morning saying he couldn't get out of his neighborhood because of the river. As we drove this afternoon to Sardinal we were forced to turn around. Sardinal is flooded and no one can get in. Water is above the cars. Our first thoughts go to the streets we had just walked, the amazing people we were able to pray for, and the sweet kids that have stolen our hearts.  Rain is in the forecast for at least 2 more days!  Jesus touch and spare Sardinal!

The Norman's house (PPM full-time missionaries) was in danger of flooding so a group of our guys went to dig a trench to divert the water away from the house!  And it worked!

From Nate & Laura:  Thank you so much for helping our house not flood!!!

Even during a tropical depression we still were able to meet with some of the young adults from the church.  Lauren, Nate and MJ shared their amazing testimonies with everyone. Lauren then shared a devotional about how her prayer life has transformed over the last year. 

After young adult night we returned to find our hotel flooded and we were forced to leave.  We had a good couple of inches in our rooms, luckily we had put all of our stuff on our beds before we left!

We finished up the night by moving in to the Norman's house. We all shared snacks and enjoyed some good laughs together.  What an adventure we are having!

Each morning we have spent time as a group studying the Bible, sharing and be praying.  It's great getting to know each other with Jesus as the center focus. 

Well recreation day is not happening as planned. Everything  is flooded and streets are closed off outside of Liberia where we are.  So we are hanging out at the Norman's house playing games. We do plan to venture off to get some souvenirs later. 

Tonight we said "see you later" to our partner church. They were so thankful for all we were able to accomplish this week.  They even gave each of us souvenirs to remember our time together!

We ended our night in prayer with our brothers and sisters in Christ!  Part of our hearts will forever be in Costa Rica.