Pura Vida Costa Rica Newsletter: March-April 2014

Better late than never they say!  Click on the link below to check out what's been going on down here in Costa Rica in March and April, includes highlights and when I'll be coming to Indiana to visit this summer!

http://eepurl.com/T5wdr

A little "stardom" in Costa Rica

Well, it's just not everyday you are featured on the news in Costa Rica!  I had the great pleasure (and privilege!) of helping to represent the ministry, ReNuevos, in La Carpio where I teach English, lead a girls bible study, and help with organizational planning/fundraising.  I was INCREDIBLY nervous being on camera, especially speaking in Spanish, and to our surprise, myself and Brendan (another missionary who serves in the ministry) were more or less featured in the report.  One of the funniest parts of the video is the interview with one of my students Fabiola who says that I'm "regañona" or really strict, but that it works because she has learned a lot :) There was a later segment that encapsulates the ministry as a whole, however, the news station did not load that onto their website unfortunately!

And the second video linked below is a promotional video that was professionally done for ReNuevos as well a couple months ago!  This one is in English and is a GREAT overview of the ministry!  Each video lasts less than 4 minutes…hope you enjoy them!

The final video is a promotional video for FundaVida.  I'm not in this one, but didn't want to leave FundaVida out :)  So if you'd like to watch this short video (4 min. as well), you can learn a little more about FundaVida also!

http://www.teletica.com/Noticias/45183-Buenas-Acciones-Dos-profesores-viajaron-miles-de-kilometros-para-ayudar-a-ninos-en-el-pais.note.aspx

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ayxzz5lhxgqw0zn/Christ-for-the-City_A_Web_720p.mp4

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151160803528088&set=vb.356545043087&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set

A Changed Life…stories of lives transformed in FundaVida

Here are the first two "A Changed Life" stories of the year from FundaVida.  These are newsletters I prepare for supporters of FundaVida about the lives of kids who are being impacted by being part of FundaVida's programs.  The first story of a year is about Manuel, a kid from my club in Linda Vista.  Please be praying for Manuel, while he has made great strides in overcoming his anger and not fighting in school and the neighborhood, he still struggles in this area.  As Manuel has taken on some leadership roles in the club, community, and his church, I really feel like the Enemy is trying to tear down his witness and reputation.  Pray he will stand strong and fight to make good choices that reflect his growing faith and trust in God!

  A Changed Life:  FundaVida newsletter January-February 2014

  A Changed Life:  FundaVida Newsletter March-April 2014

The VERY very worst missionary

It seems like the whole world is blogging.  And I’m an utter and complete failure. I try, ever few months with renewed energy to blog, but I just am not very good at it.  I do enjoy reading several, though, and one in particular I have been following for a couple years—“Jamie the Very Worst Missionary.”  It’s about a missionary who used to live in Costa Rica and now lives in California.  And she’s kinda my hero. 

I have to be honest with you, I have a confession to make.  My name should be on that blog.  No, really.  I don’t know what your conception is of the life of a missionary.  And to be honest, I never really intended to be one.  I kind of fell into it.  Or it found me.  Or God called me.  Or I made a colossal mistake getting on a plane to Costa Rica nearly 4 years ago.  Because I have to tell you, the last nearly 4 years have been the hardest of my life.  I’ve never felt more inadequate, more unprepared, more of a failure, more fearful, or doubted more.  Like real scary doubts:  What if I don’t really love God enough?  What if everything I’m doing is wrong?  What if people are actually turned away from God by me, by my brokenness, my impatience, my lack of love and forgiveness?  What if I arrive at the pearly gates and God DOESN’T say “Well done, good and faithful servant”? 

Maybe you are like me, maybe these thoughts keep you awake at night too.  I wish I had all the answers.  I wish I woke up every day confident that every decision I make, every word I say, every thought I think is directed at echoing His unending love and extravagant grace.  But the truth is many mornings I wake up late, struggle to get out of bed, miss the bus, arrive at classes or teen club or whatever ministry activity of the day stressed, less than loving, less than patient, and collapse into bed at night exhausted and with the sinking suspicion that I let God down. 

That’s my reality of being a missionary.  But then there are days, I lean into Him, I breathe deep His grace and unconditional acceptance, and I let my words and actions reflect His unending love.  Then I collapse into bed exhausted more in love and fulfilled than I could possibly imagine.  Those are the days I live for.  It’s the opportunity to truly experience God’s scandalous truth, really see His mercies new each morning, and genuinely reflect His brilliant light in dark, scary, lonely places. 

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about me.  It’s not about you.  It’s about a love so vast, so earth-changingly real, so irresistibly GOOD that it must be shared.

“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.”  -Radical, David Platt

Pura Vida Costa Rica: January/February 2014 Newsletter

January means CAMP MONTH in Costa Rica!  Check out this newsletter update for January/February 2013 to read stories about 200+ kids who had the opportunity to hear about an INFINITE God!

http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=a2a0c9b2a893cad7d22f14b04&id=56db0a1014&e=[UNIQID]

And for more pictures, check out this album:  INFINITO Camp 2014

Pura Vida: Christmas 2013 Newsletter

  Christmas 2013 Newsletter by Ali Campbell