March came in like a lamb, knocked us down like a lion, and ended like a lamb. This month we were able to start a marriage mentoring group in the Cartago Church. We had a major car accident on the road to Panama at the Costa Rican border, and we ended the second trimester at school. There is just one trimester to go! It’s hard to believe that we are now scheduled to leave Costa Rica at the end of July. It seems like yesterday that our church Risen Hope sent us out. |
Students taking a group selfie in chapel 
| Our Panama Accident

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Chapel
There are not many holidays in March. We did mention Saint Patrick’s Day, but most of the students had never heard of it. The highlight of this month’s chapels was taking a group selfie when we were discussing the theme of Christian Unity. It was really great to explore with the students how holiness and unity can conflict, and then produce unity in our diversity.
Accident
I needed to leave the country to renew my tourist VISA, so we decided to visit Panama for a weekend. It was a very difficult trip. Lynn told me while we were still in San Jose that we should not go. When we finally got to the border, I kept trying to cross but it seemed gated off. After the 5th time of turning down roads to try to find another exit from the border, I was hit in the left rear quarter panel by a speeding car who did not see me and hit us hard. We did a 360 degree donut and slid off the road. I instinctively stretched my arm across Lynn to protect her, and I suffered some whiplash. We stayed the night at a local motel, and the next day, after waiting 8 and a half hours, we were finally able to tow the car back to Cartago. My Spanish is really improving but that night, I was all gringo. I could not remember any Spanish. However, God met us in so many ways through this difficulty. II Corinthians 4:16-18 comes to mind, “for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory. What is seen is fleeting; what is unseen is eternal.” We were surrounded by support that week from our family, and our church in Cartago. I received messages on “Whatapp” from people praying for us. Allan Monge was a real hero. He helped me to navigate through the Costa Rican insurance system, arranged for the tow truck, and helped me figure out what to do next. Another brother was even able to lend me some money when my ATM card failed. Later we found out that the place where we had the accident was notorious for stripping abandoned cars. We stayed with the car most of the day, and this was also an unexpected provision. The ultimate lesson God taught me from this trip was that I should listen to my wife because God speaks through her for my good. Sometimes God hits me with a spiritual two-by-four to teach me a lesson.
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Feliz Cupleanos, y aniversario 
Marriage Mentoring

| Record Elevate and bible club turnout

Joselo Mercardo

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Anniversary Visit and Allan’s Birthday
Joselo Mercardo, senior pastor, Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Gaithersburg, visited the Cartago church this month to celebrate Allan Monge’s birthday, and a milestone anniversary in the Cartago church. Joselo is well known among Sovereign Grace churches, and visits Costa Rica frequently. My Spanish is improving and I was able to understand the main idea of his sermon, which he, of course, preached in Spanish. Joselo also delivered a marriage seminar for Pastors in the Costa Rican Area on his visit.
Marriage Mentoring
This month Lynn and I started marriage mentoring meetings. We meet every two weeks with couples to watch the Paul Tripp marriage series, “What did you Expect?”. I found it difficult to add Spanish subtitles to these recordings, but I was eventually able to figure it out. God always provides when we seek Him with our whole heart. The first session went really well. We plan to finish the video series together with them and another couple.
Bible Club and “Elevate”
Our students and I have started a Bible club after school. Students take turns sharing mini teachings from the bible, and another student will normally lead a discussion. This month we had a record 15 students attend our bible club.
Some of my students and our director Courtenay Folk have taken the initiative to hold watch parties for the Elevate church in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is a fast-growing seeker church that is preaching the gospel to thousands of young people in person and online. Our event in March was on March 30th |
Please pray…
for increased attendance of our Bible club, and Elevate watch party.
That we would be able to get the car repaired, and we can put the accident behind us.
For Courtenay Folk, our school headmaster, to recover from severe back pain.
My students and I are praying for a quick end to the Ukraine War, protection for the refugees, and no escalation into a nuclear war.
Thanksgiving
I always tell my students that we should remember answers to prayer as much as our prayer requests This month...
We continue to have a good number of teachers and staff participate in our Wednesday morning prayer meetings,
My Spanish is improving, and I have begun to pray in Spanish.
We thank the Lord for close to 50 people attending Elevate, and 15 people attending bible club this month.
Lynn and I had enough free time this month to take a hike on the Los Cruces trail. It was a great hike, and we are thankful to Kyle Robb for helping us find it.
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