My family and I have been so blessed to serve Palabra Viva. We had the honor to lead the Church on it's second missions trip to the beautiful people Ngöbe. This was special because twenty five people went on this trip. Out of the twenty five were twenty two Ticos. Fourteen of them were on their very first outreach and we all know how powerful God reveals Himself to all especially those who are on their first mission's trip.

Palabra Viva Missions Trip to the Ngöbe 2015

This is the journal we gave them that
helped them in their devotions.

From the very first time we mentioned this journey my wife and I were really blessed to see those who were interested and began to pray and ask God to unite this group in His unity. He was so faithful! Before the trip I though it would be wise to visit the leaders and Pastors (the indigineous Pastors) several times before and sit with them and pray and ask God what it is He desires to do through us and with the Ngöbe (I really enjoyed visiting them! I walked about 18 kilometers into the reservation each time. Precious time walking and praying for all that God would put on my heart!) I really feel like God is doing amazing things and so I titled this outreach, "uniting in what God is already doing with Jesus being the epicenter". One of the main focuses was to encourage each person as they arised to spend alone time with God and for most of them it was their first time opening the Word and spending alone time with our Savior. Alone with God- such an opportunity should be our one great desire! Then after devotions we would sit together and I would let them share and encourage them that this is an important part of our Christian walk. Spending time with Jesus. Shavy helped make a journal where they could write what was on their hearts and on the 25th. of April we will be gathering at our home and go over the journals. To encourage them to keep seeking Jesus in their alone time. We need to have our hearts focused on God so that our communion with Him is an everyday, natural function of our lives.
The first night I felt the need to share Psalm 1 because His Word really encourages us to meditate on His Word day and night. Ryan led us in a night of worship and taught what Jesus heart is for missions. I was so blessed to see the Spirit lead and guide with passion that I know both the group and the indiginous were touched by Jesus. The second day I had the group divided into three groups. One group was led by Yuli who serves in the kids ministry. She and all the youth organized a cool vbs for the children. The second group was the men who built benches for the church. We as a church was able to provide for the materials and bless them with new benches.

Sharing Psalm 1

The men building benches for the local church.

That same day my wife and her group cooked a huge meal that served a little over two hundred Ngöbe. I shared the Gospel and it was cool to see as I was sharing, the ones who I saw receive the Gospel. After the Gospel we showed them a movie called, "Hope for hurting hearts" in their native tongue. After a long day we as a group sat and shared and God touched everyone's heart. You have to understand that this group was Ticos reaching out to the indigineous of their country. Amazing!! We are one of the two Tico churches that go every year and live with these people and share the Glorious Word of God. I do believe many saw and grasped the heart Jesus has for missions. And there are so many testimonies that each person who went can share. I can remember a little over four years ago, I did not know anybody here in Costa Rica and it is only God by His Spirit bringing people together, learning and growing in His love for us. So I am very thankful for Jesus and for all your prayers. My wife is extremely blessed. Please keep her in prayer! She does so much for us as a family and daily is serving the people that God loves so much. Going out of her way to serve me and others. As I see this all I want to do is love her more and more each day. She has blessed me so much and I know she can use your prayers. She loves the women here and really desires for them to come to know Jesus as their Savior. Her and I are spending a week dedicated to prayer to certain things we believe God has called us to pray for. We are on are fifth day and we feel like we might dedicate another week of prayer and seek God because we know He has all the answers. Please unite with us and keep us in prayer. Please pray for Ryan and Korina as Ryan is the Senior Pastor of Palabra Viva and does appreciate your prayers
To close this update I must ask you to interceede for us and for the groups that are coming in June. From June 6th. to June 13th. Shield of faith missions stationed in Navarre, Florida will be coming alongside us and sponsoring a marriage conference that we are hoping 200 people will be present. This is huge! This will be in the community and I believe God has His hands all over this!

Sharing with Pastor Modesto and a few that were gathered. I was actually
in prayer seeking Jesus in my mind but sharing
His Word with them

Children receiving the Gospel

Shield of Faith missions will be doing work with the elders home and will do a construction project at the Ngöbe. At the same time they are going to be doing a huge medical outreach with some of their special forces. I am behind the scenes organizing this and need God's Spirit to lead me so He gets glorified!! I actually love doing this kind of stuff!! Serving others and pointing them to Christ. Also New Life Church out of Gulf Breeze will be arriving on June 22 to June 30th. and they will be hosting a skate outreach with Jason Gallagher and a Karate demo with Jimmy Falbo. And of course all of this with the Gospel message!! Keep us in prayer!!

My wife cooking for atleast two hundred people.