Week 8 Update

Two of our favorite people in the world back in the States are Art and Mary Martinaeu. Over the years it was amazing to watch these two people sacrifice themselves to show love to others. Their legacy is unstoppable. Karen and I have tried to live our lives in a similar manner - following their example to us. It is sometimes an exhausting way to live but it is always fulfilling in the end. This past week we have been focusing on building relationships while we work and do ministry with the ticos. 

We invited people over for game night...

Game night (Mexican train) with friends

We went to a birthday party for a friend's 9 year old daughter...

The birthday girl (Jimena)

And her wonderful party with family and friends

And we had several dinners with different families and friends (no photos). This is church - sharing our lives together to glorify God.

Our staff also led a team from Mission way church in Jacksonville. It is always exciting to see how God works in people’s lives as they experience the people of Costa Rica. This team mostly spent their time at the children’s ranch. They blessed this ministry with their service. They blessed the people of Costa Rica with their love. They blessed the kingdom of God with their sacrifice and I find this beautiful! It is so easy for us to forget that we are blessed in the United States (almost beyond measure). We are blessed to be a blessing to others. Meditate on Luke 14 sometime when you get a chance.

Here is the team video for Mission Way Church:

The only real constant here at 6:8 Ministries is change. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to one of our part-time staff today. 

Kayle Shoals has been working with us the past month or so and has been a tremendous blessing to this ministry. Not only did she give several of the staff haircuts but she also gave free haircuts to some of the locals.  She especially was a blessing to Josh and Alli as she helped to care for their three boys at times. Karen and I took Kayle out to the Taco bar last night to give her one last new experience in CR before she left. We are going to miss her down here.

Fun story:

Karen and I finally had a chance to go to a different open air market that we have been wanting to try. This market is near Alajuelita but is much bigger with more variety of fruits and vegetables. Today we tried a new (to us) fruit called mangosteen (or mangostan down here). It was super delicious! This has become a new favorite for us. 

We are constantly amazed at how small this country really seems at times. We almost always run into people we know in the most unexpected places. Today was no exception - at the market today we ran into the Campos family (who we have not seen in over a year). We have been wanting to get together with this beautiful family for literally weeks but have not been able to contact them. God took care of that for us I guess.

Another fun story:

Costa Rican culture is slightly different! Sometimes you have to let some things people say to you roll off your back. This week Karen had picture day at school. When the photographer was finished taking pictures of Karen’s class, it was her turn. But the photographer stopped and said to her, “Do you just want to wait and take your picture another day?” When she said, “No, why?”, the photographer proceeded to give her a look and pulled out some makeup to put on Karen. Apparently she did not look good enough for picture day (anyone who knows Karen will know how ridiculous this thought is!).

Week 7 Update

What an exciting week we have had down here!

Tuesday was Costa Rica’s Independence Day. Monday the students at Country Day School celebrated together. Each grade level in the Elementary School learned a song and dance. They all performed together at the celebration in front of their peers, parents, and staff. Of course we celebrated afterwards with plenty of yummy typical Costa Rican food. I am attaching the video of second grade’s performance. You can also see a picture of my students dressed in the traditional Costa Rican attire.

One thing I feel like the school is missing is God’s presence. I felt the urge to see if I could start leading a Bible study, with any interested staff, once a week before school. Of course it has to be approved and I haven’t heard anything back yet. Please join me in praying for that situation.

Tuesday the skyline was absolutely incredible. It made international news. Even non-Christians were stopping, taking photos and commenting that the sky looked like Jesus should be coming through the clouds any minute!

Mission Way Church sent a team down on Thursday. They went straight to the Ranch which meant the team house was empty. So Dan and I spent the night at the team house Thursday and Friday night to make sure that no one broke in while everyone else was away. All was calm…and we were very thankful!

Of course we went to the orphanage as usual this week. Friday night they didn’t have a lot of help so we stayed later than usual to help get everyone fed, changed, and ready for bed. I finally had the chance to hold Elizabeth. I can’t get over how much she has grown! It was such a blessing to be able to hold her again. Her bandages are all off. She is doing fantastic! Thanks for all of your prayers.

Saturday morning we went to Verbena to play with the kids and help with the feeding center. We were blessed to have Robert & Maria, and Allan & Laine help us out this weekend. I wish I had a video of the kids jumping up and down with excitement as they hugged Allan. They were thrilled to have him around again! Words cannot express what an incredible sight it was to witness their love for him. He is such a great example for these kids…especially the boys. These children, boys and girls, need more local examples of godly men. Allan has been and continues to be a great role model for these children. We had a huge turnout at the feeding center this week. There were over 70 kids in attendance.

When we returned from the feeding center I had the privilege of spending some time with Miriam. She is such a blessing to us. Saturday she surprised me with a beautiful gerber daisy plant! I don’t know how she knew but I had just been admiring that exact plant at the market earlier in the day. I am so thankful that I was able to sit down and talk to her for a little while. Her love for God is so evident in everything that she does. God has to smile every time he thinks of Miriam because she is a true example of a godly woman. When I think of the heroes in Hebrews 11, I think Miriam should be added to that list!

Saturday afternoon we showered and headed up to the Ranch. We were able to have dinner with the team and Dan spoke at Chapel. He reminded us of our purpose on Earth to build God’s Kingdom. I am blessed beyond belief to be married to such a wonderful man!

We enjoyed spending some quality time with the team, staff, and Wutka family at the Ranch. They are making some excellent progress on the buildings. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to stay too long today. However, the team is coming to Alajuelita tomorrow afternoon so we will spend more time with them soon.

For more information about the 6:8 Children's Ranch, go to our Dream with us! and our Mission & Vision

Or you can look at the Ranch Design & Pictures.

Fun story:
As I was stepping into the shower this morning, I looked down to make sure there were no tarantulas in the shower with me. I was thrilled to be showering alone with no unwanted creatures. Then, I realized that was something I would never even consider back home in the States….just one of those moments where I realized my outlook on some things has definitely changed lately:)

Week 6 Update

God is so good! Most of you know that Karen’s little girl from the orphanage, Elizabeth, has been fighting for her life since her last surgery. She developed infections near or in the brain that were causing her brain to swell. This caused her to be paralyzed. Once we found out about this infection, Karen immediately started contacting you all to pray. Well, Elizabeth has gone from “we don’t think she will make it through the night” to being back home in the orphanage recovering nicely. She is not paralyzed and the infection is gone. Please continue praying for her healing.

Karen loves going to the orphanage. She is there at least two days out of the week and soon we are adding another day. The nuns are really starting to trust Karen and are teaching her how to better care for the orphans. They have been teaching her how to feed the kids through the feeding tubes and how best to care for those with trach tubes. Please continue to pray that God will bring more volunteers/workers to the orphanage. The nuns have so many kids to love on and only two hands each.

Fun fact - we’ve learned that Karen needs to travel to the orphanage with a change of clothes. Every day this week she was peed on and once covered with food that Kristal apparently didn’t like!

Feeding centers update - this week I met with a new (to me) church pastor in Aurora to discuss starting a children’s feeding center. This is such an amazing opportunity to help this church in building the kingdom of God. When I asked how many kids should we expect, the pastor responded that for other kids programs they have done in the past they had between 100-250 children between the ages of 3 and 12. That’s quite a range and quite a few kids! Initially we are going to have to limit the number of kids that can attend the feeding center to a list of 70 children and let it grow slowly from there.

Aurora is a very large and very dangerous area. The drug gangs have pretty much completely overtaken this area and their leadership no longer cares for the people in the neighborhoods. It is not unusual for them to rob or assault the people who live in this community. This church in Aurora has done its best to fight this change but unfortunately it has lost its influence among the younger generation of the area. Hopefully this feeding center will be a great influence tool for the church and its pastor.

Saturday has quickly become one of our favorite days of the week. Every Saturday morning we get to serve the community and church in Verbena at the children’s feeding center we host in that community. We usually walk to the community, call the kids in the neighborhood out, spend an hour or so playing with and loving on them in the square, and then we take them to the local church for the feeding center. Jorge leads the kids in a time of praise and worship and then gives a short teaching before we feed them. Karen noticed a little boy who was trying to feed himself. He was really struggling so Karen went over to help him. The child was so hungry that he was inhaling the food as fast as Karen could scoop it out. His friends told him to slow down but he was so hungry that he wanted to gobble it up immediately. That just reminds us that sometimes these kids are just waiting for God to provide their next meal.

Fun story - Our Spanish is definitely improving (though we have a very long way to go). This week one of the older kids asked Karen if I was Tico because my Spanish was so good (I have no idea what I said but it must have been good!). Also, when Karen told the kids that we were living down here now for the next two years (at least), they started cheering and jumping up and down (the little kids love Karen).

Hopefully we will remember to take more pictures next time - sorry, it just is not something I think about very often.

Another fun story - This past Friday we were able to visit with our friends Raquel and Rocio. Raquel just had her baby a few days ago (a little boy, 9 lbs. 11oz - big boy!). His name is Gianni. Both mom and baby are doing great! Grandma Rocio and great-grandma M are also doing great and loving having a baby in the house again. Once again, I failed at getting a photo of us all. Someday I’ll think about these things!

Week 5 Update

This is Karen -

Oh what a week this has been! I survived my first Open House in Costa Rica. Let me just say it is VERY different from what I experienced last year in the States. There were so many parents in attendance that they filled up every single chair in my room and then the remaining parents stood around the edge of the room and in the doorway. They seem very appreciative & supportive. I think this is going to be a wonderful year! Afterwards the teachers on my grade level went out together with the principal for dinner and drinks. Several parents came over to our table and ordered drinks with us. Did I mention how different things are down here? :)

Things at the orphanage are going well. I volunteer typically two afternoons/evenings a week. The head nun is really beginning to trust me. This week she taught me where she keeps all the clothes for each child. Now she lets me feed them, change their diapers, choose their pajamas and get them ready for bed before I leave. God always amazes me! I originally started volunteering at the orphanage because scripture teaches us to take care of the widows and orphans. I’ve truly realized that I get more joy from serving that being served. Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter from these orphans when I love on them each day is such a blessing. Oh how I wish I could show you pictures of their precious faces or send a video of them laughing when we play together. You’ll just have to come visit and experience it for yourself. Another miracle took place this week…Elizabeth is doing so much better that they went back in and operated again. It seems like just yesterday that they told me she might not make it through the night. Keep praying!

Dan here -
One of the current focuses of 6:8 Ministries is to expand its children feeding centers using the Verbena feeding center as a model. The Verbena feeding center is basically run by a Tico named Jorge. Each week Jorge gets the children excited about praising and worshipping God. He also delivers a wonderful brief 10-15 minute lesson each week that is incredibly appropriate for the kids in attendance.

Jorge and I have started meeting with church pastors around in the area. This past week we met with the pastor of a church called Nuevo Amor in Tejar (some of you may remember this church and its feeding center). We are rebuilding our relationship with this church and, with the help of its leadership, expanding the feeding center to include more Bible lessons.

Jorge and I have other meetings scheduled and been dreaming and praying together to see what God has in mind for this ministry. Please pray for wisdom for Jorge and I to hear from and understand God’s will in for His kingdom in this area. Also, please pray for Jorge specifically who has already started being attacked in his life because of this ministry.

One of the other positive things that came out of this first ministry is a request from the church for us to start teaching English classes to its members and the community. This has been a very effective way for Karen and I to build relationships within the community and with the church leadership. Please pray that we will be able to get this organized and will get the needed help in leading these classes.

Karen here with a fun story:
Dan and I are trying to balance work with our jobs and work with the ministry. While most people have their afternoons and evenings to relax and get typical chores/errands taken care of, that is the time that we do all of our mission work. We recently realized that we hadn’t really had a true sabbath, where we rest and spend the day worshipping God, since we arrived here. So we decided we need to take one weekend a month to take a break from ministry and work. For us that involves traveling and exploring God’s magnificent creation down here.



This weekend we traveled to Manuel Antonio, one of the popular tourist beach spots. It is known for all of the wildlife that surrounds people on the beaches. We had a chance to experience the wildlife firsthand. Saturday night as we were leaving the beach we saw monkeys all around us. They were climbing on the telephone wires to get to the nearby fruit trees. Then, they would pick the fruit off the trees and eat it.

Think Marcel from Friends!

The "Ring of Fire" has been very active lately

Today, we found a beautiful secluded area under a tree in the Manuel Antonio National Park. We learned the hard way, that the tide was a bit higher than normal. I’m sure all of the other tourists had a great laugh as we had just pulled out our picnic on the beach towel when a huge wave came in and soaked our food and towel and threatened to carry our sandals away. Thankfully, I was able to save our sandals and we learned a valuable lesson! Looking back, Dan and I expect that the reason the tide was so abnormally high was due to all of the recent earthquake activity around the "Ring of Fire"


We also saw plenty of raccoons and iguanas. They are quite bold. Before we pulled out our food, the raccoons ran over and tried to get into my insulated cooler bag. Once we scared them off, we watched as they went up and down the beach searching other people’s bags and carrying off whatever food they could steal.


Additionally, under the tree where we were laying was a nest/hole that an iguana was using to rest. When he woke he poked his head out and started eyeballing Dan. For most of the morning this iguana was mad dogging Dan and would occasionally try to sneak up on him while he was reading. Dan would scare him off and all would be good for an hour or so. At one point, Dan was laying on his back, reading his book and eating his pizza bread (unaware that the iguana was creeping up on him). Suddenly the iguana charged, jumped on Dan’s chest and tried to grab the bread. Dan threw him off and chased him away but learned not eat pizza bread while laying on his back in Manuel Antonio!

This is the iguana that was mad dogging Dan all day.  Look on the log if you can't see him...