Where is your focus?

Focus on JESUS today!
This was a few weeks ago as we were trying to get the water level, find the grade and set the water tank at the highest possible spot. Our water comes from a spring below the buildings so we pump it to tanks above the buildings then gravity feeds into our house and the conference building and to the site that is the shop.

GOD is good to provide each small detail! We are thankful today for each of you who has given and prayed for us through this building process. The camp center is well on the way to serving many people, to come be discipled in GODS WORD. We can imagine youth climbing the trees around the camp center, children running to see a butterfly, couples walking hand in hand down the lane on a cool evening! GOD has called us to build this place to minister to HIS people, setting our lives apart to serve JESUS with our whole hearts!
 

JESUS BLESS YOU! Franklin Evelyn Mary & James

Recover, renew, go GOD!

We were blessed to be a part of an Encuentro (ENCOUNTER WITH GOD) weekend at our church. They do this once a year at our church Arbol de Vida, it is like a mini camp. The people come in on Friday afternoon, get settled in then start bible sessions. They had speakers come in from other parts of Costa Rica men and women of GOD, teaching basic biblical principals. It was wonderful to see 30 people from our church come together to worship our LORD JESUS and learn more from HIS WORD!
They had one 45 minute session Friday night, then a sandwich and snacks. They got settled into their sleeping arrangements, and got to bed around 10:30pm.

I helped out in the kitchen, usually if people can get a good nights rest and good eats they are more open to learn! So by 5:30 I was back in the kitchen and at 7 we gathered around the table to give thanks and share a meal of rice and beans, for breakfast they call it Gallo Pinto (painted rooster) scrambled eggs, and fresh bread from the market,mmmmmm! At 7:30 the group had their first Bible lesson and throughout the day they had prayer sessions, praise time, and of course noon break for lunch! It reminded me so much of the first Christians, they ate and shared together with open hearts and simplicity of spirit!
I was blessed to be their cook for the weekend, and enjoyed spoiling the youth and ladies who came to recieve more GOD!

James was a part of the encuentro group, there were 9 young men who attended, 8 ladies, 13 girls ranging from 15 to 9 years old! GOD worked in each of their lives in a very special way, and many of them made a new commitment to live for JESUS each day of their lives!
Thank you for your part in our lives as you pray for us unceasingly, and give to make it possible for us to minister!  Even in the smallest ways cooking a meal, or praying with a young girl for salvation, or encouraging a young mom to keep her focus on JESUS, each of these is made possible because you have given! Thank you! May the LORD bless you and keep you in all your ways!
JESUS BLESS YOU! Franklin Evelyn Mary & James

What did you do 4 years ago?

This was our family 4 years ago as we broke into this new property, cutting bush and clearing land getting ready to build this Camp Center ready for campers to hear the WORD OF GOD
JESUS loves you!

This is 3 years ago as we started building the conference center.
I didn't realize I would live there for a year and a half, GOD used that building to bless many people and it continues to be the center of each group who come to the Camp Center.

Franklin and I on the spot where a new cabin will be built. We are doing as much as we can as quikly as possible to get this camp center ready to recieve campers who will be discipled in GODS WORD, and learn to live for JESUS in their daily life, and share their newfound faith in JESUS with others!

 

JESUS BLESS YOU! Franklin Evelyn Mary & James

Breakfast anyone?

Our chickens are laying eggs now. James will be at his computer doing shool work and the minute they start squawking he takes off down where the chicken pen is to see what he can find! One of them is laying a double eggs about every other day!
 

We were able to get ome supplies to get started on the shop building, we are excited about how GOD is providing in miraculous ways! Thank you for giving!

After breakfast James helped out getting the supplies unloaded! Thank you for helping build this camo center many children will hear the WORD OF GOD because of your gifts!

JESUS BLESS YOU! Franklin Evelyn Mary & James

Friends/Family

Today we had a group from our church visiting us here at the camp center!
There were 25 of us in all for lunch and we walked around touring the grounds!


This group was deacons from our church and family! They came to have their regular meeting here and to enjoy the day in the country! They got here about 12 andleft aound 4. It was beautiful and sunny while they wre here and as they were leaving it started to rain! So we were thankful for that! This is rainy season but has rained very little so far!

 

JESUS BLESS YOU! Franklin Evelyn Mary & James

Certified!

I now have passed a food preparation course required by Costa Rica to serve or prepare food for the Camp Center. There were 22 of us who took the course. It was enjoyable to be able to build relationships with these ladies and 2 guys as we studied each day! Our teacher was a guy he has been teaching this course for quite some time, and made it fun! We worked together in groups a lot so it gave us a chance to get to know each other!

The last day we had a snack together. 2 of the people taking the course will be working in Tabarcia's famous bread store, so they brought the goodies to share! They bake the best bread in Costa Rica by my standards! This course if free and even comes with a manual we keep to refer to as we work! Praise the LORD for being able to work and serve our LORD JESUS here in Costa Rica!

 

JESUS BLESS YOU! Franklin Evelyn Mary & James

I had never taken a picture at this spot. This is as I step off our back porch, what a view! I love all the trees and shade around the camp center and praise the LORD for HIS beautiful creation!

For those of you wanting a little recreation, (never realized how all these trees are leaning!) this swing has hung from this tree since before we built any buildings and most people who have visited the camp center have taken a ride on it! It is hard to resist flying up high in the sky as my little friend Mindi used to say!

This is what Franklin and his helpers were doing today! This pile of rocks may not look very big but they worked hard gathering up rocks for the septic system. We are planning for it to go in tomorrow!

When Franklin went to move a big rock it had bees in it! So he quickly turned off the backhoe, left it sitting right there and ran away as fast as possible. We went up after dark and burned the bees, there were thousands! Thankful GOD was watching over Franklin as he worked! Your prayers are heard, don't stop praying! Hold that rope for us as we minister, GOD has kept us safe because you asked HIM to! Thank you for being a part of the ministry here in Costa Rica by praying for us and by giving each month to support the work that is being done here!

JESUS BLESS YOU! Franklin Evelyn Mary & James