Where are you from?

We live in the community of Los Guido in Desamparados, Costa Rica.

What is something you like to do in your spare time?

In our spare time we enjoy spending time with friends, watching movies, reading, and spending time with the children and youth of Los Guido. We also enjoy music, sports, and our daughter Hanukka loves ballet.

Why did you decide to join the SI team?

We love serving and learning from people. In Students International we found a way to serve our community while helping people transform their lives.

Describe the site where you'll work with SI:

The plan is for Luis Diego to work with the youth of Los Guido in the area of sports.  He will use soccer and other sports to build relationships with the youth and to teach biblical values while providing them healthy ways to spend their time.

The plan is for Cindy to work in a micro business site with women, helping them to develop business plans and apply for small business loans. The goal is to then walk alongside these women as they carry out their business plans in the hope that these women might be able to provide for their families.

What is one thing you are looking forward to in your future ministry with SI?

We are hoping that God touches the lives of those we will work with, both students and the poor. We are praying God will touch women's lives as they learn about his heart for them and that they'll be able to provide for their families. We are praying God will touch the hearts of young people through sports, and that because of that they will leave the life of drugs and violence behind.

Do you have a favorite verse? What is it?

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," plus Psalm 1 and Psalm 8.

God continues to work and to move in mighty ways in and through SI-Costa Rica. The last few months have been eventful. In May as we were preparing to welcome our first team of the summer our office was broken into, and then in June our woodshop was also robbed. Through both events the Lord's protection and faithfulness were clearly evident as the losses could have been and should have been much greater than they were. The Lord has also brought many new relationships about due to the robberies. In the midst of trial God has proven faithful and used what the enemy meant for evil for good.

New Beginnings

On a more positive note we are excited about welcoming our first Costa Ricans to our staff team. Luis Diego Soto and Cindy Arias officially began working with SI-Costa Rica on August 2nd. Also, in May we opened our new Woodshop. The first few months of work in the shop have gone better than expected. Most of our sessions are full of 12 - 18 year old young men wanting a safe place to hang out and to learn some basic woodworking skills. God is providing many opportunities to speak into the lives of those coming into the shop.

Photography Site

Also in this past week the first prints were developed in our darkroom! Some of our teams this summer have helped us build a darkroom, and while still needing a few adjustments, it is operational. We are planning to launch our photo classes in September. The classes will be targeted at teenagers with the hopes of helping them discover their Creator as they discover their own creativity through photography.

Feedback from Students

We have been privileged to host teams of high school students, college students, and young adults from across the States this summer. It has been a joy to watch God move in the students' lives and to watch them dive into serving at the various ministry sites. On more than one occasion I have heard a student exclaim, "I can do things just like I am doing here back at home!" That is one vision we pray our students catch during their time with us. It doesn't matter where we are God wants to use the gifts, talents, and abilities he has given us to further his kingdom. Our job is to simply be obedient and available.

For Our Partners in Prayer

Please continue to pray for us as we seek to be available and obedient to our King. Please pray for the shop as we select the first few participants in our apprenticeship program, please pray for the photo studio as we launch our first classes, please pray for the tutoring center as we seek to offer the best quality of service possible to the myriad of learning needs that come our way, please pray for the social services site as we seek to be a light and make a difference in many dark circumstances.

As our summer outreach season is winding down, I am amazed by the reports coming in from staff and participants of the ministry that transpires in the name of Jesus.   This month is focusing on SI-Costa Rica, and it is clear that everything happening there is a result of lots of prayer and lots of work. The addition of Costa Rica national staff as well as two outstanding Nicaraguan women as interns has been a huge blessing. As the chairperson of our board Mike Alipaz said, "Students International seems to be in an incredible season of blessing." I agree wholeheartedly, and as we continue to grow in SI there are more opportunities for full-time staff. Maybe you might consider giving several years of your life serving another culture in the name of Jesus? Or perhaps you might know of someone who would be open to that challenge? If so, please contact me at our SI office.   The Visalia staff at the SI Service Center has worked diligently, seeing that all things run smoothly. From team communication to booking next year's schedule, there is rarely a down moment. I am thankful for their hard work and the blessing they are to this ministry.

I would also like to remind you of our annual banquet coming up September 18th in Visalia. If you can make it please contact the office for details.

Dave

-For Dustin Woida as he learns Spanish

-For the development and funding of the new workshop and apprenticeship program

-For the approval of our non-profit association by the Costa Rican government

-For quality Costa Rican staff members who are called to work with SI-Costa Rica

Cailah Pritchard

Cailah was one of our first staff members here in Costa Rica. She grew up in Hanford, California and graduated from Biola University with a degree in Intercultural Studies. Before college Cailah spent time serving in Chile with YWAM where she learned Spanish and developed a love of Latin culture. Throughout her college years Cailah was anxious to graduate and to put her degree into practice. It was clear God was leading her into overseas missions. It was not a question of "if," but rather "when" and "where." Cailah says, "Through a combination of the right timing and connections, God confirmed that SI Costa Rica was the place for her at this time."  As Cailah works in the community of Las Fuentes at the Community Development Site she constantly strives to bring a level of excellence to her work and to incorporate the community members into the decision making process. "And although we may not always see the kind of results we anticipate, it's clear that God is at work in the people of Las Fuentes through the continual building of relationships and the enthusiasm of the people for the projects at work there."

In Los Guidos SI-Costa Rica staff person Krysta Williams runs a tutoring center in partnership with La Iglesia Cristiana Reformada de Los Guidos and Food for the Hungry Costa Rica. The tutoring center provides a safe place for children to work on their homework, enjoy educational activities, to practice their English, or to read a book.  Although the tutoring center is available for students of all ages, the majority of those who come are in elementary school. The Costa Rican school year ends in December, so Krysta is busy helping children study for year-end exams and finish up various projects.  In the five months since the tutoring center has opened it has developed a consistent clientele. It is a joy to watch God work in the lives of these children. For Krysta, "the best of part of the tutoring center is being able to build relationships with the kids who are coming everyday and to be able to be a positive adult who can sit and listen to them for awhile. It's amazing to see how they light up when you say you'll go to the playground with them, or even just listening to them read for a few minutes."

We continue to grow here in Costa Rica. In October we added Dustin Woida to our staff team. Dustin will be studying Spanish for the next few months and then will transition to leading a ministry site. We are also in the process of launching a new ministry site that will involve mentoring, discipling, and teaching a marketable skill to adolescent boys through a carpentry workshop and apprenticeship program.

In the last couple of months I have had the privilege of showing many people the various ministry sites and of telling the story of SI-Costa Rica. Each time I tell the story of what God has done in the past 14 months and where we think He is leading us I am amazed. I am amazed at God's faithfulness, His provision, His guidance, and His plan. But mostly I am amazed by His deep and passionate love for people, both for people who know Him intimately and for those who do not yet know him. Will you join our staff team in praying that the love we have for each other and for those that we work with will be a contagious love that draws people to our King?

"The people on our team, especially the youth, were so receptive. This was a life altering experience and would not have been possible if not for the Lord (of course) and your obedience to Him in helping us go. The missionaries there in Costa Rica with Students International are doing an awesome work. They are taking little and making much. They need our continued support and prayers." -from a letter thanking supporters

"It was fun to work harder than I've ever worked in my life...moving a mound of dirt to finish a retaining wall for a church with Costa Rican kids my own age has changed my life! Now that I'm back I am actually cheerful and I want to help others. I am very different. God used this trip to change me." -from 13-yr-old participant.

Jesus's words in Luke 13:20 (The Message) challenge us, "How can I picture God's kingdom? It's like yeast that a woman works into enough dough for three loaves of bread -and waits while the dough rises." We are all called to be part of Kingdom work.

One story that illustrates how God is working is that of Allison Mullinax, an inner-city elementary school principal from Norfolk, Virginia. She felt called to bring a group from her urban church with limited resources on an overseas trip. I challenged her to bring a team to SI Costa Rica, but because of what seemed to be insurmountable financial need, it looked impossible. We love and serve the "God of impossibilities," and the financial obligation, passport acquisition and time off from work schedules all fell into place and the group was Costa Rica bound!  What an amazing experience they had. The interaction of all participants and staff along with the people of Costa Rica was such a witness of loving Jesus and displaying servant hearts. Allison said that they are still talking about Costa Rica and plans are underway to secure more resources and passports for future trips!

Please continue to pray for all of our staff as they get some rest. Those in the Dominican Republic are gearing up for a fall semester program with Bethel College, pray for their refreshment as well as transition into the fall schedule.

"How can I picture God's kingdom? It's like yeast that a woman works into enough dough for three loaves of bread - and waits while the dough rises."