Christmas 2014

Taking a break under the poinsettia bush at the Center.

Christmas is nearly upon us and everywhere I (Bridget) go in Costa Rica there are reminders. Churches, malls, and individual homes display nativity scenes. Some quite elaborate with lights, music and a water feature. As we drive through town we see poinsettia shrubs in full color in people’s yards.

There was a farm employees’ Christmas party held at Emanuel Community Development Center in mid December. This is one of the reasons the Center exists, so people in the region have a facility to use with a dining hall, kitchen and meeting room to hold large gatherings. It occurred on the perfect weekend because the plumbing was functioning. Paul had upgraded the main building’s water system the first week in December. 

Mauricio Sanchez and his wife, Rosalia.

 This month we also visited our friends Mauricio and Rosalia Sanchez and their teenage sons, Daniel and Miguel. They have been special friends to us since we came to Costa Rica. Mauricio is the director of Edu Tech Mission a ministry of Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Costa Rica. They partner with other ministries to provide pastors and churches access to training resources and technology so they can share the Gospel, train leaders, and grow as believers. When we attended their Christmas Party we were amazed to hear all the people they had equipped for ministry in Cuba and El Salvador this past year. Pray for Mauricio as he leads this growing ministry in Latin America. 

Edu Tech Christmas celebration.

Bridget and Miguel trying on his costume.

Over dinner one evening the Sanchez’s son, Miguel, mentioned he was in a school Christmas play and needed to make a costume. That caught my attention and I was more than eager to help. The next morning Paul and Miguel helped me gather the needed materials. Then Miguel and I spent a fun afternoon making him into a giant Christmas present. Miguel told me later the play went very well. What a pleasure it is to be a part of a missionary kid’s life.

Paul’s birthday is the week before Christmas. He loves pie, so I baked him a very special peach pie. It is a rare treat since the canned peaches alone cost $10. It was well worth it to see the pleasure on his face.

Nativity scene displayed at a mall.

We are getting togethre with our Association Project Emanuel (APROE) mission team and their families for Christmas. This year I am struck again by the amazing reality of God’s salvation story. God lived among us in order to die for us and reconcile us to Himself.  That is something to celebrate every day.

Have a very blessed Christmas and New Year!

Paul and Bridget