Mission Vehicle?

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword.

-Romans 8:35

If you have been following us on facebook, you may have already heard of the Missions Costa Rica financial troubles. We also mentioned it in our September newsletter. We have not been able to meet our monthly budget for a few months now. We have been able to function due to savings up until now. Those savings have now been depleted.

Yesterday morning we lost the mission vehicle to the Costa Rican government because we were not able to pay the taxes (about $4,000) for it. We had the money for the taxes in the mission bank account but had to use these funds to run the ministry due to lack of sufficient donations. The car is still in our name for a little while longer but is confined to a government "parking" facility and we are not allowed to remove it from this facility. We have been given the option to sell it but of course we will have to find a buyer that has no need to actually look at the car first. This happened quite suddenly for us as we technically do not have to pay these taxes until October 19th. There was a mistake in the paperwork made out by the government agent and they do not wish to fix the mistake. The whole mistake occurred when the agent looked at the wrong tab on his computer! Luke and I went down to the office yesterday to make a final plea for someone to fix the mistake but we were not received well. We spoke to a lawyer and we were told that ultimately this agency has all the power to do as they please and there was nothing we could do.

The loss of a vehicle means that the majority of our ministries have officially had to be canceled. We are currently no longer able to work in the shanty town of La Carpio. This includes our daycare work and classes with the women and children on Saturday mornings. We still have hopes that God does perform modern day miracles. He ultimately is in control of this ministry and He will do with it as He pleases. His will is perfect.

We were able to feed the homeless yesterday due to the graciousness of Fabricio and Hazel. They have been helping us feed the homeless from the very start of this ministry. They let us use their car to deliver the food. We believe we might be able to use their car for this ministry for now but there are no guarantees of its availability. We have been so lucky to be surrounded by loving and caring neighbors that have an incredible desire to serve. These neighbors (JJ & Jane, Fabricio & Hazel, Rachel and Flabio & Milania) have really done so much to keep the homeless fed. We are proud to be a part of such a giving group and we value their help, love and support! Thank you!!!

We thank you all so much for your prayers and support of this mission. We would not have made it to this point had it not been for all the wonderful people behind it, fueling it and supporting it! We are so privileged to have such a powerful Father in heaven with whom we can leave all our cares. We ask that you continue to pray for Missions Costa Rica and for Luke and I as well. We will have to make some very tough changes in the next month or so if funds do not come in. This mission has always been about Him and His will so we will leave it in His hands.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

-Romans 12:1-2