Costa Maya Newsletter April 2017

April 2017 Little Hands—Big Hearts We witnessed a picture-perfect moment at church yesterday. I wish we could have captured it in a photo for you, but picture this: After the offering was gathered and Pastor V was getting ready to play a hymn on his guitar, a tiny four-year-old took the hand of his two-year-old brother and walked up from the back. They both stood on their toes to put their offerings in the basket. It was a priceless scene! Gifts from their hearts resulted in tears in our eyes. ~  Lynn Z   A Past Volunteer Prays for New Volunteers  We pray your blessings on the volunteers as they teach ESL classes for Costa Maya Ministries.  Thank you that they are taking time out of their busy lives to serve You by serving others. Thank you that You have spoken to their hearts and that they are willing to venture outside of their comfort zones. Keep them strong spiritually, with enthusiasm and an ability to be flexible when plans change. May their arrival in Costa Maya be a sign of Your love to those they serve! Help the smiles and acts of friendship clearly communicate acceptance to those hungry for You. May they be true ambassadors for Christ.   We pray that these trips will strengthen the faith of the volunteers. Increase their trust as they leave their responsibilities and lives back home in Your watchful care. As they experience different ways of life, give them new perspectives on their own lives and what matters most. Give them the joy of service. Enable them to graciously receive small gifts of great magnitude given to them by those who have little, yet who are moved to give sacrificially.  May they each strongly feel Your Holy Spirit at work.   And so Father, we ask that you bless the ESL students, the volunteers, and their families back home.  Thank you for this opportunity to actively work in a meaningful way in Your wonderful Kingdom!  Amen   ~  Bill Krug ************************************************ The Ministry Expands The CMM Board recently voted to add a second staff person to the mission and to begin negotiations to purchase the building we now occupy. Both of these initiatives are in response to the needs and opportunities the Lord has placed before us. If you know engaged believers who could help spread the Gospel in this special place, please direct them to the job description at costamayaministries.com.  ~  Jerry Z ************************************************* "See! The winter is past; flowers appear on the earth." Song of Songs 2:11 We thought we'd decorate this issue with some of the flowers appearing on our part of the earth. Online donations may be made at www.Costamayaministries.org or by check payable to Costa Maya Ministries and mailed c/o Fred Starck, 1765 Natures Way, Lindenhurst, IL 60046   Copyright © *2017 Costa Maya Ministries*, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 8404 Saltsberry Eagle River, WI 54521 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list **

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Costa Maya Newsletter March 2017

March 2017 The Door Is Open for God's Word In fact, there were no doors at all for the children who came to Bible story time in Kilometer 55. Pastor Valleskey had arranged an outside space there for me to teach a Bible lesson and a bit of English. The first time we arrived I saw white plastic chairs lined up in rows ready for the children and a table for my books and markers. The children flocked out of their houses and from side streets. My husband, Peder, cut cardboard lap boards for the children to color or write on. And so began our adventure.   Dogs came to class with the children. One puppy even tagged along with its mom, so I lifted it onto my lap while I taught. The children seemed to think this was quite normal. Sometimes a truck with a loud microphone came by advertising something called SKY. We also had interruptions from mothers on motorbikes giving directions to their children in class.   The Door Opens Through Study   We learned English/Spanish words such as Bible (Biblia), Baby (Bebe), Cross (Cruz), Resurrection (Resureccion), Salvation (Salvacion). The children cut out pictures to match the words on the correct page. They actually made a book that told the whole story of God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John:3:16.   In one class I asked who could retell the story, and several hands flew up. The boy I picked had also come to the Saturday School and told of the conversion of the apostle Paul, a lesson he heard from Pastor. I realized then that the children were not only learning Bible stories and spiritual truths, but that they were ready to tell others.   The Door Opens Through Play   We played English number recognition with Bingo. The child who won the most games got to take the extra Bingo sheets home. I thought the game sheets would be used by the family, but the next time we met, Joel ran to me with the Bingo sheets and asked if we could please play the game again.   We studied Monday and Wednesday afternoons for a month. Now my sincere prayer is that these children will continue to study God's Word. God promises his Word will not return empty but will accomplish the purpose for which he sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)  We saw firsthand that THE DOOR IS OPEN!                   ~ Gloria Dressel ******************************************************* Nick's Film Project   We are excited about an opportunity to share the story of Costa Maya Ministries. Photographer and filmmaker Nicholas Kapanke has agreed to do a short film featuring our mission. Nick will be here in April to develop a video that will help people get a real feel for the area, the people and the Kingdom work.   Nick, a member of Crown of Life, St Paul, MN, has displayed his talents in narrative storytelling from the White House to the Tibetan Plateau. He brings 20 years' experience as director, producer, and editor to his projects. Nick has agreed to travel to Mahahual and film at no expense to our mission, but if you would like to help with this project, we'd be grateful. Note any donations: "Nick's Film."  ~ Jerry Z ******************************************* Online donations may be made at www.Costamayaministries.org. Make checks payable to Costa Maya Ministries and mail to:    c/o Fred Starck, 1765 Natures Way, Lindenhurst, IL 60046 Copyright © *2017* *Costa Maya Ministries*, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 8404 Saltsberry Eagle River, WI 54521 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list **

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Costa Maya Newsletter February 2017

February 2017 Just a Little House  Three years ago, a situation arose that pulled on my heartstrings. We had a young family living on the beach under very adverse conditions. It was rainy season, and they had no house to shelter them. They were living under a pavilion roof with a tarp hanging on two sides.  I requested donations and posted their story on our website. You may remember them – Ana, Joel, Erik, and Ericka. Within days, my prayers were answered and the donation to build them a small house arrived! We gathered materials, and in a few weeks Joel had built them a home. It was only $300 that had given them shelter. They lived in the house a few months and then moved to another property. (See Joel's baptism below.) A few weeks later, another man moved into the house. Manuel was difficult to understand and reluctant to go to church even though invited repeatedly. However, we took him soup each week after the soup kitchen, attempting to keep the door open. Then one day, just as had happened with many others, he was waiting for the church van as it passed to take people to church. He went to church with us and began Bible studies with the pastor. After six months he left, leaving a void for another caretaker.   All of you who follow our mission know Yallo, Lupita, and the twins, Lidia and Marina. They have moved into the house, are living very comfortably there, and have commented many times about how blessed they are to finally have suitable living quarters for their family. Not bad for just a little house. ~Deb B ****************************************************** Gifts  In the Lord's Service  As a pastor, it's always great to see God's people using their gifts and talents in the church. A new attendee, Gloria, offered to paint some Bible scenes on our church walls recently. Gloria's from Cozumel, and has taken some art lessons in the past. She is working at a restaurant right now but hopes to continue her studies and find a way to support herself as an artist someday. We pray God uses these paintings to remind others of their Savior. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us (Romans 12:6).   ~Pastor Valleskey ***************************************** Online donations may be made at www.Costamayaministries.org. Make checks payable to Costa Maya Ministries and mail to:    c/o Fred Starck, 1765 Natures Way, Lindenhurst, IL 60046. Copyright © *Costa Maya Ministries All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 8404 Saltsberry Eagle River, WI 54521 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

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