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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Costa Maya Newsletter January 2017

January 2017 A Christmas Message from Costa Maya   If you follow our newsletter, our website or our Facebook page, you have seen how the LORD is working through us—and you—to bring the Gospel to people who would not otherwise have that opportunity. Jesus' last words before he ascended were to take the Word to "Jerusalem and Judea, to Samaria"-- and the VERY last words were "to the ends of the earth." That's where we are, and by God's grace that's what we're doing.   Every effort to tell people about their Savior is important. The work in local churches and home missions reaches souls every day. To God be the Glory! What remains is the pushing outward to new peoples that Christ commanded as part of the "final frontier." Reaching those where the Word has not yet come is part of hastening that day when we'll all be together in Glory. Through your prayers and support, the promise of that day comes ever closer.   As we work towards that goal, the plans for our ministry grow. Next year we plan to add an education director who will also be the face and liaison of our community service programs. With the Lord's help, we plan to dramatically increase our English as Second Language program, something that has already brought new believers into our fold. We're looking at adding child care, literacy and other opportunities that will build bridges to the Gospel. These initiatives will mean adding space for classrooms and meeting areas. Are these ambitious plans? Absolutely! The Lord expects nothing less.   We at Costa Maya Ministries realize there are many opportunities for your time and resources, and we recognize their importance. We just ask you this: If you have an extra measure of time for prayer, talents for volunteering and extra financial blessings from that which the LORD has so graciously given you, please remember us. God has enabled us to do much with little down here, and he continually promises to bless our work and be with us as we go forward—and forward by His grace and by His power and your help is exactly where we're going.   Feliz Navidad, Jerry Zimpelmann, the board, staff and members at Costa Maya Ministries ******************************************************************* Feeding the Body While Feeding the Soul **************************************************************** Visitor Comment: "After the service at Cruz de Cristo, I was standing around talking to people when I felt something against my leg. I looked down into the upturned face of a smiling two-year-old who had wrapped herself around my leg.  Eventually she let go, but she left her little handprints all over my heart, and I will never be the same."  DB ***************************************************************** 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 December 2016

December 2016 Getting Ready!  "Getting ready" in the months of November and December around here means "getting ready for cruise ships." We've gone from 5-6 ships per month to 26 ships in November and a planned 45 ships in December! Everyone's getting ready for the major business season of Mahahual. As always, this is both positive and negative: Positive for the financial stability of our families--Negative because of the distraction from spiritual preparation. We will look for any and all opportunities in the coming weeks to remind people of salvation in Jesus' first coming and preparation for his second coming.   Thank you for your continued support of gospel preaching in Costa Maya. God bless your celebration of our Savior's birth! ¡Feliz Navidad!                                  ~ Pastor Valleskey ********************************************** Echoing Thanks "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6    As we enter the holiday season, we echo that verse for all of you who have helped to support our mission, prayerfully and monetarily. Because of your partnership, the gospel is bearing fruit here in Mahahual and beyond, allowing many to truly understand God's grace. We pray the Lord would touch your heart to share in the riches you have been blessed with throughout this year, knowing that his Word is being shared in truth and love throughout our area. We see His Face in our everyday work here and have never doubted that it is His Will for our church to grow! We had a blessed Thanksgiving and pray you did too. Once again, thank you.  *********************************************** 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   Our newest accompanist ********************************************** Subscriber comment: "My observation after reading the newsletter is the world keeps on turning without skipping a beat every minute of every day and every spiritual holiday.  But in this little place in the world, materialism means little and Jesus is alive and well. Makes my heart skip a beat and believe even more.  Sometimes I think their world is much better than my world.  Too much STUFF here to distract from what is the most important."  M.R. *********************************************** A Personal Note  I want to express my personal thanks to everyone who has been praying for my family.  I spent the last month in Carolina with my dad whose health is failing. For those who follow us on Facebook, you have seen my prayer requests for him each week. Spending time with him and my family was simply priceless as it's much harder than you can imagine being so far away from loved ones, especially in times of struggles. His condition continues to deteriorate, but with a hope of a heavenly home awaiting him! My sister's (Dad's main caregiver) husband has recently been diagnosed with liver cancer and is just beginning treatments. I will appreciate continued prayers for my family as the struggles seem insurmountable except for our faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We prayed for a Thanksgiving miracle—for my dad to be able to spend Thanksgiving with the family, and our prayers were answered…and now, we are praying for a Christmas miracle. Please join us as we pray.     ~  Deb Blackburn   Copyright © 2016 All rights reserved. *Costa Maya Ministries* 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

This email was sent to costamayaministries@gmail.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Costa Maya Ministries · 8404 Saltsberry · Eagle River, Wi 54521 · USA