The year 2007 has been a wonderful time full of challenges, miracles and prosperity. The VQC Mission has been proclaiming this year: “The year of blessings from the Lord”. We celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Mission this past August, and after five years, we feel that the Lord has revealed to us many important truths from His word, and has given us the opportunity to change many lives here in the Turrialba, Costa Rica area.
Chirripo Indigenous Reserve
At the beginning of this year we once again visited the Chirripo Indigenous reserve; on trip we took for the first time an American family: the Smith’s, a wonderful family from Minnesota who came to study Spanish with us and to serve this community, we also took Michelle and Colin Bryce from Regina, Canada, and our kind Program Coordinator April Binnie from Toronto, together with other Costa Rican volunteers from Tuis. The experience was magnificent! We celebrated communion for the first time with our indigenous family, and worshiped the Lord together. We also took donations of clothing and food and worked with the children through games and crafts.
Several more visits throughout the year to the indigenous reserve have strengthened our relationship and project planning with this wonderful group of people. For the past few years, we have been called to serve this community: the Cabecar Indigenous. We visit the area called Sinoly, and develop educational projects with them. Our focus is to learn their culture and language so we can better help and relate to them.
The journey is very long and difficult. To get there, we ride in a 4X4 vehicle for 2 hours, and then walk in the jungle for 5 more hours. This past July we started a project of building a house that can be used as a model for future construction projects. The house will be built with materials that can withstand the conditions of Chirripo. This home have a different configuration so that the Indigenous will no longer inhale the smoke from cooking with wood inside the house. It will also have a floor that will protect the residents from animals and infections. Building this house has been very difficult and challenging. Taking the construction materials up the mountain is hard, labor intensive work. Close to 30 indigenous people helped us physically carry the supplies and it still took about 2 weeks to get all the lumber and metal roofing there. Because of the difficult access in the mountains, we have not yet completed the building of the home.. At this time we do not have enough building materials to finish, we will probably need to gather sufficient lumber from within the mountains to complete the walls. We have need for additional tools to complete this project.
This past week (Nov.15-17, 2007) we had a planned trip to visit the Cabecar Reservation again and planned to leave early on Thursday morning. The weather had been terrible with torrential rain for several days. One of the Chiefs came out of the reserve and warned us to cancel this planned journey because the Chirripo river had washed away the zip line that we would need to get to their village on the reserve and the rain had washed out the trails making the trip hazardous even life threatening.. The chief almost lost his life while swimming across the river. He was very brave to have made the crossing and told us how he had lost his horse in the fast current of the river. He thought his horse had drowned and was relieved to find him again, alive, further down the river. When the heavy rains flood and swell the rivers they are perilous to both man and animal.
May God help them to fix the trails and the zip line so that we can return as quickly as possible. It was our intention this time to take 20 metal sheets to build the roof of their church, and had planned to go visit another community an hour further away because they invited us to share the gospel with them. We were hoping to continue our construction on the “model” home as well as bringing food and clothing to their community. Perhaps in the next few weeks can resume the journey and complete our mission.
This past March, the Smith Family purchased a house in Tuis and remodel it for both our Spanish Language school and Mission purposes. They bought the house that belonged to Viky and Adolfo in the La Selva neighborhood of Tuis de Turrialba. The house is currently rented to our Christian Immersion Spanish Academy (CISA) students or mission visitors during their stay. This is ideal for families and a generous percentage of the rent goes toward the Mission fund. Don Mecho and Doña Macha maintain the house when it is rented, and this provides financial help for them as well.
A miracle
On February 16th, an event happened that allowed us to totally see the hand of God: we received a call that Friday night and it was Marcos Barboza, Gatica’s husband, telling us that their son Jimmy had been in a terrible motorcycle accident. We got to the hospital in Turrialba, just as they were about to transfer him to a hospital with more facilities in San Jose. Just before the ambulance took him away, I had the opportunity to see Jimmy, and immediately my heart started beating fast because of the shock. He appeared dead and I really didn’t think there was any hope. Gatica had gone outside of the hospital, had fallen on her knees and cried out to God like I had never seen a person do before. My first thought was to pray for God to give them all strength, because I did not believed Jimmy was going to make it. His head and body very badly injured. Jimmy had been an alcoholic for a long time, and had tried many times to return to Christ, but his addiction was very strong.
After hours of drinking in a bar, Jimmy mounted his motorcycle to drive home.
On the way he drove straight onto oncoming traffic and collided head on with a car. The next day Gatica and Marcos came back from the hospital in San Jose, and told us that Jimmy was in intensive care and in a coma. I asked Gatica how she felt and I will never forget her answer: “My God will raise him from the dead, if He did it before, He will do it again”.
And He did; the very next day Jimmy awoke up out of his coma! The doctors had predicted that he was going to lose his memory partially or totally, and indeed he was still struggling to recognize his family even 3 weeks later. A month after that he returned to the William Allen Hospital in Turrialba we went to visit him. Jimmy did not even recognize me, which was very hard for me. We all got together in prayer and asked God that if He was able to raise him from death, He could also give him his memory back. In a miraculous way, even the doctors can not understand, Jimmy’s mind has totally recovered! The most amazing part is that Jimmy has totally given his life to the Lord. He has given up alcohol, and has started a whole new life together with his family, and is serving at the Mission. God is faithful!!
Our Future Mission Center
Voz Que Clama Mission has plans underway to build the mission center. Last year we were able to purchase a piece of property in Tuis through our beloved friends, Herb and Beverly Liberman from the United States. We plan to build a mission facility on this property that measures 31,500 m2. The facility will serve as the home for fifteen indigenous handicapped residents, providing them with a very comfortable and nurturing home that meets the requirements of the disabled. VQC currently serves the needs and houses seven disabled Indigenous residents while providing full time care for them. Additional services provided by the mission center will include the following:
· A reunion center to hold Sunday and special worship services and meetings for the Indigenous and the residents living in the surrounding vicinity.
· A center to facilitate the investigation and research of the indigenous Cabecar culture, which will hopefully lead to new strategies to help the Cabecar community.
· A central place for people from other nations to come and serve our community doing volunteer work both with the Cabecar Indigenous and people of Tuis.
· The headquarters for the Christian Immersion Spanish Academy (CISA), which provides Spanish language training.
I believe that this building will transform our community for His Glory. We have had a lot of hurtles to cross, opposition or perhaps just failure to cooperate from various Costa Rican government agencies. Maybe that is just the way it is in Costa Rica. Getting all of the building permits issued has been an extremely lengthy process which is not yet finished.
This past October when we were missing only one signature from the Municipality, the engineer suddenly determined that an environmental study was needed to assess how our building could affect the flora and fauna in our area. This requirement could delay the beginning of the construction for yet another 6 months. Our architects are currently negotiating the possibility of finding a more expeditious way to achieve solutions, and on Monday they will have a meeting to discuss these issues.
In August we were visited by a delegation from the Presidency of Costa Rica including Mariangela Ortiz, who works for our President Oscar Arias. She was here in order to become familiar with our wonderful project. She is analyzing different ways that the government can help facilitate the needs of the disabled Indigenous, and she is now aware of the need for building this facility.
Please continue to pray for the Mission, that we overcome these obstacles so that we can start the building project soon. Pray especially for my patience and faith on this matter. Sometimes I feel that I want to quit, and I think about our Indigenous who have so much need, and I remind myself that this project will relieve much of their pain. In the middle of my distress last week while walking in the mountains, the Lord showed me a vision: I saw the opening of our building and our friends from all over were there. So, I know I will see you there, someday! Even as of now, you are formally welcome to join us for that special day! I don’t know the date right now, but my Father knows, and He will tell us soon.
Our VQC Congregation
After four years of having our worship meeting in the little yellow house, we came to a point where we could not fit anymore. Our choices for renting a bigger place were very limited, in October 2006 we stepped out in faith and asked the public primary school right in front of the Mission if we could use their hall for our meetings, knowing that we were previously told “NO’” because their education system is Catholic and they rarely allow a religious activity to take place that is not Catholic, in their buildings. After a week of waiting, to our surprise, they answered “YES” and we have been celebrating our worship services there ever since. Since meeting at the school, attendance has doubled, and continues to grow.
The year 2007 has also been a fulfilling year for studying the Bible. In February we started a Bible study that meets every Saturday and our people began knowing more and more about the Spirit. Currently, we are leading a class using the book “A Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, and from there we are learning ways to transform our little community for Christ. We believe Tuis will be an example of revival and a fountain for other nations to come and enjoy the presence of God with us.
Another beautiful day occurred this past Easter Sunday, as Daniel and I had the privilege of baptizing more than 15 adults and children in the river on the new Mission property. We also had the blessing to baptize 2 of our indigenous residents. Victorino, an Indigenous resident, who is confined to a wheelchair, was one of those baptized. He was carried into the river and given the chance to experience a wonderful life giving moment through the power of the Spirit. We are looking forward to having many more water baptisms in the future.
Our US Visit
This year for the third time, in September, Daniel and I were blessed to visit the United States. The purpose of our trip was to see our supporters, tell them about the progress of our projects, minister in music at different churches and talk about fundraising for our projects. We arrived in Chicago and spent a wonderful time with Rick and Rose Law, they have been one of our main supporters and have helped us almost from the beginning of our Mission and love us. They gave us a breathtaking Chicago tour, and treated us like kings. We ministered to their church group, and had a lot of fun. Thank you Rick and Rosita for your love and help, you are great!
We then flew to California and joined our US representatives and best friends the Liberman’s for the rest of our time in the States. Beverly’s daughter Marissa was to be married in San Diego and we were invited. It was a great wedding as well as an American cultural experience.
We visited the Morris family; Bob, Maureen and their four children in Salinas, California. This was a highlight of our US trip. Maureen Morris invited many friends from their church to their beautiful home to meet us and to fellowship. We spoke about our Mission and had dinner together. The Morris’s house is full of life and excitement. The Morris’s studied Spanish with us during May and June. We connected right away and they quickly became some of our favorite people and best friends. They invested in Costa Rica buying property in Tuis, and gave us the chance to live in and enjoy their Tuis home. We now are able to use the old two story white house only for the Mission and CISA school purposes. Bob and Maureen, thank you so very much for your support, prayers and love. You have a special place in our hearts!
During the remainder of our trip, we stayed with the Liberman’s and combined ministry, fundraising, Mission and CISA school work. We had the chance to minister at various churches in the Sonoma County area, including Healdsburg Community Church, and First Baptist Church in Windsor, where we attended their Missions Conference. Thank you very much to the pastors that gave us the chance to minister in their congregations. I want to express my gratitude to the Liberman’s for all that they have given us, allowing us the opportunity to grow. Words can not express how much we love you!
April & Tony’s Wedding
We came back from the United States and got ready for an international wedding on October 12th. Our CISA Program Coordinator, April Binnie from Toronto, Canada was married to our fitness trainer Tony Sanchez from CATIE Gym. April was called to come and volunteer at our organization for a year, and it seems that God’s plans were for her to stay a little longer, and with company! I think God really blessed her with a wonderful Tico Christian man. April is the right-hand ‘man’ of our Spanish Academy and runs all the communication from Costa Rica with our students. April, we wish you all the best; we love you and share the joy of your heart.
Jeanette Freestad
In October we were very glad to receive Jeanette Freestad back to our Mission. Jeanette is from Canada and has been helping us by visiting several times over the last 3 years. At the Mission she runs an ESL program for locals. Right now she has several groups of adults and children that come at night, afternoons and Saturday mornings to learn or improve their English. Jeannette has been doing a great job; everybody loves her and considers her a friend. Jeannette, your support, contributions and physical labor (many paint jobs!) have all been greatly appreciated over the years!
Christian Immersion Spanish Academy
I believe that God has really blessed us with our Christian Spanish Language Academy program because we can teach our language and culture while giving back to the community through providing jobs to local Costa Ricans as well as having community projects that are led by the students. The school has been working non- stop this year with work, ministry opportunities and receiving financial support to help maintain all of our other projects. This year we have met the greatest people through the school; individuals and families, who have all brought joy and diversity to our community. We feel proud to have a community that is safe enough to receive families even with little children. I think children are the most powerful instruments of evangelism. Beautiful Christian families have joined our school and Mission and have shared with us different ministries that are full of creativity and have impacted our community. When we received Gilles and Tammie Patenaude with their 5 children from Vancouver, Canada for 6 months starting in October 2005, we would never have imagined that God could actually use us to teach our culture and language to them and that this family would then transform a community. But they did, and after that our little Mission was never the same. In fact, when they left, the Mission was not so little anymore! Thank you Gilles and Tammie, God sent you here to sow a seed, to prepare the way for the Lord and for many other North Americans to come and bless us with their presence and love.
During the month of May we received the Jessen Family; Kelly, Jenny and their 3 children. They were here for 8 weeks and brought their amazing “SportReach” ministry to our community. They shared the gospel through sports and gathered many kids to play and to hear the good news. One moment that I’d like to share is very special. They used a colorful soccer ball to share the gospel, each color stood for a Christian principle, such as red means the sacrifice of Christ for us. When the Jessen’s went back to the US, they left the soccer balls with different children. One day, I went walking and saw a kid sitting with a friend and holding the ball and the kid was showing the colors to his friend and talking about the meaning for each of them. I think the Jessen’s opened a door for more people from Tuis to get to heaven. Thank you Kelly and Jenny. And thanks to many other families that have caused a great impact in our lives, the Coits, the Durkins, the Morris, the Summers and the Simmons.
At the end of October we received another great family: the Summer’s, Bo, Kipplyn, and their beautiful 6 children, they are going to be with us for 6 months. They are living at Barrio 70 and are already creating an impact in the neighborhood. I think we will all have a very lively Christmas with them this year. Please pray that they will learn the language soon to maximize their experience and to complement their ministry opportunities.
I could go on writing for hours about the amazing ways we have been blessed by each and every one of our students and visitors. I would like all of them to know that they will not be forgotten and that even though they have returned home, a part of their heart is still here with us.
Three months ago CISA started a program designed for teenagers. The object is that they will study Spanish with us, continue their High School studies online, while attending High School at CATIE University part time. Right now we have 2 teenagers with us taking this program: Allison Weimar (17) from Colorado and Kheersan Simmons (14) from the Bahamas. It is fantastic to see them growing, learning Spanish, being much more independent, helping the community and getting closer to God. Please recommend this program to your friends, and ask us for the information about it. We think it is a great opportunity.
We have come to the decision that as of the beginning of next year, the school will be able to give a percentage of the students’ tuition to help pay for the future construction of our Mission center.
We trust that this coming 2008 year will be full of Gods blessings and look forward to his plans for our lives. Our vision is growing and we hope to continue keeping you posted about all that happens here.
Many Blessings and Love to all our friends and supporters!
Hector Soto
Voz Que Clama Mission
Costa Rica
Non Profit 501©3 tax exempt organization
www.vqcmission.com
Here is our Christmas 2007 Wish List:
Please remember that VQC Mission is a legal non-profit in the US and that your financial donations are tax deductible. If you know of someone who is visiting Costa Rica would you please send an old suitcase with some of the items that we need for our Indigenous. Thank you for being so generous.
· To cover the end of year expenses & Christmas expenses, the mission is in need of a budget of $2,500 US.
· The total budget of the Mission center we are building is $150,000 US. We have been collecting donations for this purpose, and have raised more than $30,000 US, please continue giving so that when we begin construction we will have all of the funds necessary.
· For our trips to the indigenous reserve, we are always collecting practical clothing, sweatshirts, rubber boots, blankets, sheets, and non-perishable food that we can take there. There is always an ongoing need.
· For our Annual Christmas Indigenous Party at Quetzal, we have a budget of approximately $500.00 US to feed about 75 children and their parents. They will walk for 4 hours to attend this event. Any financial gift for this special day would be appreciated. We also need about 75 toys for gifts. The gifts are best wrapped and clearly labeled with ‘GENDER’ & ‘AGE-RANGE’.
· We are in need of Christian and/or Spanish teaching materials, flash cards, books, posters, videos, music, etc.
· Craft materials and school supplies: paper, markers, white boards, whiteboard markers, notebooks, pencils, pens, furniture: tables, chairs, and bookshelf. A laptop that is in good shape or desk top computers for a Language Lab.
· Appliances and kitchen equipment for the Handicap Indigenous Residence: blender, pressure cooker, electric pan, a microwave, a clothes drier, a new washing machine.
· Umbrellas, raincoats, rubber boots, table clothes, towels, cleaning supplies and adult diapers.
· Furniture: a dinning set, 7 night tables, single bed frames and mattresses and cabinets.
· Tools: machetes, and a toolbox with non-power tools.
· Equipment for the congregation: chairs, sound equipment: microphones, wires.
For Financial Donations:
In Costa Rica
Please make your donation payable to: Asociacion Cristiana Voz Que Clama
and send to the following address:
Voz Que Clama Mission
Apdo. 28-7150
Turrialba, Costa Rica
(506) 531-3061/(506) 822-6752
vqcmission@racsa.co.cr
In the United States
Please make your donation payable to: Mission Voz Que Clama
and send to the following address:
Beverly Liberman
990 Sunset Drive
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-433-8234
Fax # 707-433-8244
bliberman4@comcast.net
Chirripo Indigenous Reserve
At the beginning of this year we once again visited the Chirripo Indigenous reserve; on trip we took for the first time an American family: the Smith’s, a wonderful family from Minnesota who came to study Spanish with us and to serve this community, we also took Michelle and Colin Bryce from Regina, Canada, and our kind Program Coordinator April Binnie from Toronto, together with other Costa Rican volunteers from Tuis. The experience was magnificent! We celebrated communion for the first time with our indigenous family, and worshiped the Lord together. We also took donations of clothing and food and worked with the children through games and crafts.
Several more visits throughout the year to the indigenous reserve have strengthened our relationship and project planning with this wonderful group of people. For the past few years, we have been called to serve this community: the Cabecar Indigenous. We visit the area called Sinoly, and develop educational projects with them. Our focus is to learn their culture and language so we can better help and relate to them.
The journey is very long and difficult. To get there, we ride in a 4X4 vehicle for 2 hours, and then walk in the jungle for 5 more hours. This past July we started a project of building a house that can be used as a model for future construction projects. The house will be built with materials that can withstand the conditions of Chirripo. This home have a different configuration so that the Indigenous will no longer inhale the smoke from cooking with wood inside the house. It will also have a floor that will protect the residents from animals and infections. Building this house has been very difficult and challenging. Taking the construction materials up the mountain is hard, labor intensive work. Close to 30 indigenous people helped us physically carry the supplies and it still took about 2 weeks to get all the lumber and metal roofing there. Because of the difficult access in the mountains, we have not yet completed the building of the home.. At this time we do not have enough building materials to finish, we will probably need to gather sufficient lumber from within the mountains to complete the walls. We have need for additional tools to complete this project.
This past week (Nov.15-17, 2007) we had a planned trip to visit the Cabecar Reservation again and planned to leave early on Thursday morning. The weather had been terrible with torrential rain for several days. One of the Chiefs came out of the reserve and warned us to cancel this planned journey because the Chirripo river had washed away the zip line that we would need to get to their village on the reserve and the rain had washed out the trails making the trip hazardous even life threatening.. The chief almost lost his life while swimming across the river. He was very brave to have made the crossing and told us how he had lost his horse in the fast current of the river. He thought his horse had drowned and was relieved to find him again, alive, further down the river. When the heavy rains flood and swell the rivers they are perilous to both man and animal.
May God help them to fix the trails and the zip line so that we can return as quickly as possible. It was our intention this time to take 20 metal sheets to build the roof of their church, and had planned to go visit another community an hour further away because they invited us to share the gospel with them. We were hoping to continue our construction on the “model” home as well as bringing food and clothing to their community. Perhaps in the next few weeks can resume the journey and complete our mission.
This past March, the Smith Family purchased a house in Tuis and remodel it for both our Spanish Language school and Mission purposes. They bought the house that belonged to Viky and Adolfo in the La Selva neighborhood of Tuis de Turrialba. The house is currently rented to our Christian Immersion Spanish Academy (CISA) students or mission visitors during their stay. This is ideal for families and a generous percentage of the rent goes toward the Mission fund. Don Mecho and Doña Macha maintain the house when it is rented, and this provides financial help for them as well.
A miracle
On February 16th, an event happened that allowed us to totally see the hand of God: we received a call that Friday night and it was Marcos Barboza, Gatica’s husband, telling us that their son Jimmy had been in a terrible motorcycle accident. We got to the hospital in Turrialba, just as they were about to transfer him to a hospital with more facilities in San Jose. Just before the ambulance took him away, I had the opportunity to see Jimmy, and immediately my heart started beating fast because of the shock. He appeared dead and I really didn’t think there was any hope. Gatica had gone outside of the hospital, had fallen on her knees and cried out to God like I had never seen a person do before. My first thought was to pray for God to give them all strength, because I did not believed Jimmy was going to make it. His head and body very badly injured. Jimmy had been an alcoholic for a long time, and had tried many times to return to Christ, but his addiction was very strong.
After hours of drinking in a bar, Jimmy mounted his motorcycle to drive home.
On the way he drove straight onto oncoming traffic and collided head on with a car. The next day Gatica and Marcos came back from the hospital in San Jose, and told us that Jimmy was in intensive care and in a coma. I asked Gatica how she felt and I will never forget her answer: “My God will raise him from the dead, if He did it before, He will do it again”.
And He did; the very next day Jimmy awoke up out of his coma! The doctors had predicted that he was going to lose his memory partially or totally, and indeed he was still struggling to recognize his family even 3 weeks later. A month after that he returned to the William Allen Hospital in Turrialba we went to visit him. Jimmy did not even recognize me, which was very hard for me. We all got together in prayer and asked God that if He was able to raise him from death, He could also give him his memory back. In a miraculous way, even the doctors can not understand, Jimmy’s mind has totally recovered! The most amazing part is that Jimmy has totally given his life to the Lord. He has given up alcohol, and has started a whole new life together with his family, and is serving at the Mission. God is faithful!!
Our Future Mission Center
Voz Que Clama Mission has plans underway to build the mission center. Last year we were able to purchase a piece of property in Tuis through our beloved friends, Herb and Beverly Liberman from the United States. We plan to build a mission facility on this property that measures 31,500 m2. The facility will serve as the home for fifteen indigenous handicapped residents, providing them with a very comfortable and nurturing home that meets the requirements of the disabled. VQC currently serves the needs and houses seven disabled Indigenous residents while providing full time care for them. Additional services provided by the mission center will include the following:
· A reunion center to hold Sunday and special worship services and meetings for the Indigenous and the residents living in the surrounding vicinity.
· A center to facilitate the investigation and research of the indigenous Cabecar culture, which will hopefully lead to new strategies to help the Cabecar community.
· A central place for people from other nations to come and serve our community doing volunteer work both with the Cabecar Indigenous and people of Tuis.
· The headquarters for the Christian Immersion Spanish Academy (CISA), which provides Spanish language training.
I believe that this building will transform our community for His Glory. We have had a lot of hurtles to cross, opposition or perhaps just failure to cooperate from various Costa Rican government agencies. Maybe that is just the way it is in Costa Rica. Getting all of the building permits issued has been an extremely lengthy process which is not yet finished.
This past October when we were missing only one signature from the Municipality, the engineer suddenly determined that an environmental study was needed to assess how our building could affect the flora and fauna in our area. This requirement could delay the beginning of the construction for yet another 6 months. Our architects are currently negotiating the possibility of finding a more expeditious way to achieve solutions, and on Monday they will have a meeting to discuss these issues.
In August we were visited by a delegation from the Presidency of Costa Rica including Mariangela Ortiz, who works for our President Oscar Arias. She was here in order to become familiar with our wonderful project. She is analyzing different ways that the government can help facilitate the needs of the disabled Indigenous, and she is now aware of the need for building this facility.
Please continue to pray for the Mission, that we overcome these obstacles so that we can start the building project soon. Pray especially for my patience and faith on this matter. Sometimes I feel that I want to quit, and I think about our Indigenous who have so much need, and I remind myself that this project will relieve much of their pain. In the middle of my distress last week while walking in the mountains, the Lord showed me a vision: I saw the opening of our building and our friends from all over were there. So, I know I will see you there, someday! Even as of now, you are formally welcome to join us for that special day! I don’t know the date right now, but my Father knows, and He will tell us soon.
Our VQC Congregation
After four years of having our worship meeting in the little yellow house, we came to a point where we could not fit anymore. Our choices for renting a bigger place were very limited, in October 2006 we stepped out in faith and asked the public primary school right in front of the Mission if we could use their hall for our meetings, knowing that we were previously told “NO’” because their education system is Catholic and they rarely allow a religious activity to take place that is not Catholic, in their buildings. After a week of waiting, to our surprise, they answered “YES” and we have been celebrating our worship services there ever since. Since meeting at the school, attendance has doubled, and continues to grow.
The year 2007 has also been a fulfilling year for studying the Bible. In February we started a Bible study that meets every Saturday and our people began knowing more and more about the Spirit. Currently, we are leading a class using the book “A Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, and from there we are learning ways to transform our little community for Christ. We believe Tuis will be an example of revival and a fountain for other nations to come and enjoy the presence of God with us.
Another beautiful day occurred this past Easter Sunday, as Daniel and I had the privilege of baptizing more than 15 adults and children in the river on the new Mission property. We also had the blessing to baptize 2 of our indigenous residents. Victorino, an Indigenous resident, who is confined to a wheelchair, was one of those baptized. He was carried into the river and given the chance to experience a wonderful life giving moment through the power of the Spirit. We are looking forward to having many more water baptisms in the future.
Our US Visit
This year for the third time, in September, Daniel and I were blessed to visit the United States. The purpose of our trip was to see our supporters, tell them about the progress of our projects, minister in music at different churches and talk about fundraising for our projects. We arrived in Chicago and spent a wonderful time with Rick and Rose Law, they have been one of our main supporters and have helped us almost from the beginning of our Mission and love us. They gave us a breathtaking Chicago tour, and treated us like kings. We ministered to their church group, and had a lot of fun. Thank you Rick and Rosita for your love and help, you are great!
We then flew to California and joined our US representatives and best friends the Liberman’s for the rest of our time in the States. Beverly’s daughter Marissa was to be married in San Diego and we were invited. It was a great wedding as well as an American cultural experience.
We visited the Morris family; Bob, Maureen and their four children in Salinas, California. This was a highlight of our US trip. Maureen Morris invited many friends from their church to their beautiful home to meet us and to fellowship. We spoke about our Mission and had dinner together. The Morris’s house is full of life and excitement. The Morris’s studied Spanish with us during May and June. We connected right away and they quickly became some of our favorite people and best friends. They invested in Costa Rica buying property in Tuis, and gave us the chance to live in and enjoy their Tuis home. We now are able to use the old two story white house only for the Mission and CISA school purposes. Bob and Maureen, thank you so very much for your support, prayers and love. You have a special place in our hearts!
During the remainder of our trip, we stayed with the Liberman’s and combined ministry, fundraising, Mission and CISA school work. We had the chance to minister at various churches in the Sonoma County area, including Healdsburg Community Church, and First Baptist Church in Windsor, where we attended their Missions Conference. Thank you very much to the pastors that gave us the chance to minister in their congregations. I want to express my gratitude to the Liberman’s for all that they have given us, allowing us the opportunity to grow. Words can not express how much we love you!
April & Tony’s Wedding
We came back from the United States and got ready for an international wedding on October 12th. Our CISA Program Coordinator, April Binnie from Toronto, Canada was married to our fitness trainer Tony Sanchez from CATIE Gym. April was called to come and volunteer at our organization for a year, and it seems that God’s plans were for her to stay a little longer, and with company! I think God really blessed her with a wonderful Tico Christian man. April is the right-hand ‘man’ of our Spanish Academy and runs all the communication from Costa Rica with our students. April, we wish you all the best; we love you and share the joy of your heart.
Jeanette Freestad
In October we were very glad to receive Jeanette Freestad back to our Mission. Jeanette is from Canada and has been helping us by visiting several times over the last 3 years. At the Mission she runs an ESL program for locals. Right now she has several groups of adults and children that come at night, afternoons and Saturday mornings to learn or improve their English. Jeannette has been doing a great job; everybody loves her and considers her a friend. Jeannette, your support, contributions and physical labor (many paint jobs!) have all been greatly appreciated over the years!
Christian Immersion Spanish Academy
I believe that God has really blessed us with our Christian Spanish Language Academy program because we can teach our language and culture while giving back to the community through providing jobs to local Costa Ricans as well as having community projects that are led by the students. The school has been working non- stop this year with work, ministry opportunities and receiving financial support to help maintain all of our other projects. This year we have met the greatest people through the school; individuals and families, who have all brought joy and diversity to our community. We feel proud to have a community that is safe enough to receive families even with little children. I think children are the most powerful instruments of evangelism. Beautiful Christian families have joined our school and Mission and have shared with us different ministries that are full of creativity and have impacted our community. When we received Gilles and Tammie Patenaude with their 5 children from Vancouver, Canada for 6 months starting in October 2005, we would never have imagined that God could actually use us to teach our culture and language to them and that this family would then transform a community. But they did, and after that our little Mission was never the same. In fact, when they left, the Mission was not so little anymore! Thank you Gilles and Tammie, God sent you here to sow a seed, to prepare the way for the Lord and for many other North Americans to come and bless us with their presence and love.
During the month of May we received the Jessen Family; Kelly, Jenny and their 3 children. They were here for 8 weeks and brought their amazing “SportReach” ministry to our community. They shared the gospel through sports and gathered many kids to play and to hear the good news. One moment that I’d like to share is very special. They used a colorful soccer ball to share the gospel, each color stood for a Christian principle, such as red means the sacrifice of Christ for us. When the Jessen’s went back to the US, they left the soccer balls with different children. One day, I went walking and saw a kid sitting with a friend and holding the ball and the kid was showing the colors to his friend and talking about the meaning for each of them. I think the Jessen’s opened a door for more people from Tuis to get to heaven. Thank you Kelly and Jenny. And thanks to many other families that have caused a great impact in our lives, the Coits, the Durkins, the Morris, the Summers and the Simmons.
At the end of October we received another great family: the Summer’s, Bo, Kipplyn, and their beautiful 6 children, they are going to be with us for 6 months. They are living at Barrio 70 and are already creating an impact in the neighborhood. I think we will all have a very lively Christmas with them this year. Please pray that they will learn the language soon to maximize their experience and to complement their ministry opportunities.
I could go on writing for hours about the amazing ways we have been blessed by each and every one of our students and visitors. I would like all of them to know that they will not be forgotten and that even though they have returned home, a part of their heart is still here with us.
Three months ago CISA started a program designed for teenagers. The object is that they will study Spanish with us, continue their High School studies online, while attending High School at CATIE University part time. Right now we have 2 teenagers with us taking this program: Allison Weimar (17) from Colorado and Kheersan Simmons (14) from the Bahamas. It is fantastic to see them growing, learning Spanish, being much more independent, helping the community and getting closer to God. Please recommend this program to your friends, and ask us for the information about it. We think it is a great opportunity.
We have come to the decision that as of the beginning of next year, the school will be able to give a percentage of the students’ tuition to help pay for the future construction of our Mission center.
We trust that this coming 2008 year will be full of Gods blessings and look forward to his plans for our lives. Our vision is growing and we hope to continue keeping you posted about all that happens here.
Many Blessings and Love to all our friends and supporters!
Hector Soto
Voz Que Clama Mission
Costa Rica
Non Profit 501©3 tax exempt organization
www.vqcmission.com
Here is our Christmas 2007 Wish List:
Please remember that VQC Mission is a legal non-profit in the US and that your financial donations are tax deductible. If you know of someone who is visiting Costa Rica would you please send an old suitcase with some of the items that we need for our Indigenous. Thank you for being so generous.
· To cover the end of year expenses & Christmas expenses, the mission is in need of a budget of $2,500 US.
· The total budget of the Mission center we are building is $150,000 US. We have been collecting donations for this purpose, and have raised more than $30,000 US, please continue giving so that when we begin construction we will have all of the funds necessary.
· For our trips to the indigenous reserve, we are always collecting practical clothing, sweatshirts, rubber boots, blankets, sheets, and non-perishable food that we can take there. There is always an ongoing need.
· For our Annual Christmas Indigenous Party at Quetzal, we have a budget of approximately $500.00 US to feed about 75 children and their parents. They will walk for 4 hours to attend this event. Any financial gift for this special day would be appreciated. We also need about 75 toys for gifts. The gifts are best wrapped and clearly labeled with ‘GENDER’ & ‘AGE-RANGE’.
· We are in need of Christian and/or Spanish teaching materials, flash cards, books, posters, videos, music, etc.
· Craft materials and school supplies: paper, markers, white boards, whiteboard markers, notebooks, pencils, pens, furniture: tables, chairs, and bookshelf. A laptop that is in good shape or desk top computers for a Language Lab.
· Appliances and kitchen equipment for the Handicap Indigenous Residence: blender, pressure cooker, electric pan, a microwave, a clothes drier, a new washing machine.
· Umbrellas, raincoats, rubber boots, table clothes, towels, cleaning supplies and adult diapers.
· Furniture: a dinning set, 7 night tables, single bed frames and mattresses and cabinets.
· Tools: machetes, and a toolbox with non-power tools.
· Equipment for the congregation: chairs, sound equipment: microphones, wires.
For Financial Donations:
In Costa Rica
Please make your donation payable to: Asociacion Cristiana Voz Que Clama
and send to the following address:
Voz Que Clama Mission
Apdo. 28-7150
Turrialba, Costa Rica
(506) 531-3061/(506) 822-6752
vqcmission@racsa.co.cr
In the United States
Please make your donation payable to: Mission Voz Que Clama
and send to the following address:
Beverly Liberman
990 Sunset Drive
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-433-8234
Fax # 707-433-8244
bliberman4@comcast.net
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