Exodus Latin America Conference

Dear friends and family,

Last week I had the privilege of being part of the volunteer staff for the 7th Conference for Restoration of the Sexually Broken organized by Exodus Latin America.

We had the main participation of Mr. Joe Dallas, former Exodus CEO, and I was given the responsibility of interpreting for him, it was challenging as the spiritual warfare, the emotional burden and the content of the topics being addressed were challenging from the moment I accepted my participation for the conference.

To just give you a little perspective I will share that for several weeks before the conference I woke up and realized I had been praying while sleeping (or maybe dreaming I was praying) and fighting the good fight for those who would attend the conference.

The testimonies were heart breaking, but I was refreshed and challenged to hear men and women from all walks of life sharing their stories. Many of the participants shared about the abuse they suffered, about the lifestyles they adopted as a result of believing a lie and the healing and freedom they found as they embraced the cross.

I served for three days, every day the burden felt heavier, but I knew many saints were praying as I offered my skills and service. This conference not only brought light to the many people attending, it also shed light over my life, has been instrumental in bringing my own freedom and healing from wounds in my past.

EXLA 2011 has been an eye opener and a totally new ministry avenue as I get equipped to serve those facing sexual, emotional and spiritual slavery and brokenness.

After three intense days at the conference we loaded a van to go deep north in Katira, San Carlos in the province of Alajuela where I had the privilege of speaking to youth leaders. After my teaching participation I had the privilege of worshiping with my spiritual children, then is when we felt the rage of the spiritual warfare I had been praying for weeks before.

We faced a group of kids suffering bondage not knowing how to break free, as we sang we felt a huge brick wall between us and the audience, it almost felt like we were not going to be able to reach them and then we started having "technical" problems with the PA system. Some of my family members who accompanied us were praying as we literally were fighting to make our presentation happen.

After a somewhat frustrating 20 minutes we decided to improvise the setup of our backline, we cranked up our amplifiers and the only thing going through our mixboard and main speakers was my voice and the kickdrum. We were able to handle the rest of our concert and the kids responded in an incredible way.

We closed our concert with an altar call and no music, the Holy Spirit led me to have the kids come to the altar and raise their hands as they surrendered their lives. Worship breaks chains! The act of lifting up hands became an act of surrendering in the presence of the Lord and the Holy Spirit started moving as kids received their blessing.

Joe Dallas says sexual and spiritual bondage has reached an epidemic scale and I have to agree, for the first time in my life my eyes were open to this reality and I feel God is leading us to terra incognita as He prepares us to deal with the brokenness we are starting to see.

God finally opened doors to talk to kids who are desperate, to pastors who need help and are pretty desperate too as they see the tremendous need there is within the church.

I praise God for a fruitful week of ministry, for the new doors and avenues He's opening, for His faithfulness and for the saints who have prayed alongside with me as I face new challenges and warfare.

Thank you for your prayers as I continue to offer my life and service to the Lord, may we continue to see fruit as He establishes His Kingdom in people's hearts. You have a huge part in what God is doing to save souls everywhere.

Peace,

Carlos

NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

I love my work as a missionary, I enjoy spending time with people, I like to invest in people's lives and I am definitely moved when I see God having His way in someone's life.

As I am not particularly good at handling routine in my life, I get bored easily if the task at hand is repetitive, I know some things and tasks in life have to be like that and I handle as best I can, but I enjoy variety, new challenges and opportunities.

I am thankful God knows me perfectly (after all He created me), and for 2011 He had a new challenged reserved and labeled with my name.

I received the news in surprise, but after a great deal of prayer and consideration I decided to accept the direction of the Short-Term Team department for CFCI starting this May.

I am familiar with the ropes, and for those things I am not familiar with I am asking for wisdom and grace. I am humbled I have been considered for the position in the list of candidates (one entry with my name in it). God has sense of humor too.

I am thankful Kellie(my boss)and Carlos(my big boss) have been led to offer this humbling opportunity to handle one of CFCI-Costa Rica pillars for our base, though familiar it is a big responsibility. I am grateful God has decided it was about time I got a new challenge on my plate to add variety and out-of-the-routine salt and pepper to my already exciting ministry.

I will be heading the department starting May this year, but I am already handling some responsibilities in preparation for the future, service feels good!

My gratitude goes to Kellie O'Connell for 8 years of appreciated friendship, leadership and for being the most gracious boss I have ever had. I will miss you, but I am happy you will have the chance to get back home to be closer to family. I am glad for the new "professional mother of two" challenge God is entrusting you with. I will be praying for you.

As for my new stage in ministry I covet your prayers for challenges I need to see solved as I embrace this new stage, for wisdom, for grace, for intelligence and for a renewed commitment to be a holy and effective servant.

I would love to see you in Costa Rica sometime soon, if you decide to come with a team I promise to do my best to take good care of you all.

Peace,

Carlos

Ciudad Quesada

Sin Paredes and I had a wonderful ministry weekend at Ciudad Quesada. It a tremendous privilege to have the chance to reach people, young and old, and to encourage them to love God and serve with everything you have.

We started our weekend with music-ministry workshops, we offered 4 simultaneous workshops on drums, bass, guitar and worship leading. I focused on 20 common mistakes worship leaders make when on stage during our services and practical ways of avoiding those mistakes. We had 25 participants and our feedback was great!

Immediately after our workshops we started our sound check for a very energetic concert. We rocked Ciudad Quesada for a good hour and closed our evening worshiping the Lord together, I am still receiving text messages from kids that were touched by the Lord. There was a final rock song to close the evening, it was so intense I ended up with a hoarse voice, it was well worth it though. We had a crowd of around 200 kids and adults who rocked hard, but who also worshiped passionately.

You realize you´re not 20 anymore when you don{t want to get up after a concert night. I finally managed to make it to the shower and get ready for our second phase, preaching the Sunday morning sermon on sowing good seeds and reaping in righteousness.

We spent one hour saying our good-byes as we returned to San José, we still feel rich as we continue to sow the good seeds of God's grace and love in people's lives.

Being able to do what I love most is a privilege beyond my words and gratitude. I thank God and you for teaming up with your prayers, words of encouragement and even your pockets to make all this possible, the very best gift is not the claps or the chance to be on the limelight, the greatest privilege is being able to spend time one on one with our friends to pray, listen and share God's love with them.

MTV usually offers bigger, fancier gigs; but they can't offer love unconditional and salvation. A gig is fun for a while, we thrive in offering the kind of love that sticks with you forever.

Gloria Deo

First Sin Paredes ministry weekend of 2011

My band, Sin Paredes will be going north to Ciudad Quesada in the province of Alajuela for the first ministry weekend of 2011.

Ciudad Quesada is the largest city in northern Costa Rica with a population of approximately 40.000 inhabitants. We have been invited to offer music clinics and workshops for a Praise and Worship Conference organized by Dios es Fiel Church for all the Christian community of the larger San Carlos County.

After our workshops we will offer a concert in the evening of Saturday January 8.

I will close the weekend with a personal invitation to preach on Sunday morning.

I am really excited to have this first opportunity to offer God's love to the expected attendance of about 200 kids wanting to use their music skills and talents to worship the Lord and to the congregation that will make this event possible.

I covet your prayers as we prepare, we want to offer God a holy, fruitful weekend.

Happy New Year!

Hello friends,
I thank God for a wonderful 2010 filled with blessings, adventure, challenges and big decisions. I am grateful for the gift of your love and your friendship.
I had the privilege of serving with 8 teams from different churches and groups from the US, we served alongside CFCI ministries and local churches that were encouraged, blessed and challenged to continue spreading the Good News to needy souls. Thanks to all the teams that came to serve in Costa Rica, I hope you received just as much as you opened your hearts and tuned your ears to listen to God's heartbeat.

I finally managed to enroll ESEPA Seminary during the last quarter of the year, I had been praying for an open door and God finally opened a door through ESEPA, I started a Master's Degree program in Theology, it will probably take me 10 years to complete, but I am happy for the first small/huge step and for realizing I still can be a good student. My average score for this first quarter totalled a big "A"!!!!

My band, Sin Paredes, has been on standby until we find a suitable guitar player. I have invited several friends to perform every once in a while we find the perfect Mr. guitar to embrace our vision. The extra time has allowed me to have more one on one time with old and new disciples. I have been extra blessed at having the chance to see God moving in young people with a burning desire to please and serve their heavingly father. Please pray for José, Andrés, Pablo and Allan as I continue the journey in mentoring their lives. Also I covet your prayers as I continue to offer a helping hand to pastors and youth leaders in urban and countryside churches.

This has been a good, challenging year for my family too! My parents (both in their mid-seventies) have accepted the responsibility of pastoring a Foursquare church in the east side of the central valley, they are very happy and my heart is full of joy to see them bearing abundant fruit in this period of their lives. Natalia, my oldest niece, finished her licenciatura in graphic design and publicity and is now working for an important international company, she is mostly designing websites and developing corporate image services to companies from Mexico to Brasil. Andrea, my younger niece, is advancing in her college major of Physical Therapy and has been learning how to play the bass guitar at church.

I pray God will continue to pour his love, wisdom and revelation over your lives during 2011. I love you and hope to see you again soon.

Carlos

CENTENARY YOUTH ROCKS!

Greetings from Paradise!

I hosted a great mission short-term trip during Holy Week with the Centenary United Methodist Church Youth Seniors in Lexington, KY. I'll start saying the whole team rocks! Of course some adults also accompanied the team totaling a BIG 24!

I like big teams because it means more work done, more people to know and interact with, more witnessing, more prayers and more "ministry" happening with the local churches.


It was different staying at the CFCI hospitality home during their time in Costa Rica (and not with families as is our CFCI tradition). Sometimes it was a challenge to take care of logistic details, but fortunately my partner in crime, Julia Napper, was there to assist beyond description, thank you Julia for being such a friend, yes... I owe you, and my mom does too =0)


We worked with Monte de Dios Biblical Church in Coronado (about 40 minutes away from our CFCI headquarters in San Jose). The team helped prepare the land for restrooms in the mornings and during the afternoon they threw a 5-star Vacation Bible School for nearly 50 kids. We were happy to know most of the kids who attended VBS weren't kids attending the church.


Pastor Luis and a couple more leaders loaded their cars (coupes) with up to 15 kids each! They picked them up near their houses and returned them to their respective neighborhoods! I dream with a bus for this church, their outstanding work with the children would be more effective if they had a proper vehicle. But I also have no doubt God will provide a bus soon as this church continues to be faithful servants.


Thank you Julita, hanging out with a good friend is always a blessing, but serving with a good friend is even better!

Thank you Centenary UMC! You guys rock!!! I love all and each one of you!

Here are a few prayer requests as I get ready to receive another team and continue to mentor my dear musician-friends.

* Please pray for strength and good health, during my time with Centenary I had a really annoying back pain that forced me to take pills (yuck!).

* Please pray for wisdom as I walk with Lord and serve Him, I need to hear God's voice and have the certainty I am on the right path.

* For Sin Paredes (my band), decisions include making changes, adjustments or a potential farewell to rock music as a ministry, again I need to hear from my heavenly dad what he wants me to do.

Now I am going to bed, I am still recovering from my last team!

Peace,

Carlos

A different Kind of Missions Experience

2010 is a year of first times! This is the first time I have to "abandon" a team to take over the leadership of another one because of an emergency.

The team I abandoned was the Vancouver BC. Carver Christian School. Well I didn't abandon them technically as they were in the capable hands of my friends Greivin and Lisa Gonzalez. I know they did a good job because I was able to rejoin the team for the very final part of the experience; I was lucky enough to get back to Siquirres to see them saying bye to their Costa Rican host families in a sea of tears. When I see tears I know the Lord (and families) have soften hearts for good! I have never seen a team member in tears because they miss home back in the north, well at least I have never been aware of that! =0)



The team I took over was also a "first time" for me. They happened to be two great families with 7 kids under 6 totaling 11. I have to confess I was a bit nervous about dealing with such young team members. Small kids demand you adjust your pace to their needs, capabilities and skills and not vice-versa.



I was pleasantly blessed to see that even small kids, who have their particular needs, concepts and world still are capable of serving! The kids mingled with the kids everywhere we went (and we go to the "poorest", "scariest" places). It was the first time I saw a 3 year-old handing drink cups during our feeding program, first time I hear a 7 year-old girl honestly sharing a simple, yet powerful testimony to our teenagers (many of them mothers carrying their babies) at Carpio, first time I see parents being bold enough to bring kids to "high risk" areas where we develop our ministries.



Of course because of the pace this team felt more layback, so this was the first time in my 10 years as a missionary we never met our schedule on time. In spite of my frustration and flexibility about our timing and pace I still saw the glory of God in many, many ways through the lives of these precious families.



So Snell and Lacoursiere families, thank you for a memorable time with you and your kids! May god continue to have His way in your midst!

Music Online

Greetings from the mission field family and friends!

I have great news to share with you. Sin Paredes has made arrangements and our music is now available on MP3 and AAC formats for purchase through some of the most important music distributors online.

We are really happy to see our ministry grow and reach more and more people for the glory of God. Our most important goal is to simply share the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. We preach that a relationship with Jesus not only saves our lives eternally, it also has a tremendous impact in our lives this side of eternity.

You can now visit and get our music at:
www.amazon.com
www.groupietunes.com
www.iTunes.com
www.lala.com
www.napster.com
www.shockhound.com

Usually our songs are $0.99 each; if you prefer a sweeter deal get our entire album for only $8.99.

Even though our music is in Spanish you might want to give it as a gift to a Spanish-speaking kid or you might want to get it for yourself and practice your Spanish. When you buy it ask me for the lyrics and I will gladly e-mail them to you.

Remember that you will be supporting our ministry when you buy our music. We do our best effort to go to remote places at no charge and people who can buy our music will empower us to continue our ministry.

Keep the fire burning!

Carlos

OUR CONCERT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA

Every year the University of Costa Rica [UCR] celebrates its "University Week", a party where every faculty showcases the very best they have. You can get a number of free blood tests at the Microbiology Faculty, see how bridges are built at the Civil Engineering School or check out the chemistry shows for kids with lights, chats, concerts, and parties almost everywhere.

A group of Christian students decided to start a tradition last year and offer free Christian concerts during the 5 days of celebration. This year we were honored with an invitation to be the closing band for "U week".

We performed for an audience of over 700 students and rocked my dear UCR campus. Here are some pics, I hope you enjoy the chronicle.



Erick is our bass player, he grew up during the grunge era (nobody's perfect) and does know how to play the bass, move and rock the masses. He's pure energy and passion for Jesus and His Good News.


Here I am inviting our friends (we do not have "fans", just friends) to sing along, they do know how to rock! Good job guys!



Our drummer Johnny is one of the finest musicians I've ever heard. He still doesn't know how good a drummer he is, but he is slowly discovering that. Johnny and his wife are dear friends and faithful servants who love the Lord and young people.



Many of these guys didn't know we were a "Christian" band, but still rocked. We praise God our music opened a door to communicate the Good News to them.



We were honered to have our friend Sandi as a special guest guitarist for the night. He has his own band, but found the time to produce our project and play the guitar for this gig. He has an incredible heart and we appreciate his understanding and desire to collaborate with us in our mission to see no place without witness nor anybody without hope.



This is all of Sin Paredes. There is only one other place we'd rather be and that is with the kids at the end of the show. It's good to rock, but it's even better to share the love of God one on one.




It's just sweet to see some of the guys and girls spontaneously raise hands and simply worship God, especially when they can do it at the intellectual Mecca of our nation. UCR is a great place to make your brain grow, but it can shrink your spirit if you are not intentional about building your faith in the face of humanistic wisdom. I remember how hard it was to be a Christian during my student days in these same classrooms, I am proud of the brave ones who are currently taking a stand for Jesus and His kingdom here.



Here I am sharing the Gospel and "appealing for a verdict", sharing the Good News and not encouraging people to make a decision for Jesus is half the job done.



For a moment while we were performing I saw the audience and I remembered Jesus crying for the people because they had no pastor. It's humbling to serve those who are looking for Light and guidance in the most unpredictable places.



Please pray for Sin Paredes and Christ for the City International and those who work with both ministries, we long to share God's heartbeat, we want to be faithful and effective in living according to His Word and showing it to a thirsty generation.

We receive many invitations from far places deep in the country, most of the time Christian youth groups/churches/students want to organize an outreach, but lack the funds, the experience and/or the resources. During 2008 we received several invitations from Central and South America that we had to decline with a broken heart.

We offer honorarium-free concerts, but we can't afford to cover expenses involved with the rent of a PA system, lights, a stage, our sound engineer, transportation, feeding the staff and accommodations.

I invite you to pray and consider becoming a partner in ministry with us. In terms of logistics we may not be able to go everywhere, but our CD's have proved to be useful tools. We would like to produce more CDs and give them free of charge to radio stations and web-based radio stations.



Sometimes kids can't afford to get our music even at the lowest possible price of $10 we offer in our concerts, we'd love to be able to offer more free Cd's during our concerts and a donation toward this particular initiative will put music and the Gospel in key houses, boom boxes and cd players where they are needed to change lives and encourage kids in their faith.


We also need added investment to include a discipleship program embedded in every CD called New Life in Jesus. This is a sixteen lesson book that teaches new believers basic Christian life principles such as of salvation, prayer, baptism, devotional times, bible reading, and fellowship with other children of God. If you would like to know more about this program or receive a pdf copy send me an e-mail and I'll share more about this project.

You may be led by the Lord to give for a trip, for CD manufacturing, for the acquisition of a PA system, lights or for a vehicle for the transportation of our backline, staff and band. If you feel led by the Lord to collaborate or even participate personally at any of our outreaches please send me an e-mail at mestayer@sinparedes.org, I'd love to share more of our vision, goal, work and answer your inquiries. You can be a partner with us in many ways and be part of something bigger than you and I.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and for your mails, I love to receive them and know from you. I update my prayer list every week, if you have any particular prayer requests I'd love to hear them.

Peace,

Carlos Mestayer
Serving in Latin America one step at a time.

So Far So Good

Hello friends, family and fellow pilgrims,

I am so glad I am finally getting back to my blog! I have been sending you news and prayer requests via e-mail and I always seem to forget about posting them here.

Well here is my first entry for 2008.

Remember José, my friend in a wheelchair? If you haven't heard from him let me brief you. José is 27, he suffered complications at birth. The use of forceps damaged part of his brain resulting in his inability to walk. He is an incredibly smart man, but you can perceive a minor difficulty to talk in his speech. José's a joy to be around with and a human being with an incredible heart for the people.

Last December José told me his parents are divorcing. He refused to recognize his sadness, but he is obviously having a bad time knowing his family will never be the same. To make things even more difficult the doctors detected a tumor in one of his mother's breasts, biopsy results were positive for cancer.

Jose became deeply nervous, depressed, frustrated and angry. In many ways he depends on his mother, and the idea of losing her was terrible.

I asked for your prayers as she took more tests and x-rays with other doctors in a desperate search for a seccond, more favorable opinion, but she wasn{t getting good news from anybody.

As of last month I am glad to let you know that her final X-ray and blood tests are absolutely conclusive about the absence of cancer in her body! If you compared her initial and final x-rays you would say they belong to two different patients! There is no doubt there was "something" there, but it's gone now! She didn't get a drop of any medicine for cancer treatment yet she is totally healthy. As skeptical as doctors are, they have admitted something supernatural took place in her body last month that completely healed her.

I praise God for his amazing love, power and compassion. He is the same yesterday, tomorrow and forever! Thank you for your prayers and for caring for somebody you didn't even know, I know there will be plenty of time for introductions in heaven, what a great time it will be!

Great for a devotional, enjoy...

Hugging Dad

We had finally been invited to perform at the Youth Specialties LA Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica. Youth Specialties is one of the most prestigious international ministries for the Christian youth in Latin America, and our heart is exactly there, with the teenagers in Latin America!

We rocked the house down, we projected video on the screens, we jumped, sang, laughed and encouraged the kids. We closed our performance with a well known worship cover with a rock arrangement. But the best part, the part I look forward to at every performance, is to hear, talk and pray with the kids offstage.

After our performance we made ourselves available for everybody as usual. Some kids came for CDs, pictures and for a little conversation. Then this kid came to me, hugged me and said “thank you, Carlos”. I was a little puzzled and said “sure, you’re welcome, but may I ask what you are thanking me for?”

Josh, told me of another conference held a couple months before, it took place during a cool, almost rainy afternoon in the parking lot at Oasis de Esperanza, the biggest church in the San José. We had performed at that conference too.

He told me that during those days he had realized the man he’d believed his father wasn’t his biological father. He then understood the distance and lack of communication there’d always been between both of them. Josh’s real father was a wealthy guy with his own family and, it was obviously hard for him to let it out, the hardest part of all was realizing his conception had been "a mistake".

That day at the conference Josh was feeling lonely. He understood God was his Heavenly father, but it was hard to believe and even harder to really feel it. He had asked God for a father's hug that day, that was all, a hug from his Heavenly Father before the conference was over for the day.

“Carlos, you gave me the hug I had asked for that day, right after you guys performed that afternoon". We both hugged again and thanked God for his love and faithfulness.

Lately God has been calling me to become a father figure for several kids and adults that have come my way. It is something I never asked for, being single I even resisted the idea and responsibility involved in becoming a mentoring, father figure. But I have to confess it feels good if you just let the Holy Spirit flow.

My dear mentor wrote a song a while ago that I have adopted for myself. It says “If I leave this world tomorrow, Lord I want to leave your love behind. There’s too much pain and misery, too much heartache too much crying”.

I love rocking the house down. I like singing and I love most of the things involved with concerts, recording and music, but beyond the time, resources and energy spent in our music or ministry what will remain in the end is His love. His love is what changes the world and people’s lives forever.

Above and beyond everything I do, I want to leave HIS love behind.

Catching the Wave

I have been asked by a good friend, Ryan, and God to share this testimony with you. I never thought it would bless more than those involved, but I am going to give this a shot.

The phone rang and after a warm greeting I found myself talking to Pastor Domingo. He pastors a small church located in his native Indian reservation Boruca, located some 300 Kilometers away from San Jose. If you have visited Costa Rica you may not know that anything more than 100 kilometers in our country is usually a tiresome trip due to our winding, narrow mountain roads. Boruca is no exception, as a matter of fact Boruca IS one of the most distant , remote, hard to reach areas in Costa Rica.

I perceived Domingo was deeply sad. For days he'd been trying to invite several youth leaders to an event in his town, he passionately told me about this idea God had given him. He wanted a youth retreat/camp for the kids in the area. The access these teenagers have to the outside world are few, they simply do not have the resources to leave the reservation and travel to San Jose. So there was Domingo telling me about this Youth Retreat and how difficult it had been to actually get any National youth Leader to go to the reservation and offer the kids their ministries.

My heart sank when Domingo told me I was his last name in his list. I could hear he was discouraged as he shared his ideas and vision, somewhat I felt he was ready for a negative answer. I simply couldn't say "no".

After setting a date we decided we would take music, teachings and materials for the kids in Boruca. My band and I got together about a week afterwards to start planning and work on a basic budget for the event. Then after considering the expenses my heart sank again. I had not considered expenses like transportation, materials, xerox copies, food for the band, etc. etc. I couldn't believe going to Boruca would be so expensive and of course I don't think I need to say that as a poor missionary I just didn't have the funds to honor our commitment. I felt I had stuck my foot in my mouth big time, I suddenly felt I had been too swift in accepting an invitation like that without considering the cost first.

After exploring a zillion possible ways of funding our trip we concluded we just couldn't make it. Could I call Pastor Domingo and disappoint him after giving him high hopes and expectations or would I wait for a miracle to happen? You see, in our ministry 3 out of 4 times we end up reaching for own own wallets to perform, reach kids and share the Good News, it's never been a burden and I think it will never be, but spending $2.200 for a single project was very different. That night we held hands together and in humbling honesty asked God to show us His will for Boruca. We were ready to go, we had an enormous desire to serve those kids, we actually loved them without knowing them, but this time we couldn't take the money from our own pockets.

I went to bed asking God to answer A.S.A.P. and then the following morning I got my reply. I got an e-mail from Ryan, he is a youth minister, but more importantly a really good friend I met years before and with whom I serve with in short term mission trips. Ryan told me the little kids in his church had been learning about missions and missionaries in VBS. They decided to raise an offering and when the Children's director asked him about somebody in the world who could use those extra funds Ryan thought of me, he wrote a quick note to let me know.

"I can't make any promises about how much would be raised, but whatever is raised next Sunday will be sent to you" he said. I laughed and cried a little, this was a direct answer to our prayers and even when we didn't have an idea of how much would be raised I felt a deep assurance God was telling us, "I have heard your prayers and here goes my wave, now get on it quick before you miss it!"

I thanked God for a swift answer, but also for letting us know He would be there to back us up in ministry. A good but weird feeling stuck with me during that week, I was full of joy, but also full of holy and reverent fear. It was (and still is) overwhelming to know the God of the universe is right behind you.

$2,200 were raised on Sunday, exactly what we needed to cover retreat expenses. In addition to the funds received several people, local companies and friends offered their donations. Suddenly We were able to give Centro Cristiano in Boruca shoes, clothes, food, a new printer, love, music and teachings (we hardly had space in the bus for us).

We returned home with empty pockets and feeling the biggest millionaires in the world. We will never forget the grateful faces of those precious kids and Pastor Domingo as we left for San Jose. There is no doubt we served "the least of these".

For all those who were involved in this adventure I offer my deepest gratitude for becoming partners in ministry. May God continue to have His way in our lives as we seek to be faithful servants.

Gloria Deo.

"I really didn't believe in God" told me Ana*, "but now I think I have changed my mind a little bit". Ana is 17 years old, she has been confined at Renacer, our own (Christ For The City Int'l) girls restoration facility, by the juvenile court. As a street child she has been forsaken by her own family and has faced almost everything any parent could fear for a child from sexual exploitation to substance abuse.



Ana tells me that more than not believing in God she's been disappointed by Him. I really never did anything wrong or bad to anybody as a child, I wasn't bad... why did God let me live the things I lived at such early age?". As she opened up her heart and let me peak through it I started trembling at the darkness, loneliness, desperation, fear, helplessness and the almost completely annihilated vision of herself as a beautiful human being created in the image of God. Taking a look into Ana's heart was a short, virtual trip to hell.

I tried to share a few words of hope and courage, but I was honestly overwhelmed. I knew in my head Jesus was more than capable to fill in any void in her life. That is what you hear in church every Sunday, that is what you read in the Word every once in a while, that is what you get to hear from some people on the 700 club or in crusades; but facing such tremendous desolation face to face made me shiver and forced me to examine my perspective of what I believe about my own God and His grace.

Not that He needs me to have a revelation of his love, grace, salvation, etc. etc. I found myself in a place where I had to deal with myself and with how effective a servant/representative of his Gospel I am. It was all about being real and genuine as a Christian. It was about offering a Word that is faithful to itself, alive and sharp enough to get to the bone.

I heard a good friend sang "you can only possess what you experience", well I have come to realize my service to the Lord is about struggling to have this real, genuine revelation on a daily meeting with Him. I haven't experienced fireworks, visions or dreams, but it's ok. I am glad God comes to visit me as soft solid rain. I am glad I was able to KNOW my service to God is not feeling pity for another human being (although compassion is a big plus for the job description). It's about believing He will fulfill His will with or without us. I am humbled he is generous enough to let me participate in the process.

Ana's path in life hasn't been easy. Neither has it been for the other 20+ girls at Renacer. I am glad He is revealing to the girls through so many Godly people who have decided to do everything in their power to help them understand there is hope, love and faith after all. I am Glad we can be God's arms to hug them and tell them He is with them everyday.



I have to confess I wiped a few tears after my conversation with Ana. I couldn't help thinking of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "So, What now?/ What will you do now that you found Me?/ What now?
What will you do with this treasure you've found?/ I know I may not look like what you expected/ But if you remember this is right where I said I would be/ You've found me/ What now?"

Ana and many other boys, girls, women and men in terrible circumstances I see every day have helped me understand that God wants more than just our tears and our pity. May we do what we have to do to meet those precious people right where they are.

Would you please take two minutes and pray for those who still need to meet with Hope face to face? If you have an extra minute left I would appreciate the generosity of an extra prayer for us who are serving in the mission field day by day, as for me please pray so that I never forget it's not my water coming out of "my" well.

Have a blessed day.

Carlos

*Real names have been changed to protect identities.

January 1st. 2008

2007 has been a year of tremendous blessings, lessons, a few trials and many miracles. I am grateful for God’s blessing and provision during one more year since I accepted the challenge of serving Him full time.

CFCI and STM
Christ for the City continues to be a blessing for many churches, pastors, leaders, children as well as young and wiser people in Costa Rica and the United States as we continue to provide opportunities where both receivers and coming servants interact, serve each other and build each other under the love of God. We all work hard at proclaiming the Good News to communities in urban centers all over the country. I feel blessed at being able to facilitate and see people’s lives being transformed according to His purpose for all of us. After 7 years down the road I don’t seem tired of this, this is the perfect ministry for somebody who doesn’t like routine!

Other ministries I have served and collaborated with are Festival con Dios that mobilizes mainly Costa Ricans to poor communities where we set up a "Christian fair" for the locals, everything Festival offers is free of charge from the food to the dental care to the clothes and haircuts.

I also have the privilege of serving many people through our music ministry Sin Paredes, we offer concerts, teachings, devotionals and a friendly ear to whoever wants to talk with us, talking to the people simply energizes me.

I also offer a helping hand (whenever possible) to our Transformations ministry feeding program every Wednesday, we go to the poorest areas in San Jose, our capital city, and offer a hot meal to whoever comes to us. By befriending people in these areas we are able to reach many for Christ. You would be surprised to see how many doors a hot meal can open!

ISRAEL
I was speechless when I received an invitation for an in-depth Israel study trip. As a Latin missionary a trip to Israel was far down in my list of (possible) dreams. But God has His ways of surprising his children, I was a very surprised child when, one by one, he started opening doors until I found myself arriving in Tel Aviv! I was excited, challenged, humbled and touched as I saw God's investment in my life. I walk trough every door the Lord opens with a fearful sense of gratitude and awe, I know he who has been given much will be demanded even more so I keep moving where I understand He is leading.

SIN PAREDES
Another miracle this year was the release of our 2nd CD called Sin Paredes. This is another prayer answered as all of us in the band continue to look for creative ways to reach our young generations in Latin America with the Good News. We had a pretty busy December this year as we toured during weekends. We closed 2007 with a new CD, 20 live concerts and a number of Radio and TV interviews and appearances. We’re starting to get dates for 2008 as we look for international distribution with... well hopefully with somebody. Would you please pray with us as we knock on doors? I will keep you posted on what is happening.

COMUNIDAD DEL ESTE
My dear new church should be called “The Little Church that Could”. We celebrated our 2nd Anniversary last August as we remembered the four birthday parties we have organized for the terminal section of our National Children’s Hospital, the +1,000 Christmas gifts, the clothing, the children’s formula we have given to kids in poor and distant areas of the country. We also thank God for allowing us to offer the +2,000 hot meals we have been able to serve for the kids at San Vicente, a very poor community with a hunger for food and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our next big project is acquiring property to build a camp for the handicapped, our camp will include a private house in a woody area where children in terminal phase will come to die in a home-like, dignified environment together with their families. If something you have read catches your attention and you are interested in knowing more about our projects or becoming a volunteer or a long term missionary with our ministries drop me a note and give me your phone number, I’d love to talk and answer your questions.

HEALING HEARTS
I found the time to complete the Spanish translation of a workbook for Healing Hearts. This wonderful women’s ministry opened its services for Latin America under the name Sanando Corazones. It is serving women who are suffering and/or have suffered abuse, co-dependency and violence in their lives. The workbook is an invaluable guide to find forgiveness and freedom. May the Lord use Healing Hearts to reach thousands of women as they step up in faith and begin the journey of recovery from physical and emotional trauma.

ROBBERY AND BLESSINGS
Last June 25 we experience our first robbery (and hope last) ever at home. This has been a hard trial, we have spent over a decade working hard and raising funds to get some ministry supplies and tools to develop our ministries. Part of our home belongings were stolen too. I thank God for His special provision; a love offering helped cover emergency expenditures and repairs. Recovery feels slow, but God is faithful and I know He makes things beautiful in His time. As we recover and work extra hard to re-acquire some of our needed ministry tools and household stuff we thank God for his faithfulness, for providing for our basic needs every day, for protecting our lives and for being present each day, each moment.

LOOKING AT THE FUTURE
I am praying I will be able to start a semester at Universidad Evangélica de las Américas while I continue to work with CFCI. I thank God for the flexibility my agency has given me so that I can pursue a Masters in Missiology. I will start paperwork to obtain a scholarship during the second week of January and hopefully as I study I will continue to serve with a few short-term mission teams, offer concerts and seminars with Sin Paredes, maybe I could even find the time for a little more freelance translation. 2008 looks a bit challenging, but also more exciting than 2007! I want to embrace it with passion as I walk in obedience. I covet your prayers for wisdom, good health and balance as I seek to serve Him and study in order to serve Him better.

I foresee a tremendous harvest in 2008 and I am humbled God has called you and me to be part of His plan for this generation. I can’t help feeling excited and energized as I think of all the things God has in store for all of us in the near future! Our Latin American youth is very receptive and they are willing to listen to the Gospel if it is preached in integrity, with passion and in an honest way.

I hope you have had a merry Christmas; now I pray for an absolutely breathtaking 2008 as we hold hands with our loving Creator and walk with Him!

Carlos

Just found this great film, I found it extremely refreshing and touching. Hope this blesses your life too.

Festival Con Dios - Nicaragua 1

Dear Friends and family,

The proverb says a picture is worth a thousand words. I could never describe in words the most extreme misionary experience ever at Jonathan Gonzalez and La Chureca in Nicaragua. I will leave you with a few snapshots. Thank you for teaming up with me in sharing God's love with "least of these."

Festival con Dios - Nicaragua 2

Festival Con Dios - Nicaragua 3

Festival Con Dios - Nicaragua 4