Team Costa Rica . final update

Our final day serving alongside the Costa Rican churches was capped off with a "VICTORY CELEBRATION"! (see Facebook link below for pics)

All 5 mission points were represented well by the people of their churches! As we shared with each pastor how God had worked in our week, tears were shed and relationships were celebrated. We sung praises to our GREAT GOD, we were overwhelmed by how people who could not speak the same language were able to worship Jesus together and praise Him for what HE did! Thank you, to each of you reading this--as our prayer and support team--for the opportunity to meet and serve with Costa Rican brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank You Jesus for using people like us to help further Your kingdom.

Here is the summary from the week...

New Discipleship Groups started:  21 groups with 393 participants

Number of people that heard the Gospel message:  746

Number of new believers:  232

VICTORY CELEBRATION pictures:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.473744666053813.1073741826.100002548517003&type=1&l=0220da2391

Headed back home tomorrow!

** More Team Costa Rican Pictures **

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.473744666053813.1073741826.100002548517003&type=1&l=0220da2391

Team Costa Rica . update 3

Yesterday was an amazing day! We had many people come to Christ and had a great day doing discipleship follow up and getting to know our translators. One group did a foot washing ceremony for the translators and the pastor at their church. The sports ministry teams had a great day as well, sharing the evangeball with several groups of teens. You can see a presentation, here:www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn21mQdL-ts. For several of our student athletes on the team, It's good to find something that they can relate to the people with. We have many amazing stories to bring home about how God is working in Costa Rica. We're  reminded to not only share with the Costa Ricans, but also the American tourists we are meeting while we're down here. Today is our second to last day, thank you for your continued prayers. Our overarching goal over the next few days is to focus on equipping the Costa Rican believers for the work of the ministry. 

Also, here is a blog that one of our team members is keeping as well.  http://www.e3partners.org/roxanne

Team Costa Rica . update 2

Our first real day doing door-door evangelism is behind us.  Even though we have prayed and prepared to knock on that first door, nerves and fears of the unknown always seem to creep in.  But God our protector and provider once again showed himself faithful.  Two teams went to parks and set up sports camps and the rest of us went off to different churches to help them evangelize there neighborhood.  It is funny how in ones mind we have a mental picture of how we expect the day to be. I praise God that He has a plan that is much more exciting than my small mental picture.  We have all reported that we feel that God has not just called us to minister to the un churched people of San Ramon but also fellow believers who need prayer, encouragement to continue the fight and to "not grow weary in doing good"   Last night during the evening "Wrap uptime"  I could feel the energy in the room as we shared stories of the awesome amazing things God had done during the day.  The harvest is ripe.  Some of us were blessed to be the reapers of the harvest, others were blessed to plant the seed, fertilize the seed and tend to the seed.  Today with the nerves and fears of the first day behind us, feeling full of the blessing of yesterday!  We are rearing to go this morning to see how God will open the doors of opportunity!  Oh the blessings of being in the center of Christ's work... it's beyond words!!

For the team, Renee Brooks

Team Costa Rica . update 1

Greetings from Costa Rica!  We finished our first two full days on the ground having landed here 5AM Saturday. We rested a few hours and then spent the afternoon in orientation.  We wrapped up having supper with the pastors/ leaders who we will help with the church planting outreach this week. On Sunday we attended the churches we will working with throughout the week. We were blessed by their vibrance and passion for the Lord and one another. In the afternoon we spent several hours at a city park and town square, sharing the Good News of Christ and playing sports to build bridges with young people.

It rains nearly daily here for a few hours.  Look carefully at the photo of the Catholic Church on.... our team is assembled to bring light to a region of this country that is watered with some knowledge of God's Word but many without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Your part is to help provide the umbrella of prayer covering to bring God's protection and blessings.

Love you all!

Call to Prayer for Thailand

 






Dear friends,

Over the years in missions we have seen it time and time again, when we lead with prayer great things happen.  2013 will be no different.  We are so excited about what God has planned for this coming year and we would like to invite you to pray for Thailand.
 

Right at this moment a short-term team is on its way to Thailand to plug into the long-term church planting strategy we have put together.  This is the first team that will hit the ground without Jenni and me.  The team will be led by the Thai pastor I have been working with for the past two years.  We are very excited for the progress but wish we were there.  Please pray for blessings and Kingdom success for this group of college students.
 

Going forward in 2013 here is how you can be involved:

Pray for Thailand

- Fervent prayer that God will be glorified in Thailand

- Pray for Thailand at 10:02

- Pray against barriers of religion and tradition

- Pray for the strong national leader/partner God has for us

- Pray for laborers in Thailand
- Pray for laborers to GO to Thailand

In His grip,

The Jessens

Thailand Final update

Hello All,

After a great trip serving God is Thailand one of the leaders has put together a video from the week as a summary of the highlights of what we encountered.

Here are some sights, sounds and testimonies from the October trip to Thailand. God did some cool things as we focused on church planting and human trafficking awareness. 178 people heard about Jesus and 13 are now walking with him. 4 small groups we call I Am Second groups were started and almost 100 people heard of the perils to human trafficking.

Enjoy the update and praise God with us for how the team was used in His Kingdom work!