Bits and Pieces - COVID
Overall, we’re doing well. Most days. :) We’ve had no problem finding groceries (including TP) and have only been limited from driving twice a week. Of the roughly 5 million Costa Ricans, there have been about 600 COVID19 cases reported and only 6 deaths. For that we are thankful!
Most restaurants continue to offer curbside or delivery service, and many stores are still open. Even so, the economy is deeply impacted here as tourism has come to a screeching halt. Roughly 400,000 people are now unemployed. Certainly, we are thankful for financial provision! Some of the US churches that Ad Lib Music is working with have put the big coaching programs on hold, but not all of them! And we have had everything that we need. Praise the Lord!
We’ve really been enjoying our time in our new apartment, making it a home, getting to know our neighbors bit by bit, and the VidaNet staff next door. We're learning to be responsive to what God is doing through this quarantine.
We are thankful for creative outlets and a "workshop"! Dave has built over 16 home furnishings using wood from the huge pile of remodeling "trash" outside. The delightful pieces include multiple shelves, a closet, a LOG bed (which Heather loves!), counters, etc. He's crafting using only a borrowed circular saw, his drills, and stacks of plastic soda crates as his "workbench." He’s in his element!
We have a swing set in the yard and a fire pit that we use often. Heather and the kids have started a garden, Heather's niche. We’ve enclosed the yard so that the pesky neighborhood stray cows don’t come in to eat everything. Not kidding. It's a true delight experiencing God's recreation at work! In some ways, we have found so much life in the slowing down!
Though we aren't' permitted to have animals in the apartment, we've had an outdoor dog and cat randomly "adopt" us. A super sweet cat (named Orange Blossom or Cinnabon, depending on who you ask) and a really great dog named Crema (or Cream Puff)! They just seem to have found us! Crema literally showed up one day and wouldn't leave. The shop owner next door thinks someone just dropped her off. She’s probably a year old and seems to be a yellow lab/boxer mix. Super sweet and smart. Both have been really kind gifts from the Lord to all of our family.
Just before the quarantine began, Heather had a great outing with two new friends from church, Erika, one of the pastors, and Lorena, a worship team member. They are a Godsend in her life, intentionally reaching out and into her heart. Dave has also been getting to know Erika’s husband, Andrés who is also a pastor and the worship director, as well as, Geovanny, one of the worship leaders and a youth leader. They've often expressed care and appreciation of us both - and we are so grateful!
Though they've missed friends at home dearly, the children had also enjoyed beginning to build friendships at school, church, and youth group (the older two). But, the quarantine has definitely made us all feel isolated and these relationships have been largely put on hold. :(
We have a mailing address and we love it when we find letters in it! It is:
Apartado 147-3009
Santa Barbara de Heredia
Costa Rica
THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH to those who sent birthday love to Heather! It was an unexpected blessing that cheered her into the next lap. And if you have kids 13, 12, 10, or 8 that would like an international pen pal…
In brief, our timeline has been:
September
1 Fly to Costa Rica
2 Move* to the beach (Manuel Antonio)
5 Move to CISA (Christian Immersion Spanish Academy) in Tuis de Turrialba
7 Start 3 months of language school
October
15 Celebrate 14 years of marital bliss and sacrifice, refining and joy
November
20 Buy Ferdinand, our red 15-passenger 2004 Toyota Hiace
28 Graduate from CISA language school (Thanksgiving in the US, "Thursday" in Costa Rica)
29 First border run to renew visas in Nicaragua
December
6 Move* to the beach (Cahuita)
10 Move to Daryl and Jen Hoover’s house in Los Angeles de San Rafael, Heredia
January
8 Dave turns 48
18 Louis turns 10
21 Clementine turns 12
30 Move to Martin and Delores Matamoros’ new mountain home in Coronado de Moravia
February
10 Aspen, Cleme, Louis, and Juliana start public school
27 Second border run to Nicaragua to renew Heather’s visa
28 Move to DeLynn and Gloria Hoover’s apartment (leaders of VidaNet) across from their base in Montecito de San Rafael, Heredia
March
17 Schools close down to prevent the spread of coronavirus
23 Heather turns 40
25 Caspian turns 2
April
13 Juliana turns 8
(* I say "move" because every time we stay somewhere, our 24 checked bags and the myriad of carry-ons comes with us, we have to deep clean the kitchen to remove traces of dairy, etc.)
While sometimes we wish we were already able to buy the Isaiah 61 property, we’re also grateful that we don’t have a large debt hanging over our heads right now. At present, the property is still available. And God is sovereign. (Dave’s cousin’s Joe said today, "I noticed that if you put the ’s’ at the end of the word 'sovereign,' you have ‘over-reigns.’ And that is exactly what sovereign means. God is faithful."
As we consider our ministry here, we're so thankful for the Lord's work among us. We know He is using this hour to prepare us for what is to come. We've been praying, Lord, prepare us to hear your heart for the people here, to disclose your specific assignments for us.
We believe there are many worship teams that will skyrocket to new levels by spending a week on a missional retreat with us in Costa Rica.
We believe there are leaders, pastors, and missionaries both here, the USA and beyond that are past the brink of burnout BUT will be refreshed, replanted, and relaunched after time with us at the Isaiah 61 ministry base.
We believe the LORD has directed us to purchase a property for this ministry base in the mountains of Costa Rica.
We are taking steps, but this is beyond us. On February 29th, our 3-month contract to purchase this property expired, putting it back on the market. During this time, we have received commitments of $22,320 over the next three years, which is $758 per month from our supporters. (Thank you, friends! Hooray, Jesus!)
Newly, after a referral from dear friends of ours, we are eager to partner with two sister 501(c)3 organizations that will help us with fundraising in a way that allows givers to receive a tax-deductible receipt without it becoming taxable income for us. Barrio Wealth is a small crowd-funding platform and Vital Seed is an organization that advances the Kingdom of God on earth through serving business, church, and ministry.
Some details of our need:
Sale price: $270,000
Transfer fees: $10,000 (what?! I know, that’s what we said)
Total needed: $280,000
Would you consider giving toward this vision of replanting leaders who have been uprooted and launching worship teams to new levels of spiritual depth and relational strength? Though we are so excited and thankful as we continue to receive monthly gifts, once we launch the fundraising project with Barrio Wealth, we’re also looking for some significant gifts of $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000 to reduce or eliminate the loan amount.
You can currently give two ways:
Tax-deductible through ACTS (but we pay income tax on it)
Tax-free by check or PayPal directly to us (as a gift, there’s no tax to pay, but you don’t receive a deduction for it)
You can send checks to:
Ad Lib Music
679 Hilldale Road
Holtwood, PA 17532
Trusting the LORD together, we believe His word:
"Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!" Ephesians 3:20-21 TPT
Love,
Dave, Heather, Aspen, Clementine, Louis, Juliana, Huxley, and Caspian
