Tuesday, May 6, 2008

May 2008 Mission Newsletter

Nolasco News
APDO 129-2350
San Jose, Costa Rica, Central America
nolascoincostarica@hotmail.com

May 5, 2008

Greetings to all from Costa Rica,

*As always it is a joy to write to you, sharing news about the ministry and the family. We remember you in our prayers and daily ask God to bless you in all that you do for Him. As some of you know, I am in serious need of extensive oral surgery which will cost $20,400. In a recent letter I shared this great need and asked for help as we have no health insurance or savings (retirement). To date we have received $2892.00 and are grateful. The first of several surgical procedures has been done, and I am having to work with the surgeon on a pay-as-you-go agreement. In other words, without the needed funds, no more procedures can be done. We have served on the mission field for over 22 years and God has never failed to provide. This is the first time we have ever asked for a personal need and are trusting that God will provide through His people as He always has in the past. We ask that you would be much in prayer concerning this need and whether or not God would have you help us. Funds should be sent to our home church and designated for my surgery. That address is: Maranatha Baptist Church; 1111 Outer West Broadway; Madisonville, KY 42431.

*The work here is going wonderfully. After what has seemed a long dry spell, God is certainly touching hearts. The church at Ochomogo is averaging 50 on Sunday mornings. God has greatly blessed in the last two months and we have seen nine come forward for salvation. Ten have come forward asking for baptism and three for church membership. We are planning to have a baptism service the second Sunday in July. One of the members has opened her home to her neighbors on Tuesday evenings for a Bible Study group, and a second group may be started in the coming months. The ladies ministry is doing well, and Kathie will soon be sending out a letter about it. We invite you to visit our blog at www.ministeringincr.blogspot.com. There you will find photos of the ministry and of Costa Rica as well as posts about ministry and family. We are presently praying about our upcoming furlough which will likely begin in late February of next year. Later this year we will be in touch about visiting you to give an update on the ministry.

*As always we want to share family news with you. We are blessed in knowing that you care about our children and pray for them regularly. YENI is in Santee, CA, where she is working and going to college since leaving the military. She is active in her church´s ministries to the military in the area. EDEN, Steve, and Olyvia are in Monterey, CA. Olyvia just turned two (yes, time does fly). Steve, who is in the Air Force, just returned from Egypt and we praise God for keeping him safe. Eden is very active with a large group of Christian women there at Fort Ord. LYDIA and Eric, at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL, are well. Eric just returned from Afghanistan and we also praise God for his safe return. Lydia hopes to return to school in the fall. BECCA and Mike are stationed in San Diego and have a tremendous need of your prayers. Becca is five months pregnant. Her due date is in September and will be having a boy. She and Mike are very excited. Mike, however, is being deployed on May 4th to the Persian Gulf. He will not return until near the end of the year, missing the baby´s birth. Please pray for Becca, Mike and the baby during this separation. ELI has returned to the States and is in San Diego with Becca. He felt he needed to be there with her during Mike´s deployment. Eli has plans to work and go to school while there. Pray that God will open the door to a job for him. KATHIE just returned from a two-week trip to the States. She flew up to San Diego with Eli and visited with Becca and Mike before going on the Monterey to visit with Eden and family. Afterwards, she flew to Kentucky to visit with her mother. She enjoyed her visits but is glad to be home so she can rest. Eight flights in 14 days is a bit much.

*As always, we praise God for each and everyone of you and for the love you have shown us through the years. We love to hear from you. May God shower you with blessings.

In Christ,

Samuel Nolasco