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| Overholt Newsletter |
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| Happy New Year!!! |
Pictured with us are brothers, Guillermo and Alejandro. They
lost their father this past summer and so they have a special
place in our hearts. Every Sunday at our church service in La
Isleta, Guillermo comes to give me a hug. It wasn't always like
that. When he first started attending he was the shy kid sitting
in the back and so I made a point to always go to him before and
after the service to welcome him with a big daddy hug. Now he
comes looking for them.
One of the things we miss, especially at this time of the year, is
giving grandma and grandpa hugs to our family back home in
Canada.
lost their father this past summer and so they have a special
place in our hearts. Every Sunday at our church service in La
Isleta, Guillermo comes to give me a hug. It wasn't always like
that. When he first started attending he was the shy kid sitting
in the back and so I made a point to always go to him before and
after the service to welcome him with a big daddy hug. Now he
comes looking for them.
One of the things we miss, especially at this time of the year, is
giving grandma and grandpa hugs to our family back home in
Canada.
Again this year, the english church "CFF" that we are part of,
blessed the 50 or so Sunday school children of La Isleta by
coming out to give Christmas gifts. We always feel it is best to
personalize our giving as much as possible so each family at
CFF had names and photos of the children they were to give to.
I saw this little boy pictured on the left below playing horsey
with a stick and a piece of rope. I can assure you that he
appreciated a new toy this year for Christmas.
blessed the 50 or so Sunday school children of La Isleta by
coming out to give Christmas gifts. We always feel it is best to
personalize our giving as much as possible so each family at
CFF had names and photos of the children they were to give to.
I saw this little boy pictured on the left below playing horsey
with a stick and a piece of rope. I can assure you that he
appreciated a new toy this year for Christmas.
Mission Videos
One of the greatest blessings for me this year was to see the
rustic little churches that we are working with raise money to
purchase christmas gifts for children in another area. It was
very humbling to receive almost $400.00 from people who make
$1.00 or $2.00 an hour if they have work at all. It would be like
our church back home raising $4,000.00.
rustic little churches that we are working with raise money to
purchase christmas gifts for children in another area. It was
very humbling to receive almost $400.00 from people who make
$1.00 or $2.00 an hour if they have work at all. It would be like
our church back home raising $4,000.00.
What great fun they had in wrapping over 120 gifts and then
giving them out to children who would most likely not receive
anything else for Christmas. Our church members are learning
that it is indeed better to give than to receive.
giving them out to children who would most likely not receive
anything else for Christmas. Our church members are learning
that it is indeed better to give than to receive.
My turn!!!. First of all we want to wish you all a very bl essed
and happy New Year, full of health, happiness and God's
presence in your hearts and homes. We pray for lots of zeal
and fresh vision for the year ahead and growth for the
Foursquare Church of Canada. We again thank you for your
care and support and for the great priviledge it is to serve in
Costa Rica.
and happy New Year, full of health, happiness and God's
presence in your hearts and homes. We pray for lots of zeal
and fresh vision for the year ahead and growth for the
Foursquare Church of Canada. We again thank you for your
care and support and for the great priviledge it is to serve in
Costa Rica.
Debbie's Corner
We are building relationships here in Costa Rica and a strong pastoral team is forming. It is
wonderful to have friends and leaders who have the same vision and heart to serve, love
and minister to the people here. God is so faithful and we continue to be amazed at the
doors that open.
On the 18th December we had a luncheon in
our home for those who are working alongside
us - there were 10 of us that gathered together.
We had a wonderful time of fellowship,
laughing, eating and sharing together.
Everyone brought something to share and of
course we had beans and rice. John showed
us a few DVD's of the ministry over the last few
months and we were able to give each one a
copy of the DVD and small gifts to show our
love and appreciation to them for their
faithfulness. Juan Carlos y Alejandra, Juan
Zepeda(his wife Sandra was in Nicaragua),
Rosa, Pillar(her husband Juan was working),
Francis, Lucy y Gerardo. Rosa is the sister of
Juan Zepeda and she is teaching the Bible in her small barrio
here in Coco. She also helps to share the word in our churches
and is a great teacher. She wants to teach the older children in
La Isleta this coming year as well. Lucy and Gerardo help Juan
Carlos y Alejandra in the church in Liberia. Francis is my
wonderful Sunday school teacher who oversees over 40 children at the church in La Isleta.
She is training 3 other women to help her and is a great facilitator and a huge help to me.
She helped with the Christmas parties in December and is now
helping with the School Backback Project that we are involved in - supplying uniforms and
school supplies for the needy children.
Also on December 18th John was one of the designated drivers for a Seniors Christmas party
that one of our local doctor's - Oscar Diaz - puts on each year. This year over 45 people came
to the party - but they all needed to be picked up at their homes and brought to the clinic
where the party was - and then delivered back home afterwards. Dr. Oscar is Costa Rican
and attends the english church when he can. He holds 2 free clinics a year, as well, for
women. The English church helps out with these clinics by giving juice to the women and
children, cookies and helps to register the women when they come. We also look for
opportunities to pray with those who need pray and encouragement. The Catfish Farm
Church sponsored the Christmas party for the seniors and bought gifts and helped with food
for this special event as well.
wonderful to have friends and leaders who have the same vision and heart to serve, love
and minister to the people here. God is so faithful and we continue to be amazed at the
doors that open.
On the 18th December we had a luncheon in
our home for those who are working alongside
us - there were 10 of us that gathered together.
We had a wonderful time of fellowship,
laughing, eating and sharing together.
Everyone brought something to share and of
course we had beans and rice. John showed
us a few DVD's of the ministry over the last few
months and we were able to give each one a
copy of the DVD and small gifts to show our
love and appreciation to them for their
faithfulness. Juan Carlos y Alejandra, Juan
Zepeda(his wife Sandra was in Nicaragua),
Rosa, Pillar(her husband Juan was working),
Francis, Lucy y Gerardo. Rosa is the sister of
Juan Zepeda and she is teaching the Bible in her small barrio
here in Coco. She also helps to share the word in our churches
and is a great teacher. She wants to teach the older children in
La Isleta this coming year as well. Lucy and Gerardo help Juan
Carlos y Alejandra in the church in Liberia. Francis is my
wonderful Sunday school teacher who oversees over 40 children at the church in La Isleta.
She is training 3 other women to help her and is a great facilitator and a huge help to me.
She helped with the Christmas parties in December and is now
helping with the School Backback Project that we are involved in - supplying uniforms and
school supplies for the needy children.
Also on December 18th John was one of the designated drivers for a Seniors Christmas party
that one of our local doctor's - Oscar Diaz - puts on each year. This year over 45 people came
to the party - but they all needed to be picked up at their homes and brought to the clinic
where the party was - and then delivered back home afterwards. Dr. Oscar is Costa Rican
and attends the english church when he can. He holds 2 free clinics a year, as well, for
women. The English church helps out with these clinics by giving juice to the women and
children, cookies and helps to register the women when they come. We also look for
opportunities to pray with those who need pray and encouragement. The Catfish Farm
Church sponsored the Christmas party for the seniors and bought gifts and helped with food
for this special event as well.
| Christmas in La Isleta |
Newsletter Fall 09
Click Here
Click Here
Debbie and I are looking forward to a full year ahead as we
continue to follow "His plans" for our lives here in Costa Rica.
continue to follow "His plans" for our lives here in Costa Rica.
Christmas in Costa Rica
Street Ministry
"Without Walls"
"Without Walls"
Northside Mission Team
A huge blessing for us at the beginning of December was to be able to get a 15 passenger
van to help with all the folks we transport to and from the church services. A Foursquare
church in Canada raised funds for this - thank you for all your hard work in doing that - and
we were able to purchase the van for the exact amount that we received when transferring
the funds into American dollars. Thank you Lord - again a great testimony of His faithfulness.
The van was a huge answer to prayer as we sometimes had up to 12 or 13 in our 7 passenger
car. Now we have lots of room for equipment and people and supplies to bring to church. It
has certainly gotten lots of use over the last month. Just this past Wedenesday we
transported a van load of leaders from our zone down to a beautiful beach 2 hours from us
where we had a barbeque and our monthly meeting - some of the perks for living here I
guess.
van to help with all the folks we transport to and from the church services. A Foursquare
church in Canada raised funds for this - thank you for all your hard work in doing that - and
we were able to purchase the van for the exact amount that we received when transferring
the funds into American dollars. Thank you Lord - again a great testimony of His faithfulness.
The van was a huge answer to prayer as we sometimes had up to 12 or 13 in our 7 passenger
car. Now we have lots of room for equipment and people and supplies to bring to church. It
has certainly gotten lots of use over the last month. Just this past Wedenesday we
transported a van load of leaders from our zone down to a beautiful beach 2 hours from us
where we had a barbeque and our monthly meeting - some of the perks for living here I
guess.
So now we are beginning a new year - our 4th year - where has the time gone - we are
getting requests from churches and groups that want to come and help out, so we are busy
emailing with ideas, suggestions for accomodations etc. etc. We love to introduce people to
missions and help in any way we can to help them catch the vision. It looks to be another
busy year down here in Central America.
We also have our national convention coming up this month- January 20-23rd and we are
looking forward to Pastor Barry Buzza, our Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada, President,
coming to speak to the convention this year. Oh glory - there will be some english spoken
there this year. As well we will be bringing with us 2 of the couples who are working with us -
Juan y Sandra and Juan Carlos y Alejandra, so that is very, very exciting.
getting requests from churches and groups that want to come and help out, so we are busy
emailing with ideas, suggestions for accomodations etc. etc. We love to introduce people to
missions and help in any way we can to help them catch the vision. It looks to be another
busy year down here in Central America.
We also have our national convention coming up this month- January 20-23rd and we are
looking forward to Pastor Barry Buzza, our Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada, President,
coming to speak to the convention this year. Oh glory - there will be some english spoken
there this year. As well we will be bringing with us 2 of the couples who are working with us -
Juan y Sandra and Juan Carlos y Alejandra, so that is very, very exciting.
From Nov. 26th -Dec. 10th we had Bruce and Cathie Scott visit us from Merrickville,Ontario. I
went to school with Bruce many, many years ago but did not know Cathie before they came.
We have decided that we are now sisters - everywhere we went people asked if we were
sisters,they couldn't believe we had just met - so we have now adopted each other.We had a
great time ministering together and both Bruce and Cathie connected so well with the
children and families in the churches. As soon as they arrived they rolled up their sleeves
and helped out where ever - real servants with hearts so large and full of love. They came
with two suitcases packed full of babies and childrens clothes - all washed and ironed by her
- but collected from friends, neighbors and people in their church. I believe they caught the
bug here - the missions bug that is, and we look forward to when they can return again.
went to school with Bruce many, many years ago but did not know Cathie before they came.
We have decided that we are now sisters - everywhere we went people asked if we were
sisters,they couldn't believe we had just met - so we have now adopted each other.We had a
great time ministering together and both Bruce and Cathie connected so well with the
children and families in the churches. As soon as they arrived they rolled up their sleeves
and helped out where ever - real servants with hearts so large and full of love. They came
with two suitcases packed full of babies and childrens clothes - all washed and ironed by her
- but collected from friends, neighbors and people in their church. I believe they caught the
bug here - the missions bug that is, and we look forward to when they can return again.
- As we continue to pursue the Lord in church planting we need His strategy and His wisdom
as the year unfolds.
- We are looking for FAT leaders (Faithful, Available, Teachable) to partner with us.
- Strength ... encouragment ... protection
- Our family in Canada
as the year unfolds.
- We are looking for FAT leaders (Faithful, Available, Teachable) to partner with us.
- Strength ... encouragment ... protection
- Our family in Canada
Francis