Costa Rica...UPG

     Costa Rica is on the horizon and I have promised many of you an update with prayer requests (I will attach the requests at the end of this post).   So here it is!

     It was in early 2011 when the Lord impressed on my heart a desire to reach an UPG (Unreached People Group) and to reevaluate overseas missions.  I began to question whether or not He wanted me to be the one to lead groups to Costa Rica.  He had allowed me to go to Honduras, and  across the Atlantic to Rwanda, Africa last year.  He taught me a lot on both trips; and, for that I am beyond grateful.
     Many who have gone with me on mission trips make the comment that I am "in my element." :)  The truth is that I believe it's what God created me to do so there is no credit to take on my own.  Having a missional mindset was born in me but began to die as I walked away from God at 15 years old. It seemed dead until I was 25 and surrendered  truly to following Jesus Christ.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude of how HE restored, redeemed & continues to change this child of His!
     After coming home from Africa in July 2011, my heart was burning to learn more about missions.  I had attended a conference workshop in May on missions/outreach in which they encouraged church planting.  In August, I attended another mission conference in Greenwood on UPG's (Unreached People Groups).  Both emphasized the importance of finding a local, national pastor in an area to partner with as to make more of an impact for the future.  I had asked several believers to pray that God would show us at New Covenant Church where we could go to make the most the time and resources God had given us.  It was this priority that David (my husband & pastor) wanted me to investigate while in Honduras and Africa. Personally, in both locations I was hoping and praying that God would open a door.  However, the more I tried to push the doors open, it was as though He was holding them shut on the other side.  At the time, I was having a difficult time understanding and in some ways it was painful.
     In January 2012, I began planning with my husband and the leadership of our church to back to Costa Rica.  Although, I was still 'feeling' a little apprehensive.  One day, I received a call from Todd Keeler.  He and his brother, Tim had the vision to begin trips to Costa Rica approximately 15 years ago.  During our conversation, he said that he believed Grano de Oro to be an UPG(the Christian church not fully established).  My heart immediately felt encouraged.  A few weeks later, Timothy Jones (missionary) concurred that a few weeks earlier he had laid hands on a pastor and a couple of elders who had a call to make an impact on the community.  He believed it would be a help to them in gaining respect in the community by us doing an outreach together.  WOW!!! REALLY!?! "Oh, ye of little faith!" :)))  The answer was right in front of me the whole time!  It will be amazing to see all God has in store.  In all the years that teams have gone to minister in this community, it has primarily been with the children but their families have heard and hopefully seen what the LORD has done in their kids.  It as though the Lord is saying to us, "the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest." Luke 10:2  And, at the end of the day...it's all about GOD'S design!


Costa Rica Mission Daily Prayer Requests:
July 25 - Team traveling to Atlanta --please pray for unity.  Pray I Peter 3:8
July 26 - Flight departs to San Jose at 9:45 a.m.   Pray Colossians 4:3
July 27 - First day in Grano de Oro - pray for pastor & small group of believers there.  Pray Philippians 1:3-6
July 28 - Team leaving for 6 hr. hike to Cabecar Indian church -- Pray Romans 1:11-12
July 29 - Baptism & communion with the Indian church/hike back today Pray Psalm 40:16
July 30 - working with Jones family all week- pray we would be encouragement to this precious missionary family.  Pray  Psalm 37:3-4
July 31 - Preparing to minister in Grano de Oro (team prayer walk today in town) Pray Matthew 6:16
Aug. 1 - Pray as we continue to prepare spiritually for outreach & do Bible clubs with the kids in Grano de Oro -- pray I Corinthians 2:4-5
Aug. 2 - Community Outreach night -- pray for team boldness & pray Acts 4:29-31
Aug. 3 - Traveling to coast -- pray for growth of team & more opportunities to share -- Pray 2 Peter 3:18
Aug. 4 - Traveling through mountains back to airport to depart!  Pray John 15:8  

                                                    Mountain Overlooking Grano de Oro


Team Members:  Lauren DeBacco, Robbie Earle, Michael Fendley, Tom Gable, Crystal Goins, Isaiah Harrell, Kim Harrell, Betsy Henry, Brian Henry, Kimber Henry, Ray Hopkins, Daniel Kopplin, Crystal Overholt, Savannah Reinhardt, Sam Robertson, Audrey Ross, Jeanette Ross, Ricky Sanchez, Corban Urbanic & Alison Yoder


Thanks so much for your prayer for our team!  May God be glorified!!! Kim Harrell