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1 Corinthians 3:4-9

"For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:4-9


Saturday, November 28, 2009

Thanksgiving

This year Thanksgiving held many first for our family. It was the first year that Matt and I had been separated since we've been married. He and I had been separated from the kids in 2006 when we came on our vision trip to Costa Rica, but we've never been separated from each other. Matt and Ethan spent the day traveling back from Nicaragua, where they had been for a few days to renew their visas.

The girls and I were actually invited to two separate dinners this year, which was a very nice welcome to the area. We accepted the first invitation to spend the day with the family that we spent time with on our vision trip here back in September, the Akin family. So, we got a ride to their house midday and the girls ran off to play while I found my place in the kitchen and began helping with the last minute things to be done.

The Akin's children attend a private school here in Costa Rica where children from literally all over world attend. Their children have a wide variety of culture in their day-to-day lives. The family extended the invitation to several families of friends from their school who had never before experienced Thanksgiving. Also invited were several young women who are here in the area studying Spanish for various lengths of time.

So there were people in attendance from the states, London, Holland, Italy, Venezuela, as well as Costa Rica. It was very interesting to talk with many of the people and hear there stories and learn about their countries and lives.

The story of the first Thanksgiving Day was shared, along with a few tears, when it was discussed how now, for their family as well as for Christians this is a day to give thanks, glory and honor to God for all we have in our lives and most importantly for the sacrifice of His life for ours.

It was a joy to me to be able to help out in the kitchen, discover this family's favorite Thanksgiving foods and learn how to make them, see how they all pitched in to make the day happen, down to the youngest in the family, and to make new memories in the new place God has lead us.

I learned a lot about Venezuela, Holland and Italy. Some of the stories I heard were quite amazing to me. Many that were there do not know the Lord and so this day was a chance to share Christ and His love with them.

So, the day for us was a first also to meet people from Holland, and share the special day with people from there as well as from Italy. there were two girls I never got the chance to talk with and I'm sad I didn't get to hear their stories or where they were from...Maybe we'll meet again...

Thankfully, we brought home a plate of leftovers for Matt and Ethan, so they got to enjoy a few yummy Thanksgiving favorites as well! :)

Here is a picture of all those present, except Audrey and the youngest Akin, Rebecca. They must have ran off somewhere right before the picture was snapped.


Friday, November 27, 2009

House pictures

I finally can put some pictures of the house up. I'll post more later, but here are just a few :)

The one of the hill (yep- it is considered a hill, not a mountian) and the trees is the view from our front door- beautiful, eh?

There are also three of the girls room- finally unpacked the last box of theirs!

Then one of Ethan outside in the front yard playing catch with Matt.





















Que Calor! (It's stinking HOT!!!!)

"Stinking": doesn't exactly translate from English to Spanish but the point to the title of this post is that it is super hot here! (In case I haven't mentioned it before....)

The heat is wearing on all of us physically and mentally. We've been noticing the effects of it this week in particular. All three of the kids at different times have fallen asleep before it was "bedtime." I've caught a couple of those moments on camera. Jus because there are no pictures of Mom and Dad on here doesn't mean that matt and I haven't succumb to falling asleep either. There have not been many nights when I'm not asleep at 9:30. And once I'm in bed I just begin drifting off -even if in the middle of a conversation with Matt...it just wears on you. (the heat, that is...not talking with Matt :] )

We are fully confident that we will, one day, get used to it. We've been told it may take a minimum of 6 months and not sure the maximum...One day... :)

About thirty minutes after Matt and Ethan left on Monday, our best fan broke and I being completely incompetent at anything electrical other than to hit it a few times could do nothing for it. So, that made the week a little more unbearable. Thankfully today Matt got the fan working again temporarily and we also were able to borrow one from friends.

Anyway, on to the pictures. I am having trouble getting comments to correspond with the correct photo so I'll just comment on them here.

One day last week, Matt had been working on putting shelves up for Ethan. It wasn't going as planned, so he took a break form it and then got back to it after supper. Apparently Ethan was so tired he couldn't stay awake any longer and he fell asleep with his bean bag on his bed and his feet near his pillow. He may be nine, but he will always be my baby boy :)

One night when Matt and Ethan were gone, the girls and I were in our room enjoying the air conditioner we have in our room. I was reading them a story before bed. Both had their babies so "they could listen, too." :) Isabelle fell asleep before I was finished with the first page! Doesn't she look so sweet? The other of Isabelle is from tonight. I did not stage the photo, I promise! She actually fell asleep while eating her supper. I have never seen her do this that I can remember!

The other night, the girls were so tired. They had played outside all day long and so we ate early and got ready for bed early. Audrey was done first with her bedtime preparations and so I asked her to go get in bed. When I got into her room, she was fast asleep! It is these moments that she is simply angelic :) {ie: the rest of the time is another story!)













Wednesday, November 25, 2009

"You might be a missionary if..."

I have heard stories form my friends from language school about "you might be a missionary if..." I think I've got my own collection of stories to be told about that now.

This week my neighbor asked me if I'd like some fruit called a "pipa" that is like a coconut. She said "Just take your machete and chop it open, drain the milk and then eat the meat." I looked at her blankly, thinking "she really expects me to have a machete laying around." Then, obviously seeing my blank stare, she says, "Do you have a machete?" to which I say, "Uhhh...nope..." Just when you think you are starting to fit in! :)

Then, yesterday, one of the pastors wives was giving me a lesson on scorpions: how to recognize them, that they play dead, where they hide, and how to kill a scorpion- which of course, you use your machete for! Guess I'll be buying a machete soon!

Not to mention the you might be a missionary if you:
- have howler monkeys in your backyard
- randomly see wild pigs roaming the neighborhood
-co-habitate with about twenty geckos and picking up gecko...err...excrement...is part of your daily cleaning routine
-have iguanas in your backyard
-have to check your wet towels that are hanging up to dry for scorpions
-have to check your dirty clothes pile for scorpions
-everything imaginable comes to you ready to buy on a truck of some form: vegetables, fruits, bread, meat, chicken, bags of milk, tortillas, sour cream and cream cheese...
-you randomly find cockroaches the size of your daughter's flip flop roaming your front porch (that is
-it is so hot where you live that when you take your shower, which is a cold water shower mind you, you dry yourself and then realize that you are already sweating again!
-your "laundry room" is the back porch and your dryer is the clothesline!
-at least once daily, your dog goes nuts because of the horses trotting by
(dog thought: "Dude- that's one big dog! Will I ever get that big?")


I am sure there are many more things bound to happen and I will be able to update this fine list...keep checking back for more stories of our Great Adventure! :)


incognito iguana in the backyard



same iguana scaling the neighbor's house



our cat, "Gatita", pretending she is a lion, prowling the chickens and roosters



cockroah (almost) the size of Audrey's flip-flop



gecko lizard hiding out in the oven drawer

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

pictures






















playin in he leaves


























Monday, November 23, 2009

Here is our weekly prayer and praise update that was just sent out to our email newsletter list.

Would you join us in praising God with us and also praying for the following requests?


Hello to all of you!
We'd first like to apologize for the amount of time that has passed since our last weekly update. We've been trying to get settled and acclimated to our new home and life, Brooke and the girls took a quick trip to the states to visit her parents and to renew their visas, Matt has been getting started in ministry, and we are just now beginning to feel somewhat settled.

May I share with you today what I read in my study of Philippians today:

"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the LORD! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you." Philippians 3:1

Paul writes this to brothers and sisters in Christ, the family of God. Paul knows that sometimes we can become troubled, worried, anxious or even depressed by the circumstances of life. But Paul's reminder to these brothers and sisters, and to us as well, is that God never lets us down- He is always with us and never leaves us. So, whatever your situation today, REJOICE in the LORD Jesus, to Him be all glory and praise!

We'd like to ask you to join us this week in praising God for all that He has given us, and that includes YOU! If you are reading this email, it is because God has brought you into our lives for a very specific purpose. Maybe we only knew each other for a brief time, maybe we only know each other through the internet,or maybe we've been friends for years, or maybe you are a part of our extended family. Whatever way our lives have been woven together, you are special to us and a blessing to our lives. This week as we approach Thanksgiving, we want you to know that we are thankful for YOU! You may pray for us each month, you may support us financially, you may encourage us, you may be encouraged by us...for all of this we give glory to God and REJOICE! in Christ who is our HOPE!

Please pray this week for Matt and Ethan as they travel to Managua, Nicaragua to renew their visas. They left early this morning and will be returning to Costa Rica Thursday. Please pray for their safety on the trip their, while there, and their return trip.

Please pray for the discipleship groups that Matt has started. Pray for the leaders of First Baptist church and Pastor Nelson and the leaders of Calvary Chapel church and Pastor Phil. Praise God with us for two pastors who are eager to see their people discipled and then begin discipling others. Pray for scheduling throughout the weeks and that Matt can organize his days in the most effective way possible.

Praise God for Filedelfia (Philadelphia) a small barrio about an hour away where Matt has started discipleship. Thirteen people began discipleship two weeks ago and ten came back the following week with their lesson completed and their verse memorized. This is an area where many have not heard the gospel, there is no apparent evangelical presence, and many are hungry for the Word of God.

Pray for these new disciples from First Baptist, Calvary Chapel and Filadelfia to grow in the Word and become disciple-makers.

As a side note, there are many new and er...interesting...creatures here in this part of Costa Rica. I (Brooke) praise God for His continued grace. I am not a "bug-person" or a "critter-person" by nature but Praise be to God, I am handling all these new "neighbors" quite well. I am affected, I will not lie, and there have been some shrieks heard from time to time, but I am quickly learning to live amongst nature, in all forms, whether scaly, eight-legged, hairy, winged, or slimy. Please continue to pray that God grants me grace in this and I can learn to appreciate God's creation in this new way! Most really are quite interesting and amazing, once you get past the initial reaction of "Oh My gracious, WHAT IS THAT?" :)

Praise God today with us!

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

In Christ,
The McClain's :)

Matt, Brooke, Ethan, Isabelle and Audrey

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Home again...home again...jiggety jig...

The girls and I left Indiana on Tuesday morning around 9 am...headed to Chicago for our 3:10 flight. All went well on the trip and we boarded our flight without incident, with supper stored away for the last flight :) I was most nervous about the connection in Atlanta because we had less than an hour to catch the connecting flight. I was assurred and reasurred that we had plenty of time, just not to stop for anything :) and kindly NOT offered any help...eerrgghh...but, we did in fact make flight- we made it through Atlanta airport from concourses A to concourse E and then to gate E 18, all the way at the end...of course...we had to run- literally- to make it and as politely as possible excuse ourselves as we made our way pass people on both escalators...and took a flying jump on the tram just seconds before the doors closed! We were almost the last to board the plane, but made it :) - all of that in 15 minutes - none-the-less!

We arrived in San Jose on time and our friend was waiting patiently to pick us up...too bad our luggage was still in Atlanta! So, home- well- home for the night- to our friend's house in San Francisco de dos Rios, sans toothbrushes (the ONE time I didn't pack them in the carry-on!), but tired enough not to really care...talked to Matt before I went to bed and let him know we'd been assured that the bags would be there at the airport by 1:30 the next day...and found out his plan to pick us up.

As I lay in bed that night, listening to the sounds of the city (that I do NOT miss), I thought about our trip, that precious time with just family, early Thanksgiving dinner, no agenda, no appointments, the blessings of new friends who sacrificed their time to drive 5 hours to the San Jose airport to drop us off last week, then old friends who sacrificed their time and opened their home to us for the night, fed us, fellowshiped with us, then again, the same new friends making the trek back to the city to pick us up...all of those things, and the many new blessings we have discovered living in a new area. I rejoiced at the time with my family, but I discovered the pang in my heart to be back "home." Not in Indiana, which will always be "home," but back in Villareal, which is my new home. I uncovered that desire to see Dinora, my neighbor, be back in church, walk the dirt road, pet my dog. How I missed the rooster crowing in the morning (way better any day than the random car alarms heard through the city night), the green, green trees, the freshness in the air...how I longed for my new home. And to be near my husband again and hold my baby boy!

It was only a week, and splendid time of laughter, fun and special memories with my parents and brother and niece, I longed for the comforts of my new home, the familiarity that Costa Rica brings me, the warmth of m husband's embrace. <3

So, now back home two days, I still am uncovering more and more the depth of my gratitude to Jesus. he gave so so much for me...and He still gives- amazing wonderful blessings reign down on us from God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth.

Financially, this is a hard season for everyone, including missionaries, including us...But our God is good and He will provide...He does provide...He IS providing! Daily, in the midst of increasing tight budgets...he is providing!

I am thankful for a new job for my mom that allows her so much less stress and the opportunity to spend quality time with elderly. A new job in times where most are without. I praise God for less stress for my mom and for the health of my parents. Sure, they are aging (I hate to think about that) and they have their ailments, but they are relatively healthy. I praise God for the gift of getting to see my dad in person to see he is okay and doing well, for moments to challenge him in his faith and to just listen to his soft gravely voice, to see his smile, to watch as the girls sat and played with him. I thank God for the memories we have and will hold dear for many, many years from this trip...to precious to share here, but will hold forever in my heart.

Join me today in praising God for all He's done for you!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

visit with my parents

The girls and I made it safely to my parents in the wee hours of the morning, Tuesday November 10th. We left the house at about 6:30 in the morning Monday 11/9 and drove 5 hours to the airport (actually our friend, Pastor Nelson drove us- what a great guy!) and then waited a few hours for our flight. Flew to Atlanta and had a two hour layover. then landed in Chicago around 10:00 PM. My mom and our good friend Jenny were waiting for us at the bottom of the baggage claim escalator- what an awesome sight!!! :) Then made the drive from Chicago back to Indiana and got to be about 4 am! What a LONG day!

We came back to visit my dad who had open heart surgery back in September. We are here only for a few more days, but it has been a wonderful blessing to see how well he is doing with my own eyes and to hug him and just sit and talk. I thank God for the discovery of cheap tickets!

We've skyped Matt and Ethan who remained in Costa Rica, a few times,. It seems all the fun happens when the girls leave! The first night we ewre gone, they found a million yucky cockroaches in the bathroom and a four inch scorpion (with the tailed curled!) in our bedroom! the next morning the howler monkeys came out and tried giving Matt a shower with their bodily excretions! EEEEWWW! Fun times for the guys!

Pictures to come another day...tomorrow morning off to pick a few Christmas presents with my Dad!

Looking forward to seeing Jenkins tomorrow, Thanksgiving dinner Saturday- YEAH - PUMPKIN PIE and TURKEY!!! I haven't had turkey in two years! Church on Sunday and seeing Pappy and Mimi and then preparing to leave on Monday.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Getting settled

WOW! Almost two weeks have gone by since my last post. I do apologize for that. We made the move from the city of San Jose to the rural area of Villareal in the province of Guanacaste Costa Rica last Tuesday, October 27th. On Monday, 10/26 we picked up our cute new puppy, Reina ("queen"). She is so sweet and loving and fits in just right with our family. So, Tuesday morning 10/27, the moving truck arrived at about 6 am and began loading up everything. It was quite the process. We were very pleased at how professional they were and how well they worked as a team. The kids and walked around the neighborhood as they were packing the truck and said our good-byes to Jerry, the pulperia owner, Nudia, the bread store owner and a few of our neighbors.

We then loaded up the van with a few things for the trip for us along with Wally, the hamster, Gatita, the cat, and Reina the dog! The cat had been anxious for three days, sensing that something was going on. She was so upset that morning and even more so when we put her in the cat carrier. Reina was calm and relaxed, amazing really when you think we had just gotten her the afternoon before. She slept on my lap for about 5 of the 6 hours it took to get to our new home! We could not have asked for anything better from her! The cat didn't like the trip much to begin with and must have been feeling sick and suffering a reaction from her nerves, because she somehow escaped from the cat carrier about 2 hours into the trip and had vomited all over. She finally settled herself in Audrey's lap, but then had an accident that necessitated pulling over to clean up Audrey, the cat and the van! The dog got out and walked around for a few minutes and went to the bathroom and in the meantime we got everything and everyone cleaned up. then we loaded back up and the rest of the trip was mostly uneventful! Praise God!

The excitement kept building the closer we got to Villareal. As we pulled in to the city, we all began pondering which house was ours. Matt was the only one who had seen it, if you remember. The rest of us had only seen pictures. Finally we pulled up and the landlord's family was there cleaning and had painted and it was just a wonderful surprise. I had anticipated having to clean and paint and was not quite sure how that was all going to work itself out...but PRAISE GOD! They had done it for us! What a blessing!

The movers arrived and began unpacking and setting things up for us. They were really wonderful. What a blessing God gave us in finding them! If anyone needs to move anywhere in Latin America or internationally we would whole-heartily recommend A and T movers!

The first night, we of course couldn't find anything and it was SO hot. We all looked at each other and thought (without saying so) what did we just do? But now after almost two weeks here, we have begun to feel settled, are making friends and learning how to live life here. Things are very different and sometimes not very easy, but God has truly blessed us in that we now have a community to live in and minister in. We've invited neighbors to church and they have come! We share in "over-the-fence" conversations that quickly lead to things of the Lord. Everyone knows we're the new family on the block and why we are here, even before we say it...and that's ok! We walk everywhere because we do not have a vehicle, which puts us on the same level as most. God, in his goodness, knows all and sees all. If not for the necessity of walking, we would surely miss out on the opportunities we've had to connect with many of the neighbors just because we are walking the same way at the same time. Wonderful conversations have been had just because we are walking along together. I do miss the convenience of a vehicle - and it does make getting groceries a bit of a process, but I will endure the time without one joyfully as we continue to meet more and more people "as we go." I am thankful for the neighbors who have vehicles and have offered to take me to get groceries and praise God for how he provides for our needs.

We have most of the house organized and settled. Still a few areas in the bedrooms that need to be figured out but for the most part living quarters are set up. My biggest task is the school room. It is a mass of boxes and I am waiting on a bookshelf to be made to organize the books. We've been doing what we can, much shorter days but enough until everything gets unpacked and settled. The girls and I leave on Monday to renew our visas and will be gone a week. Then Matt and Ethan will travel to Nicaragua for a few days after we get back. I hope to have the bookshelf by then and can get everything in order,. We school year round and for that I am thankful when we have interruptions like this. It helps to even everything out!

I will try to post pictures soon of the house, Reina, the neighborhood and everything. Today, Pastor Nelson and his family are coming over for lunch and fellowship. We are looking forward to getting to know them better.

Please continue to pray for our adjustment to the heat, although we praise God for several cool days and much needed rain in a row.

Please pray as we travel to renew our visas this month: the girls and I (11/9-11/17) and then Matt and Ethan (11/23-11/26).

Please pray as we build relation ships in the community, as Matt lays the groundwork for the ministry in the churches and with the pastors, and for God to prepare the hearts of those he will be discipling.

Pray for our kids as they learn how to play and have friends again. It may seem funny to say, but they have had to learn how to live with neighborhood kids again. they've been without this kind of daily interaction for two years and apparently it takes some getting used to again because I have seen a few issues springing up. They have made some good friends and we are thankful. Pray for them as they minister to them, learn about their lives, good and bad, and learn how to be kind, loving, patient, self-controlled with them.

Thanks for praying for our family!