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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, March 27, 2010

FEPC Mission Team

Day 6 by: Amy Crawford

--Today we visited souvenir shops owned by Don Victor and his brother. We were amazed at the many handcrafted items they sell.

--God was in control water color class/Bible Study! We planned for several women. He sent one...and several children. Katie led the class and all the participants completed great pictures. Rebecca, Pastor Phil's wife now thinks they could do the watercolor with the women at their outreach party at Christmas.

--The men, Matt, Jim and Tom, made a trip to Filadelfia for the discipleship group's there.

--We prepare to go home feeling filled by the trip (and by the food!) and knowing that God's work has blessed us. We pray that our work here has blessed others.

Friday, March 26, 2010

FEPC Mission team

Day 5 Highlights by: Courtney

--We got to go to Brooke and Matt's neighbors, Dinora's and Elvita's. There we started to make tamales.

--Eating delicious homemade tamales freshly cooked.

--Going to First Baptist again during the prayer meeting. There Dr. Jim gave his testimony (in Espanol) and we got to sit in on one of Matt's discipleship group's.

Day 6 highlights by: Courtney

--Today was BEACH Day! We left at 8:30 to go and enjoy a day of fun and sun! We went to the beach at Tamarindo and were there until about 1 pm.

--Trent got to have surfing lessons and was very good by the end.

--Even though ALL of us had high SPF sunscreen and applied it generously, everyone (excpet the McClain's) got burnt. David is the worst and has become the local lobster.

--We got to experience time with Calvary Chapel in which we shared food, songs and games from different cultures.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

FEPC pics

I really cannot put into words the blessing we have received from the team being here. There have been sweet moments of fellowship, funny moments, conversations that have challenged and spurred us on, good good eating :), and doors opened for future ministry.

Thank you who are following the team and reading the blog for updates. What may seem small and insignificant sometimes, God uses to build His Kingdom. We are excited to sow the seeds that have been planted this week.

Here are pics of from Bible Club last night and making tamales today.












































FEPC Mission team

Day 4 by: Courtney

We got to walk around Villareal and evangelize to neighbors of Matt and Brooke. We walked up to houses and people handing out invitations and books of John in Spanish. We made new acquaintances that Matt and Brooke can use to hopefully bring others to their church.

Our group hosted the weekly kid's club. We sang songs, gave a puppet show and taught lessons in Spanish. We also did several activities including Resurrection Eggs, Salvation Bracelet and painting a banner.

We had the amazing opportunity to eat at Don Victor's home, a member of Calvary Church, for dinner. We had eaten there for Monday dinner and Tuesday lunch. After eating our hot dogs "perros" and "papas fritas" , we played games with Don Victor's kids, Daniel and Dennis. We played games like Big Booty, Ninja, Earth, Sea, and a Starring game.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

FEPC Day 2 pictures





































FEPC Mission Team Update

Day 2 By: Courtney

--Today we got to meet some ladies who attend the discipleship groups Matt and First Baptist church's pastor Nelson have in a town called Filadelfia. It's about 45 minutes away and we had fun going through the countryside and mountians.

--We met 5 different families and shared food, memory verses and life stories together. One woman, Helga, had just had a biopsy to see if she has breast cancer. Pastor Tom, Dr. Jim and Pastor Nelson were able to counsel her while everyone else got to know her family. Even though she was facing a scary potential change in her lfe, she was smiling and seemed peaceful in the Lord.

--Eating a wonderful (and BIG) dinner with Don Victor and his family. They attend Calvary Chapel, which is the church we are staying at.

--Playing Apples to Apples with the McClain kids and laughing at everything.

--Being able to bless Matt, Brooke, Ethan, Isabelle and Audrey through a small service, communion, and praying for them. We also presented a painting from Kathy Glover to them.

--Finding more bugs and geckos in the house!



From Brooke:
I am super tired tonight and it is really late but I just wanted to say that tonight was so special for me. The girls and I stayed back from Filadelfia because I needed to work around the house, get a few more grocery items for the team, and take Lucy to the vet. Her skin irritation is back and the vet thinks it is an allergy. I went ahead and let him shave her, bathe her and now she has a special shampoo, prescription med to take and special cream for the next week to use. So, I had a busy day. I was able to catch a little rest, and the girls did also.

But tonight we met at the church and shared a wonderful time of fellowship with the team. What was most special tonight was taking communion together and each member of our family being prayed for by name as well as specific things like our ministry here, our relationships with our disciples, and our marriage. It was especially meaningful to me when Beth prayed for Audrey and the specific ways things prayed for her. It was very special to hear people praying for my children specifically.

Don Victor and his family are preparing many meals for us this week. Tonight was fantastic. They invited us to their home, had the tables all set up, and it was wonderful! We fellowshiped with them before returning to the church for communion.

I also loved hearing my kids have so much fun with the kids on the team. Despite it being late and way past their bedtime, there were no fights, no fussing, just good ole fun! I can see deep bonds forming and that warms my mother's heart. It will be so neat in May to come back and see these guys again.

Matt and I enjoyed a round of Euchre with Tom and Jim and that was fun and brought back memories :)

Everyone has fallen asleep now and that is where I am heading. I cannot end this post without mentioning the wonderful surprise and blessing given to us by Kathy Glover (I know you are reading this, my sweet friend). She gave us a beautiful hand painted portrait of our family. It will be cherished forever. Many thanks to our sweet sister, Kathy.

Many of you most likely known the satisfaction of a day well done. Some may have experienced those days often, some maybe less so. When I saw Matt's face this afternoon, I instantly knew that he had tasted and seen that the Lord is good. Nothing makes me feel more proud than to see that look on his face. Thank you Jesus for the privilege and blessing to serve you each day

Tomorrow should be a very fun day. We'll be walking our neighborhood, sharing the gospel, playing with kids and praying for open doors along the way...

To God be the glory....Great things He hath done.

I will try and post a picture post tomorrow...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

First Evangelical Presbyterian Team, Day 1

Costa Rica Highlights By: Courtney
--We went to Chicago yesterday morning, leaving Frankfort at 5:30 am. It was 29 degrees Farenheit and snowing when we took off at noon. By the time we arrived in Liberia, it was 7:58 pm (9:58 pm Frankfort time) and about 80 degrees F.

--Today we went to both church services that Matt and Brooke work with and tried to understand the all Spanish 2 1/2 hour services!

--We were entertained when all the kids at the 5:00 pm service tackled Trent multiple times.

--Tom trying to kill a flying cockroach our first night. It went down the drain though.

--Taking a cold shower and then sweating as soon as you get out.

--Getting to experience God in a whole new culture!!


Wild children tackling Trent (Don't worry- he's fine! And maybe even enjoyed it more than the kids!)


serving the food


serving the food


Being introduced at Calvary


Team photo at First baptist


--From Brooke --
I guess because it's my blog, I can post to, right? :)

God blessed the team with the finances to be able to bless both churches with the funds to provide a meal for both churches. So, after the morning service we were able to eat lunch with the Baptist church- yummy arroz con pollo (chicken and rice). Tonight at Calvary Chapel, we ate supper with the church family - this time arroz con carne and pasta con atun (shredded pork and rice and a tuna pasta salad). This is a true blessing to the church members- there are many families who are very poor, there are many people out of work right now- and God provided for around 160 people to eat today! Praise the Lord! A team of ladies from First Baptist cooked the meal this morning as well as a yummy breakfast- handmade tortillas :) Tonight, a Calvary Chapel family prepared the meal.

The FEPC team served both churches the food and drinks.
I was blown away this morning by something that Pastor Nelson and Guiselle said to me. In their two years at this church, have never, ever had a team come down with the desire to serve the church in this way. They both said that most teams come and the ladies serve them, but the church members were all saying to both Guiselle and Nelson how thankful they were to be served by the team.

Isn't it amazing how God can use the smallest thing to make such a huge impact.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

Today was a busy day in terms of a lot of activity and an early start. In the midst of it, God was surely with us and our prayer is that He was glorified.

Keep checking back for more updates :)

Saturday, March 20, 2010

As we Go...

As I write this, Matt is at the airport waiting for the team to arrive, which should be any minute. They've got a yummy, yet packable supper waiting for them and they'll make it back to the church in time to make up their beds and fall into them before rising and getting ready for breakfast at 7:30 am tomorrow :) Nothing like hitting the ground running, huh? :)

Tomorrow we will worship in the morning with First Baptist Church and then have lunch and fellowship time with the congregation after the service.

The afternoon will be free to rest and rest and rest some more :)

Then we will worship with Calvary Chapel in the evening and also share a meal with the congregation and fellowship after. The team has something special to share during the fellowship as well.

The rest of the week varies from day to day as far activity. They'll be heading to Filadelfia on Monday to meet the discipleship groups, pray with them and fellowship. Then that night, we have a special time of worship and fellowship planned with our family and the team.

Tuesday will be a day of walking the streets of Villareal. We will specifically target the area around our house and down past it inviting kids to Bible Club that night and also sharing the gospel. That evening the team has prepared for the entire Bible Club- music, skit, craft, games and snack :) We can't wait for this fun night :) they'll help with the English class Matt has started that night as well (and eat sometime in between the two :)

Wednesday we'll be making tamales and arroz con leche and be a presence around our neighborhood. We will be also spending time with the family of our landlord and the three neighbor ladies I disciple and also get to witness our discipleship time. That evening at First Baptist, they will worship during the prayer service and then help in the discipleship group.

Thursday we'll be hanging together all day at the closest beach. It will be a fun day and we are excited about being able to play and be together in God's beautiful Creation. That night we have a special time of fellowship planned with Calvary church. Because of the large number of nationalities represented in the church, we thought it would be fun to have a pith-in where everyone brings something from their country. And we'll be playing a few games and ending with a pinata as well!

Friday is more of a relaxing day where they'll be able to shop for souveniers, pack up and rest some. That afternoon, most of the guys will take off to Filadelfia with Matt for the weekly discipleship groups there. The ladies will stay with me and will teach a watercolor class to a few local ladies. They also will take the time to minister to each of these ladies as well.

Please check back for daily updates and pictures of all of the activities. We are praying BIG and believing BIG and knowing God is going to do BIG things this week!

May our focus to be making disciples As We Go this week.

To God be the Glory!!!

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

Friday, March 19, 2010

Prayer

Please read email sent out asking for prayer for our first mission team coming in tomorrow:

Dear Prayer partners,
We would like to ask you to please pray for the FEPC mission team arriving tomorrow, March 20, 2010. The enemy wants nothing less to than to break these servants down and keep them from furthering God's Kingdom and encouraging His children here in Villareal.

We received the following email this morning from one of the teenage boys coming on the trip about his mom, who is also scheduled to come:

Hello, everyone,

As many of you know, we are leaving for Costa Rica tomorrow morning. But my mom has caught some sort of cold or other bug which is also upsetting her stomach, so we're worried it could be the flu, which would not be good. Please pray that by staying home from work today she can get fully better in time for our trip tomorrow. I know that she is really upset by getting sick this close to the trip and could really use your prayers!

Thank you, and in Christ's love,

We know and trust in the fact that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world and we believe in faith asking Jesus Christ to heal our sister in Christ and bring her on this trip to be used for His glory. Please join us in praying and believing.

We are nailing down last minute details on our end and ask for you to pray throughout the week for the team, their protection from the enemy and his attacks, transportation (both vehicles we have lined up to use are having "issues") - we ask that you pray that God keep the vehicles running well, and that His name be glorified throughout this time with our church family.

You can check our blog www.costaricamcclains.blogspot.com or our family website www.mcclainfamily4him.org for daily team updates.

We would like to ask you to praise the Lord with us as we have received nearly what we need to purchase tickets to the states in late April/early May plus funds for a rental car! We have also received two invitations to speak at churches and are making plans with many others. We will possibly be traveling through many states and ask for your prayers as we schedule and plan with potential new partners. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Would you like to visit with us when we are back? There is till time! Please contact us soon so we can make plans! We'd love to see you and share what God is doing!

We'd love to see you HERE as well! If you'd like to see what God is doing in Costa Rica yourselves or you'd like to bring a team, we'd love to serve with you here! Just let us know! :)

Thank you for joining us in prayer.

Serving Christ 'til He comes back,
Matt and Brooke :)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

St. Patrick's Day study

Today we are doing a one-day study on the true meaning of St. Patrick's Day, who was St. Patrick and why we celebrate this day. I like to take the time to learn about the different holidays and their roots.

St. Patrick had no interest in things of the Lord when he was a young boy in England. But at 16, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. It was there, as a slave, that the Lord opened his eyes to the sin in his life that he "might remember his sins and be converted with all his heart to the Lord his God."

He then escaped and returned to England and was reunited with his family. He received his calling from the Lord to take the gospel message that had saved him form his sins to the very people of Ireland who had kidnapped him and held him captive as a slave.

So, he returned to the place of his captivity, and shared the gospel throughout the entire country of Ireland and many, many came to know the Lord. He ministered there for about 30 years, seeing over 100,000 baptized and founding hundreds of churches.

Legend says that he used the three leaf clover- the shamrock- to explain the Holy Trinity. And thus, we now have the tradition of St. Patrick's day and the shamrock and wearing of green and so forth. March 17th marks the anniversary of his death and therefore is the day on which he is remembered.

What was most interesting to me was that Patrick went above and beyond just seeing souls saved, he did the dirty work of making disciples. After his death, his homeland of England had strayed far from their roots of Christianity and it was a lost and desperate nation. Christians in Ireland were sent out as missionaries to England to share the gospel with the English. Patrick's mission and ministry came full circle in those days, as he had prepared those that accepted the Lord by teaching them to go out into all nations and make disciples by teaching them all about the life of Jesus and his commands. (Matthew 29:19-20)

I believe there is something truly wrong if we as missionaries, as pastors and as Christians believe our job ends at just sharing the gospel and then never teaching new believers what their decision to follow Christ really means.

Praise the Lord for examples in the faith like St. Patrick.

My kids loved this history and discovering that this was not a holiday about leprechauns and finding the pot at the end of the rainbow, but based on the life of a missionary who worked long and hard and saw much fruit as a result. They even started a project about St. Patrick and his life to share with their friends at their Awana club here.

May you be blessed with this history as we were.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners..." Isaiah 61:1

This is the day!

"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it." Psalm 118:24

We have a special family tradition that we hold to each time a member of our family has a birthday. We start the day by serenading the birthday person with the song:

"This is the day, This is the day;
That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice, We will rejoice;
And be glad in it, And be glad in it.

This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day,
that the Lord has made."

I am so thankful for my family and this morning I rejoice that He has made this day! :)

Monday, March 15, 2010

Dancing in the rain...

Last night, in the middle of the hottest part of the year here in Guanacaste, which also happens to be the driest part of the year, it rained. Sitting in church, the sun had set, night had fallen, not even the slightest breeze flowing...and God opened the heavens and poured out a brief blessing of rain on this dry, dry land.

As several men jumped up to get the sound system and instruments out of the splattering range, I fought the urge to jump up and run outside and play in the rain. I love the rain and when it does not rain for months on end- you learn to appreciate its healing, refreshing benefits.

3"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:3

For many of you, spring is very near. Maybe the crocuses are coming up, the tulips are beginning to show their heads. The day lilies and beginning to show signs of life. Costa Rica does not have the season of spring, and I truly miss the way spring always reminds me of the new life we have in Christ as I watch the new life spring forward in these months in the states. Isn't it amazing how God shows us His presence, majesty and existence in His beautiful Creation?

I love this verse from Hosea. It has been very near to my heart for several years now. God brought me to Costa Rica the very first time with this verse and from a few times over the past several years He has used that verse to remind me of His great provision and mighty hand in my life.

Last night, God gave me a glimpse of spring as that short, but wonderfully refreshing shower cooled off the area for a brief moment. On the walk home from church, Ethan told me that when it started raining, all the kids (who were in the Sunday School portion of the service) ran out from under the roof into the rain and were all jumping around enjoying the rain. (That is what I wanted to do, but refrained myself ;) )

This morning I received an email about with a beautiful story of a woman's experience with the Lord while she was in an airport. It is a beautiful reminder of the blessing of obedience. Here is the last few sentences that really touched me today:

"I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need! "

I thought again of this verse in Hosea as I read this email and thought again of the rain last night. May we continue to press on to know the Lord. Another version says to "acknowledge" the Lord (NIV). I heard someone talking recently about an obvious blessing the Lord had bestowed on them, but unfortunately the person robbed God of the glory and took it all for herself, saying it was her action that lead to the blessing instead of it being God's hand upon her in that moment. How sad when we overlook a seemingly small, but still very powerful opportunity to give God the glory in our lives and take the focus off ourselves and our power to and well, the "Me, Me, Me..." that we often allow ourselves to fall into.

In an economically hard season for most of the world, we too, have found ourselves struggling to make it each month. I found great comfort from this verse this morning that God will provide the rain, the new financial partners, the increase we need for monthly support...whatever the need for you or for me. GOD WILL PROVIDE!! Through it all- look for His glory. Acknowledge His glory! Press on to KNOW Him, today, tomorrow and each day He gives you. Because isn't this life all about giving Him the glory? Are we not here for His glory? Have we not learned to take ourselves out of the equation and let him be the God that He is. Have I not learned it is not about ME!!! You see, I needed to hear this today. I needed to be reminded that this life, this service, this ministry is not about me! It is all about Him and His glory and I am an insignificant piece of the puzzle that He has chosen to use despite my being completely incapable of doing anything without His strength.

And last night and again this morning, I am reminded by my God, who loves me unconditionally, that He will provide the rain.

And the very last line I just love...

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!' Maybe

I shoulda ran out and played in the rain?

Will you pray for the rain to fall fresh on us today?

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Picture Post

These first few are the neighborhood cows that roam the streets. One of the biggest differences we have noticed between the dry season here in Guanacaste from the dry season in San Jose is how very, very dry everything is here- so dry that everything has turned brown and is dying off. One of the most fascinating things however, is that there are certain plants and fruits, like the mango that bloom and become ripe in this dry season. This is good for us because we have a mango tree from which we are blessed to receive its fruit every morning!

But any way, back to the cows: these cows come meandering down our road in search of something green on which to munch. This particular day they wandered into the field behind our house. It was interesting watching them and that day there were geese traveling with them. They went wherever the cows went- it was quite a sight.













Here is Izzy with her pup :)


Isabelle and Audrey playing tea party one day



Audrey and Reina


I took these pictures of this beautiful sunset from our front porch one evening.






Typical homeschool morning. Ethan and Isabelle looking at National Geographic for Kids magazines...





Ethan working on Math


Audrey standing on the boogie board


Fluffy clouds


Our sweet son


Father and son (see Izzy's new beach umbrella in the background?)


Future surfer :)