Rachel in her own words

Hi Everyone,

First off, I would just like to thank you all for your prayers and support as I am settling here in Costa Rica. God has been doing some really amazing things and he has been opening so many doors for me here. I would have never imagined that I would have so many doors open that I would have to pray about which ones to walk through!

Through my ministries, God has really been teaching me to be more of a leader and to step out from the sidelines and take on more responsibility. I am working WAY out of my comfort zone but it is teaching me to not only learn new skills, but to depend on God. I´m also realizing that I am better at some things that I never would have tried. So what exactly am I doing here?

For the last month I have been working in a Children´s home as a English teacher 3 days a week. The director originally told me that I would just be an assistant to him in class to help with pronunciation. Well, I arrived only to be told that I was the teacher and thrown into a class of very energetic kids with only a few minutes to improvise a lesson! This has been a real challenge for me as not only am I learning how to teach but I´m learning how to work with kids that come with so many issues. The majority of these kids were abused and abandoned by their parents. Most of them were old enough to remember it. They crave any type of attention whether positive or negative. So you can imagine what its like trying to not only teach, but teach in a second language. God has truly been good to me though and has given me the strength and patience to teach.

I am also working at a children´s feeding centre in a nearby neighborhood helping with the kids during the bible lessons, washing dishes and handing out food. Two people are leaving soon and it appears that I will be doing yet more teaching to the younger kids. With a bit of extra support last month, I was able to contribute to the cost to install electricity in this building. Thanks to everyone who contributed! The feeding centre is also used for bible studies in the evenings for men and women in this community. This is what I do on Saturdays.

Although I only have 4 set days per week of work, I am finding that God is filling those other days every week. I have been doing a bit of everything from helping with construction to translating for missionaries and missions teams. This week I will be helping with a missions team in Orosi with some translating and other odd jobs.

One door that has opened and that I am praying about, is the opportunity to work in the slums with a local church. I will be meeting with the pastor next week to see his ministries there. I am really excited for this because my heart and vision has always been to work with the poor and to just serve. This pastor´s church is right in the slums so its exciting to think that pretty soon I might be a part of this amazing ministry.

I will end off by asking for prayer in different areas and believe me, it is very much needed:

1. Please pray for the childrens home. They are currently running 4000.00 dollars short every month and have been operating on loans. This has been very stressful for the director there. Also pray for me as I learn how to teach and pray that I would be patient and loving.

2. Please pray for me. As I am surrounded by so much need, sometimes it is so hard to not be able to help in a financial way. Pray that God will give me discernment on which ministries to help with my time and also that God will move the hearts of people who can help in the areas that I can´t.

3. I have applied to a missions organization. Please pray that I will be accepted quickly. The process can take months before and if I am accepted. I know that this would open doors to much needed support financially and it would give me the ability to give tax deductible receipts.

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well, and I would love to hear what is going on in your lives as well. Thanks for being such a blessing to me and to my ministries.

God Bless,

Rachel Garber

Rachel's ministry update

Back in April (it seems like so long ago now) I shared our daughter's move to Costa Rica to carry out independent ministry. Now, after two months in country, Rachel reports that ministry opportunities are multiplying to the point that she has to pray about which to accept. One of the reasons for this is that a surprising number of North American missionaries in Costa Rica don't speak Spanish and therefore welcome her help in their ministries.

At this time Rachel is scheduled for 4 days a week working in a feeding centre and teaching children in an orphanage. In addition to that she will be interpreting for a short term mission tour group which is being hosted by one of her missionary contacts.

An established missionary, Keith Britton, has this to say about Rachel on his blog at http://keithbritton.blogspot.com/ (the caps are his):

THIS PAST MONTH I WELCOMED A NEW MEMBER TO GOD IN ACTION MINISTRY, “RACHEL GARBER“.SHE COMES TO US FROM “HIGHLAND MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH” IN CALGERY ALBERTO, CANADA. TO SAY SHE IS JUST A BLESSING WOULD BE AN UNDERESTIMATE. SHE IS A WONDERFUL BLESSING THAT GOD INSPIRED TO COME HERE TO BE ON MISSION WITH HIM IN COSTA RICA TO HELP HELP THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN POVERTY OR WITHOUT PARENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HIS LOVE AND MERCY AND GRACE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

WHAT IS REALLY COOL, IS THAT SHE ALREADY SPEAKS SPANISH AND HAS ALREADY BEEN TRANSLATING FOR ME. (I CAN SPEAK OK, BUT HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING SPANISH). AS OF NOW, SHE WILL BE HELPING AT LOS QUIZAROS (WERE WE FEED THE CHILDREN) EVERY SATURDAY AND TEACHING ENGLISH AT AN ORPHANAGE UP THE ROAD FROM MY CENTER IN CORONADO ON MONDAY AND TUESDAYS. SHE CAN ALSO HELP ME ADMINISTRATIVELY, RACHEL HAS OPENED HER HEART TO SERVE GOD WHEREVER HE IS.

SHE IS AN INDEPENDENT MISSIONARY LIKE MY SELF, …PLEASE WELCOME HER TO GOD IN ACTION MINISTRY ON MISSIONS IN COSTA RICA.