Rachel update

Hello Everyone!

Well, it has been about a year since I visited Costa Rica to pray about coming here as a missionary. I remember the things that God spoke to me on this trip and the people he placed in my path to confirm his calling for me to work here. God really used every moment of that time to show me this, including my flight home. He used strangers to inspire me and to calm my fears and let me know that he had my back. One promise kept being shown to me from that time, which was that there was alot of work to be done in Costa Rica. This has been nothing but true for me, and I am truly blown away by everything that has happened in the last months. This month in itself has been a huge adventure and I´m hoping that you will take the time to see what God is doing here.

I know that some of you may be confused about the work I am doing here in Costa Rica, since I am involved in so many different things. To summarize a bunch of roles in one, my job is to reach the poor in a variety of ways from building relationships, teaching, translating to administrative roles working in partnership with Keith Britton ( a missionary who has been working here for 6 years)

God has been opening up doors for me to work in areas very close to my heart. I have always had the desire to work with the poor and in a more specific light, in the slums. Since my last newsletter, I have started going to a church located in the heart of the slum of Los Guido. I´m looking forward to helping with the youth group at this church and in this way start forming relationships in this community.

Not only has this happened in the last month but another exciting opportunity! Me and Keith (the missionary I work with) will be starting a sponsorship program for the kids in the slum. The focus of this program will be to provide the uniforms and supplies needed in order for a child to attend school. Education is a major key to breaking the cycle of poverty so this is a great place to start. This way individuals can be matched to a specific child and be personally involved in our ministry in this slum. I will be responsable for organizing this feat by going house to house to gather information as well as post write-ups online, purchase supplies etc. God is doing some amazing things here, and I am excited and passionate to be a part of this ministry.

This month, I also had the opportunity to go to the small town of Guapiles with Keith to translate. Keith was invited to share his testimony in front of 3 church services, so my job was to essentially be his voice and deliver his message. This was my first experience translating in front of a crowd of people and it was scary. But God was so faithful and gave me the words I needed. What a stretch this was for me! I am constantly reminded that I am the clay and God the potter. He is forming me and growing me in certain areas all for his kingdom.

So as you can see, I have been really really busy. I am still working at the children´s home teaching English as well as teaching bible lessons on Saturdays at Los Guizaros so my time is pretty much filled. Needless to say....I will not be taking on anything else! Please pray for me and these ministries. I NEED your prayer!

Prayer Requests:

1) Pray that God will continue to give me the confidence needed in my ministries. God has been so good to me but I still struggle with certain insecurities in this area especially in regards to public speaking.

2) Continue to pray for my application process with CTEN (missions organization) that it will go through soon. This would help me raise much needed financial support.

3) Continue to pray for me regarding the stresses of working with those who live in extreme poverty. Its hard to see people live in extreme need, knowing that you can´t help everyone.

Anyways, thanks for your prayers, encouragement and support. All of which are crucial for me to continue in ministry here.

God Bless,

Rachel Garber
God In Action Ministries