Saludos de Costa Rica!
The view from our home in Pilon, CR
This week marks the one month anniversary of calling this vibrant nation our home, and the time has flown quickly. So much life has been packed into four brief weeks: moving, traveling, settling into a new house; adjusting, stretching, embracing a previously unknown way of life. As a family we have felt such a rich coating of grace through the entire process, and we are incredibly grateful. However, that’s not to say we haven’t experienced a few challenges! Leaving the U.S. presents its share of difficulties, both physically and emotionally, not to mention the adjustments that come with living in an emerging nation such as scorpion stings, sweltering heat and language barriers. As we work to settle in, we are daily reminding ourselves of the Lord’s calling and purpose for our family in this beautiful land, and we are pressing through the challenges to reach the joy of His fulfilled destiny in our lives.
A bit of PODS deja vu as we leave our San Clemente cottage.
We began our journey by moving out of our cottage in San Clemente and packing all of our household goods into a couple of PODS. (The home we were previously renting is going up for sale, but we’ll still need a few possessions when we return, as our plan is to live in the States six months of each year.) We then stuffed 19 bags — 8 suitcases, 4 boxes, two surfboard bags, four backpacks and one dog kennel — to the limit and managed to get everything, including ourselves, aboard a plane traveling to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Two days later we arrived at Pilon de Pavones (an 8 hour journey from the capital) and began to set up house. At that point we had a huge learning curve in discovering how to manage the shopping and traveling in our area, as our remote location is separated from the nearest grocery market by a 30 minute intensely bumpy dirt road… Missionary Training 101!
A brief visit in Panama with our dear friends, the Stavros family.
After a few weeks of setting up house, experiencing memorable shopping adventures and getting into the swing of daily life (which for Tiffany and Landon includes homeschooling), it was time to jump into the real meat… outreach! For months CRSSM has had pastors all over Costa Rica asking us to send teams to their churches to minister to their congregations. With the arrival of our family and the addition of our Costa Rican teammate and interpreter, Eric Lopez, as well as Steve and Judi Hertzog, the founders of CRSSM, our team of seven excitedly launched our first official outreach of 2016 last weekend.
Tiffany teaching March 9 at a church near Laurel, CR.
As with many of our outreaches, this current one is focused on connecting with several different churches, pouring out the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit through worship, teaching and ministry. Although we are few in number, the Holy Spirit has been moving in mighty ways, bringing powerful words of teaching and exhortation, prophetic edification, amazing healing and beautiful freedom to bodies, souls and spirits! One quick testimony: a couple had come to the Saturday night service feeling spiritually dry; in fact, the husband had told the Lord that if He was truly able to work in mighty power, He would send someone to speak an encouraging word to him. The evening nearly passed without anyone approaching him, leaving him discouraged and disappointed; however, at the very end of the service one of our teammates was given a very accurate word of knowledge and prophecy specifically for this couple. They left amazed, thankful to Jesus, and confirmed in the Father’s incredible love for them. In addition, we have witnessed God completely healing all types of physical ailments (hernias, intestinal pain, arthritis and so much more!) and setting precious hearts free from the lies of the enemy. God is so good!
Nearly completed dorm for short term outreach
Also on the ministry front, our dormitory is almost complete and ready to house outreach teams. From the time we arrived in Pilon de Pavones, construction has been going on directly behind our home to complete CRSSM’s first dorm building. This humble structure will be able to house teams of up to twenty folks, and we are itching to put it to work and host our first ministry group! The need is great, and our desire is to see many believers who have a heart to release the love of Jesus over the nations to join us and serve the people of Costa Rica. Check out the website for more information and outreach dates.
We are so very grateful for your love and support. It is because of your intercession, financial generosity and faithful friendship that we are able to serve the people of Costa Rica, bringing the love of Jesus to a needy nation. Thank you for your partnership in the work of the Kingdom!
Grace and peace,
The Nesbitts
(Pictured above: enjoying a few hours of cool weather in the mountains of Panama)
We miss you, but ohh what an awesome adventure. Praying to join you with the Heritage Mission trip- and I had an idea, I rent a 2 bd apt- fully furnished, with garage, across from the San Clemente Camp grounds and was wondering when you would be back for 6 mnths ? Perhaps you could sub let it from me during that time and I can go to Florida with family- I always wanted to be a bi coastal gal, unless i FALL MADLY IN LOVE W COSTA RICA and the people and the Lord says to stay.
Very excited for you and all the Lord is doing and your leap of faith !!!!
Go Bless you all-
Shanda
An excellent idea, Shanda! Unfortunately, there will be 5-6 of us at that time, so we’ll be looking at 3 bedroom places. Thanks for thinking of it, and we look forward to ministering with you in May!
Hi Chris & Family!
So great to see the pictures since I am such a visual person! It helps me to connect even more with you all and with the ministry. Also so happy that you had a visit with the Stavros family. We were just praying for you this morning for grace and peace and protection. We love you all dearly and are missing you.
Joan
We’re waiting for the new Latino verse to Sean the Sheep, Joan! So grateful for your prayers – love you!
Wow Nesbitts, it’s so great to hear of how the Lord is working through you in your new ministry!!! Can’t wait to come down and join in your adventure!
Love, the Taylors
Better come while it’s nice and cool (90 degrees) and dry (85%) so that you don’t get too comfy. Love you guys!
Thanks for the update, my intrepid adventurers in God’s grace! It’s so good to know how we can continue to pray for the expansion of God’s power and grace as you hit the ground running in Costa Rica. We pray constantly for blessings over the construction, outreach, and growth at CRSSM. We are also lifting you all up in prayer individually (homeschool, scorpion stings, and all). We love you guys so much!
Thanks Jason… but we’re not quite intrepid yet. Sometimes even trepidatious, but working toward intrepid 🙂 So thankful for your prayers and support! Our love to your beautiful fam.
What a blessing it was to see all of you in Panama! We also had amazing time seeing patients in 4 different locations in Panama. Sadly our trip is coming to an end tomorrow. Thanks for all of your prayers. I can’t believe we were able to hook up in Central America! You will all be in our prayers and we are looking forward to our next meeting. We love you guys–Mark, Rebecca and Rachel Vaya con Dios!
Still can hardly believe we pulled it off… what a great day! Glad you had an effective trip, and eager for the next chance to see you all.
What a great update. So much loved hearing how God moved in your services – Yeah God!! I pray for your continued growth and good health. Blessings!! Karen Kiernan & Family
So grateful for your encouragement, prayers and support, Karen!
OK major prophetic dream here. This is Michael from Ohio…I dreamed (this was maybe Jan. 2016) that Don (Kathleen’s husband) and Jeremiah and I and one other brother were taking a team down to Central America. Don asked if I was coming and I put out a fleece, and said, “Lord if this is YOUR will, have there be someone in the kitchen when I walk into the Leland’s house” I went in and there was no one in there. It was a high pressure decision and I had almost no time to fast and pray about it so that was how I prayed. Don was driving and the other 3 brothers left. RIGHT AFTER THEY LEFT, a Philippino woman came into the kitchen. I began to have 2nd thoughts. “Was I supposed to go Abba?” The dream ended with me, my mother and my wife in the Midwest USA. God’s ways are mysterious brother Chris but know that the Holy Spirit has spoken to me that your work is of God! You are a powerful missionary for Yeshua (Jesus) and we have been praying! May Yahweh clear the way for all the help HE is sending you to reach you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this, Michael… I love to see how beautifully He fits the body together to build itself up for His glory! May He bless your ministry with greater fruitfulness this year!
We’re so excited to hear more of the good fruits God is going to bring about through you all. Your life is and always has been a living testimony and encouragement to all of us. We love and miss you all. We’ll see you soon enough. God’s Best!!
Thanks for being there for us, bro! You really do need to come check this out… you’d love everything about it. Praying we see you soon!