March with the Thomas Family

Psalm 1

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.

           

(Small Group Leaders)

March has been a wonderfully busy month! Costa Rica has been enjoying the dry season, with its sunny days and warm afternoons. It is easy to forget that just a few months ago we thought it might never stop raining! Many families migrated to and from the beach for Holy Week, since the entire week is a national holiday for school and large businesses. It was very interesting to see the Easter Season in a different cultural setting.

As we have long anticipated, we split our not-so-small-groups into smaller groups this month! We have 4 girls groups with about 35 ladies in total and we have 2 boys groups with nearly 30 gentlemen. For the first five weeks all of the groups will cover the same basic principles.

-What is fellowship?

-Who is Jesus?

-What is Sin?

Our small group leaders all understand how important it is for their group to know these things before they can branch out. How can we teach about Corinthians if we don’t know who Jesus is or why he died on the cross? It is amazing to see these young leaders teach their peers.

After all of the groups finish the base lessons we will meet as a large group to remind everyone they are part of something big on campus. They will be able to see that each group has learned the same thing in different ways and we will worship together! Now that our numbers have grown to such a considerable size we are even more excited than ever to dive into the scriptures with them and grow deeper in relationship with Christ.

With all of this in mind, we now ask for your prayers. Our trip to Texas with the seniors is growing ever closer, so please be praying for God to soften their hearts in preparation for the great work He will do at Camp Eagle. Also, pray for our small group leaders as they adapt to their new roll among their friends and peers. Finally, be in prayer for the other students at the school. The spiritual landscape is changing in a beautiful way, we pray that they may feel God’s calling on their hearts.

Blessings and Love from the Thomas Family

February in Costa Rica with The Thomas Family

“Prosperity knits a man to the world. He feels that he is finding his place in it, while really it is finding its place in him.” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Lots of wonderful things happened in Costa Rica this past month.  Life, the means by which we describe unfortunate happenings, also happened this past month.  Jesus emerges victorious over both.

In this newsletter we wanted to share something specific and special that happened.  We were both moved and encouraged.  We hope that the testimony of this happening will be an encouragement to you.

Our small group bible study takes place on thursday.  The boys are with me, and the ladies with Kendra.  We average about 15 students each.  In the month of February our numbers skyrocketed.  The first blowout attendance we had was when we did a combined guys/girls group because Kendra and I prepared a message that God had prompted us to share with them as a whole.  I would like to tell you about the message we shared with them.



   Kendra and I stood in the chapel minutes before the bell was to ring announcing lunch time.  We observed our preparations. The microwave was plugged in, the chairs were set up, the powerpoint was on, and we had our bibles bookmarked.
   The bell rang.  Slowly students began to trickle into the chapel and heat up their lunches and hang out.  Upon entering, they were greeted with this image being projected onto the wall.

 

We had to explain to more than a few students what the joke was.  English being their second or third language, it definitely did not make sense to everyone.  Oh, the things you learn being a missionary in another country.

   Students kept trickling into the chapel.




We spent some time chatting and hanging out with our students.  They are our friends and we are theirs.  I don't know what Kendra was talking to the girls about, but I spent these first few minutes asking people to remind me of their names.
 
   Students kept trickling into the chapel.

Kendra and I stepped off to the side and looked at each other with wide eyes and goofy grins.  We were both thinking the same thing, There. Are. So. Many. Students. Here.  More than double our usual attendance. 60 students had made their way into the chapel for bible study this week. The nice circle of chairs we prepared had vanished.  There was now just a glob of people sitting and eating lunch.
   Our lesson that day started off with a game.  Guys vs girls.  So once the majority of people had finished eating, we lined them up across the entire chapel (two parallel lines, guys vs girls).  We gave the leader of each line an egg.  We explained the game.  The goal was to pass the egg over your head, then between your legs, all the way to the end of the line.  Then, the person at the end had to run up to the front and hand the egg to Kendra.  We actually played the game 3 times without breaking an egg, which was incredible, because it got pretty competitive.
   We won't announce who won the egg game, because this blog isn't about who won, but if we did announce a winner, it would be the guys, because I am writing this blog post.  If Kendra were to write this specific blog post, then maybe the girls would have won.  I digress...
   All the students were instructed to take their seats.  We prayed.  We then listed things that God had laid on our hearts to "call out" and reveal.

"Here are some things that people in this room are going through:
-Parents getting divorce/Mom or Dad leaving
-You feel alone or that everything is your fault
-A friend or family member has died
-You've been betrayed by someone
-You feel like no one cares about you or loves you

These are real battles that we all face.  These voices are real voices trying to shape our reality, trying to manifest themselves in our lives.

But we are here to tell you of another Voice.  This Voice speaks contrary to the voices of the world."

Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Psalm 139:13-14
"For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Luke 12:6-7
“Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."

John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

By the time Kendra and I had read these verses there was a sobering silence in the room. We told them about how there is so much more at work that we cannot see. Listen to this Voice. It is God speaking your destined eternal-reality, that you are loved by your Creator.  That our Creator has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus.  It was a very sobering silence indeed.  

   To break the silence, I grabbed one of the eggs and threw it at a student.  He yelled and caught it.... Nothing happened.  I grabbed another egg and smashed it on the head of the student sitting closest to me.  Everyone was wide eyed wondering what was going on! 

  The eggs were hard boiled.  The reality of the "egg game" was that there was no danger of making a mess.  

Listen to the Voice of God.  He speaks into us our destiny and purpose.  When we listen to His Voice, and not the voices of this world, our lives begin to transform by manifesting His will for us; To be reconciled to Himself, our Creator.  

Kendra and I are continually adjusting to living in Costa Rica.  This is one heck of an adventure.  We are grateful for your support.  Please pray for our future small group leaders and for the future members of their small groups.  

Blessings,

Spencer and Kendra Thomas.  

January in Costa Rica

"Jesus did not come to our world to make bad people good, but   to give dead people life" -Ravi Zacharias

Back In Costa Rica

We made it back safely to Costa Rica at the end of January.  We had a wonderful time visiting family and friends.  It was a month of rest.  Cowboy (our wonderful dog) gave us a royal welcome upon our arrival.  We were finally back.  We were home.  Living in Costa Rica has many challenges.  These challenges are becoming easier, while new ones that are more difficult are being discovered.  It's similar to chopping down a tree.  You just keep chopping.  And chopping....  And chopping.  Eventually, the tree will fall down.  Eventually, we will figure out how to get to that bank across town to pay the electricity.  Eventually, we will remember how to say, "Please speak slowly". Eventually, we will be able to drive to the grocery store without using the GPS.  Through all the busyness and lists of things to do, Jesus must remain the center.  Jesus' desire for our life must reign supreme.  

"Jesus did not come into our world to make bad people good,  but to give dead people life" -Ravi Zacharias.

This convicts me.  My role in the Kingdom of Heaven is not to be a good person.  My role is to be made alive and know Jesus and worship Him.  It is easy to forget.  

We are excited for school to start on February 8th.  We are even more excited that our small group bible studies will start back up!!!  Last year Kendra and I each led a small group.  This year, we will each be leading a small group AND we will have THREE student led small groups!  These small groups will be focused on how to be a disciple of Jesus.  These small groups will be about learning to become like Jesus while growing together as a group.  

We invite you to join us in prayer.  Please pray for:

-Smallgroups

-Smallgroup student leaders

-Kendra and myself

-That Christ would reveal Himself to students

-The learning of Spanish

We look forward to an amazing start of the school year!  The wheels are about to start turning fast, so  buckle up and keep looking forward! 

- Spencer and Kendra Thomas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We are excited to wish you these tidings from Texas! With school at a close for the year and our students on vacation we decided to spend a little extra time stateside. The respite is a welcome one, even if we are currently missing the balmy weather, free of allergens, in Costa Rica.  We have greatly missed our families. There is nothing quite like a mother’s hug or the excited jittering of nieces and nephews. So far we have visited both our families for holiday merriment. They miss Cowboy almost as much as they missed us, so we have to assure everyone he is being well looked after by our friend and tutor. 

Our visit here will ends with us giving a tour to Estuardo, our supervisor from the school. The Zirkles will go with us out to Camp Eagle as we explore the sight of the senior class trip. Which means we will be writing you all again in June about our exciting “adventura” with 100 students on a plane to Texas!   

Our Spanish is improving! (Or at least that is what our tutor says.) When in Costa Rica we are constantly reminded how little we know of the language. However, since our arrival here we have noticed we understand more than previously thought. Our present tense is rounding out and we are to start other tenses when we return to our tutoring in January! 

Thank you for your love and support! This wonderfully challenging time is made possible by you and the Lord we serve, working in unison for his Kingdom. Amen.

Love from Spencer, Kendra, and Cowboy Thomas

November in Costa Rica

Thanksgiving

"We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is "good," because it is good, if "bad" because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country."
-C.S. Lewis

     Kendra and I are feeling more at home in Costa Rica.  We've learned a lot, and will continue to learn, as we survive and thrive in the jungle (we aren't in the jungle, we live in the city).  Here are a few of the silly adventures we have faced this month.  

-Our electricity was shut off because the family renting the house before us didn't pay their last bill before moving out. 

-Going to church and accidentally joining a parade on the way.

-Finding a dinosaur inside of our house... It was a moth about 5 inches across.  It had a look in its eyes that said it was out for blood.  I saved Kendra's life by slaying the foul beast.  Our dog, Cowboy, helped me.  

The list could go on and on.  Every 24 hours is a new"Adventura".  We praise God for all of it.  A thankful heart isn't something brought about by good fortune or fine sailing. A thankful heart is a response to the eternal goodness of God.  Therefore, if our thanks is a response to the eternal, we celebrate and rejoice through all things (good or bad).  

     Celebrating Thanksgiving in Costa Rica was amazing.  We gathered with others at Casa del Zirkel to eat and fellowship.  Lydia is an amazing cook... There were multiple turkeys, green bean casserole, dressing/stuffing, pie, pie, and more pie.  We called our families and shared our thanks for one another.  Kendra and I are beginning to miss our families more and more.  Spending our first thanksgiving together as a married couple away from family was hard.  So, we rejoice with thankful hearts! We rejoice for the growth in our marriage, the ministry we are privileged to be a part of, and that we will see our families soon when we visit Texas.  

     

     We continually find ourselves thankful for the Zirkel family.  Their answering of God's call to Costa Rica 20 years ago has made our obedience in answering His call easier. One person's obedience to the Lord makes the obedience of others easier. One person's disobedience makes the disobediences of others easier.  This is observed throughout the Bible.  Adam and Eve didn't fully understand the consequences of their sin until their son was murdered.  Likewise, Jesus' obedience to God cultivated in the disciples an obedient heart.  Jesus discipled 12 people through obedience to the Lord and because of that, you and I know Jesus. Amen, praise the Lord.  

     Costa Rica doesn't have winter, fall, summer, spring.  Costa Rica has rainy and dry season.  The school calendar year ends in November.  We experienced the highs and lows with students as they were tested and received their grades.  Our small group leadership class also had a final exam covering the things we've discussed since september, and we are very excited for the new school year in 2016 because there will be student leaders developing small groups of their own!  HALLELUJAH! Kendra and I have each been leading our own small group.  Kendra with the ladies and myself with the hombres.  Picnic lunches, after school movies, games, and bible study; all held together with fellowship.  

     As you have probably noticed, I have incorporated a few words from the spanish language into this post.  That's because we are learning spanish and it is exciting! We meet with a tutor multiple times a week.  Sometimes spanish makes sense, other times it makes no sense at all.  However, we can tell that spanish is being learned and progress is being made.  For instance, I let Cowboy out to potty one evening, and had a nice chat with the gate guard about a rabbit, and about a cat that kept setting off the alarm by sitting atop the complex's fence.  

     I think of my simple family down here in Central America and am blown away by the love and support we have received.  When I saw Kendra at summer camp for the first time, I told my youth director "Beth Palmer, I'm gonna marry that girl".  When Kendra and I were engaged I thought to myself... "I've never loved another person this much in my entire life.".  Then when we were married I thought, "I love her so much more than when we were first engaged. I didn't know it was possible to love someone so much".  Everyday I fall more and more in love with my wife.  Every day I marvel at the fact that tomorrow I will love her even more.  Then everything zooms out, and I realize that we are the bride of Christ.  If I feel this way towards Kendra, how much greater must Christ feel towards His bride, the church.  My God loves me so much.  Since before there was a yesterday my Creator has loved me.  And after their is no tomorrow He will still love me. 

2 Samuel 7:18

 "Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"

     Thank you for your support and prayers.  We would like to request you speak with God on these things:

•Our small groups and small group leaders in 2016. That the time spent from now till then would be with God and in His word.

•Learning Spanish.  "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ".  

•Time spent in fellowship with students during their break

•That creation would be reconciled to Creator.  "For God so loved the world..." Which world? This one. 

Habakkuk 1:5
-Spencer, Kendra, and Cowboy Thomas

October in Costa Rica