Holy Week

I believe this. 

I believe this and sometimes it seems crazy. I did not arrive at the conclusion that there is a God simply from being told so. I have experienced and witnessed something in my life that I cannot deny. I am not quick to call something "supernatural". When confused by a phenomenon of science I do not simply credit it to be magic or sorcery. I believe there to be a Creator. I believe His name to be Jesus. I believe Jesus died on a cross. And I believe that Jesus is alive and seeking to be in a relationship with us.

In the movie Star Wars, Luke Skywalker goes to a system of planets called the "Dagoba System" to train and learn how to be a Jedi Knight. His mentor, Yoda, has him do all sorts of tasks. From running and jumping around the jungle with Yoda in a backpack to doing handstands while lifting rocks with his mind, his training is meticulous and challenging. Skywalker crash landed when arriving to the Dagoba System and his space ship was partially submerged in a swamp. Yoda challenges young Skywalker to lift the ship out of the swamp (in the same way that he was lifting the rocks) as part of his training. Skywalker tries... and fails. He actually ends up making things worse... His ship sinks further into the swamp and becomes fully submerged. Skywalker is discouraged and defeated.

Yoda then lifts the ship out of the swamp and the two have this exchange:

 Skywalker: "I....I don't believe it!"

Yoda: "That is why you fail."




The goodness of God's character and nature is revealed in your life not because you go to church or read the bible. God's goodness is revealed because He chooses to reveal it. We are simply left with a choice to believe.

I choose to believe. I will not stumble blindly into the chasm of religion. I will seek truth on the mountain tops. Starting on a hill called Calvary.

Happy Easter.


- Spencer Thomas



(Click here to watch the video of Luke Skywalker and Yoda)

What is The Forge?

The Forge is home base for all small group activities.  It's where we meet with students for bible study, prayer, fellowship, and other stuff like making watermelons explode.

A forge is defined as a workshop containing a furnace for refining metal.  Our Forge is a place for refining hearts, educating our minds, and growing closer to Jesus. Each week more than 40 students come and participate in activities within our forge. This will be our first week having small group in 2018 and we are excited to review the why behind calling this place The Forge.




"Your hands have made me and formed me; give me understanding that I might learn your commandments."
Psalm 119:73

For something to be made there must be a maker. And our Maker is good at what he does. He doesn't make garbage. He is intentional and specific in knowing everything and everyone he makes. He is an expert, who when swinging the hammer, never misses the mark. 

I remember when my dad would be building something and I would try and help. He would eventually give me a "very important task" of hammering two boards together. While he worked on the real project I would be attempting to nail some throw-away extra material together. My father was wise to give me this task. I was awful. Just like every other six year old, I hit the board more than I did the nail. In the time it would take my dad to build a tree house and two picnic tables, I could destroy two pieces of wood without ever nailing them together. 

God never misses his mark. He strikes his hammer precisely where he means to. His vision is perfect and so is his plan.

Would you pray with us...
God, would you help direct us to be your ambassadors. Speak to us your vision and desire for this space. Give us understanding. Use this space to refine our hearts, to make your will come alive in us, and to build friendships.  Amen


- Spencer and Kendra Thomas

A New Year

We hope you had a wonderful winter break! Kendra and I were blessed to spend time in Texas during December and January.  For those of you that don't know, our school year in Costa Rica is from February to November.  Our winter break was a very restful time. Texas is still full of cedar.... It is always hard to say goodbye to friends and family when we head back to our home in Costa Rica, but knowing that we wont have to deal with cedar makes the trip easier. 

We are very excited about what God is doing in the life of Colegio Metodista.  As part of the Christian Education department, Kendra has been assigned as the Director of Programming and I the Director of Discipleship.  We are each leading a team to help us with our tasks and working with other groups within the Christian Education Department.  More and more people are beginning to share an intrinsic value for the salvation of students at the school. 

E. Stanley Jones  was a 20th-century Methodist Christian missionary and theologian. He is remembered chiefly for his inter-religious lectures to the educated classes in India, thousands of which were held across the Indian subcontinent during the first decades of the 20th century.  Jones ministered to the wealthy and elite of India.  The poor need Jesus.  The rich need Jesus.  The hope for our students at Colegio Metodista is that they would experience being loved and cared for and that they would develop a burden to seek after truth and compassion. 

Would you join us in this?  We are praying that each of our students would continue on after Colegio Metodista to be successful, that their lives be rich in love, and that they know the love of their Creator.


- Spencer and Kendra Thomas

ONE YEAR IN COSTA RICA: An Interview

Cowboy, PHD in barking and play.
Loves Spencer and Kendra.

Hello and welcome! Thank you for being here with me, I am Professor Cowboy_Yeehaw and today I will be interviewing two of my favorite people.  Spencer and Kendra Thomas will answer my questions, together and individually, about their first year as full time missionaries in Costa Rica. Let's get started!

Let's bark! ... I mean, go!

Question-

How long have you been married, and when/why did you move to Costa Rica?

Answer- 

Married January 3, 2015.  We started praying about Costa Rica in February of 2015.  We knew, just by looking at each other, that Costa Rica was where we needed to be.  Why did we move? Because we were invited.  Seeking God's will is the only way a person can find peace.  

Question-

What is your mission field? 

Answer-

Our mission field is Colegio Metodista.  It is a private school with students from pre-k to high school graduation.  We primarily spend time with grades 7-11 (there is no 12th, they graduate at 11th).  We have spent the last year starting bible study small groups.  The purpose of these groups is for students to become Disciples of Jesus through meaningful Christ-centered relationships.  

Question-

What are some things you didn't expect to encounter after moving to Costa Rica?

Answer-

     Kendra: "I didn't expect a lot of things.  Principally, communication is difficult. Not just a language barrier, but a way of thinking that was different than mine. When I prepare for a meeting or event I am obnoxiously early. My coach always said '10 minutes early is on time.' As we learn Spanish one thing sticks out to me. 'I am early/late' does not translate. A person may say 'it is early.' However, that is quite different. Perhaps it is not the largest hurdle we have had, but this has proved to be the greatest learning experience. Although living with the Turrialba Volcano has also made life more interesting. With it's most active year in a long time, we now know the varied pleasures of regular ash fall."

     Spencer: "This is going to sound really dumb... but the food.  There's no tex-mex.  I was really excited when someone told me Costa Ricans do tamales.  Costa Rican tamales are not Mexican tamales, not even close.  In my mind I associated Latin America with Mexico and Mexican food.  So when we got here and I asked 'Where can a gringo get some tacos?' and they told me Taco Bell, I wasn't expecting that."

Question-

Looking back over your year, what has been the most difficult part of moving to another country"

Answer-

     Kendra: "Being away from family.  Our family is particularly close. We were so fortunate to be together for the Christmas Season, but missing my grandparent's Memorial Day BBQ and Mother's Day or the crazy annual Pumpkin Patch my mom's youth do every year is hard on the heart. Those times when the family comes together to celebrate and sometimes even argue, but then everyone takes a nap and feels better... those are the times you miss."

     Spencer: "Family, also.  On Kendra's side we have 6 nephews/nieces and on my side we have 3 boys.  So only getting to see them a few times is hard.  It's strange but true, I miss not being able to see how much they've grown.  Every time I see my nephews, they are noticeably bigger/stronger and harder to wrestle.




Question-
What gives you the most joy?

Answer-
     Kendra:  "Seeing the spark in a student's eye as they become excited to talk about the Lord and their faith. Being friends with these students, mentoring them, walking beside them as they discover what it means for Jesus to be Lord of their life, is the greatest joys.
     Spencer: "Seeing our students start to seek the Lord and take personal responsibility for their faith.  The absolute biggest blessing has been getting to share the gospel with someone who has never heard or opened the bible before."




Question-
What things do you miss most?

Answer-
     Kendra:   "The food! I miss sausage gravy, Whataburger, and Tex-Mex. Good Texas food with family and friends."
     Spencer: "Whataburger. Fishing.  Kayak.  The river.  But family most of all.  My mom and dad and my sisters family.  QUESO cheese dip!"




Question-
What is something you'd like to share that you've learned over the last year?

Answer-
     Kendra:   "Aside from some new cooking skills, I've learned to communicate better. As I said earlier, it is a struggle. I always took advantage of the whole English language to tell people about my faith, but when English is someone's second language, or if you are speaking in a new language, it is of the utmost importance you be clear with that message. The one thing we cannot afford to get wrong is sharing the Truth.
     Spencer: "Throw away all your pride.  It won't help you.  It will only hurt you and the people around you.  Having to be right or heard, because of pride, will not lead anyone to the Cross of Christ.  There is nothing I can do to change a persons heart.  Get rid of pride and make more room for the Holy Spirit."




Question-
Being your dog, I see you leave me at home every day... Where are some of the cool adventures you've been on?

Answer-
     Kendra:   "White water rafting and hiking through the rainforest have been my favorites! Beautiful views and fast paced fun!"
     Spencer: "Beaches, volcanos, and Panama.  But my favorite place in Costa Rica is Rio Tarcoles. It's know as 'The Crocodile Bridge' and it does not disappoint.   It was something I watched on the Discovery Channel as a kid and dreamed about seeing in person."

Crocodile Bridge

Manuel Antonio National Park

"I'm ready... take me with you" -Cowboy

Thank you for your prayers and support.  We are grateful for you. 

- Spencer, Kendra, and Cowboy Thomas

May: "I feel like I just got off a roller coaster"

"I will send down the showers in their season; they will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26

Rest... Sweet rest...   The adventure started with an over night retreat into the mountains with our 9th grade generation.  Everyone arrived at the school at 5:15 A.M.  After brief instruction and loading onto five buses, we were shuttled up into the mountains of Costa Rica!   We arrived at the camp around 8, and first things first, we had breakfast.  Once everyone had consumed the most important meal of the day we started the fun.  Large group games, followed by small group games, followed by high ropes activities, followed by getting rained on, followed by more activities involving high ropes course action and running around.  Our over night trip was packed full of endless activity.  It was great.  We gathered in the evening and worshiped God.  A word was shared, talking about Daniel.  How Daniel stood out among his peers and how not even a pack of lions could turn him from pursuing the will of God.  It was the best part of the camp.  After worship we played a MASSIVE game of hide-and-seek.  Each staff member was worth a certain number of points (Kendra and I were worth the most).  The game ended when either all the people were found or time ran out.  Off we go! Into the dark, rainy, and cold jungle of Costa Rica to hide from 120 students.  After 30 minutes of very uncomfortable hiding, I heard the siren announcing the game was finished. "Awesome", I thought, "They didn't find me, I win!"  I hike out of the forest towards the camp fire, excited to see if Kendra was found.  Every couple of minutes a new leader would appear from the cloak of darkness, smiling because they were not found.  Every time someone new appeared I would rush over thinking it was Kendra.  Kendra never showed up.  I would be lying if I told you I wasn't worried.  I knew she had a flash light, but not a sense of direction.  We put together a scouting crew.  We scoured the woods looking for any sign of a beautiful gringa, my beautiful gringa.  Eventually she was found.  She was less than 50 yards from the fire, hiding behind a rock near the river.  She couldn't hear anyone yelling or the siren because the river was too loud.  #HideAndSeekChampion2016 goes to my beautiful wife.  Sharing of testimonies and smore's around a fire is what finished off the night... or so I thought.  After multiple attempts to get all the guys in my cabin to lay down and go to bed, they finally relented and there was peace.  Less than 5 minutes later everyone was awake, running and yelling, as 70 girls sang high school musical songs at the top of their lungs right outside our door.  There was no hope to getting my guys back into "sleep mode".  We stayed up all night....

The next day was still great! More activities and even more laughs.  After lunch we packed everyone back into the buses and made our way home.  We hugged and said goodbye to our students as their parents picked them up.  All were ready to be home, but our adventure had just begun!

We went home, unpacked, and then repacked our things, and went straight to bed.

The alarm went off at 4:15.... We awoke finished repacking our things. At 5:00AM we got into a taxi that took us to the airport.  After an entire day of travel we were back in Texas.  We spent the weekend in Kerrville preparing.

Tuesday morning we head out to Camp Eagle and prepare for the senior class from Costa Rica to arrive that afternoon.  We wait... And wait.... And wait some more.  The students and teachers finally arrived, after many delays, around 1:00AM.  They were exhausted but excited.  Tuesday night, I had no trouble getting the guys in my cabin to go to sleep.

Camp Eagle (located near Rocksprings, TX) is an adventurer's paradise spanning thousands of acres of wilderness, including rivers and cliffs.  Incorporated into the cliffs along the river there is rock climbing, rappelling, and an assortment of challenging "heights based" adventures.  All of which our students were able to enjoy!

Every morning, before our activities, we gathered together for worship. And every evening, after activities, we would worship together.  Throughout the week we went through the book of Ephesians.
Something crazy happens when we open God's word.  God speaks to us.  The best part of the trip was the last night of worship.  We spent the night at Kerrville First United Methodist Church.  Before worship we ate BBQ and learned how to line dance.

Once we had gathered for worship, we prayed and sang a song.  We put a microphone in front of the student body and gave them an invitation.  "We invite you to share how you encountered your Creator during this trip to Texas."

Listening to the testimonies of student after student share how God spoke to them was the best part of the entire trip.
"I never really realized that God wanted to know me like this"
"I want to follow Jesus and learn about the bible"
"For the first time in my life, I heard the voice of my Creator telling me I was loved"
"I never thought that I had to travel thousands of miles away from home to learn that God is Jealous for me"

These are just a few of the things spoken that made our hearts explode into a million tender pieces.  Jesus is so good.  E. Stanley Jones says that even evangelical movement starts with the evangelical being moved.  Oh how our hearts have been tilled, made ready for growth.  Kendra and I have never been more aware of God's love for us than we are right now.  And we find ourselves saying some of the same things our students said about going to Texas.  Moving to Costa Rica has produced revelation after revelation of how much God cares for us.

It makes me think of Heaven.  How Heaven is outside of time.  It's not measured in years or millennia, there is only eternity.  And every moment of eternity in Heaven will be filled with revelation after revelation of God's goodness.  Praise Jesus!

Kendra, myself, and Colegio Metodista are extremely grateful for all of the people and churches involved in making a dream become reality.  100 Costa Ricans on a senior class trip to Texas, spent in the hill country learning of and encountering our creator.

With much love,
    Spencer and Kendra 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