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
