House of the Lord

When we first arrived in Costa Rica we met every Lord's Day with a dear family who we have been studying with for over a year.  They opened their home to anyone who would like to join.  It was the beginning here.  A few weeks turned into a couple months and we knew we needed to find a permanent place.  We needed a place that was easily accessible for everyone.  Where we were meeting was not easily accessible and would be almost impossible for a lot of people once the heavy rains started.  During this time we tossed many ideas around on where to look for a permanent place for services, what to look for?  We at first thought maybe we would look for something in Atenas (the town where we live, and the center hub for the buses in this area).  Would finding a place here in Atenas be the right thing to do?  And if we looked in the community where we had been meeting in this dear family's home, would that limit our growth?  In our search in Atenas nothing really surfaced that we felt would work for our needs.  So, we waited some more and continued to meet in this family's home.  David started looking for places in Altos de Naranjo (the community where this family lives) and again nothing surfaced.  There was one home that was available for rent but the 2 rooms were so small there was no room for growth and would not even work for the number we already had.

Where it started.

Matthew 18:20

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

We then found a community building to have services and it was free.  We soon figured out that this was not an ideal situation.  We never knew until Friday night if we could use the building or not.  We could only use it  if no one else in the community wanted or needed it for anything.  At this point, we feelt like we needed to be patient in finding something in Altos de Naranjo.  It would be a huge expense for these families to travel to Atenas every Sunday.  While they expressed that they would do so if we found something in Atenas, we knew that it would be very difficult financially.

All the kids love meeting at the community

building...because it is an indoor soccer field.

Makes for some great play time after church : )

We had talked with a man who owns lots of land in this little community and even had looked at options of leasing a small lot and building a pavilion on it.  All these searches led to dead ends.  They didn't want to sell or lease any of their land, and there were no houses, with the exception of the very small one, that were available for us to rent.  

Then we hear about this house that is for sale, in the center of this little community.  Houses and land here are expensive.  David went to look at it thinking they might consider renting it to us.  Long story short, renting was not an option due to their financial crunch they were in to get it sold and the debt paid.  After some discussing with the owner, they would accept $23,000 for the house.  You cannot even buy a lot around here for that.  We knew that if this is what God wanted, then He would provide.  And did He ever!!!  

David posted a quick info note on facebook, typed up a newsletter and emailed it.  Within 30 minutes God was showing His provision.  We received a lot of interest and within a few days some very generous people provided not some, but every penny that would be needed to purchase and close on this house.  There are so many things that cause us to think, "How do we ever waiver in our faith, when He is always faithful to us?"  It is just a building, a house, but soon, Lord-Willing it will be where we can come together with Him and worship in spirit and truth.  

This is the front of the house.  The outside grounds needs

some major clean-up, so you can see that there is 

a house there.

Lots of trash that will need to be cleaned up

And some exterminating...don't you think.  I wasn't there

but David said this spider was the size of his hand!!!!!

The front door and a carport where we could 

eventually close in for more room for future growth : )

Lots of outside clean-up.  Looks like the rain and no

upkeep have caused some piles of brush and rock

around the house.

The carport

Another outside view from the road.

The first things that will need to be done is a wall removed inside to make for a larger meeting area and some outside clean-up.  David says he thinks he could get it all done in a week.  And the woman in me says...Longer ; ).  In my experience projects always seem to take longer than projected.  

Lord-willing we will close on the house Thursday or Friday of this week and can get to work right away.  We are so overwhelmed by the rapid response of our dear fellow Christians who have given so generously so that their fellow Christians will have a place where they can come together and worship our Lord.  Thank you all so much for the prayers that are always brought to the Lord on our behalf and the work here in Costa Rica.