Canadian GOM Office

Hello to everyone from St. Catharines, ON Canada!

As you can imagine, adjusting to another culture is not necessarily easy, even to a familiar one. But I am so thankful to the GOM staff for their support and wisdom. Most of them have made similar adjustments at times in their lives so they have much to offer.

My week days are usually spent in the office here in St Catharines although sometimes I travel to the international office in Buffalo, NY.




This is the office space where I work (when I'm not moving electrical outlets and light switches, changing ballasts, hanging light fixtures or whatever other type of handyman chores there may need to be done). So what kind of work do I do at the desk? Lately I've been helping short term teams prepare for mission trips to El Jardin. Part of my responsibility is to evaluate the team's construction skills and gifts and match them with appropriate projects at the camp. Then I make and price the material lists for those projects.




I have the privilege of working with the GOM Vice President of Candidates and Personnel, Len Lane,




his wife Carol (standing) and Gwen. Both are awesome office staff.




This is the back room which we hope to have remodeled for more office and training space. We are currently waiting on a bid from a local builder.




There has been some time for fellowship. Last weekend we had a very nice cookout with several of the mission team who went to El Jardin from Canada last January. What a good time and several of them would like to return in January, 2008!



So there is never a dull moment and I have the unique opportunity to learn about all of the work that goes into short term teams from the administrative side. Wow! Until next time, may we continue to serve Him with pure hearts.

Ken

Changes

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,


Well, the winds of change are blowing. In fact, they are blowing me from El Jardin, Costa Rica to the Global Outreach Mission offices in Buffalo, NY and ST. Cathrine's, Canada. GOM has asked me to help them with some of their priority projects and with the roof on the multi purpose building, there is time to focus other construction concerns. I plan to spend most of my time reviewing plans for remodeling and expansion of the Canadian office. There is also the possibility of traveling to Sierra Leon, Africa to help with a school renovation.


So, I ask for your prayers during this time of change and planning. It is difficult to leave leave my home, team, friends and Church family in Costa Rica and help with these other projects. Please pray for Nathan and Amber as they continue with the administration of El Jardin; for Pastor Jose and the new Church plant in La Alagria (currently meeting at El Jardin); for the Araya family (Hugo, Leonor, Brainer, Victor, & Dari) and other new Christians as they continue to grow in love, grace and faith. Thank the Lord for Jose Dani, another of Victor's friends, who accepted Christ as his Savior last week! All heaven is celebrating!

Jose Dani is the youth right of center wearing the white shirt with the red stripe.



Hasta luego and may we continue to allow Him to light our paths,
Ken.

Arizona Construction Team

Mathew 10:8 says "Freely you have received, freely give". The construction team from Arizona came to give freely from what they have received in the Lord. El Jardin is extremely blessed by their servant hearts.



The bulk of the corrugated roofing went up very quickly and right over the temporary roof. Here you see the new roof is in place and the temporary roof is being removed.




An awesome job by the "roofing crew". Here they are setting the last piece of tin.




All of the doors and windows were blocked in to the proper rough in openings.




Cement was mixed for the block work, two concrete slabs and a job we didn't even plan for: stuccoing the outside of the multi purpose building.

The women on this team were real troopers and excellent workers. They not only painted the inside of one cabin, but we had to buy more paint so that they could paint the inside of both cabins!!! They also kept the roof crew loaded with supplies, helped prepare and pour the cement slabs, built the new entry path, washed and cleaned and generally kept the men on track. Thanks gals!

The two slabs were 10' X 20' patio/entrance areas. It is great to have these covered areas protected from the rain.

In this photo you can see the finished roof, one of the covered entrances with a completed concrete floor and the beautiful new walkway.

The team was happy to help with whatever jobs needed to be done and they all worked very well together and all for God's glory.

I also have a miracle to share with you. Hugo, Victor's dad, accepted the Lord as his personal savior a few weeks ago and it has been a joy to see the Christ change this man's life. He is becoming the husband and father God intended him to be. Hugo was a familiar face and helped with several projects while the team was here. We also had a last minute baptism service in the pool where three members of the team, one visitor, Hugo and Victor were all baptised. Praise Jesus!

After all the work was complete (more than we had planned), the team enjoyed a day of hiking in the rain forest and fishing at the trout farm.

Thanks to all who served on this team and the blessings they brought to El Jardin. This includes the families, prayer partners, financial partners and Church families who sent this team to Costa Rica.