Calvary Chapel Kendall Missions

Dear Family,

One of our dear friends and family members  is a missionary in Quepos, Costa Rica. He has an opportunity for a male, short term missionary to go down there to serve alongside him for a period of 2-3 months volunteering in a drug rehab center.

“Obviously they need to be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

They need to be self supported and we can help in finding a place for them to stay.

Spanish would be a plus but the men in the house have a bit of English to help.

We would love to have someone come along that is mature enough and knowledgeable enough to guide and train the men in the center.

This would be in Sept.-Oct. or even Nov.

This is a win/win situation for anyone needing to give someone further outlook at ministry and life and we would benefit greatly from their part in helping this ministry move forward.”

This is a great opportunity for someone wishing to serve the Lord full time for a short season. Calvary Chapel Kendall has sent a missions team to this ministry so we have seen first hand the great need that is there. If you’re interested, email us at missions@calvarykendall.com.

Hi Family,
We finally have a blog. Please visit us on http://stilwells.wordpress.com

Thanks for praying,
Kim

Hello From Costa Rica!!

Life has definitely been different since I stepped off the plane 5 weeks ago.  In the last bit I have started to get situated here and essentially get used to life as a immigrant. I have had a lot of time to just seek God and what he has for me here. I am learning to be patient and to see ministry in a different light. My ministry right now is to the people that I’m living with and to help at a children’s feeding center on Saturdays. The rest of the week consists of finding my way around the city and mostly seeking God and his direction for me here. Perhaps God is using this slow time to pour into me so that when he brings more of those ministries, I will be able to pour out into other peoples lives with his strength and love. Only as I abide in Christ, can I truly have something to give to those I encounter. On Saturdays, a group of us go to a poor area of town and teach a bible lesson, play with the kids, and hand out food. This program is very simple and has very little resources. So we do the best with what we have. It’s a little bit like organized chaos at times!

Yesterday, I had the privilege to go with a missionary named Keith Britton to the slum of Los Guido. We go to a place in that slum referred to as “the hole”. The people who live here are the poorest of the poor, most of whom are immigrants from Nicaragua who fled from their country in hopes of a better life in Costa Rica. We came to this place to bring some school shoes for a couple of the kids there. Seeing this place just reminded me of how lucky we really are as Canadians and how much God has given us. I am working a lot with Keith and will be helping him as a translator when teams come to help. Part of Keith’s work is to raise money to buy the kids in this slum uniforms so that they can go to school. Many children aren’t able to go to school because they can’t afford the basic necessities for school. I am excited to have a part in this ministry there and be a help to him in whatever way I can. I feel really blessed that my Spanish can be of help to him as he reaches out to these families.

I’m hoping to send short updates periodically to keep you informed of what’s going on here. Please continue to pray for me as I get started here and seek God’s direction in ministry. Also please pray for me as I am adjusting and dealing with homesickness. Satan’s attacks are very real and I need a lot of prayer. Thanks for all your support. The needs in these ministries are endless, and I would appreciate your continued prayers and financial support.

God Bless,

Rachel Garber

“Asociación Esfuerzos Humanitarios de Quepos”

> Ced. # 3-002-478009

> Goal: Serve and glorify our God, serve the greater community of Quepos/Manuel Antonio and serve the addicted and or homeless community here in this immediate area.

> Purpose: is to restore, to the extent possible, persons among this homeless population to their fruitful places in society – to begin again to be productive and healthy members of their families and their communities. 

> Update Dec. 2008/march. 2009    For the year we have had an average of 10 men living in the house.  Today there is six. There are four that have graduated and now are living at home and growing. 3 have stayed to become leaders in the program. The program consists of biblical studies, physical healing and disciplines, community and family reintegration, household duties, community service, work projects, IAFA counselors among others. The house we are renting is affectionately called the House of Love (Casa de Amor). 

> Jimmy Vargas is doing great as the hands-on director.  In addition, Jared and his wife Eileen have joined the Quepos/center to live and assist with all aspects of the program. Jared, called Moses by the men in the center, is volunteering and is a welcome friend. Brian is also scheduled to come June 17.  He is a volunteer who will stay at least three months. They have several years of experience and we look forward to their involvement. There are others that are planning on coming to join us. We need more laborers.    

We continue to serve with several work projects whereby the center gains funds. It is our hope to work making Quepos a better place and generate enough funds to pay for this program. We presently need additional donations or work with pay to keep the center going. We could use more community help as well as international help. We need someone to give us property now to add another center away from downtown Quepos. We can buy the property we are at but it needs some work to meet the standards for the “Ministerio de Salud” to keep us open. We need $30,000 and a group to help with construction. There are two construction companies waiting to build but we need the property first. Again it is our goal to have an induction center in the Quepos area and a work rehab center in an outlining area. 

We are in need of food items and personal items weekly. Please help if you can on a regular basis. It is vital for all who live in and around Quepos. We need all your junk steel to build a retaining wall and another entrance to the center. It does not matter how old or bad it is we will pick it up. We need bags of concrete the work. Please let us clean your place and help our effort to help others. We will take just about everything. Roofing stuff, junk in general and we can clean up Quepos and your place.  Call if you want to help.

This project cannot happen without community involvement. Want to help??? Call us and  please consider how you could be involved.  If you would like more information, please call Kim Stilwell at h 2777-0249 or c 8381-0708 or by e-mail: losstilwells@ice.co.cr.

> Banco Costa Rica: Colones: 280-2853-3  Dollars: 280-2852-5  

> Call me and we can make arrangements.  Thank you for your help!