Can you believe it’s almost 2008?! As yet another year comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on all that 2007 held. Full of all the ups & downs that each year holds, I’m thankful for the ways God has yet again directed my steps throughout this year. Saying goodbye in Puerto Viejo was hard, but let’s praise the Lord together as we remember all that He has done!
House Church:
Where we eat together, worship, study the Word and discuss its implications for our lives. Some of my favorite highlights for the year:
- More than 10 youth from skate park became regular members of the English house church & have grown in their knowledge and love for God
- Worship became real & relevant as people learned to fall in love with Jesus. I miss belting out our praises to the Lord together.
- Sebas and Jetsie were trained to lead worship & take over when I left.
- Jetsie, Peace, & Dexter were baptized
- Adrianna & Ronolfo were married after committing their lives to Christ. Their 3 kids were ecstatic!
Music Café/ Offices:
- We completed the construction of our office! …though still waiting for a phone line.
- We’ve nearly completed construction on the music café—including construction of the railing & bench seating, our wall mural, and completion of sanding and finishing our wood floors!
Youth Ministry/Skate Park:
- Hosted first annual skate competition with the help of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship
- Completed renovation of skate trailer & deck
- A “Skate Park Service Team” was created—a group of 3 older guys who are now opening and running skate sessions. This is huge in terms of taking responsibility and ownership!
- Peace, Dexter, and Sebas each shared the gospel at youth night. This is unheard of & awesome!
- Girls skate session became a popular time for both young girls and their parents to come to the skate park. Some cool relationships were made & conversations about Jesus continue
- Hosted first ever youth retreat up in the mountains with the help of Thomasville Road Baptist Church.
- Pepo, Jose, and other kids come to the skate park as the only safe place they know to escape their difficult lives. The Concrete Jungle has become known as a safe haven where they know they’ll receive good counsel and godly encouragement.
Kid’s Church
- Officially started with Awana’s curriculum (or “Oansa” in Español)
- Saw some ups and downs in the committedness of local leadership, but in the end have 2 faithful leaders who we hope will be taking over the program towards the middle of 2008!
- The number of kids sky-rocketed this year with up to 60 kids in attendance each Sunday! That’s 60 local families whom we are now connected to and with whom we are building relationship
- Most teachers became active participants in the Spanish house church!
Short Term Missions
- We hosted over 8 different short term mission teams with almost 150 participants!
- Together we renovated the local high school, taught ESL, built the first playground for the preschool, taught music lessons, held evening concerts, hosted the first youth retreat, ran two skate competitions, hosted the first ever concert at the music café, ran day camp for Kid’s Club, completed renovation of the skate trailer, continued construction of the café, and so much more!…..wow, that’s a lot!
On the Horizon for 2008
Back in the States, I have already begun my responsibilities with the home office of Alternative Missions. This upcoming year will include helping develop Missionary Care and even visiting each of our ministry locations! I hope to join the Alternative Missions Missionary Care Team to Helene, Honduras; Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica; Tepic and Cofradia, Mexico!
I plan to start graduate school in August, but am still awaiting acceptance. I should find out soon! Please pray for my acceptance into the Masters of Social Work program and Azusa Pacific University.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement. It is clear that God is using you to accomplish great things.
Wishing you a joy-filled 2008!
TJ Gause
“And may the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Psalm 90:17