That’s right, I’m taking off again! On June 15th I’ll be heading back “home” to Puerto Viejo to host a short-term mission team from Calvary Jupiter, in Florida. Since hosting teams was my main responsibility for the 3 1/2 years I lived in PV, I know & am excited about the impact we will have on the long-term vision of the ministry. The team’s plans include teaching ESL at the local high school & spending each afternoon intentionally building upon the relationships with the students. Their purpose? To make disciples & help to get them “plugged-in” to the youth ministry at the skate park. To view pictures of the Skate Park & life in Puerto Viejo, click on the “Photos” tab at the top of this website.

In addition to hosting this team, I will be spending my first few days visiting

with the staff & local friends. This year has been tough for our staff since there are only 2 long-term staff families. My plan is to spend 4 days catching up with the staff & encouraging them (as well as helping with logistics). I also hope to re-connect with some of the youth & local friends in whom I invested so deeply while I lived in Puerto Viejo. While many have grown in their commitment to Christ, a few have reverted to their old life-styles and addictions to drugs, alcohol & sex. I can’t wait to meet up with all of them & continue encouraging them in their commitment to Christ.

I will be adding pictures during our trip to this blog entry, so please come and check us out. Feel free to leave a comment while you are here.

Please be praying for the staff & I during these weeks.

Serving Joyfully,

TJ Gause

Tuesday, June 17th

I finally arrived in Puerto Viejo last night after over 24 hours of travel. Costa Rica may not seem very far away, but getting to Puerto Viejo is literally like reaching the end the world!. I’ve had the chance to visit with a number of people and feel so loved & remembered. Puerto Viejo is such a fluid place with people coming and going so often that it’s not unlikely for people to forget about you the minute you leave. I’m so thankful to have the opposite experience and cannot wait to see more people that I know & love. What’s amazing is that I have a number of foreigner friends who live all over the world and a handful of them are in Puerto Viejo this week!!! I can’t believe that I am able to see them here & look forward to deepening our relationships and continuing to share Christ’s love. Please be praying for my conversations with various people….if this may be the last time I see them, I want to be sure and share whatever it is that God would have me share with them.

I’m also back to work, preparing for the team that arrives on Friday. Below is a picture of me in my “office”….

Thursday, June 19th

The team arrives tomorrow and life will jump into action with team logistics and ESL classes….as if it wasn’t already busy. I’ve kept busy preparing for the team and visiting with various friends. I was able to attend Makena Cruce’s 5th birthday party yesterday and spent today visiting with another staff family. During my 3 1/2 years here I became an Auntie to their girls and have loved & missed them. What a joy to see how much they’ve grown!

I’ve also been able to see a number of youth from the Skate Park and old neighbors & friends. Life in Puerto Viejo is quite the opposite of stagnant and it has been both joyful and sorrowful to catch up with these various friends. For some, life is going well and they are learning to fall more deeply in love with God. For others, this life is hard and they are having a hard time staying away from the drugs, alcohol and sexual life that so easily ensnares them. Such is life here in Puerto Viejo……and such is the reason that this place needs Jesus! Please be praying for more people to join us here as long-term staff since the “harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

Below are some pictures from the past couple days…

This is the new deck to the Skate Trailer that was build just after I left. It’s so nice!

Below is a picture of a man named Roland I have befriended over the years. I was amazed that he remembered me. Please pray for Roland as his life is extremely hard & he hasn’t made the best decisions. He is living on borrowed time…

This is a picture of the hotel where our teams stay. I’m actually standing on the beach while taking this shot.

Saturday, June 21st

The team finally arrived last night after a long travel day. They seem like a great team, mostly adults, some of whom came to work with us last year. We’re planning to teach ESL classes in the local high school starting Monday. Based on their work last year, I expect that they will do a phenomenal job of teaching English and building relationships.

One of the things I look forward to with this team is their availability to build relationships with some of the high school students and other local friends. Unlike most outreaches, they will not be doing any construction. Instead, we scheduled in a lot of “purposeful free time” for this group so that they can spend time with the people they meet. Here in Puerto Viejo, it takes a lot of hard work and time to build trust with people. Years of hosting teams has shown me that although teams may only be here a short time, they are able to connect with new people in town that the Alternative Missions staff may not yet know very well. The relationships that they build this week, the Alternative Missions staff will be able to further develop. It’s really a great plan.

Today the team will spend time praying over the town and hanging out a bit at the skate park. Today will also be my first Skate Session to attend since I arrived. I am MORE than excited to see a number of kids I haven’t come across in town. Please pray that each of my interactions with old friends & kids are purposeful and helpful in their journey toward knowing Christ. I have already noticed that for some of the kids who have slipped back into their old ways of life, they are more timid around me due to shame (as well as the rest of the Alternative Missions staff). Since their former knowledge of God was based strictly on rules & regulations, they are ashamed when they make bad decisions. Please continue praying that the eyes of their heart will be opened to understand that God is in love with them and that they understand the truth of Romans that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Tomorrow will be my only opportunity to attend the house church where I led worship for a number of years. I hope that those who have been ashamed to return would come tomorrow to visit with me (and recognize that this was a place where they so comfortable sought the Lord previously).

Here is the team from Calvary Chapel in Jupiter, FL during orientation.

Sunday, June 22nd

The team went white water rafting today, which enabled me to spend more time visiting local friends & to attend house church. Every Sunday evening, there are about 10 people that meet at the Cruce’s house to eat together & then spend time worshiping & studying the Bible together. When I lived here, these evenings together were some of the most special times that I enjoyed deeply. Tonight was especially meaningful after having been gone for long. We ate together, talked and laughed hard together before beginning worship & getting into Bible study. It was encouraging to see Sebas practicing a few new songs while a few others sang along & encouraged him. Before I left, I spent some time teaching Sebas to lead worship, so to see him still practicing & even leading in one song was absolutely wonderful. Here are some pictures from our evening together.

Monday, June 23rd

Yesterday was our first day teaching English at the local high school. Re-arranging the one-room school house and getting the attention of all of the 20+ students is always a challenge, but the team really did a great job. Last year, I spent the majority of my time helping with crowd control….breaking up many fights & make-out sessions in the middle of class. These students lead ridiculously difficult lives & sometimes it shows in their behavior. However, this year, we ended up with the 7th and 8th grade students who were well behaved. We definitely started the week off well & the team was able to really connect with the students in the classroom & then hanging out together afterwards. Praise the Lord for this! Based on their difficult lives, most of the students are fairly closed to building new relationships with North Americans who they know will leave them at the end of the week. But yesterday was different - whether through time in the classroom, playing basketball or just hanging out at their houses afterwards, this team was able to really connect with the local students. Please continue to pray for these opportunities to deepen relationship as this is the way in which disciples are made. God so readily reveals Himself through the friendship and relationships that we have & this is the exact purpose of our time here this week. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!

Wednesday, June 25th

I’m amazed at how great the English classes have gone this week! This team has a great ability to engage the students and are very well prepared. Rochira, the school’s only English teacher has praised the team for their abilities and says that her students feel much more prepared to take their exams next week. Working in the Puerto Viejo high school or “Colegio” can be quite a challenge comparable to working with inner city kids. Last year, I spent the majority of the week in “crowd control,” breaking up various fights & attempting to keep the students from leaving class. On the contrary, this year, the students are completely engaged with this team, learning their English & building some great relationships. Already, there have been many discussions centered around having a personal relationship with God and everything that entails. Please continue to pray for this team as they begin to share their own personal stories and how they know God.

Having spent years as a long term staff member here, I have seen the importance of weeks like this & spent this morning encouraging the team in their endeavors. In fact, based on similar outreaches we’ve done in the past, Alternative Missions has been invited to come & spend time in group counseling with the students once a week. Sometimes I am amazed at the open doors & opportunities we have to teach the Word of God and share the joy of knowing Him. Please be praying for more long-term staff to join the work here in Puerto Viejo so that we can follow up on these types of opportunities.

Here is a picture of the local high school & one of the students.

In Conclusion…

Looking back over the past 2 weeks, I have nothing to say but praise to God for all He has done. What a joy and a privilege to return to Puerto Viejo and re-connect with people to whom I poured myself out in love and service. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for the people of Puerto Viejo and the continued work of the Holy Spirit in this town.

As I mentally review my trip, these highlight moments come to mind:

• Meeting Jose’s girlfriend and new baby girl, Valera. When Jose first began coming to the Skate Park, his addictions kept him from speaking coherently. I felt drawn to Jose based on his desire to know God more and clean up his life; not to mention that I did a lot of translating for him. Although Jose continues to struggle with various addictions, he is continuing to grow in his love and knowledge of God. With the arrival of his new baby girl, Jose’s commitment to God has deepened.
• Visiting with the Spence’s and witnessing, once again, how Mr. Spence encourages fellow Christians with the Word of God. I had the privilege of renting my very first room from the Spences when I first moved to PV. Last week, there were a number of team members from the visiting church who were encouraged in specific areas in their lives due to their conversations with Spence. What a gifted teacher!
• Spending time with my former team members - the Cruces and McLaughlins. I was able to spend time catching up with each of the adults as well as play with each of their children. They were my family while I lived in Puerto Viejo and I feel deeply connected to them all.
• Witnessing every student at the colegio stand outside & wave to us as our bus pulled out of town ready to head back to the airport. The week of ESL classes were about so much more than simply teaching English. Praise God for the ways we were able to connect with these students and encourage them in their journey toward knowing God.

In the same way that a landlord checks his property to view the status of his investment, I plan to maintain relationships with friends in Puerto Viejo. I have invested myself into the people of this town and pray that God will allow me to continue to see the fruit of this investment over the years. Thanks again for your ongoing prayers for the people of Puerto Viejo and the continued work of the Holy Spirit in this town.

Serving Joyfully,

TJ Gause

I would like to thank all of you who have partnered with me in ministry through prayers and financial giving. I will also be sharing about my current involvement in Missionary Care and future plans for ministry.

Food will provided at 4:00pm (and onward) and I will begin sharing at 5:00pm.

Kids are welcome.

For directions, email me at TJ@alternativemissions.com

Please pray for each of our staff members and their families. Click on each of their names to learn more about our staff.

Helene Staff:

Larry & Sheila Benson - Larry is the field director for the Helene ministry team. He and Sheila moved to Helene in 2004 with all three of their grown daughters (two of whom have since returned to the states. One to marry and the other for college).

Emily Benson - Emily is Larry & Sheila’s oldest daughter. She actually joined the staff before her parents and runs the English School.

Joe & Averyl Morris - Joe has served in Helene since 2002. He met Averyl on the island of Roatan and they were just married last month. Now Joe & Averyl live on Roatan (the big island) and travel to help in Helene (the small island at the end of Roatan).

Dierdre Greer - Dierdre has run the medical clinic in Helene since 2005. She handles everything from emergencies to minor cuts and bruises at all hours of the day and night.

Camas Frey - Camas actually lived on Roatan and worked with another Christian organization for a couple years before joining the Alternative Missions staff in Helene in 2005.

Paul Moore - Paul has been involved in missions for years through various short term trips throughout the world. Since 2004, Paul has spent several months every year serving in Helene.

Ted Thomas - Ted is native to the island of Helene and pastors a church on the island. He joined the Alternative Missions staff in 2007.

Extraverted Sensing Thinking Judging
by Joe Butt

Profile: ESTJ
Revision: 3.0
Date of Revision: 26 Feb 2005

Every right-minded man has a philosophy of life, whether he knows it or not. Hidden away in his mind are certain governing principles, whether he formulates them in words or not, which govern his life. Surely his ideal ought to be to contribute all that he can, however little it may be, whether of money or service, to human progress.
–John D. Rockefeller, Random Reminiscences of Men and Events

ESTJs thrive on order and continuity. Being extraverted, their focus involves organization of people, which translates into supervision. While ENTJs enjoy organizing and mobilizing people according to their own theories and tactically based agendas, ESTJs are content to enforce “the rules,” often dictated by tradition or handed down from a higher authority.

ESTJs are joiners. They seek out like-minded companions in clubs, civic groups, churches and other service organizations. The need for belonging is woven into the fiber of SJs. The family likewise is a central focus for ESTJs, and attendance at such events as weddings, funerals and family reunions is obligatory.

Tradition is important to the ESTJ. Holidays, birthdays and other annual celebrations are remembered and observed often religiously by this type. The ESTJ is inclined to seek out his roots, to trace the family heritage back to honored ancestors both for a sense of family respectability and for a sense of security and belonging.

Service, the tangible expression of responsibility, is another key focus for ESTJs. They love to provide and to receive good service. The ESTJ merchant who provides dependable service has done much to enhance her self image.

ESTJs have an acute sense for orthodoxy. Much of their evaluation of persons and activities reflects their strong sense of what is “normal” and what isn’t. ESTJ humor is frequently centered around something or someone being off center or behaving abnormally.

ESTJs promote the work ethic. Power, position and prestige should be worked for and earned. Laziness is rarely viewed with ambivalence nor benevolence by this type.

Some men can make decisions and some cannot. Some men fret and delay under criticism. I used to have a saying¹ that applies here, and I note that some people have picked it up.
–Harry S. Truman, Mr. Citizen
¹“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

The ESTJ is outspoken, a person of principles, which are readily expressed. The ESTJ is not afraid to stand up for what she believes is right even in the face of overwhelming odds. ESTJs are able to make the tough calls.

Occupations attracting ESTJs include teaching, coaching, banking, political office, and management at all levels.

Functional Analysis:

Extraverted Thinking

ESTJs are very good at making impersonal decisions quickly, and standing by those decisions. They live in their Extraverted Thinking functioning, thus, their prime directive is in discovering that which is true and logical in the events of the real world. Circumstances calling for product invite the ESTJ to supervise or direct other individuals toward production and productivity. Extraverts are attracted to the “object,” the external things and people in observable reality. This bent translates into a natural interest in goods and material objects.

Introverted Sensing

The secondary Introverted Sensing is like that of the ISTJ, but not as strong. Si provides practical form and concept data to the Te head, however, form is not the overriding principle, especially if Thinking has already decided. In times of need, ESTJs are tempted to overlook even necessary information if its absence impedes closure. Secondary sensing sometimes translates into interest in sports. The persistence of primary Thinking gives many ESTJs a desire for discipline and regimen which can be beneficial in skills development in the arena.

Extraverted iNtuition

As the ESTJ matures, and as situations arise which call for suspension of criticism, Extraverted iNtuition is allowed to play. Under the leadership of the Te function, iNtuition gravitates toward the discovery of broad categories which at worst amount to stereotypes. Those ESTJs who hone their Ne abilities may find success in academia. (I’ve encountered ESTJs whose Ne overshadows the auxiliary Si function–for whatever reason–to the extent that there is an appearance of NT radical geekism.)

Introverted Feeling

This function may rarely be expressed. ESTJs who have cultivated, or have been blessed with, a “natural indirect expression of good will by inference,” have great prospects of developing genuine friendships (as opposed to ESTJs who merely act out the behavior of Extraverted Feeling). Such a weak, introverted function is best observed in facial expression, eye contact, body language, and verbally only by implication.

Famous ESTJs:

Simon Peter (Christ’s disciple)
John Heywood (c.1497-c.1580, collector of English colloquialisms)

U.S. Presidents:

James Monroe

Andrew Jackson

William Henry “Tippecanoe” Harrison

Franklin Pierce

Grover Cleveland

Harry S. Truman

Lyndon B. Johnson

George W. Bush

Carrie Nation
Elliot Ness
John D. Rockefeller
Bette Davis
Robert A. Taft (U.S. senator, son of Pres. Wm. H. Taft)
Sam Walton, owner and founder of WalMart stores
Barbara Stanwyck
Rev. Billy Graham
Dale Bumpers (U.S. Senator, D-Arkansas)
Phil Fulmer, head football coach of the U. Tenn Vols
Pat Head Summit, head basketball coach of the Lady Vols
Bill Frist, M.D. (U.S. Senate Majority Leader)

Fictional:

Lucy (Charles Schultz’s Peanuts character)
Mrs. Harbottle (Herriott, All Creatures Great and Small)
Mrs. Rachel Lynde (Anne of Green Gables)
The Mayor (The Music Man)

Copyright © 1996-2007 by Joe Butt

I could not say it better myself. What a privilege to take part in such an important event as the Missionary Care Retreat in Mexico! Thank you to all who enabled me to help facilitate this retreat through your prayers & financial giving.

On a personal note, I am grateful for God’s’ direction in leading me in missionary care. This week confirmed the vision that God placed in my heart as well as my plans to realize this goal (to see these plans, click here). I’ve known & experienced the great need that exists in caring for the emotional, physical, and spiritual health of missionaries. And now I have first-hand experience in offering this care. This is a good fit for me and a valuable career; I am so thankful to have a clear purpose.

Hear what people are saying about the Missionary Care Retreat….

“This was such a valuable experience for me. The topics covered are vital for life and ministry both within the team and outside it. I encourage everyone to do whatever necessary to take full advantage of this team and allow the Lord to minister to each one thought the Missionary Care Team folks.”

“Anyone who’s been on the mission field has probably seen that most missionaries don’t make their own mental health a priority. I am extremely grateful to Tam, Danny, TJ, Tom and the Alternative Missions Board for providing this great week for us.”

“Great to be cared for!”

“This retreat made me feel closer to my team. It helped me see who I am a little better. I feel our team is a closer family. This gave me the rare opportunity to talk to a professional counselor.”

“Although I didn’t know what to expect before the week started I really benefited from taking time out to be heard, identify my own needs and needs of our team.”

At this conclusion of this, Alternative Mission’s first missionary care team trip, I can say with confidence that this was a necessary and a empowering retreat. I respect each of our staff members in their continued desire to grow closer to the Lord and to each other. This week provided a different atmosphere in which to grow and learn. Let’s continue to be praying for the Tepic and Cofradia staff here in Mexico.

Below are some random pictures from our Taco Stand Night:

One of things I’m grateful for has been the ability to simply spend time getting to know the staff. I’ve enjoyed walking in the afternoons with a few of the ladies, a visit out to the Indian village where one staff family has recently moved, and numerous conversations over coffee or guitar music. There is something special about being able to discuss life and ministry with people of similar experiences.

Below is a picture of some of us enjoying lunch together: