What a blessing and a privilege it is to be working here and see the fruits that the Holy Spirit has cultivated through the ministry of Pura Vida Missions. Between the short term trips over the past 7 years that I have interned for and these past 4 months of service with my wife, I have spent probably a little over a years worth of time here; and I have seen so much. We always tell our missionaries that it may "seem" insignificant what they do. I mean how is playing jump rope and painting Jesus' robe blue in a craft really going to prepare this child to pick up his cross and follow Christ? Well I can confidently tell you that in the 7 years that Pura Vida has ministered to San Ramon, these children are beginning to pick up their crosses and follow Jesus.
At Church last Sunday in Linda Vista, we had probably a total of 14 people; decent numbers for this small, poor, heavily Mormon ministered town. Half of these numbers were kids, 5 of which came without their parents! Pastor Carlos made a wonderful comment in Church as he noticed his demographics; "mira las frutas de nuestro hermanos Norte Americanos de Pura Vida Missions. Aquí están los niños que tienen a ministerd." Which means look at the fruit of our N. America brothers from PVM. Here are the kids they have minister to. "Wow", I thought. When I was these kids age, you could not have paid me to not only go to Church without my parents, but also sit through a loud, 2 hr service.
Then, Marjorie and Natalya were discipiling a family in our sponsorship program last week, and as they were talking about how Jesus is the way the truth and the life, the mother spoke up and said that she believed that all religions worshiped the same god and that all ways lead to heaven. Before the girls could step in, her teenage son respectfully corrected his mother with truth from scripture on how Jesus IS the ONLY way to the Father! What?!? That story blew me away when the girls came back and shared that with me. Disciples with a boldness are being created in this program!
Last, Pura Vida Missions has never experienced such interest from within Costa Rica to have volunteers. After this summer, all of our 'Tico' translators have expressed a desire to continue working with (either full-time or volunteer) Pura Vida Missions and we have had inquiries from people who only know about us! The point is, the presence of this ministry has settled its roots deeply here and the people of this land want a part of whatever the Holy Spirit is doing. Pura Vida Missions is now raising up leaders in this land to take San Ramon for the Lord!
Please continue to pray for us and this ministry; that the Lord will be gracious unto us and continue to allow us to grow and show us where the need is in this city.
¡Pura Vida!
Jamie Clemens
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Relying on Him
Ok, so I admit, I often ask the Lord why He has Jamie and I here. Don't get me wrong, we love and enjoy Costa Rica and all the wonderful people and definitely have affirmation to serve here BUT, we find ourselves sometimes unprepared, or not experienced enough for situations we would have never expected. One of these instances happened 15 days after we arrived in Costa Rica to serve full-time.
Jamie and I sponsor a little boy named Carlitos. For the past few years Jamie has served here, he has had the opportunity to create a friendship with this incredible little boy. So a year ago, we sponsored him, and continue to do so....this is how much we believe in the vision and mission of the PVM Sponsorship Program. Well, shortly after we arrive, we find out that Carlitos's 4 year old brother was run over by a car, in critical condition and rushed to the hospital. Our heart broke for this family that we love so much, and also to know that Carlitos's mom was 5 months pregnant. What do you say in this situation? We are "missionaries" now, we should know exactly what to do, right? We decided to bring the family some food, and we prayed, and then prayed some more.
Praise the Lord, Carlitos's brother did survive the accident and miraculously only carries a long scar in the back of his head as a reminder of the accident. However, a few months later, tragedy hit again. Carlitos's mom, Jesus Maria, lost her precious baby at 9 months. Marjorie and I visit her home, and all that the runs through my mind is... I'm 26 years old...I have no idea what she is going through, I have never lost a child....God give me words, Holy Spirit give me Your words. The only thing that comes to mind is Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is --- His good, pleasing and perfect will. I have no idea why God gave me this verse, but I felt that I needed to affirm her that although we can't understand suffering in this world we need to understand and take hold of the truth that His will, is good, that it is pleasing and that it is perfect, and that she is never alone in her suffering. Once scripture was spoken, tears began to flow and Marjorie and I held her, cried and prayed with her. In that moment, I truly felt a blanket of God's love surround us.
I wake up everyday feeling ill-equipped, because I am. Then Jamie and I Ephesians 6:10 it up, and put on the full Armor of God, one piece at a time. We get ready for battle everyday, and I really can't believe that I never prepared like this before until my employment status on facebook changed to "missionary". May I never walk through this life thinking that I've got it all under control. There is no way that Jamie and I can prepare for everything that hits us here, we don't have a plan B or C. So its no wonder we would truly discover who our God is in a place where all we can do is rely on Him.
So Pura Vida Family, can you join in praying for Carlitos's family? Pray for comfort, peace, and an abundance of joy for this family who has suffered so much. Also, if you're interested in sponsoring a child like Jamie and I do, please visit www.puravidamissions.com and check out our Child Sponsorship page, as you help change a life, yours will be changed as well.
Because He lives,
Natalya Clemens
Jamie and I sponsor a little boy named Carlitos. For the past few years Jamie has served here, he has had the opportunity to create a friendship with this incredible little boy. So a year ago, we sponsored him, and continue to do so....this is how much we believe in the vision and mission of the PVM Sponsorship Program. Well, shortly after we arrive, we find out that Carlitos's 4 year old brother was run over by a car, in critical condition and rushed to the hospital. Our heart broke for this family that we love so much, and also to know that Carlitos's mom was 5 months pregnant. What do you say in this situation? We are "missionaries" now, we should know exactly what to do, right? We decided to bring the family some food, and we prayed, and then prayed some more.
 |
| This is Jamie (and his majestic hair) with our Carlitos! |
I wake up everyday feeling ill-equipped, because I am. Then Jamie and I Ephesians 6:10 it up, and put on the full Armor of God, one piece at a time. We get ready for battle everyday, and I really can't believe that I never prepared like this before until my employment status on facebook changed to "missionary". May I never walk through this life thinking that I've got it all under control. There is no way that Jamie and I can prepare for everything that hits us here, we don't have a plan B or C. So its no wonder we would truly discover who our God is in a place where all we can do is rely on Him.
So Pura Vida Family, can you join in praying for Carlitos's family? Pray for comfort, peace, and an abundance of joy for this family who has suffered so much. Also, if you're interested in sponsoring a child like Jamie and I do, please visit www.puravidamissions.com and check out our Child Sponsorship page, as you help change a life, yours will be changed as well.
Because He lives,
Natalya Clemens
Monday, September 5, 2011
Linda Vista/ Beautiful View
Iglesia Cristiana Virtud y Amor de Dios. This is the church that Jamie and I attended Sunday morning in Linda Vista. This area is one of the newest sites that Pura Vida Missions missionary teams started visiting this past summer to do Vacation Bible School and Construction Projects. Pastor Carlos graciously let us use his little church with dirt floors (well, dirt floors at the time till Harvest Bible Chapel from Palm Beach Gardens came in and laid down concrete floors and put in bathrooms) so we could hide out with the kids from the afternoon downpours. Linda Vista, which means "beautiful view" in Spanish, is definitely just that. The dirt road is lined with small, tin-roofed houses and crisscrossed, low hanging power lines that lead up to this beautiful view of San Ramon and surrounding mountains. There is just something about this place. The Lord continues to tug on my heart every time I step foot there.
So as we are walking into church I was greeted by some of the kids that I had made a special connection with this summer. There were some wooden pews added and about 12 adults and 7 kids who attended. As I'm worshipping and listening to the message given by a visiting Pastor I sensed desperation around me. Not desperation for the things of this world but for the Lord. The message recharged me and the Holy Spirit moved in this little church with just a boom box for worship and pin holes in the tin roof for light to enter. I couldn't stop looking at the girls from our summer VBS who came to church even though their parents didn't attend. There was such an affirmation of our missionary teams that served at this site this past summer sitting on those old wooden pews. Linda Vista, beautiful view, this place is definitely giving me a beautiful view of who the Lord is, and who I want to be through Him.
I once received a letter from a church secretary during a really tragic time in my life and she signed off with "Because He Lives", words to one of my favorite hymns that really put my life and purpose in a clear perspective. May it do the same for you.
Because He Lives,
Natalya Clemens
So as we are walking into church I was greeted by some of the kids that I had made a special connection with this summer. There were some wooden pews added and about 12 adults and 7 kids who attended. As I'm worshipping and listening to the message given by a visiting Pastor I sensed desperation around me. Not desperation for the things of this world but for the Lord. The message recharged me and the Holy Spirit moved in this little church with just a boom box for worship and pin holes in the tin roof for light to enter. I couldn't stop looking at the girls from our summer VBS who came to church even though their parents didn't attend. There was such an affirmation of our missionary teams that served at this site this past summer sitting on those old wooden pews. Linda Vista, beautiful view, this place is definitely giving me a beautiful view of who the Lord is, and who I want to be through Him.
 |
| My girls from Linda Vista |
I once received a letter from a church secretary during a really tragic time in my life and she signed off with "Because He Lives", words to one of my favorite hymns that really put my life and purpose in a clear perspective. May it do the same for you.
Because He Lives,
Natalya Clemens
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