Twenty-One Days and Counting

There is lots of frenzy going on right now.  People shopping for Christmas presents, parties, parades, preparation.  Yes, it’s that time of the year again.  And time, well that seems to just disappear as we fill our days and evenings with various family commitments, work obligations and even social events. 

In my Blackaby devotional reading today, “Time pressures will attack the good in your life. Your time to pray, study Scripture, be with your family, and serve in your church will all be pressured by the many other time demands you face.  You may give generously to your church and other Christian causes, but you will be tempted to spend your money selfishly and minimize the good you are going with your finances.” 

GUILTY!  That’s me.  I met a few girlfriends at the mall last week for a ‘special event’ at Bloomingdales. It was one of those private-invitation only, where they serve you champagne and martini’s and butler’s walk around with food to munch, all the while you are supposed to be shopping for their ‘great deals’ (which is kind of a oxymoron considering it’s Bloomingdale’s!) It was seriously a challenge for me not to get caught up in the moment, and spend money that I really don’t have, to just treat myself.  Because, after all, I really do deserve it, right? 

Satan has a very unique way of infiltrating our Christmas celebrations.  We kind of put Jesus and God in the back seat while we prepare for Christmas.  It’s the Black Friday, Cyber-Monday, and well, I’m too tired . . . so instead of going to church, I sleep in on Sunday.  The Devil is very cunning that way.  We become so busy that we seriously forget what we are supposed to be celebrating.

Years ago when I was a student at Palm Beach Atlantic University, one of the highlights of December for me was their Advent Guide. I was joyfully delighted this year when I found the Advent Guide on the PBAU website available to download.  It’s been my morning reminder to focus on God’s word. It helps me prepare and focus on the most important relationship needing attention this time of the year.  My relationship with My Savior.  

So today, if you are getting caught up in the countdown to Christmas and also need a reminder, I share with you from Luke, Chapter 2  . . .

 “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  AMEN.

Lisa Sorenson

2012 Theme: iWill follow

Hey everybody! We are so excited to announce our theme for next year, iWill follow. Come serve with us and through servant leadership, intentional devotion time with the Lord and through our speakers, learn what it means to follow the example of Christ and lead others to do the same. All the while, serving the locals here in San Ramon who are in need of the love of Christ.

Understanding our Father's Heart

Lately God has been challenging me with "the big question". What is God's will for my life? We spend our lives thinking and wondering what is the purpose He has for our life? Often times we pray, "Lord, your will be done in my life!" But behind those words, is there really selfishness and self-centeredness? The reality is that we really think everything is about us and the correct question should just be, "God what is your will?"Period.

Once I know His will, I can adjust my life to it. The focus must be God, not me.

John 5:19-20
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.


When we truly know our Father we begin to be like Him and do what He does, this is how His desires become fulfilled before my own. I need to understand that everything He has done and will do is ultimately for the honor and glory of His name. Out of all of creation He chose and gave us the privilege of having His image and likeness; we were given the title of His children even when we didn't deserve it.

I cannot be so proud and ignorant to think that ALL that He has done is only simply to please us. It goes beyond that, life is not about me, its about Him. The Lord recently put this on my heart and it rocked my world, but I had to ask myself, if this whole time I was really living for His will alone...why does this rock me so much?

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


2 Corinthians 5:15
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

As a missionary translator for Pura Vida Missions, I'm not sure whether the Lord will have me stay or call me out of my country, all I do know is the center of His will is what I want. Missions is not just another church ministry, it is the heart of the Father to rescue His lost children. So if this is His desire, than its mine too. I am grateful and indebted to Him, and I believe that when we can truly come to a place to wrap our heads around this we can start to understand our Father's heart.

~Mar

Ordinary + Risk = Incredible

Every once in a while God lets you be a part of something incredible. I remember the first time I stepped off the plane in Costa Rica with a mission team of slightly nervous teenagers in the summer of 2000. I had no idea back then that God would use that trip to spark a journey, for me, that is 11 years old. I still have to pinch myself from time to time because it’s hard for me to believe that I’ve had a big role in starting and leading Pura Vida Missions. 

See, I’ve always thought of myself as a pretty ordinary guy with a slightly above average quotient for risk. But what I’ve come to discover is that this is just the combination God uses to unlock the innate creativity placed in the heart of each of us. In other words, your “ordinary” talents + a bit of faith-filled risk = incredible things for the Kingdom of God.

I remember the last part of that mission trip in 2000 as well. We’d finished the week of ministry and were leaving the children we worked with all week. It’s one of the few times I’ve audibly heard the voice of God. Want to know what He said? He said, “You can do more.”

Most of us live our life thinking we’ve done enough or that we don’t have anything worth giving. Both are lies.

Call me naive but I believe exactly what Jesus said, “with God all things are possible.” You just have to dream a little and risk a little. God will take care of the rest.

Here we are in 2011. Pura Vida Missions is entering it’s 8th year soon. We’ve taken 1,000’s of short term missionaries on trips that have changed countless lives. We sponsor 100+ children to go to school. We’ve done countless construction projects and we’re in the 3rd year of having full-time missionaries on the ground in San Ramon. 

This is just the tip of the iceberg and it’s truly something incredible. I’m honored that God let’s me be a part of it.  - Albert

¡Las Frutas!

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

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.

This is Jamie (and his majestic hair) with our Carlitos!

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

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.

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