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Looking Back and Thinking Forward


Hello Friends and Family!

It is that time of year again to make decisions and figure out what next year will look like except... those decisions have already been made for this year... praise God. In August I will be returning to Costa Rica to serve as the Female Student Life Director once again.
This year has brought me great joy to serve and disciple students. This year, we have seen 5 of our students commit their lives to Christ and more than that make decisions to re-dedicate themselves to the Lord. In November, nine of our students were baptized. Every day I watch my students discover what it means to die to themselves and choose to live for Jesus instead and to choose to put the needs and desires of others before their own. It meant they needed to choose to serve in their ministries even when they were tired. It meant they they had to choose to work hard in Bible and Spanish classes to the glory of God. It meant that when they were uncomfortable they had to choose an attitude of joy over complaining and so much more.
Hanging out with our youth
Though this is not always easy I trust that God will fulfill Philippians 1:6 in the lives of each of these students. He will carry on to completion what He has begun. I simply was invited to participate in that process, with these students, for the year. Now it is nearly time for them to head home to put into practice all that they have learned this year.
Girls Night
Since my last update, the students have had classes on Biblical Counseling, Biblical Finance, Romans, Discipleship, Christ in the Old Testament, Church History, James, and Colossians. This coming week I will be teaching a class on Apologetics.
This semester we have been working to give students as many opportunities as possible to experience Costa Rica, learn Spanish, and be exposed to the culture. In February, families came to visit. They were able to shadow the students in their ministries, see the city where we live and spend a day in La Furtuna near Arenal Volcano. About two weeks ago we had another guys night/girls night. We also took students to a Saprissa soccer game, did a one-day beach trip and we are planning a hike and a day trip to a river to go swimming on Monday.
DR Visit
You might have seen that I posted about traveling to the Dominican Republic. I had the incredible opportunity to rep for Lancaster Bible College at our GAP year program in the DR. This was a very encouraging, quick trip where I was able to tell their students about what LBC can offer them and also a time to see how their team leads GAP in the DR.
This past week we traveled to Panama to renew our passports and then spent two days in a beach town back in Costa Rica. We were able to take the students to Cahuita National Park and to an animal rescue center. So, if you have seen a lot of adventure pictures recently, it has been due to all the trips we have been squeezing into this semester. 
Beach trip after crossing the border to Panama
With a little less than 5 weeks to go we need prayer. Please pray that our students will pursue excellence in all that they do as our time comes to a close. Pray for the apologetics class that I am teaching this week. Pray that God would accomplish great things in all of our hearts and minds as we complete the year. Also please pray that I would be able to support raise the needed $5,000 for next year. If you are interested in partnering with me as you can do so here: Rachel Liddic- Student Life Director

Youth Group in Los Guido during parents week
This program is a major blessing to me and I am pumped that I get to serve and love another group of students. I know God is using this house, this team, this country and overall this program to make a difference in the lives of students. If you are reading this and are interested in taking a gap year please let me know! I would love to talk to you about GAP. If you are reading this and would like to partner with me to support me through prayer and/or financially please let me know.
Love has no borders,
Rachel Martha
Youth ESL Class



Children's ESL Class


Comments

  1. Rachel, I am so proud of you and how you are serving our Lord! It warms my heart! My prayers are with you always! Let me know where I can send you a check to make a little donation to your ministry. You are so blessed!
    Love you and miss you!
    Barnesy

    ReplyDelete

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