Costa Rica is a Central American country about
the size of West Virginia, with a population of about four million
people. About 80 miles north of San Jose is the town of Canas,
where you will find a small group of enthusiastic Christians who
are working diligently for Christ. Their new preacher, Eisen Dominguez,
is a graduate of the Bible School of the Americas in Panama.
Nine of us went from five congregations in three
states to work in Canas from January 12 to January 18. This campaign
was under the oversight of the elders of the Alkire Rd. church
in Grove City, OH, and was led by their preacher, Mark Bass.
The main emphasis of our work was a six-night
Gospel Meeting. We shared the preaching duties, focusing on the
first principles of the doctrine of Christ. It was my privilege
to preach on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. Sixty to seventy
people attended each night, including several visitors. Jack Gilchrist
preached on Sunday evening. Four precious souls responded to be
baptized, and seven others requested prayer. Others indicated
their intention to be baptized in the next few days.
The days were spent knocking doors and conducting
Bible studies. We found a refreshing receptivity. The first morning
Darleen and I, along with Joshua our translator, knocked on five
doors and conducted two Bible studies. We also scheduled one appointment
to come back that afternoon. Our group, as a whole, conducted
approximately sixty Bible studies and left the church with several
good contacts. Let us pray that the seed sown will even yet take
root and produce fruit.
Each afternoon the ladies conducted a Vacation
Bible School for ages three to ten. Approximately forty children
attended each day. Darleen helped with this effort and was impressed
with the warmth and teaching ability of Nancy Cruz, the Christian
sister who taught their class of six through ten-year-olds. Over
twenty children were crowded into a small classroom with no windows
or air conditioning.
We were also impressed with the wonderful, enthusiastic
singing at each worship assembly. Although the songs were in Spanish,
we were able to sing along with many of them in English.
The Christians in Canas literally welcomed us
with open arms. They encouraged us as much as we encouraged them.
It was an emotional evening when we said our "good-byes."
In spite of the language barrier, we made friends that we will
treasure throughout eternity.
Costa Rica is a land of diverse agriculture and
beautiful scenery. We saw mangos, coffee, bananas, coconuts, sugar
cane, and cashews growing. We ate fresh oranges and pineapples.
We saw beautiful mountains, lakes, and rivers. We even saw three
active volcanoes. However, more importantly, we saw souls in need
of the saving blood of Christ.
God has told us to spread the Gospel to the whole
world. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). I hope that we helped
in some small way in Costa Rica. -2863 East High St., Springfield,
OH 45505. Churchchrist@aol.com