Costa Rica Update #2

Here is the trip update from the Costa Rica Team!

Hi,

We have now completed the ministry portion of the trip, with the exception of one last school visit we will do tomorrow. Here is a synopsis of the ministry

Friday, July 23

We go to Curridabat to work with a church that is beginning Awana for the first time. Today, we go with the church to a very poor neighborhood to do ministry. As we walk through the alleyway, the church members knock on doors and invite the people to see our ministry. We stop in an alleyway and begin the ministry. We have 80 people watching, we share the gospel and Pastor's wife gives an invitation. They then invite them to their first Awana Club set for the next evening. We continue on and stop at a second location. At this point, thunderstorms are threatening, so we pray God will hold the rain back and He does. We share the gospel with another group of 50. Wow, this was an amazing experience of ministry for the team. We don't know how many accepted the invitation but we know there were some!

Saturday, July 24

This morning, we go into the closest neighborhood to the church at Curridabat. This is an area that is very closed to the gospel. It is a completely different experience for the team. We invite the families to the neighboring park for a ministry and also to Awana. We go to the park and nobody is there. We decide to do the ministry because God has called us and one father comes with his little girl. We minister to them. We notice that a couple more people stop and watch from a distance. The team has a great time working with the one little girl and share the gospel with her. The team learns that it's not about numbers - God cares about one. Later, we help the church run their first ever Awana club. They have 50 children and we run all of the elements of a club night.

Sunday, July 25

We go to the Robileato Children's home in the morning and run an Awana Club for about 100 children. This home is for children of families who can not care for them. It is a safe haven for the children where they live in house groups of 12 children with a house mother. In the evening, we go to a church that has not ever done Awana. We run an Awana-type program for 30 children. The entire time we are working with the children Mike Day, the missionary we are working with, talked with the children's Pastor about Awana. He tells us the next day that the church decided to start Awana. Praise God.

Monday, July 26

We go back to the Robileato Children's home where they are celebrating the annexation of the province of Nicoyo. Wow, this was a schedule conflict where the team was supposed to do ministry for the entire school, but instead, we get to join in with this cultural celebration. They wear costumes, do cultural dances, music, and traditional food. It is an amazing time for the team to experience the cultural in an incredible setting. They even teach us how to do the cultural dances. Later, in the afternoon, we share the gospel with them from a much different position because of the bonding that has occurred that morning.

God has truly blessed this team in the amount and wide variety of ministry opportunities He has given us.

Thank you for your prayers,

Raeann, Randy, and Mike

Costa Rica Team Leaders

South Korea Update!

Hey everyone,

Below is the latest from our South Korea YMI Team:

Wanted to update you on our trip so far. The ministry has been wonderful. Our first ministry was in Yeosu where the 2012 Expo will be held. We had approximately 70 to 80 children. The YMI College Team [They are in South Korea for six weeks.] was a big help. The church members enjoyed seeing the teens as well as Ron and I doing song motions. While in Yeosu we visited the 2012 Expo under construction and went across the longest bridge in Korea. We were near the Sea so weather was hot and humid.

Our next ministry site was in Ilsan. The local children cried when Katie, Maggie, Emily, and Katherine left. The Korean teenagers were helpers in the English school so they had also become very attached to our team. The Awana church members took us to see a live Korea theatre play in Seoul. We were able to have our pictures taken with the actors after the performance. Chris and Emilee were chosen from the audience during the performance to come on stage and help with the activities. They both were given gifts by the actors. The Awana commander was so impressed with the team that he asked for them to participate in the closing Awana meeting of their season by doing songs and leading games.

We are at our third ministry site. We are getting ready to begin our first day of registration and evaluation before beginning teaching. All of the churches members, missionaries, etc have been extremely gracious and kind to us.

Please pray that we can finish well for Jesus, that we maintain good health, and that we can be a blessing to the children and ministry in Korea.

Blessings,

Ron and Marilyn Bidwell

YMI South Korea Team Leaders

Costa Rica Update

Here is an update from the Costa Rica Team Leaders sharing about their ministry!

Hi,

We have completed three full days of ministry. The first day we were able to run the Sunday School program as the church did not have any of their normal volunteers. It was a great opportunity for the team to do their first ministry in a less demanding environment. The ministry was well received and the team gained confidence and skills doing it.

Monday, we went to a local school where we ministered and shared the gospel with 300 to 400 students. Wow, that was a challenge and a ton of fun. In the afternoon, we went to a local rugged basketball court between two apartment complexes. This was a new venue for the missionary and he enjoyed seeing how the team responded. The pastor came with us. We had about 25 children. 8 of them accepted the Lord. The Pastor was so excited and charged in his ministry.

Tuesday, we had two ministries at the church. In the afternoon, we had 4 children who do not attend the church. In addition, 5 children accepted the Lord. We had a church service in the evening. The four new children returned with their families. The team was asked to sing two worship songs for the church in both English and Spanish. It was an amazing time of seeing how God works through His church throughout the world.

Wednesday, we went to a new area - Alahueto. We went to a government run school for children who do not have home environments that can care for them. We had 64 children from 2 to 6 years old. There were also a lot of Nicuarguan refugee children at the school. We shared the love of God with them. It was an amazing time. We have seen the team grow in their ability to minister and reach out to so many children in a wide variety of settings.

Upcoming ministries - We will be working with a brand new Awana Club, teaching leaders, and two other clubs. We will work in a children's home, three additional schools and do relationship building in a strong Catholic area that has no evangelistic church. God has really blessed us with many opportunities to serve Him.

All praise and glory to the Lord!

Raeann, Mike, and Randy
Costa Rica Team Leaders

South Korea 2-Week Team Update

Here is the latest update, received minutes ago, from our 2-week YMI Team in South Korea.

Hey all,

Just wanted to let you know that the ministry has been going great. Billy Lee (the Awana Korea National Director) has told us he is very pleased with how things have gone. We have had an average of 70 - 80 children. We are off today after ministry to another church. We have had very full days. We will update you again later.

Blessings,

Marilyn Bidwell

YMI South Korea Team Leader

Costa Rica Update

We just received another quick note from the Costa Rica Team!

I just want to let you know all is well with the team. They had a great time of ministry at the school (over 300 kids), and then in the community.

God bless,

Mike Day

Awana Missionary in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Team Arrives

The Costa Rica team has arrived safely. Here is a short message from the missionary.

I just want to let you know the team arrived safe. They already had breakfast and now they are at the church.

Mike Day

Awana Missionary in Costa Rica

Please be in prayer for this team as they minister in schools and daycares in the San Jose area.

YMI South Korea 2-Week Team Arrives!

Hey all,

Our YMI Team (the 2-week team from the Sacramento area) has arrived in Seoul, South Korea! Below is a message from the leaders:

Hey all,

We have arrived in Seoul. It was a great flight. We have been met Awana Korea staff here. More to come later.

Be blessed!

Marilyn Bidwell

YMI Korea Team Leader

The 2-week team is linking up with YMI's 6-week college team to do English camps. Keep praying for the group and we will update you as we receive any information on the team!

YMI Staff