Did You Know?

Slave trade makes more than thirty two billion dollars a year. That’s more than Wal-Mart, Coke, and McDonald's combined. A side of Costa Rica that you will not see in your local travel agents’ offices:

Costa Rica is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. (Source: US Embassy – Costa Rica)

On the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat sex slavery.

 And...

"The Protection Project" identified Costa Rica as becoming "a rival to Thailand and the Philippines as one of the world’s leading destinations for sex tourism."

"The Tico Times" reported that an estimated 15 to 25% of all visitors to Costa Rica have all or part of their vacation and travel plans within the sex trade or gambling that is available here.

However, this problem is not limited to 3rd world countries....it's also happening in the USA and Canada....here is a video that will give you a glimpse of this reality. PLEASE PRAY. We must not be slack ...God has given us the ability and tools to fight against the enemies schemes. Do not give up.

http://www.frcblog.com/2011/02/planned-parenthood-talks-child-prostitution-with-liveaction/

Calling all of those who have been set free from the things that once held you in bondage, calling all those who once walked in darkness but now live in the light. Brothers and sisters ....we must hit our knees. Fasting, prayer, daily repentance....Merciful Father, please instil within us urgent hearts. Help us to be active and not dormant....awaken my (our) heart(s), help us to be productive in the Kingdom and fight. No more games. Life is short...and in the end what will we have to show...only the things of Christ will last. All else fades.

2 Peter 3:9-18

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. In which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for the new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation- as also our brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

So what is God calling you to? Ask. He will answer you. What is your role?

We're in this together.

Commission our Souls.

                                               :::COMMISSION MY SOUL:::

                                       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdiFvye6EQs

                                             In the picture above: from left to right.
Bob and his wife - headed to Dominican Republic where they will be directors of a boys orphanage.
Brian and his family - Honduras.
Shannon and his family - Honduras - he will be doing some agriculture work while his wife will be a teacher.
Tahiri - Costa Rica... our wonderful language teacher.
Michelle and her family - are on their way to Ecuador.
Melissa- undecided :)

                                                   

Please pray for us.

What can I pray for you about?

Love,

Melissa

2 Chron 16:9
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose  heart is loyal to Him.

like a fire....

Gracias a Dios - Thanks to God

This week, I had a conversation with a fellow missionary who has been ministering in Costa Rica for over 20 years now with his wife. Anyways...in our conversation I mentioned a certain city that I have a huge heart for (the seed was planted in 2008!) and how I was pursuing the possibility of that city as my ministry placement after language school. His response surprised me... it went something like this: "why would you ever want to go there it’s so dark...don’t you hear everyone saying how much they don’t like **** He went on to emphasize what a dark place it was, etc" Later in the evening in conversation he mentioned to a girl sitting behind me that I wanted to go to **** and her response was "why would you want to go there" ---in a bit of the same attitude as the man. My response to them was this: "that is exactly why" YOUR RESPONSE IS THE REASON WHY I WANT TO GO THERE. HELLO aren't we called to bring light to darkness!! Why else would I be here?? Why else would I be investing my time for this next year to learn another language?? What in the world people!!
You know, I actually had the opportunity to visit the city that I am interested in working in after school for one night last week and it was a huge awakening... minsitries and churches seem to be tired out and dormant in the city......but I don't believe it is going to stay that way.
It is a dark place... there is a lot of drugs, prostitution is ramped, it is impoverished, it is dirty, it is full of darkness. The enemy enjoys this city.

The call of God to His church is it not to minister HIS LOVE to the lost. Matt 9:12 Those who are well have no need of a physician but thus are sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

So much more that we could find in the Word but I will leave it at that for today.

On another note I would like to share an encouragement the Lord gave me yesterday: It was mid afternoon and I was our running in the local neighbourhood; after running for whatever reason I decided to sit at the local park on a bench and watch the kids that were skateboarding (I have never done this before....) anyways after about 15 minutes a man approached me with a tract and of course I let him know that I was also a Christian ...we began talking and I shared that I was in language school and am a missionary here.....and where I was hoping to go after school......WELL""""""""" turns out that he was at the park with his church and he and his wife help out with the kids at church and they also have a church in **** where I am praying about going! Nonetheless he introduced me to the pastor and we made plans for them to pick me up for church today! Well CHURCH WAS AMAZING.... (I didn’t understand the message but it was preached with such passion) and the worship the same way..... :) The people were so welcoming...everything I thought it should be for welcoming new people. I AM HUGE on welcoming new comers and making sure that they feel comfortable and loved and a part of the community. (Of course for me I am already a lover of Jesus but I always watch carefully a church in how they welcome people...because to me that speaks volumes of the church and their vision!! I am so blessed to have had this divine appointment... Thank you so much Jesus. He is so caring for His children. :)
The title of this blog is "like a fire"....because.......you see the pastor while preaching...preached as though HE COULD NOT HOLD THE WORD IN....you know like how Jeremiah explained that he tried to be silent but he just couldn't be...he said in 20:9 that His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not. 
So, I guess I wanted that to be an encouragement, challenge and reminder of the POWER OF HIS WORD....its 100% TRUE. And may it be like a FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES THAT I CAN NOT WITHHOLD!

Blessings and love!!

:) Melissa

Issues of the Heart...

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

                                                       

(NKJV) Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

(NIV)  Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

What is in our hearts? Search my heart oh God, show me what the content is.

Hey people...On my way to a bible study right now... (FYI: completely in Spanish...not that I understand everything...but it is great practice and a great way to meet local believers.)

More to come soon....

Praying for God's heart to be my heart,

:) Melissa W

Nothing with out You.

1 Cor 4:7 (NLT)
What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?

Matt 5:3, 5
"The poor, who have nothing in themselves, to them the kingdom comes. The meek, who seek nothing in themselves, theirs will be the earth.  The blessings of heaven and earth are for the lowly. For the heavenly and the earthly life, humility is the secret blessing."   -Andrew Murray

God is good...all the time

This week: I was and am reminded to ask for God's help...I need HIM; I can't do this on my own.

Yesterday my dad and step mom flew in to CR and I was so very blessed to be able to spend last night and this morning with them before they went on their way! I will be joining them this weekend and am REALLY looking forward to getting to see them again!

Prayer Requests: Direction for ministry partnerships.
Also, please be praying for God's intervention specifically for the problem of prostitution in this country. My heart has been heavy with the reality that not only is prostitution prominent here but more specifically child prostitution. It's absolutely repulsive... helpless children who are either forced in to this muck or feel so helpless and that this is their only way to survive. The fact is that people from North America come and pay and or are running this junk. Pray for the children, pray for the women and men involved in the sex industry. Pray for God's intervention.

Thank you!! Grace and peace be multiplied unto you and yours.

:) M