March 2004

by Alan Killingsworth

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior!   It is hard to believe we have now been here in Costa Rica over 6 months!  I graduated from The Spanish Language Institute (ILE) in December 2003 and Susan returned to school in January. Language study is fun, challenging and yes, even frustrating.  We are with about 150 students of various vocations and denominations from the US and other countries who are wonderfully focused on learning to communicate the gospel message effectively in the various countries to which God has called us. 

 We live with a Christian "tico" (the nickname for Costa Ricans) family of four who have had language school students living in their home for over 16 years.  From our neighborhood, ILE is a 15-minute walk up and down the hills and across a river on a narrow footbridge. We have adjusted reasonably well and are learning the subtleties of the culture by living with a family.  We eat all our meals with our family with beans and rice at nearly every meal but also fresh tropical fruits. When it is not raining (it rains daily in Costa Rica from May to December) we enjoy talking with neighbors in a small neighborhood park. We are attending a non-denominational church with our tico family.  On Saturdays we usually go to downtown San Jose' by bus, just a 15 minute ride for about $0.50 (!). San Jose' is a great city to discover, with lots of coffee shops, markets, museums and parks. 

Susan and I have both had the opportunity to explore this beautiful country on some student outings, and to attend retreats through ILE.  The retreats are very beneficial and rewarding times, listening to the featured missionary speakers, spending time in recreational activities, and prayer with other missionaries.  Recently I had the opportunity to speak in Chapel at ILE on God's use of "holding patterns" in our lives.  It was a blessing to hear many students say it was just what they needed to hear.  We find times of encouragement are very much needed for us as "missionaries in training". 

One weekend in October, we assisted Bobby and Kathryn Hoyle and their team from Virginia in Bataan, Costa Rica in the construction of a pastor's home.   In January I went with Eugenio Quiros, a Costa Rican pastor and apostle, to Barranquilla, the fourth largest city in Colombia, to visit several new house churches.  It was a very fruitful trip with preaching, teaching, counseling and much prayer over the 10 days.  A highlight of the trip was an opportunity to speak on Christian radio station that broadcasts all over Colombia.  I also traveled to Mexico in February to visit with the missionaries who have worked with Earl Kellum to plan and discuss upcoming projects.

 

We are exploring ministry opportunities such as teaching English to Nicaraguans at the home of an ILE teacher.  Currently there are close to 100 in attendance and they all hear the gospel as part of their English lessons.  I have an opportunity to serve as a chaplain at a local hospital and will be going soon to meet with the staff.  Also, I will be preaching in April and May to the Talamanca Indians, a 5 hour drive from San Jose. We thank God for these ministry opportunities that are opening up!

   

In January two events affected us greatly.  Our son Patrick lost everything he owned in an apartment fire, except for the clothes he was wearing and his dog.  We praise God he is safe!    He was the only one in the apartment house that night and the fire detectors did not function.  We longed to be with him, but are comforted knowing that he has been receiving such attention from friends in Virginia. 

Secondly, we were deeply saddened by the death of our missionary mentor and spiritual father, Earl Kellum, on January 21. We give thanks to God for the opportunity to have known and worked with such a great servant of our Lord Jesus.  He worked in Latin America for over 50 years, giving his life for the gospel and the people.  We miss him greatly.  We will continue in the work that Earl has left behind, joining with the other missionaries and pastors that oversee the churches that Earl established.

We have occasional bouts of homesickness and there are definitely times of stress due to living in a different country, intensive language study and just being separated from family and friends. But this is true:   "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now " Philippians 1:4-5

We would appreciate prayer in these areas:

For daily closeness with our Heavenly Father

For strength and good health

For Susan's continued success learning Spanish

For direction for Alan regarding ministry opportunities with   Eugenio Quiros in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Colombia

For direction for Alan regarding additional opportunities to work with other missionaries in Peru and Cuba

alanandsusan@mac.com