I want to tell you about our Christian Spanish Academy. I believe that God has really blessed us with this program because we can teach our language and culture and give back to the community through providing jobs and community projects that are led by the students. The school has been working non- stop this year with work, ministry opportunities and receiving financial support to help maintain all of our other projects. This year we have met the greatest people through the school; individuals and families, who have all brought joy and diversity to our community. We feel proud to have a community that is safe enough to receive families even with little children. I think children are the most powerful instruments of evangelism. Beautiful Christian families have joined our school and Mission and have shared with us different ministries that are full of creativity and have impacted our community. When we received Gilles and Tammie Patenaude with their 5 children from Vancouver, Canada for 6 months in October 2005, we would never have imagined that God could actually use us to teach our culture and language to them and that a family could then transform a community. But they did, and after that our little Mission was not the same. In fact, when they left, the Mission was not so little anymore! Thank you Gilles and Tammie, God sent you here to sow a seed, to prepare the way for the Lord for many other North Americans to come and bless us with their presence and love.
During the month of May we received the Jessen Family; Kelly, Jenny and their 3 children. They were here for 8 weeks and brought their amazing “SportReach” ministry to our community. They shared the gospel through sports and had gathered many kids to play and to hear the good news. One moment that I’d like to share that happened is very special: They used a colorful soccer ball to share the gospel, each color stood for a Christian principle, such as the red colour means the sacrifice of Christ for us. When the Jessen’s went back to the US, they left the soccer balls with different children. One day, I went walking and saw a kid sitting with a friend and holding the ball and the kid was showing the colors to his friend and talking about the meaning for each of them. I think the Jessen’s opened a door for more people from Tuis to get to heaven. Thank you Kelly and Jenny. And thanks to many other families that have caused a great impact in our lives, the Coits, the Durkins, the Morris, the Summers and the Simmons.
At the end of October we received another great family: the Summer’s - Bo, Kipplyn, and their beautiful 6 children, they are going to be with us for 6 months. They are living at Barrio 70 and are already creating an impact in the neighborhood. I think we will all have a very lively Christmas with them this year! Please pray that they will learn the language soon to maximize their experience and to complement their ministry opportunities.
I could write for hours about the amazing ways we have been blessed by each and every one of our students and visitors. I would like all of them to know that they will not be forgotten and that even if they have left, a part of their heart is still here with us.
Three months ago CISA started a program designed for teenagers. The idea is that they study Spanish with us, continue their High School studies Online, and attend High School at CATIE University part time. Right now we have 2 teenagers with us taking this program: Allison Weimar (17) from Colorado and Kheersan Simmons (14) from the Bahamas. It is fantastic to see them growing, learning Spanish, being much more independent, helping the community and getting closer to God. Please recommend this program to your friends, and ask us for the information about it. I think it is great.
We have decided that as of the beginning of next year, the school will give a percentage of the students’ tuition to help pay for the future construction of our Mission center.
We trust that the coming 2008 year will be full of Gods blessings and plans for our lives. Our vision is growing and we hope to continue to keep you posted about all that happens here.
Many Blessings and Love to all our students and supporters!
Hector Soto
