Our Time Here in CINCEL is Coming to an End

      We are in the middle of our second semester here at CINCEL.  It feels a little odd being the veterans here on campus. We have a smaller group compared to last semester,  but we are enjoying our time getting to know everyone personally. Although we had so much fun with all our missionary friends from our first semester, we are also blessed to have so much fun with a smaller group this semester. God has found ways to help us experience different seasons and different perspectives so that our family can learn and understand how we can be content in all things. The girls have experienced so much love and care this semester. We are so overwhelmed how God has put so many amazing people here to help us grow and discover the importance of family. With a smaller group, which we like to call the power of 7, it is easy to become more intentional and purposeful with one another. Here are the powerful missionaries of  CINCEL 2016 First Tri:

The Castros- Brian and Michel Castro are missionaries called to serve in Santiago, Chile. They have a passion to share the gospel to  students in universities. The are part of the Chi Alpha group, and they also have an amazing talent in photography and making videos. We pray that their ministry will soar and that they will be able to use all their giftings in their future ministry! 

Beth Shaffer- a former fourth grade teacher who is here as a missionary called to serve in the country of Ecuador. She will be working with an indigenous tribe known as the Quicha.  She has a passion for helping women find their identities in Christ. Our children often refer to her as Beth Shaker, which could be a prophetic name that could mean that she will be shaking dimensions of this world to stir up passion for the love of Christ! 

Beth Ellen Glenn- our dear missionary friend who has received a call from God to also serve in Ecuador in the administrative side of the mission field. She is an intelligent woman who loves the Lord with all her heart, and is admirable for her devotion and obedience to follow God's call on her life. My heart has connected so much with Beth Ellen because we have so much in common, and we are so excited to see how God is going to use our friendship to further His kingdom! 

Last but certainly not the least...

Kiersten Hakes- Kiersten is another veteran student here at CINCEL.  Her ministry is to serve the people of Nicaragua. Kiersten is part of our family... she is an aunt to our children, and she is priceless beyond measure. Kiersten is so many things that one could write pages and pages of all the wonderful things God has used her to touch people's lives, but to try to wrap it up in one word for me, she is truly " Irreplaceable! ". Her wisdom is definitely way past her years and her love for the Lord is pure and genuine. We love you Kiersten! 

Honorable Mentions:

The Selers- Denny and Debby, directors of CINCEL, have been a tremendous blessing to us. They may be our directors, but they have a genuine servant's heart. They have also been the grandparent figures for our daughters here at CINCEL.  We have the utmost respect for these two leaders, and we are so thankful for all they do for the students.

Jeremy Wootten- Assistant to the director, CINCEL also known as "The Enforcer." We appreciate Jeremy for all the things he does here at CINCEL. We often refer him as the "glue" that holds everything together. Thank you for all that you do.

     There are 8 more weeks to go before we graduate, and I am already discarding items that we won't need to bring back to the U.S. We are also planning our food purchases to make sure that we don't leave an excess of food behind. Costa Rica has been a wonderful experience, and our girls have learned to call this place home...of course you know the saying " Home is where your heart is... where we can also say,  Home is where  mommy and daddy is...or Home is where our toys live...

      It has hit me by surprise how attached I have become to this amazing country.  As our semester is speedily coming to an end, we want to thank everyone who have been faithfully praying and partnering with us through these months of learning Spanish, and to prepare ourselves for the real journey ahead of us which is the journey to El Salvador.