tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82557227594372830102024-03-13T08:29:34.132-06:00CarpentersFootstepsTraveling 7/21-31 to Costa Rica to work with two communities to build churches and share our combined faith journey. We return to Miramar for the 4th time to Iglesia Casa del Alfarero to finish the dining area and restrooms. Working with their sister church Casa Emmanuel to pour concrete floor and building pews. Bible School for children in both communities helping them learn the gospel. The sewing ministry continues at Casa del Alfarero. We are excited to share what we are doing with you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-45314052358918629912014-07-24T21:44:00.002-06:002014-07-24T21:44:51.500-06:00On to the Job Sites - Reunited and WorkingThis morning, everyone in the group headed to the Iglesia Casa del Alfarero (The Potters House Church) in Miramar. Reunited with many of our friends the first order of business was hugs and hellos. The church here is growing steadily and quickly there was concrete being mixed, blocks being unloaded, and the sewing projects. Dr Efren along with many helpful assistants, helped clean and doctor a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-30072042278942190182014-07-21T22:07:00.001-06:002014-07-21T22:07:17.805-06:00All 39 Carpenters Have Arrived Safely in Costa Rica The 39 participants in this year's 'In The Carpenters Footsteps' mission team woke up early Monday morning (some never going to bed packing and/or with anticipation) to fly to Costa Rica. Many people have confirmed that though they are completely exhausted…they are ready to serve the people of Miramar in the name of Christ. We met up for our reflections at the end of the day and the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-44494746294769511602013-07-26T09:52:00.001-06:002013-07-26T09:52:13.465-06:00The Banner has been created!As one of the craft projects each child was given a square of white cotton fabric on which they were to create their own "reflection" of what they learned in bible study this week. The women of the "sewing ministry" created the colorful panels onto which the "reflection" squares were sewn. What's so neat is that each square has the child's name and their Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-35211320530800370192013-07-26T09:44:00.000-06:002013-07-26T09:45:01.791-06:00the incredible leaders of Sunday schoolThese women have done an incredible job teaching the children the Word of God. They are my heroes! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-57220572747547874732013-07-26T09:42:00.001-06:002013-07-26T09:42:46.829-06:00The winners are!Here are some of the back packs won by the children for reciting their scripture verses. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-88387147556149423832013-07-26T09:35:00.001-06:002013-07-26T09:35:56.422-06:00Our work here is done - for nowThe last day of our work but what a treasure. Because Sonia is not here I had the pleasure of participating in the bible memorization challenge and it was such a blessing. Pastor Pablo wanted us to focus on the younger children, so in the age group 1 - 11 we had about 70+ children. Of those, about 37 asked to participate in the bible memorization. There are 10 scripture verses, and some are Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-80993514210585747152013-07-24T21:38:00.001-06:002013-07-24T21:38:43.721-06:00Even those who have little are giving of themselvesThis is our friend, Christian, from the previous church of Pastor Carlos. He is a very skilled craftsman and he has a heart for God. Last year when he was out of work, he offered to come to the new church and help us work. To do so, he has to ride several miles by bicycle to our hotel to catch the bus up the mountain to the new church, then reverse the process at the end of the day. Last yearUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-71118466157628535102013-07-24T21:32:00.001-06:002013-07-24T21:32:29.936-06:00The pews are done!The wood working crew finished the pews and they have been stained and ready for the next church service. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-84637625126871993712013-07-24T21:30:00.000-06:002013-07-24T21:31:03.396-06:00The children prepared their own "reflection"of what the past week's lessons meant to them. These will be sewn onto the panels that will decorate the walls of the church and which we will show you tomorrow. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-23332144446895265022013-07-24T21:28:00.001-06:002013-07-24T21:28:22.756-06:00Our work here is going great!The work progresses (slowly now) on the tile in the sanctuary and most of the walls have had 2 coats of primer in preparation for the paint. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-24871343124604669672013-07-23T17:18:00.001-06:002013-07-23T17:18:20.108-06:00Special service todayWe had a special service today with the dedication of a very special sewing machine for the church. All the children prayed and Dr. Carbonelle sang a beautiful song. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-53430557775925315222013-07-23T17:16:00.001-06:002013-07-23T17:16:20.761-06:00The children are so creative!We decorated the t shirts with the youngest children today. They are so creative and they love using bright colors! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-23310659242192550252013-07-23T17:13:00.000-06:002013-07-23T17:14:00.461-06:00The tile in the sanctuary is making great progressIt's amazing to me how they are managing to lay tile while we walk all over it and paint primer all around them on the walls, but they do! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-50413470939686577792013-07-23T17:11:00.001-06:002013-07-23T17:11:24.110-06:00The walls are almost ready for the paintThis is the coat of primer. Carlos is a wonderful member of the church and his wife, Johanna is one of my helpers with the children. He is being helped by Duane Searcy. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-30726832905349993402013-07-23T17:08:00.001-06:002013-07-23T17:08:40.611-06:00What an awesome day in the KingdomWe had an incredible day today! The walls inside the sanctuary are prepared to paint, the tile is being laid in the sanctuary and work is progressing very quickly. We have the supplies we need and that makes a big difference in having work for so many willing hands! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-28192938219988675372013-07-22T20:08:00.001-06:002013-07-22T20:08:24.891-06:00The lessons we learn are passed down from one generation to anotherWoodworking is a Skipper family tradition. Jim passes his skill down to his granddaughter Nicole. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-48753347965678500532013-07-22T20:06:00.001-06:002013-07-22T20:06:14.832-06:00When it rains - move indoorsKatia leads today's lessons inside the sanctuary because of rain. In spite of the noise of hammers, drills and saws, the children are paying attention to the scriptures. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-22556260339528858572013-07-22T20:04:00.001-06:002013-07-22T20:04:12.290-06:00Preparing the walls for paintInger, Tanner and Hunter, with the help of a church member, begin preparing the walls for paint. Hunter and Tanner helped build the wall they are now getting ready to paint. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-91296463402269176352013-07-22T20:01:00.001-06:002013-07-22T20:01:33.295-06:00Creating colorful bannersWe are creating colorful banners for the church. On Wednesday, each child will create their own "reflection" of what the week's lessons have meant to them and their "square" will be added to the banner and hung in the church. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-71658712277214209872013-07-22T19:58:00.001-06:002013-07-22T19:58:52.743-06:00Sunday school roomEfren and Mark are almost done with the floor in the Sunday school room. This is Mark's first trip with the Carpenters but he's a fast learner and a hard worker! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-18962559131495864452013-07-22T19:55:00.001-06:002013-07-22T19:55:16.934-06:00Work on SanctuaryWe began this building from the cornerstone up three years ago. It now has a metal roof, a floor, glass in the windows, doors and electricity. We are preparing to lay tile and paint the walls. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-85351268897274231702013-07-22T19:46:00.001-06:002013-07-22T19:46:39.142-06:00Work is progressingWork at the church Miramar, Costa Rica is progressing faster than we expected. The Sunday school room is almost completed, but we ran out of tile; the work has begun in the sanctuary with the tile there; the walls are almost ready for paint! Since we were here a year ago, they have put glass in the windows and put in the doors. We added about 20 new children to our original 58 children for Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-79230385994902577042013-07-21T15:37:00.001-06:002013-07-21T15:37:41.413-06:00We begin to plant more seeds!while one group studied bible lessons, the other group decorated their pots so that Monday they can plant their flowers and watch them grow. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-40949430031031245562013-07-21T15:35:00.001-06:002013-07-21T15:35:24.000-06:00This is VBS Costa Rica styleKatherine beings the bible lessons on Moses and the old testament Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255722759437283010.post-45964550467610447582013-07-21T15:33:00.001-06:002013-07-21T15:33:11.613-06:00Building the pews for the churchThe wood was waiting on us; Jim Skipper and his crew got right to work building pews! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0