TIME TO SAY ANOTHER GOODBYE
Our studies are coming to a close here in Costa Rica and we are already beginning our good-bye’s here. This is very hard on our family and has raised many hard questions from our kids whom just don’t quite understand why we have been called to this kind of a life. This will be the third set of big good-bye’s our family has had to process in the past eight months and I pray it will be the last major one for a very long time. Emotionally it takes a toll on us but we are strengthened in remembering that we are called to love one towards another and when it hurts to say good-bye we know love is present. We asked the kids what they enjoyed most about Costa Rica and they started listing the people they have befriended. It is a great moment in parenting when you realize that your children value the relationships they have over things and places.
A Costa Rican teacher encountered Easton on the school grounds and helped him with a snack purchase in the cafeteria. She spent time talking with him in Spanish and said he was responsive in Spanish, he was polite, and more importantly he treated her with a warmth and comfort as if he knew her a long time. She took a moment the next day to tell us that she has been interacting with missionaries and their children for over 20 years and he was the first child ever that did not project an uneasiness toward her about her difference in race or language.
ECUADOR IS ON THE HORIZON
We arrive in Quito the day after we graduate from language school (August 13th) and are very excited to see the house we will be living in. We have had a place to call home waiting for us since February; this has been a huge blessing for our family to know we can settle in right away. We have seen photos and have heard from many of our fellow team members that it is a wonderful home. We will have two extra bedrooms and would really love to have visitors.
Most of you know about our work with Extreme Response Intl. and what ER does to change lives around the world. We have also taken an opportunity to work with another ministry called Alliance Academy Intl. Our responsibilities with AAI will help us offset our lack of financial support and provide a great education for our kids. AAI is a ministry-oriented school, with an open enrollment to the general public of Ecuador, which focuses on bringing the gospel to its students and their families. We are excited to be part of such a reputable school, but please pray with us that we do not over-extend ourselves.
VEHICLE SHORTFALL AND CURRENT SUPPORT STATUS
We were able to get a great deal on a vehicle in Ecuador from a fellow team member heading back to the states. However we are unable to pay them in full. We still need to raise a little over $4900 dollars to have it paid in full. The family is allowing us to use the vehicle immediately upon arrival in good faith of paying them the balance as soon as possible. Please pray with us that we can do this in a timely fashion. If you would like to help contribute to our remaining balance you may do so on our website by visiting www.extremehing.org/strategic-giving and clicking in the section allocated to the vehicle.
Since beginning our studies in Costa Rica we have not been able to put any time toward our final support raising, so are still lacking monthly support and ask for prayers and consideration. We are 93% funded and would like to be fully funded as to not become a burden on our fellow team members over any shortfalls or unexpected emergencies. Please pray with us that God may place a burden in the hearts of others for the work we have been called to do. “What you can do, I cannot do. What I can do, you cannot do. But together, you and I can do something beautiful for God.” Pray for us that we won’t spoil the work God has given us to do so that we may move forward together with you, for this work has been entrusted to us all and together we will make something beautiful for God.
OUR PRAISE AND GRATITUDE
We praise God for our success here in Costa Rica. We passed our classes with straight A’s. In this update we present photos of Easton with a new friend Joshua Fogg (whose parents are with HCJB, also going to Ecuador), and us pictured with some of our classmates.
We thank you all for your prayers and support. Many thanks to the Hall Family and the Yonkman Family for sending the care packages during our time here in Costa Rica. It really made our family feel loved. Again, all your prayers and encouragements have been plentiful and a source of great inspiration helping us through each day. Thank you all for your loving kindness.
Be a blessing,
- The Hings