Having finished the last trimester of school, we had two weeks of “vacation” from our studies. My parents (Kris and Debbie Solberg) came to visit us for one of the weeks. Of course they loved every minute with Eliana! They enjoyed experiencing the Costa Rican food, transportation, market, and rain, rain, rain!
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES!
At the end of the last trimester, Daniel started going with some other missionaries to a drug rehab center to share a Bible study with the men there. The other missionaries graduated last trimester and turned the ministry over to Daniel. He goes every Monday and shares the gospel in Bible study form with the guys. Afterwards, he answers questions and counsels guys who need or want help. A couple of weeks ago, one of the men, Arnoldo, shared with Daniel that he was so depressed and discouraged that he wanted to take his life. Daniel shared with him from God’s word and promised to pray for him. Praise the Lord that last week, Arnoldo accepted Christ as his Savior! Right now, Daniel is the only one going to the drug rehab center. Please pray that God will burden some of the new student-missionaries for this ministry so that it can continue in January after Daniel and I leave.
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How You Can Pray For Us:
ü Eliana’s passport process (we can’t leave the country without it!!!)
ü Eliana’s health (lump on her neck)
ü Balancing classes & ministry
ü Bety (Colombian hairdresser)
ü neighbor Guillermo & family
ü Walter & Carla (more distant now)
Praises:
ü Arnoldo—accepted Christ
ü language studies going very well
ü the Lord’s constant provision for us
ELIANA is seven weeks old now! She is growing up so fast. She is becoming more and more alert during the daytime and is starting to follow our movements across the room, smiling and cooing! She is eating a lot, gaining weight and getting chubby cheeks!
A couple weeks after she was born we noticed what seemed to be a small lump on the right side of her neck. You can imagine the fears that seized us as parents imagining all that this lump could be. We saw the pediatrician who ordered an ultrasound. When no clear results were given, she referred us the very next morning to a specialist in ultrasounds for children. It was a very trying experience to see such a tiny little girl having an ultrasound done on a lump on her neck. As it turns out, the lump is a hematoma—some type of bruise inside her neck that was caused by pulling the muscle. Most likely, this occurred at birth during delivery.
We are so grateful that it wasn’t anything more serious. However, we go to the pediatrician again this week for her two-month checkup. Although it seems to have gotten smaller, the lump is still there and Eliana seems to favor it by holding her head slightly to one side. We will ask the doctor about this. She had told us that if the lump is still there after three months and if the muscle starts to contract, we will start therapy for her. We appreciate your prayers for us as parents (to have wisdom and constant faith) and for Eliana and her health.
CLASS UPDATE!
Daniel is taking a “full load” of four hours of classes per day this trimester. I am taking three hours a day. Daniel’s first class is a two-hour translation class. Then, he and I are both taking a two-hour Bible language class. We are learning to pronounce and use biblical vocabulary, memorize the names of the books of the bible (in Spanish), prepare and give devotionals, etc Because there is only one other student in the class, I am able to take Eliana. So far, she has behaved very well in class and mostly sleeps through everything. After that class, Daniel takes Eliana home and I have one hour of translation and literature. I love the class because it is one-on-one and I feel I am learning a lot!
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS!
We know that you all have been praying for us concerning evangelism. The Lord has opened several doors for us and we are so excited to share the news with you all. First of all, we had been talking with Bety, a Colombian lady who cuts Daniel’s hair. After several times talking with her, we invited her over for dinner. We were able to give her a clear plan of salvation and although she did not accept the Lord, she opened up and shared a lot of her struggles with us. She expressed a desire to come again and hear more about God and His Word.
Second, we had Walter and his wife Carla over for cafecito. We were able to give them the gospel, but Walter seemed very disinterested. Since that time, he has been very distant and hasn’t done anything more with Daniel. Please pray that God softens his heart and causes him to realize his need for Christ.
Last, we are thrilled to share that Don Guillermo has started a Bible Study with us. Daniel has started going through The Story of Hope with him. Don Guillermo wants to read every word of the study and each verse or passage meticulously! Don Guillermo said he would share everything he learned this week with his wife at home and said he looked forward to the next study. As he is Catholic, please pray that God opens his spiritual eyes that he might see his need for Christ as his one and only Savior.
