RICK & JACKIE WASHBURN     

September 2009 Update

Hello to all our Praying Family and Friends,

God is so good.  His timing is the best in everything we commit to Him!  After the struggle to get the permissions and all for the work here at the Florencia church, we have to still wait for one signature.  But, because the head of the office where we need to get this permission knew of the group of men coming to build the apartment on the second floor, he gave us a paper saying we could do the work on the second floor.  The rains held off also so that the men could get the pipes hooked back up for the drainage from the roof, as well as being able to cut the wood and things outside.  The fourteen  men from the West Orlando Baptist Church were able to get the apartment built in only 5 days!  They were such a blessing to our people.  Some members brought small gifts for them to show their appreciation of their time and work.  We had some good laughs as these big men got into taxis!  One even suggested a video game where you could choose to be a taxi driver, a bus driver or on a motorcycle going through rush hour traffic here.  What a great experience to see God's hand at work, using men who are yielded to Him, and willing to share with others!

We have been having some good services in the new work in La Campiña. In this new location God has given us some new people.  One young couple visited on Sunday.  We hope to get to be in their home soon.  They have been out of church for a long time.  One lady came when she called the BBN radio station to get an address of a church close to her.  Blanca Tamayo made a profession of faith on Sunday after visiting various services. Please be in prayer for Javier and Blanca in these upcoming days.  She needs surgery and is just waiting to hear the date.  While she is not able to teach Sunday School, I will be doing that.  We pray that this surgery will help her to feel better.  It has been a blessing to see her come and teach her class even when she was in pain.  She loves the kids.

Rick is finishing up the institute class on Spiritual Gifts on Monday. Then on Tuesday he will begin the next course which is a new one that we are offering to the students.  It looks as though we will have about 10 taking that course. We are planning a two day retreat for the pastors and their wives on Oct. 5-6.  Rick will be teaching them in four different sessions about communication, both as a couple as well as with others.   Pastor Elias will be coming up from Cartago for this time.  The Florencia church will be having their annual missions conference  Oct. 7-11.   I am not sure of the preaching schedule, but we hope to be able to attend at least on Friday night.  The place we have rented is a place built over 100 years ago.  We have gone there before and the couples love the old place.  It has a fireplace for the cool evenings  and beautiful patios and view during the daytime.  It is surrounded by trees so we feel apart from the hectic world outside.  We pray this will be a time of refreshing for them as they share together.