Melinda's Support Letter

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Dayspring Center for Christian Studies in Ft Collins, Colorado.

As u know, I have spent most of my life in Latin America but am now a Freshman at Dayspring, and I am also taking classes at CSU. Over this past year at college, I have shared with lots of people about my experiences with the Cabecars, a remote tribe of Indians in Costa Rica. There has been a growing interest among my Christian roommates to plan and participate in a mission’s trip to help the Cabecars with their spiritual and physical needs.

Exciting news! I have organized for a mission’s trip to the Cabecars on May 13-21, 2007. As of now, eight college students (including me) are signed up to go. I am so excited to lead this trip and be able to once again minister to the Cabecar Indians. I am looking forward to taking my classmates along as well. Some have expressed an interest in missions, and I am hoping that this experience will be one that God can use to direct the rest of their lives.

I am working with Tom Kennedy, who is a full-time missionary to the Cabecars. He has spent many years organizing teams in for medical trips and construction trips. Our group will be doing construction. There are many different projects—some of them being a clinic, stables, and bathrooms. I contacted him in January, and he has helped me put a trip together, and will be hosting us while we are there.

As a result of this missions trip I desire to grow spiritually. I want to become a servant like Christ, who emptied himself and became nothing (Philippians 2:1-8). I also would like to see the group unify as a team and grow individually in the Lord. As I stated before, I hope that God will call some of my friends to missions.

Will you please pray for this mission’s trip, that it will come together smoothly, that the group will be unified, that God’s purpose for us and those we are ministering to would be accomplished, that each individual would be eternally changed, that all the money we need would come in, and for protection? “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

My friends and I are in the process of raising money. As you probably know, college students are definitely not rich. We are praying and trusting the Lord to bring in the money we need. This is a faith stretcher for us, but we know that if the Lord wants us to go, He will provide a way. Right now, I want to ask if you would be willing to help me get to Costa Rica. The cost per person is $650. Whatever you feel led to give will be much appreciated! I pray that the Lord will stretch whatever you give to meet my needs.

	Roundtrip airplane ticket Denver – San José, Cost Rica
$26	Exit tax from Costa Rica
$30	Insurance fee
$120	Food, transportation, and housing
$650	TOTAL

If you would like to support me through prayer and/or financially, please fill out a form below and return this email to me personally.

April Prayer Requests

• Pray for all the preparations for Melinda’s missions team, immunizations, passports, fund raising, etc. that Melinda is leading to Costa Rica on May 13-21. She is taking seven other college students with her to minister to the Cabecar Indians, a remote Indian tribe, with many spiritual and physical needs.
• Pray for Mark and Martha, that God will touch hearts of people to join their prayer and support team and that God will open doors for them.
• Pray for the funds that are needed for LATN courses, administration, staff, and office building as we expand our student body. Pray for people who are good at writing proposals for grants and foundations.
• Pray for the preparations for courses to start up the first week of May and for God to bring the right students to study. Pray for the students to have motivation and discipline in the midst of busy schedules.

Cabecar Indian Mission Trip

Our oldest daughter Melinda surprised us one day when she sensed that the Lord wanted her to organize a missions trip to Costa Rica; so—on her own—she challenged several of her college friends at Dayspring with the idea. As you may remember, Melinda has had some memorable experiences ministering to the Cabecar Indians, a remote indigenous tribe in the heart of Costa Rica. Her friends took up the challenge and on May 13 a group of eight will leave Denver for San Jose, Costa Rica. This has been a big step of faith for Melinda. Not only has she taken the responsibility of raising her own support, she also is gaining valuable leadership experience as she organizes and leads the entire project. These college students are in for an adventure. Melinda hopes that this trip will open up the world of missions to her classmates. By the way, Melinda is becoming more convinced that God is leading her into some type of vocational Christian ministry. She is grateful for your prayers for her over the years. God is working!

Introducing Mauricio and Rosalia Sanchez

We would like to introduce to you Mauricio and Rosalía Sanchez. They are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship—Learning Technologies. The Sanchez’s were working in Venezuela but were forced to leave due to changes in the government there. Mauricio is being prepared as a specialist in distance learning. MAF has asked LATN to mentor them in distance education. Mark has been assigned this responsibility. Pray for Mark that he will have wisdom, helping to prepare Mauricio for his new role leading MAF’s Learning Technology initiatives in Latin America.