Project Bethany

Happy New Year friends and partners! The Lord is always up to new challenges and surprises for His children. He takes pleasure in demonstrating His greatness, goodness, and faithfulness in our lives.

We have begun the process of recruiting new mothers into the program. A number of mothers have turned in their applications and supporting documents. Our team has begun studying each case. There are still interviews and evaluations pending in order to narrow down our prospects. Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom in choosing the next candidates for this new season.

In November of last year, we experienced some big changes in the program. We had been seeking the Lord about direction and how He wanted us to move forward in the new year. It was as though a sifting began to happen among the program participants and our personnel. Things were definitely uncomfortable as the Lord began doing a new thing. Our social worker, who was on maternity leave, notified us of her resignation and her decision not to return in January. We chose not to renew the psychologist’s contract in 2022 due to fundamental differences in program philosophy. We want Christ centered counsel based on the inerrant Word of God. We plan to look for a Biblical counselor to work with the women in the future.

At the beginning of the year, we had interviews with several perspective social workers. We hired Dayanna, a graduate of the University of Costa Rica, and active member of her local church. She mentioned that she could not separate her social work from her relationship with Christ. This was key for us. We are looking for staff members who are sold out to the Lord, and whose relationship with Jesus permeates everything they do. We trust the Lord is leading this ministry and that we can hear him say, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

New Things in 2022!

Isaiah, God’s mouthpiece, boldly exclaimed, Isaiah 43:19, “Behold, I will do a new thing… I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Just as the Lord kept His promise to the children of Israel, He does the same for us. Sometimes, we feel like our back is against the wall, and we don’t know which way to turn. When we submit our ways to Him, the Lord shows up on the scene in a mighty way. Only He has the power to deliver, restore, and bring life to any situation. He is the architect of “new things.” When He prunes, it can feel unpleasant. But, we can rest assured that it is always for our good! 

Project Bethany

In the month of December, our three mothers will wrap up their first year of classes. This year has flown by! Twenty twenty-one has presented us with challenges and adjustments along the way, but also with many blessings as well. Please pray for us as we continue to tweak our program to better serve the mothers and their children who join us in the future.

Construction on the new four plex for single mothers and their families is nearing completion. At the beginning of next year, we will be furnishing the apartments. Please see the back of this newsletter for ways YOU can help! We have already been diligently working on the selection process for four new mothers and their families. Some have already turned in their documentation, had initial interviews with our social worker, and completed psychological evaluations with the psychologist. We are on track to receive families in the Spring of 2022.

In October, we traveled to Panama to visit Steve, Jr., Kendra, and the boys. We had the opportunity to visit friends who pastor a church and have a feeding program for needy children. Due to the pandemic, Pastor Toby and his wife now cook the food in their home, pack it, and deliver it to the kids in nearby communities. It was a privilege to serve alongside them, and see the dire needs that face the families in Panama. Like many places around the globe, the need is overwhelming!

Our world has been turned upside down in the past year and a half. We can easily feel overwhelmed and forgotten, as though we were an afterthought. Nothing is further from the truth!

Seven hundred years before Jesus was conceived, the prophet Isaiah prophesied, “She will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel” (which means ‘God is with us’). Isaiah 7:14. Despite our trials, Jesus offers salvation and redemption from sin and eternal life to all who believe in Him. If you accept Him, He lives in you. He didn’t ensure that this life would be easy, but He did promise to always be there with you!

Christmas Blessings!

Stephen, Georgiana, & Luke

Project Bethany

Our three mommas successfully wrapped up their second trimester of classes. The three have begun to feel a bit more at ease with their university’s workload; including homework and other assignments. They enjoyed a two week break between trimesters. We offered them the opportunity to work at Phase II in exchange for money. The three moms agreed to work the first week, and take the second one off to spend time with their kids. They were incredibly helpful in prepping the ground outside of the new building and getting it ready to plant grass. Not only were they a big help to the project, but they also sowed into the ministry that has been a benefit to them. A few days later, the grass arrived and we were able to plant it all around the second building.

Despite the fact that we are in the middle of rainy season, progress is being made on the new four plex for single mothers and their children. Our crew installed the trim work inside the apartments and painted the exterior of the building. The cabinetry is being built and mounted. We are shooting to have the building completely ready by the end of this year.

We recently hosted “Family Day” for the mothers and their children. They participated in a variety of outdoor games. We enjoyed a picnic lunch and then concluded with medals for everyone! It was a great time of fun for all.

Convinced that God is always good. He is forever faithful, and that His plans will prevail!

Project Bethany

In June, we mentioned that one of our mommas was struggling in the program. She was having difficulty juggling her responsibilities of academics, housekeeping, parenting, and more. Even though we provided individual assistance in the different areas, she didn’t make the progress we had hoped for. Our team had allotted her a set period of time to demonstrate change. Unfortunately, she did not meet our expectations and we were forced to dismiss her from the program. That situation was very painful for all involved. We broke the news to the other three mothers, who were saddened by her departure. Our team had gone above and beyond to help her. We trust that her time with us was not futile and that God will continue His work in her life. The remaining 3 mothers are doing exceptionally well in the program.

This summer has been a little different than most. Pre-pandemic, the Abraham Project would host over twenty teams a year. Most summers, we did not leave Costa Rica due to the high volume of work during the summer months. Last year, all our teams canceled and this year we hosted only two.

Summertime was different, that’s for sure. Different was good. Acts 13:19b reminds us that it is good “… that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” So grateful for these past few months. It was like a refreshing, gentle rain.

Project Bethany Update

Good News! The second set of apartments for single mothers and their children are well underway! We are diligently working to have the second four units ready for Spring 2022. We have begun the process of selecting new candidates into the program. At Project

Bethany, we believe in the potential of every mother to make positive changes in their lives, with the help of the Holy Spirit! Our program is integral in meeting their needs spiritually, emotionally, and academically; thus, bringing about transformation in their lives and in the lives of their children.

We are currently looking for sponsors to help furnish the second four apartments. To equip one apartment, it will cost approximately $7,500. This amount includes all kitchen appliances and kitchenware, living and dining room furniture, beds, bedding, bathroom fixtures, and more. Would you prayerfully consider helping to furnish an entire apartment or giving a donation towards this end?

Help us equip families with the tools they need to eliminate lifelong barriers, to thrive, and to bring about significant generational changes!

“My eyes will watch over them for their good, … I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.  I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord.  They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”

Jeremiah 24:6-7

Project Bethany

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

In the Christian church we are accustomed to hearing, “Let your light shine,” from the time we are young, through adolescence, and even into adulthood. We hear this phrase time and again in sermons and songs. What does it mean to wholeheartedly let your light shine as scripture commands us? Light is the opposite of darkness. Light illuminates things around us and makes objects more clear to the unaided eye. In that same way, if we are Christ followers, our lives should allow others to see Jesus reflected in us. Our goal should always be to lift Him up so that He can draw all men unto Himself (John 12:32). Our relationship with the Lord is a key component to allowing us to “shine” before men. As we plug into our power source, a desire to demonstrate our devotion to Him through our actions is put into motion. When we do, others will know that we belong to Him. In the end, we do not do good deeds in order to receive flattery for ourselves, but rather to draw attention to the One we serve. In this way, He can receive all the glory, and honor, and praise!

We are excited that the first quarter of classes is over! All four moms have been studying to meet their school’s educational requirements. Three of our mommas seem to be adapting well to life here at Project Bethany and are adjusting well academically speaking. One of the mothers has been struggling overall. Our program is geared to help the mothers prepare in all areas of life: spiritually, academically, and practically (cooking, cleaning, parenting, and more). Al-though, she has received one-on-one help in many areas, sadly she has not demonstrated interest in making serious changes in her lifestyle. Our team explained our expectations for significant change in a set period of time. We pray she will make the changes necessary to stay in the program, so that she and her children can enjoy a hopeful future.

The Thomas’ niece, Susanne was here visiting for six weeks. She came to volunteer in the daycare assisting the teachers and teaching English to the children. Susanne also offered individualized English tutoring to three of the mothers in our program. We appreciate her love for the people, her creativity in lesson planning, and her servant’s heart! We trust she impacted those she served. 

We want to admonish each of you to stay connected to Him, so that you can be a light in the darkness. Ask the Lord to show you how to love and serve others well. Pray so that they might be attracted to Christ in you, and always give the glory to Him alone!

Project Bethany

John Newton, the author of the great hymn “Amazing Grace,” was raised in London in the 1700’s. His father was a sea captain and his mother was a devout, God-fearing woman. Due to unfortunate circumstances, his mother passed away when he was only seven years old and his father did little to teach him right from wrong. As a young man, he joined a ship’s crew where life was hard and the conditions deplor-able. God seemed afar off. John found himself aboard a slave ship, the Greyhound, when a raging storm hit. The ship began to sink as he and the other crew members worked to keep it from going under. He began to think about the plight of his own life; what he had done, people he had misused, and the God he had scorned and run from. His mother’s teachings came to mind. He remembered that she had told him that God seeks to demonstrate His boundless grace and mercy to those who are lost. He prayed and lived through that storm. John’s life began to change. He married his sweetheart, Mary, and began to pastor a church, where he eventually penned the words to “Amazing Grace.” That hymn highlighted his intimate encounter with God. Later on, his eye-witness accounts  were a catalyst for helping bring an end to the British slave trade.

As we begin to shift our focus to Easter, we all have our own stories of wrongdoing and redemption. Because of the Father’s unconditional love for us, He gave us Jesus. Jesus bore our sins on a rugged cross in order to save us and give us freedom that we all desperately need. Romans 3:24 reminds us that we have been justified by His grace through the redemption that only Christ Jesus could purchase for us. God’s extravagant grace reaches us where we are. That, my friend, is Amazing Grace!  

Ministry at Project Bethany is well under way.  All four mothers are studying this first quarter, and most have had exams and are doing well.

Each month, we have a theme. March was “Women of Influence.” We have touched on topics such as: identifying a woman who has positively influenced my life, recognizing my strengths and weaknesses in order to impact the lives of others, and how I can influence the lives of my children for good. These workshops have been invaluable in that the ladies are recognizing their value as women and daughters of God. They are learning to open up and share their experiences, and find God in it all. The ladies are beginning to feel that they are in a safe environment.

 Continue to pray for them as they study and face new academic challenges. May they experience Christ in them in a greater way as they are stretched and uprooted from their comfort zones, so that they can become women of influence for His Kingdom’s sake!

Project Bethany

We are happy to report that Project Bethany, homes for single mothers and their children, was inaugurated on January 5, 2021! What a blessing that the Lord has seen fit to give us the opportunity to carry out chapter two of a new ministry on His behalf! 

We had a small inauguration which included our four families, Pastor Jorge & Elizabeth, an official from a local foundation, the mayor of Tres Ríos, and our family (including Grandma Connie). It was significant to us that all our kids and Grandma were present. They were all the same people who attended the first inauguration of the children’s homes back in 2003.

Since moving into their new home, our four mommas have had to wade through the range of emotions they have faced with the change. All have expressed their fears of entering into a new program, starting school, learning to run their home, and looking out for the needs of their children. Yet, there is hopeful excitement about the possibilities that lay before them.

Three of our mothers began online classes in January. The other will begin on February 8th. Within our group, we have two engineering students (Industrial Engineering and Electro Mechanical Engineering), a Special Education major, and one of our ladies is finishing up her Math GED in order to pursue Culinary Arts.

Please pray for them as they face new challenges and transitions in the months ahead. May they experience hope and victory along the way, and know that God is moving mightily on their behalf to accomplish His good work in them and in their children.

A.P. News

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonderful deeds.”

Psalm 9:1 

The psalmist said, “I will give thanks to You…” Possessing a spirit of thankfulness means showing an appreciation of kindness. As we consider the past year, the ups and downs of 2020, we are grateful for the Lord’s constancy and grace during this period. Nothing ever catches Him unaware. He is attentive to our needs. Although we have experienced an unusual year with the pandemic in progress and a presidential election, it is necessary to take time to contemplate His wonderful deeds. When we choose to “see” God’s noteworthy deeds, we realize that they are not just a few, but many.

No matter what is happening in our world God is sovereign and nothing escapes Him. We can always find something to be thankful for and tell what the Lord has done in our lives!

We feel honored to be supported by an incredible group of family and friends who partner with us financially, and in prayer and thanksgiving. You are part of what God is doing at Project Bethany. May the Lord’s blessings come upon you and overtake you and please know, you are very much appreciated!

What’s On Tap for 2021? 

We are excited about officially receiving our single moms and their children into the program on January 6th, 2021!

Our candidates have been meeting frequently with our psychologist to determine their career paths and enroll into their perspective schools.

We have been working at a fever pitch to complete the last minute construction details on the apartments. We plan to have them ready for our grand opening in January. 

A.P. News

“To everything there is a season…” Exactly 16 1/2 years to the date, we are concluding a significant chapter in this ministry. The children’s homes at the Abraham Project are officially closed.

The first four candidates who were accepted into Project Bethany were recently invited to a contract signing session. We are slated to open the new ministry in January 2021. In our meeting, we went over the contract and cleared up any questions they had with regards to policies and procedures at Project Bethany. These ladies have mixed emotions as they commit to four years of personal growth - spiritually, emotionally, and academically. Our team prayed for them even before we knew who they would be. We are confident God will manifest Himself to them in a big way in this coming new season of their lives.

Seasons can be bittersweet. Transition has its heartaches and victories. Through it all, we have seen God’s steady hand, His faithfulness, and His extraordinary mercy.

Closure & Reflection

As we reflect on the closure of the children’s homes, we feel privileged to have served children at risk in Costa Rica. It was our calling and our passion to advocate on their behalf. We are beyond grateful for everyone who invested in the lives of the 104 children who came through our doors. We will never know the full impact that we had on those lives this side of heaven. Each child is on his/her journey with the Father. He cares about them infinitely more than we ever could. We commit each one to His tender care, guidance, and protection. May the Lord bless you abundantly for sowing into the lives of these children. Thank YOU!

Stats:

● Total children received between April 1, 2004 and October 1, 2020: 104

● Total children returned to a biological family member or another institution: 45

● Total children matched in either a national or international adoption: 59 

We encourage you to take this promising message to heart. Remembering that there is nothing too big or too small for our God!

A.P. News

During this season of waiting, one thing the Lord has been tweaking in our lives is our trust. How much do we really trust Him? Oh, we say we do and we quote scriptures like, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart …” (Prov. 3:5), but do we  demonstrate the kind of certitude, expectation, and reliance upon the Lord that only He deserves? We often find ourselves trying to control circumstances and outcomes, rather that trusting God to be in control and bring about His desired outcome. Philippians 4:6 gives us the key to successfully transferring our burden to Him, "Don't worry about anything; instead PRAY about everything …” As we pray and surrender our will and our way to Him, He is able to unmistakably move on our behalf. We can be confident that God knows what we need even before we ask and that He is at work in every situation. So next time you find yourself worrying instead of trusting, take a deep breath, say a prayer, and trust Him implicitly!

Recently, we were able to help one of the ladies chosen for our new program. She is a single mother of three and her husband is serving time in jail. She had been living with her mother, who is co-dependent and very controlling. The living situation had become so stressful that it was negatively affecting her oldest son. She made the decision to leave that toxic environment and move out on her own until we can open the ministry at Project Bethany. She rented a small one-bedroom apartment, but was in need of a small refrigerator, a washing machine, an electric fry pan, and a rice cooker. Happily, we blessed her with the purchase of those items.

Many families from our church and surrounding rural communities find themselves in financial crisis due to the pandemic. They have been left without jobs, money, food, and the means to pay their bills. The Lord provided us with some special offerings that have allowed us to purchase food and non-perishable goods for these needy families.

On this same note, we had the opportunity to help a fellow co-worker purchase pre-fabricated materials to build his family a small three bedroom home. His oldest child has suffered from an illness since birth. The moderate climate in the province of Limón agrees with the boy. We are so thankful that we can be a part of what God is doing for this family!

Blessings for all your love and support during these unprecedented times!

James Hudson Taylor

God is Faithful

We have been reading through the book of Isaiah. A few days ago, we ran across this lovely scripture that amply expresses God’s perfect faithfulness to His people.

It is overwhelming to think that long since, the Lord planned out marvelous, extraordinary deeds that in His perfect faithfulness He would accomplish! During these unprecedented times, where fear, uneasiness, and panic are the new norm, we urge you to make time to remember God’s perfect faithfulness to you in every season of your life. Remembering gives us perspective and underscores God’s ultimate design and purpose in everything we face is our holiness. He desires for us to pick up our cross daily and pursue Him in joyful obedience and devotion.    

Speaking of God’s faithfulness, we were unexpectedly blessed with some good news recently. Our local city government quickly granted us a permit to construct a retaining wall along one side of the creek that flows under our bridge. The purpose is to eliminate an erosion problem that has been developing over the past year. In addition, the city donated 50 large boulders that will form part of this retaining wall. These boulders have a value of several thousand dollars. We hope to start the work immediately as we have experienced very heavy rains over the past several weeks, due to tropical disturbances off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Upon completing the retaining wall, we will be able to complete the security wall up to the bridge. We also continue to make ‘slow progress’ on the construction of the first four apartments.

Back in April, we shared that we were in a “precarious financial position,” as we have seen a drop in the construction funds for Project Bethany. With this deficit, we made the difficult decision to layoff a number of our workers. That decision was weighty, as it meant that we were affecting the livelihood of our co-workers and their families. We pray, Lord willing, that in the not-too-distant future we will be able to rehire all our personnel once again.

We have had the unique opportunity to “remember” the Lord’s exceptional faithfulness through you; our partners. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, … being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:3, 6

We are beyond grateful for your constancy and support to this ministry!

He Has Risen

Last month, we conducted interviews with four women who had applied for admission into Project Bethany. The interview process went very well and we learned a great deal about the situations they are facing. Afterwards, our psychologist scheduled evaluations with these four ladies. Our team then evaluated each case and ultimately accepted these four candidates! The ladies have been notified of their admission into the program. One of the ladies began to cry when she was told that she had been accepted. She told our social worker that she did not have the words to express her thanks for this opportunity. She feels that Project Bethany is a blessing in her life, and believes she will achieve new goals and graduate to become a professional. All the ladies expressed their gratitude for this unimaginable opportunity to do better for themselves and their children.  We are excited to be a part of this process.

We had hoped to inaugurate this ministry the first of April. Unfortunately, with the coronavirus pandemic we find ourselves in a precarious financial position. We are in the midst of evaluating our current situation, which is going to require us to make some difficult decisions about when we will be able to open our doors. Please keep this in your prayers. We know that the Lord has considered everything and that He is in control so we choose to trust Him fully!

We recently ran across this simple Puritan prayer that highlights the importance of the work Jesus fulfilled on Calvary's cross:

We trust the Lord will bless you this Easter as you contemplate His remarkable gift of salvation and the wonder of His amazing grace!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Twenty-twenty, a new decade begins! We have witnessed the Lord’s faithfulness over two decades of ministry. We are filled with expectation for what this new period holds. It will be different and it will have its challenges, but it is also a time of new beginnings and victories!

We are thrilled that at long last our front entrance wall is complete! We were able to complete the structure in January.

Our construction crew has made great strides on the apartments for our single mothers program. The first four units are now tiled, ceilings and walls painted, septic tanks installed, and bathroom cabinets built. We are shooting for an April 1st launch date, as long as the funding comes in to complete them.

We are set to conduct interviews with the first four candidates interested in the program in mid-February. Please pray that we would have godly wisdom and discernment in this matter.

We are grateful for the funding we received over the past year. But there is still so much to do and we need you! In order to finish the construction of the apartments, we estimate that we need an additional $30K. We would love for you to prayerfully consider how you might be a part of this mission.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends and Family,

In the midst of transition we continue to face more changes. At the end of September, our psychologist resigned. She was offered a job at PANI. So that left us looking for her replacement. We found a terrific candidate that will be an asset as we move forward with our new model! Alejandra has experience working in the court system with victims of domestic violence. Throughout this year’s ups and downs, we continue to see God’s mercy in our lives.

As Alejandra has begun getting acquainted with the kids and has read their files, she has noticed a marked difference in their “before” and “after” story. One day, she was working with Samuel. She asked him what was his favorite color. Immediately, he told her red and asked, “Do you want to know why?” Then he went on to explain that red represents the blood Jesus shed out of love for us. It is clear that the children are learning about the true meaning of Christmas. Amid the festivities, the real celebration is taking place; the joy of observing Jesus’s birthday and the reason for His coming to earth.

We are so thankful as we close out this year, we have had the incredible support of so many. We are grateful for each of you! Our prayer for you this Christmas is:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  a (Romans 15:13)

The Thomas Family

Family of 8!

On July 11, 2013, we received Yamil into the children’s homes. Our House parents took on the challenge of raising this timid boy. Yamil came to us with a significant delay in his cognitive skills. A professional told us that he would never read or write. Today, he is an avid reader and has excelled in spelling competitions at his school.

After being promoted for adoption for years, the Lord has blessed this young man with a family! Matt & Jenn have five biological children and have opened up their hearts to enlarging their family to include Yamil. His folks arrived in country mid November. It is so amazing to watch a child receive a new family for the very first time! It’s an event that never grows old.

Adoption is sacrificial and rewarding all at the same time. Today, Yamil’s story is significantly different. He was chosen by his family, much like our Heavenly Father chose us. We wish the Bakers all the best as they adapt to life as a family of eight!