The Goshorns April 2013
Yes, we’re still here:) Wow has time flown. We did not want such a gap between newsletters but I ran into some health issues and was laid up for about 7 weeks. It started with several hernias that I had surgery on in March in San Jose. A week after the surgery I developed an infection and I was put back in the hospital. One infection led to another and then to a third, needless to say I was in pretty bad shape for awhile. When I was in the hospital I had a lot of time to talk with the nurses and practice Spanish. After awhile I had some nurses come to my room & ask me to pray with them. This was very humbling. My primary doctor said “ you have more patience then anyone I’ve ever met”. We’ve adjusted to Costa Rica quite a bit, but still have some ups and downs. Some of our Costa Rican neighbors very sweet. They want to help clean our home at no charge, teach us how to cook local dishes & help us learn Spanish. Our school family has also been amazing. They came to the hospital, brought dinners during my hospital stay, surprised Jennifer and cleaned the house, transported family to the hospital, and best of all they were all praying constantly. School has gone very well in spite of the health issues. Teachers have been working with me to get caught up. The 1st tri has ended :) and we just started our second tri. School takes up a lot of time each day, 4 hours of classes, and several hours of homework. It’s also very important to make time to practice what we have
Katie at the artisan market
learned with the locals. The kids are doing great, they’ve made quite a few friends & are involved in a local youth fellowship with over 70 kids. Daniel was asked to be one of the youth leaders, but with school & online collage courses he decided he shouldn’t commit. We’ve connected with a couple at school & help out some Saturdays at a barrio for Nicaraguan refugees. We are so happy to have a chance to be involved in Missions while we are here. There is a 10 year old girl at the barrio that has never seen a toothbrush. Since her mouth is full of decay, we found a dentist that would treat her at a big discount and Jennifer assists her during treatment. We noticed that our support has dropped a little. Please be in prayer about that. This is chance to go with us to Peru & help people in God’s kingdom know Christ. If you would like to speak to us we would love to have the opportunity to talk with you. Our contact information is on the next page.
Matthew and Natalie at a barrio of several thousand Nicaraguans refugees
Tim giving a presentation in Spanish class
The Goshorns
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Step by Step April 16, 2013 It is Tim’s 52nd birthday and he is in the hospital for the eighth day in a row, for the fourteenth day in four weeks. It has been an exhausting month for all of us. Today several individuals from school gathered in Tim’s room to celebrate his birthday and more than that to show their love and support. These are people we have only known three months. I didn’t even know some of their names. Yet, they were here showing love, that’s the Body of Christ. Why is it that we only become the Body of Christ during crisis and trials? We unite for a “moment” and then the “moment” is gone and we return to our lives. Why is it that it is only for a moment and not always, everyday, in everything we do? When we do respond in love to a crisis or trial, whether it is to a friend with a sick husband or a situation like 911, it feels good, we like the feeling, we expect nothing in return and give our all. But do we continue showing the love, the kindness, the grace after the crisis has passed? Really? Do we continue? Why don’t we behave that way everyday making it a point to share the burden, lighten the burden, remove the burden for just one person each day. What a different place the world would be if we shared God’s love everyday in every moment. Love is intentional, and it is a choice.
Jennifer getting ready to teach Priscilla, and ten year old girl, how to brush her teeth for the first time.
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Prayer Requests Please continue to pray for us as we are learning Spanish in preparation for serving Christ in Peru. The transition to this new lifestyle in Costa Rica has had its difficulties, but God has continued to provide for us and the show us that He is in control of everything. A specific prayer request is for Tim’s health. He had quite a long stay in the hospital, but appears to be on the mend
now. Please pray that he stays healthy so that he (and the rest of the family) can continue to work on learning Spanish. Please pray for our safety as well. There have been several unnerving incidents in and around our area, so prayers of protection will be appreciated. Finally, please pray for continued prayer and financial support while we are here in Costa Rica.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Partner With Us You can give a tax deductible one time, monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual donation for any number of years.
You can also mail your tax deductible gift to:
For information on how to give financial support online please visit:
Contact Information:
www.themissionsociety.org/people/goshorn
E-Mail: teejaygoshorn@yahoo.com (please fill in the subject line so your not deleted)
or www.goshornstepbystep.com
“The Mission Society” at PO Box 922637 Norcross, Georgia 30010-2637 USA Designate gifts to: “Goshorn Support 5/540”
US Phone for Costa Rica: 859-474-2494
Skype: tim.jen.goshorn
Daniel enjoying a Pipa