36 days until we leave for Costa Rica

A short update on our Costa Rica 2013.  Our travel plans are made, here's a few details.

1)  We're flying United, extra bags are $40!  This is good news since we have some pre-K supplies and an office machine to transport to the school.

2)  We are staying at Apartotel Obelisco, a wonderful place in Costa Rica, that our family loves.  I can already taste the gallo pinto each morning for breakfast.

3)  We even have a car with a GPS and a cell phone this time!  For those of you familiar with Costa Rica, since the roads have no names, it's always an adventure getting anywhere.  I can say I will miss directions like "drive down the big four lane road past the Burger King and turn left where you see a stand that sells yellow piggie banks.  Follow the road up the hill by the big Jesus statue."

4)  We will be assisting the school with interviews and other activities to help improve curriculum.  Additionally, we will be working in the after-school program for the little ones.

5)  We will be helping to arrange and take field trips with other LPDV families.

6)  Our missionary friends have moved into our home in Cottage Grove and are enjoying their time there.  Please pray for them as this will be a busy year of furlough activities.

7)  We will be seeking the will of the Lord each day of our adventure, asking the Holy Spirit to use us in a mighty way to bless these folks who have dedicated their lives to furthering Christ in Costa Rica.

Have a great week!

Ten things you might not know about beautiful Costa Rica

1.  Costa Rica's constitution states "human life is inviolable."  The Costa Rican Civil Code interprets this and enforces the meaning as "to 300 days before birth."

2.  Costa Rica eliminated all military forces in 1948.

3.  In one of Costa Rica's only significant military victories, the Costa Rican army defeated William Walker's men, who had taken control of Nicaragua in the 1850's.  William Walker was a Tennessean who had the misguided notion that he could self-direct military expansionism into Central America.  Juan Santamaria, the general whose forces defeated Walker's, is a Costa Rican national hero today.

4.  Today, there are six active volcanoes in Costa Rica.  Poas, Arenal, Tenorio, Turrialba, Irazu, Rincon de la Vieja.

5. The national food of Costa Rica is "gallo pinto," a delicious rice and black bean dish served at every meal, but best for breakfast.

6.  Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, Costa Rica's national soccer stadium in San Jose, was financed and completely constructed by the Chinese government.

7.   Although Costa Rica guarantees freedom of religion, and one can see churches of many different types, Roman Catholicism is the state religion.  It is written into the Costa Rican Constitution as follows, "The Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion is the official religion of the Republic."

8.  Auto insurance in Costa Rica is a government monopoly.  Rental car companies in Costa Rica make the collision damage waiver mandatory.

9.  Many Americans settled in Costa Rica 10 to 20 years ago as cheap real estate was plentiful and health care was cheap.  This is no longer the case.  Belize is the new Costa Rica.

10.  Jesus Christ is alive and well and known in the country thanks to dedicated missionaries like our friends Matt and Lisa Befus.  Look them up on Latin American Missions (www.lam.org).

11.  And one for the road.  A popular breakfast beverage in Costa Rica for children is "jugo de naranja y zanahoria (carrot and orange juice).  Cheers!

Have a great weekend!  Bill

If foreign missionaries came to your church...

"Imagine a team from France calls your church and says they want to visit. They want to put on VBS (which you have done for years), but the material is in French. They have heard about how the U.S. church has struggled and want to help you fix it. They want to send twenty people, half of them youth. Only two of them speak English. They need a place to stay for free, with cheap food and warm showers if possible. During the trip half of the group's energy will be spent on resolving tension between team members. Two people will get sick. They'd like you to arrange some sightseeing for them on their free day. Do you want them to come?"
                                                                                                                                      - Darren Carlson

During my short-term missionary trips to Mexico, I got an earful from the local missionary about American behaviors.  Bottom line is this:  The questions posed by Carlson are worth considering, because I heard the same ones posed by missionaries in Mexico.  But really?  Are most short term missions teams like this?  Well, it depends a lot upon the leaders, the sending organization, the goals, and the relationships with the local missionaries.

I would say this.  If you want to serve in the mission field, then GO TO SERVE.  Ask the missionaries what they would like you to do.  Stop checking out TripAdvisor to plan your missionary excursions in your country of choice, and start reading your bible about what sacrifice really means.

When we decided to be a repeating, short-term missionary family, we had no idea what we were doing, but here's one thing we did right.  We asked our missionaries this question:  How can we help?  We did not expect them to arrange outings, accompany us to meals to speak the language for us, or change their daily schedule.  We simply were quiet and did what we were told to do.  The result?  A wonderful relationship with many Costa Ricans, because through prayer and the Holy Spirit, we were able to set aside our human desires, and perform useful services to those who were there for the long haul.

This year's no different.  We had a long Skype conversation with Matt and Lisa Befus were they outlined what they would like us to do.  It's an adventure as always, we're trying things we've never tried before, but we love, we absolutely love to serve with these folks at this school.

We're exactly where God wants us to be.  

So, as Jesus said...GO.  But when you do go, leave your electronics in your backpack, leave your American entitlement at home, and be prepared to experience the adventure of a lifetime.  Why?  Because when you come back home, the missionaries you served will say, "I'm glad they we're here."

We're heading south. Costa Rica 2013!

Dear friends and family:

We're heading south.  And Costa Rica's not a bad place to be in the winter.  But you may want to know why we're doing what we're doing.  

That's a great question.  This will be our third lengthy mission trip to Costa Rica.  We have always considered it a true privilege to go to another country on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ as an entire family, not piecemeal.

So why?  Vickie and I have been very active in every church we've attended. Sometimes hyperactive. We like teaching, helping, cleaning, preaching, moving furniture, blowing up balloons, praying, singing, and loving on the those far from God. In the middle of everything, we've always felt a yearning to go overseas to further the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We really believe there are three things that are compelling us to serve in Costa Rica, and then consider further overseas ministry in the coming years.

First, we believe that God has specifically called our entire family to minister in this way. Not just one of us going to Mexico, or all of us working with kids in our church, but also "going unto all nations."  We take Jesus literally.

Second, we feel God has given us an opportunity to serve Him in an educational setting. Vickie and I both have taught in various settings for over 25 years and we are excited about putting our experience to use at La Palabra de Vida.

Third, we believe that going and serving is the best way for our children to understand the sacrifice that the Lord speaks so prominently about in scripture. We want to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus, even if it is only for a short time.

So, on November 18, we'll board our flight and head south.  We'll be working to restore a missionary house, developing curriculum to broaden the school's ability to make the Bible come to life, teaching ESL classes, and financing and helping to install improvements in the school's infrastructure.

We can't wait.

We would like to ask you to partner with us. Please commit to pray for this year's adventure, and consider supporting this worthy work financially.  We need to raise $17,000 to help offset the costs of the mission activities.  Here's how:

·     Make checks payable to Sieben Family Ministries

·     Mail checks to Markham Family, 113 Frostwood Drive, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566

·     Donate via PayPal (credit card or checking account) www.paypal.com.  Send money directly via PayPal to siebenfamily@yahoo.com

God's richest blessings,

Bill

Dear Friends and Family:

It is our distinct privilege to announce that the Markham family is returning to Costa Rica from November 18 – December 23.  We will be serving at La Palabra de Vida, a Christian academy in San Antonio de Belen, Costa Rica that is dedicated to providing Christian leaders for Costa Rica’s future.

The twenty-two months between mission trips has been filled with change.  We’ve moved from Byron, Illinois to Lake Jackson, Texas.  My job at Exelon ended, and the Lord provided a new one at the South Texas Project, about fifty miles from Lake Jackson.  Our children are fifteen, thirteen, and twelve years old, and giving us so much joy as they grow up in the Lord.  We are attending a wonderful church in Lake Jackson, Hope Fellowship.  We have no doubt that God is blessing us with His favor and His love each day.

The scope of Markham Family Missions has changed also.  Through prayer and study, the Lord reminded us that all our resources belong to Him.  As a result, our work includes:

·     Missionary Housing:  We are offering our Cottage Grove, Minnesota home to long term missionaries on furlough.  We value these tireless workers for the Lord, and are excited that God has given us the resources to provide this gift.  Lynn and Rose Lindquist, missionaries to France, will make this house their home for one year beginning in October 2013. 

·     Compassion:  A La Palabra de Vida family suffered a complete loss of income when a surgical procedure for this single mother resulted in months of debilitating pain due to mistakes made during the surgery.  We have committed to provide for their rent and their children’s educational costs.

·    Short-Term Missions:   At La Palabra de Vida, we will be continuing our children’s education, assisting this remarkable institution in curriculum development, working in after school care programs, assisting in ongoing construction projects, and providing equipment to further the school’s ministry.

·    Assistance:  Matt and Lisa Befus are long term missionaries to Costa Rica.  Matt is the Executive Director of the La Palabra de Vida Foundation which manages the property and facilities of La Palabra de Vida.  Lisa is a director at La Palabra de Vida and is directly involved in oversight, teaching, and direction.  Their family is planning a one year furlough beginning next July in Wheaton, IL after sixteen years in Costa Rica.  We will be assisting with their furlough costs and other expenses incurred in Costa Rica.

We want you to join us financially and in prayer.  Many of you supported us so graciously three years ago and we are so grateful for each of you.  Because the Lord has directed our resources towards all these efforts, we are asking for help for our short term mission expenses ($5,000), our compassion efforts ($2000), and our assistance of long term missionaries ($10,000) through the use of our home and with financial support.

We have partnered with Sieben Family Ministries, a missions organization located in Bay City, Texas that plants churches and supports pastors in central Mexico.   This will allow you to receive a tax receipt for any contribution that you send.  Please pray about this opportunity and we look forward from hearing from you.

You may send contributions as follows:

·     Make checks payable to Sieben Family Ministries

·     Mail checks to Markham Family, 113 Frostwood Drive, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566

·     Donate via PayPal (credit card or checking account) www.paypal.com.  Send money directly via PayPal to siebenfamily@yahoo.com

This God-directed journey that we’ve been on for the last four years has had twists and turns that have stretched our faith, and bonded our family together in a way that would not be possible if not for His work in our life.  Please contact Bill (651-353-6021) or Vickie (651-353-6022) directly for any questions that you may have.

In service to Jesus Christ,  Bill and Vickie

Part time help NOT needed

Vickie and I attend a bible study with a few dozen others on Tuesday nights.  We read a little scripture each day during the week, answer some questions, hopefully discuss what was read, and then show up on Tuesday nights. 

It's a routine, and not a bad one to have.

This fall we're reading the book of Mark, which truth be told, is a distant fourth in "gospel popularity."  Most folks I know cannot quote a verse from Mark, and none have studied the book in detail.  It's the Jacksonville Jaguars of the New Testament.  

We're just getting into the first chapter, but I was intrigued by a question that was presented in the material.  It was this.

What does being a follower of Christ mean in today's world?

Does it mean tithing? Church attendance?  Religious Facebook posts?  Does it mean that you read the Bible everyday?  A member of a church?  Of the Republican party?

After I thought about this for a while, I decided that it could not possibly mean less than it did the day that Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

It's a simple response, but one that is rarely if ever seen across the landscape of comfortable American churches. 

He says FOLLOW ME.  We follow.  Let me repeat it for you.  He says FOLLOW ME.  We follow.

That's what these fishermen did.  For when Jesus called them, "they left everything and followed Him immediately.

They didn't stack up retirement funds, vacations, security, and comfort as idols before the Lord.  They cast everything aside and followed him.

In my group, I offered this opinion, and it was soundly rejected.  "We're not all called to full-time Christian service," they said.  "For some, it could mean helping out a neighbor, or simply attending church."

Perhaps, I would say, although somewhat reluctantly.

But let me say this.  I'm only looking for one.  One that I can write about.  I'm just looking for one person in the multitudes of self-proclaimed Christ-followers who have "left everything" to follow Him.  I'm just looking for one who would be willing to go the distance with Christ.  Just show me one.

You can keep your collection plates, Christian aerobics, and potlucks.  I'm looking for a Christ-follower.  

Alone. Awkward. Beautiful.

I downloaded Passion 2011 one night in February.  The talent that performs at this Atlanta event is thicker than Comfort Inn oatmeal and much more tasty. 

Passion is a movement in Atlanta, Georgia, that involves the superstars of the faith.  The preachers and the singers amaze.  Francis Chan, John Piper, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Maher, Christy Nockels, and Chris Tomlin are just a few of the incredible worship leaders who bless the crowd of 15,000 and many more when the conference songs and sermons are released via YouTube.

Anyway, the CD made its way to my Mazda pickup last week and I inserted it tonight.  Track 8 caught my ear and I realized quickly that it was Chris Tomlin's performance of a Matt Maher tune named Lord, I Need You.  The artists remade an old hymn into a wondrous worship tune that I enjoyed so much.

Now having listened to this song a few times, I immediately launched into a duet.  Just me and Chris.  A beautiful song, I provided a perfect accompaniment to the multi-million selling Christian worship hero.  Not really.

My voice is not much more than a squeaky Southern annoyance when compared with the musical heroes of my faith.  Still, having memorized the song, I persisted in joining Chris in this beautiful song.

Trouble is, three minutes into the song, this worship leader decided to stop.  Maybe your worship leader has done the same.  Smack dab in the middle of a beautiful song, the man in charge decides to stop the noise and let the congregation be heard.  Truth be told, in this case, the congregation was me, and the congregation was as off-key as one can possibly get. 

Troubled by the sound of my own voice, I quit.  But then, I changed my mind.  I started singing the words again.  At a lower volume, perhaps.  But still singing...

Lord, I need you, oh, I need you.

Every hour I need you.

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need you.

And I realized,  Lord, you love me.  With my broken, sorry voice, you love me.   With my failure to say the words correctly.  With the lack of passion in my voice, you love me.  With the inability to inspire others with my voice, you love me.  As I sing,  as I sing poorly, as I sing ONLY to you, you love me.  And I thank you.  Your love is without judgment, qualification, or requirement.  You love me as I am.  That is why You are who You are.  Perfect love.  For people like me.  Amen.