A New Beginning

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First and foremost, we want to say thank you so much to everyone who has been praying for us and supporting us on our journey. We could not be where we are today without the love of people back home and your willingness to send us! So much has happened since our return to Costa Rica two months ago, and we will try our best to update you on it all.

We were so thankful to have a house to come back to in August, and we jumped right into getting settled in. We are renting a two-bedroom apartment about a mile from the SCORE base, and were able to furnish it in the months before moving down. We came home to suitcases full of wedding gifts and other donations thanks to a team from Keystone Church bringing them down a few weeks earlier. It has been so great making this apartment our home, and having a place to go back to at the end of the day that is so close to the villa. A few weeks ago, we made a big addition to our home and family by buying a shih-tzu puppy (Beans)!
Our ministry group


                The GAP year started on August 14 with the arrival of the interns and other staff. With 4 interns, a female student life director, an apprentice missionary and the two of us working at the villa, we have a great team ready to serve in whatever way possible. We had one week to prepare the villa and ourselves for the arrival of 24 new students. It has been great to see the students jump into the year ready to learn and serve. There is already so much growth to be seen in many of the students, and we are excited to see how God will continue to work in and through them in the months to come. We each have a small group of students that we meet with each week where we are able to talk through things they are learning in class and ministry. This is a great opportunity to grow closer with the students and to pour into them in a small group setting. We have a great team of students joining us each week in our ministry in Tirrases, and are thankful for the help they have been so far in serving there!


Youth group from Tirrases






                With the beginning of August also came many changes to our ministry in the town of Tirrases. Brandon has been serving there for 5 years now as a leader in the small church plant. It has been awesome to see the growth of the church over the years and the amazing work that God is doing through the people there. We love this opportunity to pour into and love the people of the area through Bible lessons and spending time there. However, it has been a difficult season in the church with many changes taking place. Please keep our main pastor Jairo in your prayers as he is taking some time away from the church to focus on his marriage and his own spiritual health. We are looking forward to the day when they join us in our ministry once again.   Until then, Brandon and a young man from the church, Jafet, have assumed the leadership roles of the church and the ministries we have there. Brandon preached his first Sunday morning sermon at the end of September, and will continue to rotate with Jafet and others to fill this position. Please keep Brandon and Jafet in your prayers as they take on this new leadership role. We are still working with the 30+ kids and 20 some teenagers that come each Saturday for our kids club and youth group, but unfortunately have had to cut some other church groups for the time being. Though the church is going through this difficult time, God’s hand has been so evident through it all.
It has been so encouraging to see people step up with a willingness to serve, and to be a part of the continued growth of the church.

   
Tirrases kids club
Please keep us and the GAP students in your prayers as we finish out this first semester, as well as everything with our ministry in Tirrases. We are still in need of about a thousand dollars per month to be serving here in Costa Rica. If you are interested in joining our team of monthly supporters, feel free to e-mail us or click here to visit the score website for more information.

Thank you again for all of your love and support, blessings,
                                                                                                   Brandon and Samantha Hoover

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