February '08 Update for New Readers

For those who are new to our blog site, we are posting our Feb '08 Letter to bring you up to date and give you some historical background.

Elmore Update February 4, 2008
Greetings from lovely San Jose, Costa Rica, where we are enjoying mild 75 degree days and cozy 64 degree nights! Honestly, we do not miss the snow!

What’s happening in our lives
Since returning on January 8, we have experienced some unusual situations:
1. Assaulted on the street: While walking to a friend’s house one Friday evening about 6:30, we suddenly had a motorcycle swerve and come up onto the sidewalk right next to us. I (Floyd) felt the hand of one of the two riders in my back pocket, fishing for my wallet. The other jumped off to grab Pam’s purse. She had it securely around her neck, and he could not get it loose. Screaming, Pam pushed him away, but he pushed her to the sidewalk. He still could not get her purse which she was now lying on. I had been separated from her by the motorcycle and seeing her on the ground flipped me out! I did what you are told never to do: I attacked the other guy on the bike with a small flexible tree that was planted in the grass next to the sidewalk! After whopping him a couple of times, his friend came to help. The next “whop” broke the tree and now I had a 2-inch “pole” in my hand, brandishing it around and swinging for their heads. They gave up, jumped on the bike, and started to pull away. But I lunged at them and made a flying tackle take-down of them both! After they got up and picked up their bike, they jumped on and sped away—with nothing! I have not had an adrenalin rush like that in years! (Even more than playing racquet ball with the Faircreek Church guys!) But after reflection, I am very thankful for God’s protection.

2. Small group Tico (short form for “Costa Rican,” pronounced “tee-co”) style: We have connected with many missionaries here in San Jose. There is a Saturday night Bible study that I have been invited to teach on occasion in English. We sing, study, pray and socialize—sounds like a Faircreek “Growth Group” meeting down here! It meets about five blocks from our house. We walk, but I now carry a baseball bat with me. (Now there is one to add to your Growth Group manual: “check your bats at the door!”)

3. Counseling women: Pam has had doors open up to counsel in English and in Spanish. The Spanish Language Institute is nearby and many of the women seek out Godly counsel for a variety of reasons. Pam has been asked to assist a team of counselors at the Institute. She had her first session last week with a woman from Venezuela.

4. Teaching The Use of the Old Testament in the New: I have enjoyed having nine Master’s level students in my class this term. Studying how the apostles used the Psalms and other passages in the New Testament has been a real eye-opener for me and for the students as well. Teaching in Spanish is still a challenge. Thankfully, I sense I am improving weekly.

5. Tutoring in Spanish: Pam has begun meeting with a Spanish tutor twice a week for one hour at a time. Conversation time in Spanish with this retired Costa Rican school teacher is paying dividends for Pam. She senses gradual improvement in her quest to master Spanish.

Cultural Differences—sometimes “clashes” and sometimes, well, just different!
It is more likely that a missionary will be killed while crossing the street as a pedestrian than by terrorists. (Memo to self: Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way here!)

In a culture where the poor can make money by collecting recyclables, when taking a walk, watch out for missing man-hole covers! (or drain gutter grates, or meter plates!)

The infrastructure, like sewage drain pipes, is very old and has not been updated in decades. So remember not to flush the toilet paper. Fold it up and toss the paper in the waste paper can. (And pray that the City Planners will catch up to “modern” times!)

Prayer prompters for February
1. ESEPA will be having a special banquet for Christian business men and women on the 21st. We are praying for 50 in attendance. James Blankmeyer will be our speaker, with a challenge to allow God to make us “kingdom benefactors” and not just “successful.” Pray for this event and the financial health of ESEPA.
2. Our local church is developing a missions support team for cross-cultural outreach. Pray for wisdom to know at what level we should be involved.
3. The Cuban seminary Master’s program is about to be kicked off this summer. Please pray for wisdom on the part of all parties involved in making this educational effort a blessing to the Cuban churches.
4. Spanish language improvement - -for both of us. We want to be effective in ministry here, and facility in this language is a MUST.
5. Safety on the streets- -as we walk and drive around town.
6. Separation from loved ones: being away from aging parents and from our children and grandchildren is not easy to take at times.

Thank you for your faithful financial and prayer support. Special thanks to Faircreek Church for the moving expenses reimbursement. What a blessing! You are making it possible for us to minister here in Costa Rica and, hopefully very soon, in Cuba as well.

Floyd & Pam Elmore email: felmore2@yahoo.com
Personal Mail: Apdo.782-2350, San Francisco de Dos Rios, San Jose, Costa Rica
Mission Mail: Messiah’s Outreach, P.O. Box 230, Wheaton, IL 60189-0230